Okay so I am a senior right now graduating in around may. I live in Kentucky but do not want to go to college here whatsoever, so I’m basically looking to be out of state. Freshman year I did great, but around sophomore year I goofed off and got like a 2.75 GPA. I’m super disappointed in myself but whatever. That’s when I first tried 2 AP Classes. Junior year I did 2 APs as well but did well and ended with about a 3.75gpa. But as of now my cumulative is about a 3.3. Also took the ACT and got a composite score of about 25, with 24E, 30R, 25M, and a 22S. I plan on retaking it in September and I’m gonna study and aim for a 29. Financial aid is literally a must as my mom is a single parent and makes at least 30k or less. I’m looking at Syracuse, UIUC, Purdue, UoW, Ohio state, UNC chapel hill, and SUNY. Basically do I have any chance at these schools because of my low GPA? I’m also black which may help a bit.
Those schools would all be reaches.
There won’t be financial aid at out of state public schools. The few that do give money to out of state students do so for high stats.
You will get in Syracuse. 60% of students scored between 24-29. 20% scored lower than you.
A 3.75 gpa as a junior will be helpful. Whether you can afford it without loans is another matter.
You need to forget the other state schools and focus on private schools with good merit and need based aid.
I agree with @2inSchool2. Are you a boy or girl? Do you want a larger university, or would you consider liberal arts colleges? How would you describe the area you live in now and your high school demographics?
@oregon2016 I am a girl, I would consider any school really private or public, as i may be going pre-dental or pre-med route and getting a major in neuroscience or biology. The area I live in now is pretty suburban, it’s by UK campus. My high school is kinda competitive, rank is about 157/530
@2inschool2 I am definitely looking for schools that do good aid but I’m having trouble finding some. hardly any of my family have been through this whole admissions process. You have recommendations?
Ok, so that increases the possibilities to schools like Knox in Illinois and Allegheny in Pennsylvania. These smaller schools might provide more support to thrive academically than being lost in the crowd at a bigger university, but you might feel a bit like you’re in a fishbowl too. I don’t recommend eating up your limited budget on travel to campuses far away. Seems like Case Western is comparable to Syracuse in terms of admission but would be less expensive to get to and cost of living is slightly lower. Make sure to read the fine print on your financial aid packages for GPA requirements after the first year. Does Kentucky offer reciprocity of instate tuition rates or discounts at neighboring publics (probably not flagships)?
In your position, you might want to spend some time researching schools which offer need based scholarships because they are definitely your best shot at going to college out of state.
@oregon2016 Okay, I will keep that in mind thank you. I’m not sure about the reciprocity? I’ll try to find that out. Thanks for this, you’re helping me more than ya know!
@visahan Yes that’s what I was thinking because I’m not sure my stats and stuff are great enough for merit scholarships.
You will probably not get any merit scholarships which are substantial enough to help you as much as you need. There are also some colleges I have heard about where you can work, usually as a school employee like a janitor, and pay for your college as you go. Make sure you check those out!
If you plan on doing pre med, with the thought of doing med school, you need to keep your expenses for undergrad at a very low cost. Med school will run you about $200K with mostly loans. Need based scholarships would be a good idea. Questbridge? I don’t know if your stats would make you eligible.
I can only comment on northeastern schools but seeing you were thinking of Syracuse I can give you some ideas. One thing to keep in mind. Your net cost is not just the aid package but rather the cost of the school. Syracuse starts at 62k so even 30k of aid doesnt go that far.
These schools have excellent aid and start much lower. Here goes. Susquehanna University, Siena College, University of Scranton, St. Michael’s College (Vermont), Duquesne University, Allegheny College, Le Moyne, St. Bonaventure, Nazareth College, Muhlenberg College, St. John Fisher College, and Marist College.
At some of these you can probably get well below 20k a year if you do work study. So basically around room and board.
Do the calculators on each school’s website.
Thanks alot guys! This is SO helpful!
I guess another option could be to put college off for a year, and move to my state of choice so i could try to obtain residency?
You can get into Syracuse, @tdeh400 (ask someone to proofread your essays please). The question really is, once you get in, what sort of financial aid will you get. Or, if you have your heart set on a SUNY, with the exception of only a couple such as Binghamton, you’ll get in, but obtain state residency first. You will be just fine!
Research the state residency rules for places you are interested in before trying that route. They vary a bit. For some you just live there a year and could be considered a resident (I don’t know which, just going by what I have read on this site) but many aren’t going to consider you a resident unless your parents move too.
Hey! I’m from Kentucky too!
I live right by UK. I totally understand that you don’t wanna go to a college in Kentucky, I’m looking at all schools out of state too. But I am applying to UK as a safety school, and even though it would kinda suck to go there, it’s nice to know you have one school that you will be accepted into.
I would do that if I were you because my GPA is a 3.85 and I’m still worried about getting into any school OOS.
Utah is one state where obtaining resident status is fairly quick. I believe after freshman year at Utah State any student can claim residency for in state tuition (which is relatively modest to begin with). But if you are planning on visiting family and friends in Kentucky you are looking at added travel expenses.
Run the NPC (net price calculator) on the website for each school you are interested in to get an idea of cost. Make sure to talk to your mom about income and assets that figure in on the calculator.