Please help mae!!!!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've come here before for help, but after I ran through many of these CC posts, I've figured that I know little to nothing on the college process. I seriously need you guys' help. I need you to try and assemble a list of colleges that I could likely be accepted to.
My profile:</p>

<p>Academia--</p>

<p>-3.6 GPA (yes, it's low--i had 2.7 GPA freshman year--4.05 GPA since then)
-2210 SAT (670 CR, 760 M, 760 W-- After going through the posts on this site, I have realized that this score, which gets me godlike status in my community (seeing as that the average score at my high school is close to 1100 out of 2400), is not exceedingly impressive. But nonetheless, I've used all of my allotted fee waivers, and this is as good as I can do. I am going to take the ACT next fall though--hopefully I'll study incredibly hard over the summer to reach 34+.
-While my school doesn't offer many AP''s (I think this number is like 6 or 7), I have scored four or five on every one.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities--</p>

<p>-Vice President- My school's nationally awarded National Honor Society
-Parliamentarian-Gents Community Service Club
-Drum major/First Chair Tuba- Marching Band (that has won city wide awards)
-President-National Urban League (chapter at my school--won national event in Philly last year)
-Captain/Founder-Math Team (Won a few competitions at local colleges--btw, is twelfth grade too late to participate in AMC? Just finding out about it..
-Founder-Art Club (smallest accomplishment-tried to group troubled art-oriented students (like those who do graffiti) at my school and make them do something productive.)
-Tutor-(in my eyes, greatest accomplishment) For three years, I worked hard to improve mathematics and science proficiency in area kids that attend my community's inner city high and middle schools.</p>

<p>Other (i guess) useful information--</p>

<p>URM (African American Male)
Income- Incredibly low (like $500 dollars a month for a house of five)
Worked for three summers (four if you count this one) to support my single mother of four-- She wouldn't let me work during school because she saw my GPA while I was working (freshman year) was really low.</p>

<p>College Preferences--</p>

<p>(Note- I have one match (UT-Austin--I'm in the top 5%)--don't really know too much about other schools-- this is where CC's help comes in)</p>

<p>Major--idk, really- I guess I'm interested in doing compsci or economics in college (these are safe(?) majors that I hope will back up other possible career endeavors)</p>

<p>Besides that, I want the college that I ultimately decide to go to will have:
-All the financial aid I need (a zero EFC= 100% met need, right?)
-At least ~30, 40% minorities (I don't want to feel culturally alienated)
-A somewhat strong sports culture (although I didn't play in high school, I would love to play in college intramurals)
-A great town/city that it calls home
-Fun-loving culture (a student body that isn't too incredibly competitive)
-A good reputation (I know this may sound a little shallow, but coming "the hood," a name like Harvard or Stanford (not necessarily this great of a name), could get you a long way, I assume.)</p>

<p>That is all.</p>

<p>PLEASE HELP MAE!!!!!!!</p>

2

<p>

</p>

<p>There is no such school.</p>

3

<p>UT-Austin is a safety (not a match) since you are in the top 5%. You will get into your intended major with that SAT score. </p>

<p>So, really you do not need to look at any other publics. UT-Austin is one of the best and its in-state. </p>

<p>Apply to all the top privates.</p>

4

<p>With financial need, pay attention to the schools that meet 100% of need-
[Universities</a> That Claim to Meet Full Financial Need - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2013/02/11/universities-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need]Universities”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2013/02/11/universities-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need)</p>

<p>It would be impossible to apply to all of them. Choose some that match you best. Do you need to stay near home to help your mother, or can you travel? </p>

<p>Consider also this program: [QuestBridge</a> Home](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/]QuestBridge”>http://www.questbridge.org/)</p>

<p>There are many threads about automatic full ride scholarships. They are not the big names schools but can offer a great education.</p>

<p>While the top schools tend to meet full need, and you should apply to some of them, their admissions rates are very low- even for top students. Your college list should include a range of colleges.</p>

<p>Post some more info about the georaphic area you would be interested in.</p>

5

<p>“Apply to all the top privates.”
Even with the low GPA?</p>

6

<p>Also… I don’t really have a geological preference… although living in an area somewhat close to home would be great, if the best opportunity for college is somewhere far away, I’ll take advantage of it.</p>

7

<p>So I did the little collegeboard big future thing and a few of the schools on that 100% met aid list (thanks, pennylane) came up:</p>

<p>Amherst
Austin College
Boston College
Brown
Columbia
Holy Cross
Cornell
Dartmouth
Davidson
Georgetown
Grinnell
Harvard
MIT
Northwestern
Oberlin
Occidental
Pomona
Rice (probably the most convenient)
Stanford
Swarthmore
UChicago
UPenn
Wesleyan
Williams
Yale</p>

<p>What do you think of my chances are here?
And what do you all think of HBCUs?</p>

8

<p>Can you pay for UT? Run the Net Price Calculator at its website and see what the numbers look like.</p>

<p>Your SAT and GPA put you in the range for serious guaranteed merit-based aid and give you a decent chance of landing some competitive merit aid. Read through these two threads, and then spend some more time in the Financial Aid Form to learn more about how the money part of it all will work.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html?highlight=bobwallace[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html?highlight=bobwallace&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>

Did you take the PSAT? National Merit or National Achievement finalist status means a full ride at a lot of colleges.</p>

10

<p>I kinda bombed my Junior PSAT (like 189), so I don’t think I’d qualify for the Nat’l Achievement Scholarship tbh… I only got the 2210 because I really tried to put the work in throughout the school year.</p>

11

<p>Oh… and wouldn’t UT automatically pay for school if it came down to it?</p>

12

<p>Is the cutoff higher this year? I had a friend a few years ago (TX) make National Achievement with a 188, I believe. Has your counselor told you anything about it? It could open up a lot of scholarships at a lot of schools.</p>

<p>UT-Austin would not pay for you, you would need to come up with the instate costs.</p>

13

<p>Well, my counselor hasn’t told me anything about it… and where would i get the money for college?</p>

14

<p>Loans and scholarships. If push comes to shove, graduating with loans is NOT the end of the world if you have landed a decent-paying job by then. However, with your stats, you should be competitive for a number of schools that meet 100% of need without loans so that shouldn’t be a problem for you. You should still apply to safeties where you know you will be offered a full ride, though.</p>

<p>I’m pretty much in the same situation you’re in, good luck.</p>

15

<p>4.05 is not an unweighted GPA so it is less helpful. Your overall gpa shouldn’t hurt as much because you have a good explanation for it, working because of your family financial situation, and show enormous improvement in your next years. Plus you have 1st semester of Sr. year so keep up the good work. Taking a rigorous program of study is also important so don’t slack next year.</p>

<p>As far as chances, you have a shot at any of those schools, almost on your own, but and edge because of your background and your URM status. But all those schools listed have VERY low admit rates so almost all are considered reaches. A few have a bit higher admit rates (wow, didn’t know Oxy meets full need) and you might consider them matches. No one can tell you with any certainty ahead of time. Especially not fellow high school students.</p>

<p>None of those schools are going to have the VERY high rate of minority students you are hoping for. So maybe HBSC is right for you, IF any offer full rides to accepted members, not just a few for the tippy top ones. I think HBSC are great, although I used to know a guy who regretted going to one instead of a regular college, he thought he missed out on expanding horizons in some ways. However not having those high rates of minority students at top colleges is precisely why you are a highly desired minority, and why you will get an edge in admissions.</p>

<p>You will need to put together a very thoughtful application package for your best chances. That’s why you should apply to the Questbridge program. They will help you and guide you with your questions, with schools and with the application package and they have experience with exactly kids like you in this process.</p>

<p>My own daughter was given a full ride to Brown. Packages from these top schools include allowance for trips home and purchase of a laptop. You will be doing work-study so you might want to look at schools like Brown where your work study can easily be working with professors on research. Or she got paid pretty good for working in the group who calls alumni for donations, if you are an outgoing type. </p>

<p>You can PM me if you have any questions that are personal, otherwise just ask here.</p>

16

<p>Thanks for the help…</p>

<p>About Questbridge–
By the time I’d really found out about the program, it was pretty much too late to apply for their junior year thing… But I do understand they have a senior year program as well… can someone like explain to me what it is?</p>

17

<p>And are the Ivies actually realistic for me? If I can gain acceptance into one of these schools, it’d be amazing for me, my family, and my community.</p>

18

<p>You can easily read the questbridge website for info on what it is about. They will help you with the application process and schools will get to see your application package through their program, I believe. If they do have a Sr. year program, don’t neglect to apply/join. </p>

<p>About it being realistic to get into ivies and the many other schools that are tops and highly selective. Do some kids with your profile and URM status get in. Yes. Is it frequent? No. These schools are long shots for EVERYONE who applies, since they take less that 10% of their applicants. Your stats are lower than most accepted, so that’s not good. You have the edge of the URM hook, so that is good. But there are URM’s with stronger stats I’m sure. Think of your chances as slim. Put together a really great application package with fantastic essays that rise above the cliche. You will get fee waivers so you can afford to put in a few extra applications.</p>

<p>So go ahead and apply to a couple. Look all the schools up from above and note the admit rate, and the SAT and GPA’s of the admitted students to see if you are more a match or a reach candidate. Have both on your list. Remember that there are good and great schools (Brown, maybe, though it’s an ivy) that no one in your community may have heard of. But grad schools and employers will know about them and that is much more important than brand name to impress the man on the street. Perspecitve and accomplishment is more important than bragging rights.</p>

19

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</p>

<p>White, non-Hispanic students are a minority at several on the OP’s list of schools that claim to meet 100% of determined need. Here are some percentages (according to the most recent Common Data Set files I could find):</p>

<p>stanford … 40% white, non-Hispanic
amherst … 41%
cornell … 42%
rice … 44%
harvard … 45%
wesleyan … 49%
grinnell … 61%
davidson … 69%
oberlin … 72%</p>

20

<p>“Well, my counselor hasn’t told me anything about it… and where would i get the money for college?”</p>

<p>Lots of guidance counselors aren’t well informed about money for college, and in some school districts they aren’t even allowed to discuss family financial situations because of privacy reasons. Ask your counselor what he/she knows about financial aid, and if he/she can help you find out what kind of money is available for you from the state of Texas and about any local scholarships available within your home community. Find out if he/she knows anything about the financial aid policies at the public universities in Texas.</p>

<p>Then go spend some time reading up on how financial aid works at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and in the Financial Aid Forum here. There are some true financial aid experts active in the financial aid forum who will be able to help you figure out what can work for you.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>