So far, I have about one “true” safety: BMCC. Estimate is only 9.3K, which I can definitely afford.
I’d prefer schools in CA. NYC schools would be great, & NJ schools would be useful.
I can’t find any true “safeties” in-state. I’m considering Montclair. My GPA is above 75%, although SAT is under 25%. I know many “average” students who’ve been admitted, though.
NJ Resident, Female, White (15% Hispanic)
3.4/3.5 GPA, Regular Classes
Financial aid needed, eligible for Pell Grant. Single parent household, first generation student. EFC is about 2K.
1410 SAT (360 Math, 490 CR, 560 Writing) Re-taking in November, aiming for 1500-1600+
Volunteered with an animal rescue, church daycare, and online English tutoring service. (Need to get hours confirmed)
EC: Currently: Dance (10 yrs), may join yearbook. Past: Yearbook, Community Service, Cooking, Martial Arts
You may want to look into test-optional schools. Here they are for NJ;
Beth Medrash Govoha Lakewood NJ
Drew University Madison NJ
Montclair State University Montclair NJ
Rabbinical College of America Morristown NJ
Rowan University3 Glassboro NJ
Talmudical Academy of New Jersey Adelphia NJ
The College of New Jersey 4 Ewing Township NJ
Thomas Edison State College Trenton NJ
Look into Rider University. May not be a safety, but you stand a decent chance of admission. Also look into Fairleigh Dickinson, Monmouth, Centenary College, William Paterson, and Kean.
I echo everyone else regarding test-optional colleges. Your test scores will hurt you almost everywhere. I don’t think the Rabbinical/Talmudic colleges make much sense for this OP. Maybe Caldwell or Ramapo.
@woogzmama ah, I forgot about Caldwell. Totally forgot about Caldwell.
OP, also look at Bloomfield, Felician, Georgian Court (all of which would be safeties/low matches), and Stockton (high match). The aforementioned Kean would also be a safety, as would Caldwell. Ramapo would be a match. Really, look into every single NJ college mentioned on here except for the Rabbinical/Talmudic colleges (which I admittedly had never even heard of until this thread). Rutgers NB would reject you on the spot; Camden and Newark shouldn’t be too difficult, though.
New Jersey City University would be an easy safety for you.
@LBad96 I’ve considered all of those. They’re all very expensive for in-state (20-30K, some with no R&B. I could attend school in CA for less!) Kean is a good price, but I’m not sure if it’s a good school. It’s also next to Elizabeth, which isn’t a great area. (my boyfriend lives there) @csdad Thank you. I’m Catholic, so some of those wouldn’t work for me. The college of NJ doesn’t have my major, but Montclair is my #1 in-state school. Thomas Edison isn’t expensive, although I’m not a fan of South Jersey. I’ll check out Caldwell, too! @woogzmama Thank you. If I have a 1500/1600, would that still hurt my chances? I’ve also been considering Ramapo, but I prefer the Montclair area & type of people.
@newjerseygirl98 I’m thinking that you would be VERY hard-pressed to find CA schools that cost less than in-state schools for an NJ student.
Of course, Kean isn’t great at all. Outside of Stockton (3 stars out of 5), none of the schools that I suggested are any good at all. But your low, low SAT would hurt you at most OOS schools. My suggestion to you would be to obviously get that planned 1600 of yours eliminate some of my suggestions; if I were you, I’d shoot for a 1700 to REALLY open up some more doors and choices for you. If you get below a 1600, don’t leave anything to chance. Play it safe, apply to most of the schools in this thread (do check out TCNJ and Drew as test-optional alternatives), and you can transfer out after a year or two if you want to (assuming your academic record is up to par).
@Lbad98 I just noticed in your previous post, you named NJCU. I’ve been considering that, but they don’t have social work, although they do have sociology (will have to take extra classes for a MSW).
My CSULA net price (9K, no R&B) is less than my nets at all of these colleges, (after FA), except Montclair. It’s about the same as my Thomas Edison net. I’m definitely considering attending an in-state school & transferring after a year or two.
Drew has sociology, again I’m not sure how that would work. My net price is 31K, with no R&B, which seems high for in-state! (This is w/ a 20K merit scholarship!)
I’ll aim for a 1700! (My boyfriend got a 1700, so I’ve been hoping to score higher, haha). Thank you.
@newjerseygirl98 oh, yeah, I forgot that most of the schools I suggested are private! Still, though, don’t count on any of the CSUs giving you any aid; California publics are notorious for favoring their in-state students for acceptance and/or FA. Speaking from experience (I am also a New Jerseyan who will attend an OOS public), the best you could hope for besides any Pell Grant is a loan. Rather, a lot of loans. If you do manage to gain admittance to a CSU school, you should apply for as many outside scholarships as possible. Also try to apply for the school-specific scholarship if they don’t give one to you at the time of admission; that’s one of my personal regrets.
Of course, this is all contingent on that potential 1700. If you score less than that, don’t bother applying to any CSUs.
@mom2collegekids My EFC was about 2K-3K. I’m planning on working in college, but I’m not sure how much I could pay yet. Yes, although I only seem him about once a year. He’s very mean to me & my mom. I really hope they don’t ask for his income, because although he makes almost 3x my moms salary, I doubt he’ll be contributing. (He doesn’t pay for some things he’s supposed to now, such as ECs…)
@Lbad98 It’s okay! I’ve heard that so often here! I’m looking at CSULA, which is my most realistic option with social work. I’m in the mid-range right now, CSULA seems to be the easiest to get into. But, I know for OOS they favor students with high scores. My NP said they’d give about 2K a year. But, for NJ Tag, I’d MAYBE receive only 2,724! My school isn’t eligible for the Urban Scholars, which I feel is unfair (My high school is in an Abott District)!
I am eligible for the Pell Grant, and luckily my bank gives student loans up to 120K. If they can give this much, I’m sure we’d be able to get about 8K a year. I’m planning on working in college to help with the loans.
As a non-California resident, how did you get a $9,000 net price?
Tuition alone is $6,343 plus the additional non-California-resident tuition of $11,160 (30 semester units at $372 per unit) for a total of $17,503 per year. CSU provides no financial aid for non-California-residents, so even if you get maximum Pell grant of $5,730, that still leaves $11,773 just for tuition. Then add living expenses ($12,627 in the dorms there), books (estimated $1,809), and misc expenses (estimated $2,754), and you are way over $9,000 per year.
Even if you have relatives near CSULA who will let you live there and commute to CSULA, there will be some costs involved (food and utilities at least) that you or your parents need to consider (either pay yourself or reimburse them).
@uclbalumnus My total was about 19K, with books & credit fees. After the Pell Grant, it’d be 14K. I forgot FAFSA uses the Stafford loan. So, it’d really be 9K, with the loan needing to be paid back.
I’m planning on renting a room, or sharing an apt with other students. This would be much cheaper from the rates I’ve seen. I’m going to work during college, it’d be impossible to attend if I didn’t! My mom will also send money monthly (a few hundred a month). I know food adds up quickly, so this will be helpful.
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My CSULA net price (9K, no R&B) is less than my nets at all of these colleges, (after FA), except Montclair. It’s about the same as my Thomas Edison net. I’m definitely considering attending an in-state school & transferring after a year or two.
am eligible for the Pell Grant, and luckily my bank gives student loans up to 120K. If they can give this much, I’m sure we’d be able to get about 8K a year. I’m planning on working in college to help with the loans.
@uclbalumnus My total was about 19K, with books & credit fees. After the Pell Grant, it’d be 14K. I forgot FAFSA uses the Stafford loan. So, it’d really be 9K, with the loan needing to be paid back.
I’m planning on renting a room, or sharing an apt with other students. This would be much cheaper from the rates I’ve seen. I’m going to work during college, it’d be impossible to attend if I didn’t! My mom will also send money monthly (a few hundred a month). I know food adds up quickly, so this will be helpful.
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You are borrowing too much. I doubt your mom’s income will qualify to cosign the bank loans.
I think you’re underestimating how much sharing an apt costs. It’s not just rent, there are utilities, wifi, cable, food, and other costs. It will add at least $12k to your costs…plus food.
Your mom will be losing child support, so she may find it difficult to send you a few hundred a month.
Seems like all of the NJ publics and community colleges have in-state tuition+books that is less than that, before applying any Pell grants or other financial aid. I still do not see how any CSU as an out-of-state student would be lower cost.
Still, though, don’t count on any of the CSUs giving you any aid; California publics are notorious for favoring their in-state students for acceptance and/or FA. Speaking from experience (I am also a New Jerseyan who will attend an OOS public), the best you could hope for besides any Pell Grant is a loan. Rather, a lot of loans. If you do manage to gain admittance to a CSU school, you should apply for as many outside scholarships as possible. Also try to apply for the school-specific scholarship if they don’t give one to you at the time of admission; that’s one of my personal regrets.