Not the greatest student ever - what are my safety school options?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So I've got a good GPA, amazing extras, and SAT scores that are average. Terrible by CC standards. Looking for some safety schools as well as financial safety schools</p>

<p>A few quick facts about me</p>

<ul>
<li>I live in NYC. The Bronx to be exact.</li>
<li>I am a latino puerto rican male</li>
<li>First generation college student</li>
<li>I want to go into Journalism</li>
<li>Am going to take a Journalism elective as a senior (how much does this help)</li>
<li>Maybe minor in business administration?</li>
</ul>

<p>Now, here's my academic profile. I am coming from a school that has been ranked as one of the top 50 Catholic High Schools 5 years in a row. Solid GPA, average SAT scores, very good EC's for me.</p>

<hr>

<p>GPA: 88.5. 90.3 weighted. I've taken honors courses each year, and 3 years of Latin. As a senior I will be taking AP English, most likely AP economics as well. My grades have gone up each year since freshman year (only by a point or two though. I'm always a consistent 85-88 student overall). My English grades are always in the 90's, but science kills me. Not sure about rank, but it's top 20 percent. My school only offered us 3 AP classes. History, English, Economics. I wasn't even allowed to take History if I wanted to. There's 7 junior classes, and only 11-1 got to do it. I'm in 11-2 >_<. </p>

<p>SAT's: I've only taken the test once as a sophomore with no preparation. 610 Writing, 590 Verbal, and.. well, this is where it gets ugly... 480 math. Yikes! I'm hoping to break at least 550 in Math and I'll be happy. I'm a writer, not a math guy. I have also received some training and great tips for the writing and verbal sections, things that will surely help me increase my scores. </p>

<p>Extras:
-Editor-in-chief for the school newspaper. I've wrote since Freshman year and became editor this year.</p>

<p>-Captain of the Mock Trial team/lawyer. </p>

<p>-Selected to take part of Job Opportunity Program, a program that trains top students in the NY Archdiocese on interview processes, working in a corporate setting, etc.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Interning this entire summer for Bloomberg L.P. Information Systems.</p></li>
<li><p>Selected to compete in National Hispanic Institutes (NHI) Youth Legislative Session. They take only the best students from not only America, but we had kids from Mexico and Puerto Rico. Highly selective. It was an 8 day leadership program at the University of Rochester. While there I campaigned for the Supreme Court, and at the programs end, was one of three nominees for male with most potential.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>-I will be doing another NHI program in NYU this summer, called the collegiate world series. Here I'll be meeting with the admissions officers from top universities and going over building relationships, interviews, college life, etc. We also get drafted into colleges and negotiate financial packages. Good stuff; admission officers from Yale, Boston, and others will be there.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>I'm starting my own website revolving around interviewing bands, doing reviews, etc. Should help a lot especially when I apply to journalism programs. I am trying to get this off the ground ASAP so I can have a nice product going when it is time to apply for schools. It's a big project, not some blogspot thing. If I get this in time it should really help me out.</p></li>
<li><p>As a freshman and sophomore I helped out every Saturday from 9:30-11:30 as a Catechist aid for a bible class.</p></li>
<li><p>As a junior, and next year as a senior, I help every Tuesday and Wednesday again as an aid, but this time with high school students. I help out teachers, teach when necessary, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>National Honors Society member. I will be doing tutoring in Writing and English.</p></li>
<li><p>I'll be doing the Photography club next year</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I've been looking at schools like BU, Northeastern, Marist, Syracuse, etc. But I need some safety schools:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>For financial. Income is only what my single disabled mom gets. is less than 15,000 a year. </p></li>
<li><p>Non financial safety schools are ok. I just want to have a couple of each. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I don't care about how big it is/size/whatever. However the way the campus looks and the surrounding area is fairly important to me. As is a decent journalism and business program.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Every single student needs a “True Safety”. This is a school that:

  1. Has to admit you based on your statistics. Please note the words “has to”. Some of the public universities in your home state probably publish the GPA and test score combinations that will guarantee admission right on their websites. Most community colleges (and some public universities) are open admissions. This is even better! All you need is your HS diploma or your GED.
  2. You can afford with no financial aid other than federally determined financial aid. Run the FAFSA calculator at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>How Much Will College Cost – BigFuture | College Board) and read up on federal financial aid at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and at [FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm]FAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm)
  3. Offers the major(s) you are interested in, or if a community college, offers the first two years of the major(s) with an articulation agreement with a 4-year school where you can complete your degree.
  4. You are willing to attend if all else goes wrong.</p>

<p>Please don’t be another person who starts an “I didn’t get in anywhere I can afford” thread next April.</p>

3

<p>Ithaca may be a safety school, not sure though. And your not a bad student, NYU can be a reach school for you. IU- Bloomington and Mizzou can also be safety schools.</p>

4

<p>IU-Bloomington has a great journalism program, but I wouldn’t call it a safey for you; maybe a high match-low reach</p>

5

<p>Though I don’t know which ones are strongest for Journalism, some CUNYs or SUNYs would probably be your best bet.</p>

6

<p>Suny Purchase may be another good safety. Also, I think IU is a safety or a nice match. The average weighted GPA is a 3.57.</p>

7

<p>I probably should have mentioned I’d like to stay on the east coast. Rules on Bloomington. </p>

<p>Ithaca looks real good, but more of a target, not a 100% safety. I’ll probably be applying there :]</p>

<p>Any other suggestions?</p>

8

<p>A good match for you with a good communications/journalism program and a strong business school is American.
Ursinus has a very fine journalism progam, and a business program as well.</p>

<p>As a first generation college student, URM, with very fine GPA and extras, you will have many, many choices, despite your SAT.</p>

9

<p>If only you were from California, you probably have a chance at a UC school. But since you’re in NY, some CUNYs or SUNYs would probably be your best bet.</p>