<p>My parents are not willing to pay any amount of money for college (they are really religious, and I have denounced my religion--yeah, its reeeaaally serious), so I obviously cannot depend on them and federal aid as well all of the other billions of loans that look at my family's income. Since I do not have any job, I am broke, and am kind of (REALLY) freaking out, and I have already given up the idea of attending most private colleges. I am still in 11th grade, so I still have some time, but that is not stopping me from contantly shaking. The following are my statistics as of now:</p>
<p>Male, NY,
Taking hardest workload possible w/ mostly AP and a couple honors classes
GPA so far: 96.82 unweighted, 104.94 weighted
Class Rank: 4/304
SAT (1st try, will take again): 2120
I'm working on a lengthy science project with a local professor, and I am planning on sending it to all the major competitions (Intel, Westinghouse, etc) and hopefully it will be recognized as at least semifinalist material.
I have done additional research at a local university while taking a course, got an A-.
Tennis Team
Math Team
Science Team
School Newspaper</p>
<p>That's it. Will I be able to pay for college, by getting any scholarships or loans. If so, can you be specific. Keep in mind, I have to get the whole nine yards payed, even boarding and food and such crap, since I have NOTHING! I am sooo desperate, I am even looking at third and fourth tier public schools. Give me anything, its better than sleeping on the streets and working at WalMart for the rest of my life!!! The only thing keeping me sane are those nice uplifting Moby instrumentals. Oh my goodness, listen to myself!!!</p>
<p>I'm in a similar situation. Don't freak out, there is ample room to explain such circumstances in fin aid applications, and student loans to take in your own name. Attending a better community college for the first two years can help a lot, too.</p>
<p>Work a job for money. If you're highly motivated, you can work 20 hours during the school year and 60 hours a week during the summer. I'm writing from my own experience.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Keep your grades up.</p></li>
<li><p>Your best chances of excellent aid are at in-state public universities where your stats will put you in the ranks of the best students.</p></li>
<li><p>Expect to take out loans, to work in college -- during the school year and summer</p></li>
<li><p>Find out about local scholarships and apply carefully for anything that you might remotely qualify for.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>You also should consider attending an instate community college and living at home and then transferring to a 4-year in state college.</p>
<p>If you follow this advice, you'll be able to go to college. There is absolutely no reason for you to think that college is out of the question for you. You won't have the options that some (definitely not all!) students have, but you will have college options. Most students go to public colleges in-state and are within 2 hours of their home.</p>
<p>Yeah, your probably right Corroborator, I was just volunteering because I used to have plans to go to a top private university. So much for those plans, but still, working part-time will not do much good, if any good, since I only have around a year or so, and the most money I could ever make in that time would, hey actually... </p>
<p>Oh boy, lets see, 'bout 7.50/hr, 20hrs a week, lets say around 75 weeks, thats 11250, and then subtract the income tax and other crap, so that would leave around 4500 or so. Yeah, it just might be good enough to attend community college, gonna go check what the tuition+room+board is, meanwhile, more suggestions are welcomed and needed.</p>
<p>Oh, you beat me to it northstarmom, I was just calculating the stuff and writing while you were posting, so I didn't read your post after I posted my post, but anyways, thanks for your futher elaboration on Corroborator's advice.</p>
<p>also look for schools that give very good merit aid. Of course in that case you may have to go Universities that is a lower tier than your dream schools.</p>
<p>a lot of large private schools give good merit aid. look for schools that give full scholarships based on merit and apply there. also apply for any outside merit scholarships you can find. a lot of them are just based on writing an essay and even $500 or $1000 can make a big difference if you get a bunch of awards. there are some scholarship search engines out there where you put in some info about you and they alert you of upcoming scholarships.</p>
<p>Will do simba and itla_uno, thanks for the help. I have already started finding some colleges that give scholarships solely based on SAT scores vs GPA, like Northeastern. I am finally starting to calm down a bit. So far what I have come up with is to get a part-time job, earn some money, apply to the colleges that will at least pay for full tuition, and then if accepted (which doesn't look way too hard at some lower tier colleges), pay for other costs of living or whatever is not paid for by the college using the money earned from job. </p>
<p>But now I have another question: are there private loans that you can get without having the family's income observed and having a parent cosign?</p>
<p>
[quote]
But now I have another question: are there private loans that you can get without having the family's income observed and having a parent cosign?
<p>apply to a service academy
apply for an ROTC scholarship
apply to 3rd and 4th tier school where they want students of your caliber
go to community college for 2 years and then transfer
if you are a valedictorian or NMSF there are schools that give large awards for those</p>
<p>keep in mind that many scholarships have financial need as a component and you are not going to demonstrate that -- so look at the scholarship very carefully and don't waste your time applying for scholarship you don't have a chance for.</p>
<p>work and save you money -- don't spend any of it. You don't need new clothes, computer games or to go out to movies. Start thinking ahead to what you will need for college and try to get parents/relatives to give you those items for christmas/birthday (laptop, clothing, stuff for dorm room).</p>
<p>plan on not having a car (lots of money saved there).</p>
<p>Oh, don't worry about that hsmomstef, I was never planning on getting a car, and I haven't played videogames since fifth grade. Unfortunately, however, my parents won't be getting me anything like a "laptop, clothing, [or] stuff for dorm room" anytime soon since the reason I am in this mess in the first place is because we have had an unfortunate break in our connection (they are islamic fundamentalists, and I denounced islam, which means bad, bad things.) But your right about applying to third and fourth tier schools, and also, I'll look into service academies as well as the ROTC. Thanks for the help, and as before, more input is still very much welcomed.</p>
<p>If you take a gap year and volunteer with Americorps, you'll get about $200 a week for a stipend plus $4,700 at the end of the year to use for college. You'll also boost your chances of getting some merit-based scholarships that are linked to leadership and service.</p>
<p>There are pinned discussions talking about schools that give a lot of merit aid. I'm sure you can find a place that will want you, and where you can get a good education. Good luck to you and I'm glad you're planning ahead.</p>
<p>You should definitely consider getting a job soon to show colleges that you are responsible and independent. With good grades, ECs, and great standard test scores, you could receive excellent merit aid at private insitutions.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Are you an NMF? If so, you can get a free ride to many colleges.</p></li>
<li><p>With your stats, your should be able to get close to a free ride at Hunter College in NY and also, I believe, at other colleges in the CUNY system.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you all very much for your additional input. I definitely found your, aurieme's, link helpful. And I will definitely look into Hunter College EMM1. And thank you very much for the encouragement More Cowbell. I am indeed trying to search for every little loophole or opportunity, every dim yet shining diamond in the dark, rough, and sometimes very scary blackhole into which I have fallen.</p>
<p>"they are islamic fundamentalists, and I denounced islam, which means bad, bad things.)"</p>
<p>My parents are similar. I have also denounced Islam (but not to them). I feel for you, because the only reason I haven't told them is because I believe they'll do exactly what your parents are doing.</p>