Opinions on my college list?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Here are my stats:</p>

<p>-ranked 4/405 (large public high school in northeast)
-weighted gpa 99.88/100 (I think it might actually be slightly higher because this was calculated before extra points were added for my honors and ap classes)
-SAT 2010 (first take taking, will retake in June and maybe in the fall, hoping to get it up to 2100) CR 690; M 610; W 710
-I take all honors and ap courses:
soph year AP World (5)
junior year AP US, Lang, and Calc AB
senior year probably AP Pysch, stats, and lit
-get all A's except for one B+ in calc first trimester that I have since brought up to an A
-took math 1, us history, and lit subject tests in may
-3 year president of a cancer awareness club that I started after my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer (I already have a strong essay drafted about this); we've raised over $6000, held educational assemblies, and delivered care packages to chemo patients
-work at McDonald's about 30 hrs/wk (except just weekends during bball season), recently promoted to "crew trainer"
-next year will make 4 years of basketball (I will be on varsity next year)
-Questbridge Prep Scholar
-Accepted to Girls State program
-several school awards including a book award for service and academics (it was supposed to be the Colby College book award which was canceled right before awards night so my school made up an award just for me called the Blue Pride award)
-will be working with public relations group at special Olympics in may
-will be interning with a breast cancer foundation this summer
-interested in communications/public relations
-looking for college in a major city with a nice, green campus with good job/internship opportunities, good communications program, study abroad, etc FINANCIAL AID IS VERY IMPORTANT CONSIDERING MY FAMILY'S LOW INCOME DUE TO MY MOMS ILLNESS</p>

<p>Here is my list so far:
-UPenn (dream school, considering apply early decision, I'm aware that it's a crazy reach)
-BC
-Northeastern
-American
-St Josephs (Philly)
-Loyola Maryland</p>

<p>and I'm still considering Bentley, Emmanuel, Villanova, Drexel, BU and Catholic</p>

<p>What do you think of my list? I think I have enough reaches and matches, I'm just worried I don't have enough that are both admissions and financial aid safeties. I honestly don't like any of my state schools (MA). Any other suggestions? Which do you think is best for financial aid?</p>

2

<p>Some of the out of state public school will give you merit financial aid (bringing it down to what would be instate or a little above). For this info you should search their websites.</p>

<p>I’m not sure how many of the 6 schools on your “knowing” list are safeties-but I would add one or two safeties (making it 8) I applied to 8 schools and it was VERY manageable. </p>

<p>The other thing you could consider is going to a state school and transferring to some of these more expensive schools later. Or, if you want to do grad, just going in state. I know that while you’re in high school going “in state” seems really boring-but it might not be as bad as you think-sometimes it’s really nice being close to home. Also, make sure you tour a school before ruling it out (especially your instates). I decided I wanted to go to the University I go to after touring it-because my parents made me look at it. </p>

<p>Also, you can apply for lots of scholarships and hope for the best!</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>Have you run the net price calculators on the website for all of these schools? You need to do that to get an idea of what you might have to pay at each one. Have your mom help you with this.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the answers! I have run a few of the net price calculators and it looks like UPenn and BC would give me amazing aid, and Bentley’s and Northeastern’s would be decent. I still have to check some of the others. I know St. Josephs has a full scholarship that I could qualify for if I get my SAT scores up a little bit.</p>

5

<p>Oh, and to make an edit to my post I meant have 1/2 safeties-you don’t really need to add to your six if you have them. Sorry for my mistake.</p>

<p>Best of luck</p>