Needs some reassurance, please!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Like any student, I'm really worried that I won't get into any of the schools I'm applying to. And unfortunately, most kids that I know have already started working on their apps. I have too (a bit), but I don't have a great head start because I just picked my colleges yesterday.</p>

<p>I think it may be too top heavy.. but I think I have a good mix. Maybe.</p>

<p>Profile:
GPA: 3.46/4.5 (which amounts to about a 90 average.. my problem is that Freshman year I did really poorly (I even failed a class) -- I have a usable excuse why.. but it still doesn't help my GPA. I probably have around a 3.7 GPA since.)</p>

<p>Rigor: It's semi-rigorous. I only plan on taking one AP (Chemistry, junior year). I have taken mostly Honors classes though, but because I did so poorly Freshman year, I did have to switch around the Honors that I was taking and have eventually gotten back to taking Honors everything senior year.</p>

<p>SATs: 1390/2020</p>

<p>ECs: Not much. I haven't worked. I do have my own personal website that takes up a ton of time. I also work out a lot. Volunteer, in French Honor Soceity. Nothing exciting.</p>

<p>So, this is my tentative list of colleges.</p>

<p>Fordham
Rutgers
UNC
Boston University
Boston College
George Washington University
University of Maryland
Quinnipiac</p>

<p>I am applying to a lot of expensive private schools, but I'm hoping that my SATs may be able to buy me a little aid there. Some financial planner convinced my dad that privates are the way to go, and he's weary of me applying to UMD and UNC since they are public.</p>

<p>If you know any schools that would fit the mold that could be competitive with Rutgers in price (after financial aid), I'd love the recommendations.</p>

<p>And I need to know if my list isn't too reachy.. I'm just really worried that I won't get in anywhere.. So if you can, sort of chance me or tell me what would be safeties/matches/reaches, etc. And if I don't have enough safeties or matches or reaches, please recommend me some schools to look at in that regard.</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch!</p>

2

<p>My thread title sounds a bit needy.. I really just need to know if my colleges are a good selection of safeties/matches/reaches!!</p>

<p>Can someone help me please?</p>

3

<p>BC is a far reach, and UNC only accepts 18% OOS, so that is also a reach if you are not from NC. What is your major. The other schools look fine.</p>

4

<p>I'm probably going to apply undecided, and then hope that if I decide to major in business.. it won't be too much of a problem. I'm also really interested in Political Science, and I want there to be some sort of language program -- possible minor/major in Italian, French, or Spanish..</p>

5

<p>The only schools that may be a reach are BC and UNC (you probably have a better shot at BC)--what about your ECs?</p>

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<p>I put them above. Nothing exciting. I'm just a good kid. Doesn't count for anything though. lol</p>

<p>ECs: Not much. I haven't worked. I do have my own personal website that takes up a ton of time. I also work out a lot. Volunteer, in French Honor Soceity. Nothing exciting.</p>

<p>--> I also help out my grandparents a lot. Take my grandma on errands. My grandfather is blind and sedentary/ handicapped. Don't know how much this really counts though.</p>

<p>Is there too much of a gap between my matches and my reaches? Does anyone have recommendations for something in the middle? I was choosing between UNC and UVa (because I didn't think I had many reaches besides BC, so I decided UNC was probably easier..)</p>

7

<p>UVA is also very unlikely, as they also except very few OOS. What state are you in, NJ or NY, there are many other good state schools in the area. Consider one of the SUNY or other state schools in NJ.</p>

8

<p>Fordham; Rutgers; Boston University; George Washington University; University of Maryland; Quinnipiac</p>

<p>What are my chances at my other colleges? (listed above)
My stats are in the first post if you forgot/haven't read that.</p>

<p>I have thought about some SUNY schools (mostly Binghamton/ Albany), but as I said, some financial planner convinced my parents that private schools were the way to go. I think I'm pushing it with including UMD, let alone UNC. (I am from New Jersey)</p>

<p>My parents need me to get money, I think.. and I'm just sort of hoping that I'll somehow manage to get the avg fin aid package at the schools I'm looking at (private schools).</p>

<p>Are they being misled? I dunno. I'm just confused.</p>

9

<p>well if you're going to financial aid, private schools are more likely to provide you with more....plus your OOS status makes the public schools harder to get into. So, the the 2 publics, I say reaches; for BU/GWU low matches; BC is a high match</p>

10

<p>It depends on your parents financial situation, and how much financial aid you are eligible for. Some private schools offer better financial aid packages depending on your need on the FAFSA and Profile forms, and some do not.
Have you investigated the schools on your list to see how and if they meet your need on these forms?</p>

11

<p>^ I only looked up what percentage of students get institutional aid and the average package. I haven't really looked up the percentage met or anything. I've heard that that doesn't really matter.. because that's not how much aid they give everybody.</p>

<p>I'm not sure what information you are referring to otherwise.</p>

<hr>

<p>Do they figure out the need-based by including the merit money you received? Like, let's say I have an EFC of $25,000 for a $40,000 school. You receive a $17K scholarship. Would they give me like $12K for need-based anyway? Or would they say that our EFC is met?</p>

<hr>

<p>Any more opinions for my chances or what schools are safeties/matches/reaches?</p>

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<p>I spent last year getting my son situated in the right school, and he is from NJ, so I know about the schools in the area. He is at Lafayette, a private school and they met his demonstrated need. If the school gives a merit scholarship, they will not give need aid more than your EFC. However, if the scholarship is from a private source, they may use that to decrease the loan or work study portion of an aid package. Lafayette has a good business program, by the way, and I would suggest looking into that school, as well as some other privates in the region, Lehigh, Muhelenberg, Gettysburg, Dickininson, Franklin and Marshall.</p>

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<p>I'll look into them. Would those six schools be safeties? Would they become $25,000 (tuition + room & board)?</p>

<p>Could I get some more opinions about the schools on my list? (chances, safety/ match/ reach?)</p>

<p>UNC is easier than Duke, correct? And would NYU be easier to get into then UNC out-of-state?</p>

14

<p>I believe your only safety would be Rutgers and Fordham.
The privates I mentioned are matches, but many rely on interest as well, you need to visit, go on tours, find a school that you would "love to be at" and let them know, consider EA. NYU is very competitive for people in NY and NJ, though it si more likely than UNC. But don't be surprised if you wind up with "wait lists" at many of your match schools, it has become more common.
The tuition at the privates is up to 45 to 50K, and if you get a merit scholarship, maybe a little less, but your financial situation is unclear to me, so I can't comment on final cost.</p>