I’m a rising senior and I’ve narrowed my college list down but most are reach schools. I’m on the look for more realistic schools. Here are my stats:
GPA: 4.0 uw/4.13 w
ACT: 29 (superscored 30)
APs: 2 (AP English III/IV) out of 4 APs my school offers
Class rank: 5/168.
ECs (not strong as my school doesn’t offer much but i’m working on it):
-volleyball and tennis for 2 years
-Beta Club and FCCLA for 3 years, NHS for 2
-this doesn’t really count as an EC but i spent half the day during junior year taking a cosmetology course at a local tech college.
Volunteer work:
-tutored at local elementary schools
-volunteered at political offices
-by the time apps are due i’ll probably have close to 200 hours.
Other:
State of residence: oklahoma
Major: political science
Income: i have a single mother who makes less than 30k a year so I’m looking for schools that have good financial aid.
My college list so far is: Barnard, Wellesley, Scripps, U of Southern California , (possibly Boston or Northeastern?), U of Oklahoma, U of North Texas
As you can tell, I’d prefer to go out of state and prefer to be in an urban environment. I’m looking for private colleges/LACs as they tend to give more generous aid.
If anyone has any recommendations at all, they’ll be greatly appreciated! 
What major(s) are you interested in?
@philbegas political science!
American, George Washington, Macalester
Here are my suggestions:
- Research your in-state schools and see if any of them would award you very large merit.
- Go down … A LOT… In selectivity and see if you can find any schools that award large merit- full tuition.
- Retake the ACT. Your current score places you around the 25th % or below at many competitive schools that meet full need, making these schools considerable reaches. I would still apply, but you need to be realistic.
- Remove BU and Northeastern. They won’t be affordable and NE is a big academic reach.
- Research test optional schools that meet full financial need. I believe that some LACs meet this criteria.
- Do not discount the idea of starting at a community college if necessary and transferring after 2 years to a school that meets full need for transfer students.
Going to a school in an urban area (Barnard) is very expensive.
Agree with the comments above, but a couple of ideas offhand might be Goucher (Baltimore,MD) and UScranton (Scranton, PA).
Apply through Questbridge. Look into it right now as it requires a lot of work. Burbif you’re selected it’s a guaranteed 4-year full ride.
29 is EXCELLENT for a student attending a low performing school, congratulations!
Very low income, first gen, from an under represented state : those will help.
Tufts, Dickinson, Kalamazoo, Vassar…
Seconding Macalester.
Will think of safeties.
OP I agree that a 29 is an outstanding score given your circumstances. Many top schools will take this into consideration. I wish you the best and hope that you are selected through Questbridge. Good luck!
What about Oxford at Emory? You would transition to Emory after 2 years.
With your stats, Mercer University would be a good target school. Also, Oklahoma State University would be a nice safety school since it’s cheaper (in-state tuition) and your ACT score is above their average.
@doschicos @twogirls @MYOS1634 Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll definitely look into Questbridge
If you’re a woman (which I’m assuming you are from your screen name) and would consider an all-women college, Agnes Scott, near Atlanta.
@rosered55 thanks, I’ll look into it!
@hannah18
What other hooks do you have?
You need merit aid so you will need to aim lower, like schools ranked 60-150.
Also retake the ACT, and try the SAT.
@VANDEMORY1342 my only hooks are low income, first gen, and i’m (half) hispanic. The last time I took the ACT, I raised it two points, so I’m hoping I can raise it a couple more on the Sept or Oct test. My math score was terrible so if i raise that I can get my composite to a 30/31. I did poorly on the PSAT so I’m worried about the SAT.
@hannah12
TBH half Hispanic is enough. Make sure you check that box.
U Rochester
Brandies
Villanova
Wake Forest
Case Western
Northeastern
Tulane
Lehigh
U Miami
George Washington
Fordham
American U
Marquette U
Emory, and Oxford Emory can be your reaches.
@VANDEMORY1342 : with an EFC zero, this student doesn’t need merit aid but need based aid, and should concentrate on colleges that meet need for low income students (even if merit counts in admissions). For instance, American doesn’t offer aid beyond full tuition, leaving 16-18k to pay even if the family can afford zero.
Yes, Hispanic is a hook in addition to lower income, geographical diversity, and first gen.
Keep in mind that if your dad is living, even if he doesn’t support you, you would need to have his cooperation in completing financial aid forms for private colleges. He needs to submit his financial information and complete the CSS profile for non-custodial parents. Do you know if you’ll be able to get him to do that?
A lot of good suggestions here. In addition to Wellesley, maybe consider Smith and Mt. Holyoke.
@hannah18 I’ve taken the PSAT every year since 8th grade, and I’ve never done well on it. So, like you, I was afraid to take the SAT. However, I actually found the SAT to be easier than both the ACT and the PSAT. The PSAT is just there to prepare students for standardized testing; it’s not a mirror image of the SAT.
@elena13 I don’t have contact with him and he’s not on my birth certificate. Will he still need to fill out the CSS profile? Also, I’ve been looking into Smith and I’ll research Mt. Holyoke, thanks!!