Need more matches/safeties?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi there! So I'm still unsure about where I'll be applying this fall, but my list is mostly reaches/high-reaches, except U-Dub. I'm overwhelmed with choices and need suggestions for a couple more matches and safeties. I live in WA but I'd like to be out of state, maybe California although I'm open to other states. I would go to the east coast, but probably only if it was for an ivy. I'm looking to major in Biology with the intent of medical school after that. I need good financial aid too. I realize my list is ambitious, but I'll always wonder if I never try :). I also realize that there are about a zillion other posts like this, so I appreciate anyone who answers! </p>

<p>For sure:
Harvard
Stanford
University of Washington</p>

<p>Maybe:
Pomona
CalTech
USC
Columbia
Vanderbilt
Rice</p>

<p>Stats
GPA: 4.00
SAT: 2060 (retaking)
Math: 670, Reading: 720, Writing: 670
AP Classes: World History (5), U.S. History (5), Biology (4), English Language and Composition (5), senior year - Chemistry, US Gov & Politics, English Lit, Calc
Extracurriculars:
Student Government all 4 years - Freshmen Representative, Sophomore Class President, ASB Treasurer, Senior Class Secretary
XC 2 years (lettered), Track 1 year
NHS
Orchestra
Key Club (community service club)
Dance (ballet, pointe, jazz)
General Community Service (100+ hrs at various events like hospital fundraisers, benefit talent show for family in need, etc)
Job: Office work - administration/secretary/filing (part-time)</p>

<p>State residence
WA
General Public High School, difficulty probably like most other schools
High school rank: 1/296
Course difficulty: The most challenging available
Teacher's evaluation: Great to amazing
Honors/Awards: National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar w/ Honor, local Soroptimist award, school awards
white female, middle-class</p>

2

<p>

Does that mean your family is very low income? Or middle class with little saved for college? If the former then looking for FA is the right thing to do. If the latter then you should be looking for merit aid instead.</p>

3

<p>Yes, you definitely need some matches/safeties. With your stats, you might get a decent FA package from U of Arizona. Would also be a safety. Nice change from WA if you like sunshine.</p>

4

<p>I just got back from touring USC, UCLA, Pomona, CalTech, and Stanford. I loved Stanford and USC was pretty good too. UCLA felt too big and Pomona and CalTech too small, though I liked CalTech better than Pomona. My parents are divorced but combined income is about 100k.</p>

5

<p>With a combined income of $100K only the most competitive schools will provide much aid. You should be looking at merit aid. Head over to the financial aid forum and look at the stickies at the top for some ideas.</p>

6

<p>Run the net price calculators on the various school web sites to see financial aid estimates; then compare with what your parents will contribute.</p>

<p>If the schools are unaffordable on need-based aid and do not have large enough merit scholarships, drop them from the list.</p>

<p>If the parental contribution is generally too low to make schools affordable on need-based aid, take a look at these threads:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-19.html#post16145676[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-19.html#post16145676&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-49.html#post15297679[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-49.html#post15297679&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Remember that medical school is expensive, and biology majors do not have good job prospects, so you may want to prefer a lower net price school to avoid debt and save money for medical school.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the tips! One more question - my parents are divorced, and I live with my mom, who is single. My dad is remarried. Do I have to include my stepmom’s income for FA?</p>

8

<p>Colleges vary on whether the non-custodial parent’s household’s income is included in financial aid calculations. The net price calculators may indicate whether such income should be included.</p>

9

<p>Here is a list of colleges that use the CSS Profile and one column shows which consider NPC income.
<a href=“CSS Profile – CSS Profile | College Board”>CSS Profile – CSS Profile | College Board;

<p>Note there are some schools that use their own forms to get the same data (like Princeton).</p>

10

<p>You need to ask your parents how much they’ll contribute.</p>

<p>The best schools on your list WILL include your dad and stepmom’s incomes. </p>

<p>to other states. I would go to the east coast, but probably only if it was for an ivy. I’m looking to major in Biology with the intent of medical school after that. I need good financial aid too</p>

<p>What is your Math +CR score? </p>

<p>You need to include some merit schools that will give you large awards.</p>

<p>If you want to go to med school, then looking at elite schools with your stats is NOT a good idea. You’ll be one of the weaker students in each of your classes. IT would be very unlikely that you’d emerge with a med-school-worthy GPA.</p>

<p>This is a common misstep that students make. They’ll have good-but-not-top stats, want to go to med school, and then try for elite schools. Then after a year in college, they’re in GPA-trouble because their GPA is in the low 3.X. …or lower.</p>

<p>Go to a school that you can afford AND where your stats are well within the top 25% for the school.</p>

11

<p>Do you have any suggestions? I’m overwhelmed by the number of choices.</p>