<p>I am not sure I agree with that, 2college, just because a school is “need blind” that does not necessarily mean that school will meet 100% of the applicant’s need. Don’t forget the school tinkers around with the numbers & comes up with your need! </p>
<p>A “need blind” school may still engage in “preferential packaging”, whereby the most desirable applicants get the greatest FA package in order to get them to enroll. For an applicant who falls farther down in the applicant pool their FA package might not be as outstanding, i.e. higher percentage of loans to grants. </p>
<p>cg1411, best of luck to you! You have outstanding credentials!</p>
<p>I think your reaches may be too reachy. If you insist on having super reaches, then Cornell and Wellesley would be my choices. They offer higher acceptance rates (than Harvard/ Columbia), are great schools and are in the northeast location.</p>
<p>Just as a point of reference: My D is also a URM, but with scores and ECs quite a bit higher than what you have listed in your post. Nevertheless, neither she nor I have fooled ourselves into believing that she has anything above a 10% chance of getting into any of her super reaches, and because of that, she has a good, solid list of financial and academic safeties that she would be happy attending. Make sure you “love your safeties” as well.</p>
<p>Slumom, good schools such as Colby, Bates, Trinity, Wellesley do not play games. Someone with an $1000 EFC will have their need met in the same way as every other student.</p>
<p>Now if the EFC was not properly calculated and/ or a parent is self employed, that’s another story.</p>
<p>*
Aid is important, since I believe I qualify for FA but merit based is also great. My EFC said $1000.*</p>
<p>I’ve talked to my parents and they’ve agreed they’re willing to pay for my four years at UCONN</p>
<p>Something doesn’t make sense here. If your EFC is $1,000, then your family income is quite low (like $38,000 per year). How would such a family pay for UConn???</p>
<p>In-state tuition and fees:… $10,416
Room and board: … $10,782
Books and supplies:… $1,000</p>
<p>Yeah I know UCONN doesn’t have the cheapest tuition, but my parents said they’re willing to pay for the four years b/c I would be getting a pretty good education at a good price (compared to many other schools). However, I know we’re looking for the support of FA which would make tuition more bearable, of course, loans would probably be necessary.</p>
<p>However, I don’t want to be so much of a burden on them financially, which is why I am hoping to compile a list of academic and financial target schools that I may be interested in.</p>
<p>And I completely get what you mean SLUMUM, a school being “need blind” doesn’t necessarily mean it is “meets need.” I’d be looking for one that fulfills hopefully both, but at least the latter.</p>
<p>I don’t know the FA policies of these schools, but consider Clark and Brandeis for activism and location (in / near cities); Connecticut College is SAT-optional.</p>
<p>*SAT Superscore 1920; CR: 630 M: 640 W:650
GPA: 3.7
NHS member for 2 years
Extra-curricular activites: Wrestling, St. Lukes Lifeworks (volunteer), Animal Welfare Club, Free Thinkers (sort of a discussion group), Theatre, TAB- town teen library board</p>
<p>Minority- Hispanic (and some diversity is important for me)
First Generation
Lean to the left- definitely interested in politics and activism of sorts, but the schools doesn’t necessarily have to be so intense as long as there is interest shown
Live in CT, so I’m looking at schools in the New England region, maximum of about 4 hrs away</p>
<p>Aid is important, since I believe I qualify for FA but merit based is also great. My EFC said $1000.*</p>
<p>You qualify for FA, but that doesn’t mean that a school can afford to give you what you need.</p>
<p>I think you should apply to schools like Mt Holyoke which give great aid.</p>
<p>I tried looking up through the search bar (and google) schools that give great aid, however I feel like most of them I’d rule out b/c of location or out of my reach such as Tulane, Rice, UChicago etc.</p>
<p>I like the idea of Mt Holyoke, the only thing is that it’s a bit on the small side, but I’ll definitely look into it, especially since I think I’m in the range and you can’t deny the great aid. I did also see that apparently Lafayette gives good aid, and it’s not too far away. </p>
<p>Thanks for the continuous posts btw, much appreciated =)</p>
<p>Nt Holyoke is , I think, a more realistic reach for you than Wellesley. The SAT-optional schools are also more realistic.</p>
<p>It sounds as if you have not taken honors courses in most subjects? Or am I misreading? That is a major issue for top schools. </p>
<p>Even with URM status, it doesn’t sound as if your transcript and scores will be competitive at the most selective schools. For example, someone suggested that you try Dartmouth. I’ve been reading the Dartmouth board for several years now, and have seen Hispanic candidates from California with far stronger stats than yours be rejected.</p>
<p>I don’t say this to be mean; rather, to encourage you to develop a good list that will leave you with some good choices in the spring. I think the schools you are talking about now–MHC, Lafayette, Muehlenburg (sp?)–are where you should be concentrating your efforts, rather than Ivies.</p>
<p>No, I completely get what you mean. I think that’s one positive of mine, I really do have a realistic head on my shoulders.</p>
<p>I’m pretty adamant about not applying to any more extreme reaches. =P</p>
<p>I’ve been thinking about it lately, and unfortunately, even with the amazing reputation and excellent aid, women colleges are not for me. Sure, there can be surrounding co-ed schools, but I feel like the college experience just wouldn’t be the same as if I were going to a coed university, so Wellesley and Mt Holyoke are out =(</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the advice, I’m still deep in searching the other suggestions, and any other advice is very much appreciated =)</p>
<p>Mmm…to be honest, I don’t think I’d really take that route, for so many reasons (not the academic environment I’d want, would be missing out on 2 years of the college experience, etc). </p>
<p>OP – the two phrases you want to focus on are:</p>
<p>“need blind admissions”
“100% need met” </p>
<p>Gapped: this means a school that is not “100% need met” will offer you grants + work study + loans which combined with your EFC total to $50,000 when your “Cost of Attendance” is actually $58,000.</p>
<p>You also want to focus on those 100% need, Need Blind schools that keep your loans and Work Study below $6,000 per year if possible.</p>
<p>Focus on the 100% need, need blind schools. They are few … maybe 30-40 in the country. One that comes to mind that is out of your geography entirely, but where you might match stats wise, is Pitzer College in CA.</p>
<p>If only it were close by =( But yeah, I can’t consider that, opposide side of the country haha.</p>
<p>Thanks, I’m going to do a specific search google and CC wise, hopefully I come up with a good list.</p>
<p>Thanks for summing up what I need in a few phrases.</p>
<p>Can’t repeat myself again, but thank you all so much. As a first generation student with a younger sister going to college a year after me, this is all so helpful =)</p>
<p>There are probably many errors in this list… for example, I am reasonably sure that ALL FIVE of the Claremont colleges are both need blind and 100% need, yet this list only shows Pomona and Claremont McKenna, and omits Pitzer, Scripps, and Harvey Mudd.</p>