Regarding Skidmore (which may be a good safety depending on your major), while they advertise few and highly competitive scholarships, they have been known to do preferential packaging, especially for students majoring in STEM and showing financial need. Out of 19 applications , they offered the best package to my D. The only school that would have been less COA was an ivy-level university.
Did your parents say they can pay $15k/year on a salary that’s under $65k? Make sure you confirm that with them. Is that with or without the federal student loan? If it doesn’t include the loan, the SUNYs are financial safeties for you.
I mean 15,000 without any loans from the school or government
what is URM? and I am first generation
@MurphyBrown Ok thank you. So yes, I am first generation
Have you considered one of the women’s colleges? (I’m guessing you are a women with “nicole” in your username). Most, if not all of them, give good financial aid to families in need and they seem to like first generation students. Wellesley and Barnard are the most competitive but not out of your league. With your stats and the right approach on your application, you have a good chance of getting into Smith and Bryn Mawr. Mount Holyoke is slightly easier to get into, but also an excellent school. You should check them out. My daughter is at Smith and really enjoying it. When I first suggested a women’s college, she was not enthusiastic. But they ended up being her top picks in the end.
@Springbird Yes I was considering Wellesley, but I decided that I really wanted a Co-ed environment. As far as a hook does aside from first generation, do you think that my extra-curricular activities would qualify as hooks? Just some stuff about me: President of the Italian Honor society, heavily involved in vocal activities (After school choirs, NYSSMA, All-County, etc.) Habitat for Humanity member, Several cancer related community services (both my mother and brother had cancer) including being district chair for Relay for Life which is a year-long cancer fundraiser, Several honor societies (Science, Italian, English, Music, National), Class Club, Women in Science award, involved in Advanced Science Research, took Spanish and Italian, worked several jobs, etc.
Did your parents say they’d spend $15k/year? We’re NYS residents with a similar income (~$60k) and that number seems high. Please ask so you’re not disappointed in the spring.
Vassar is generous with need aid.
“@Springbird Yes I was considering Wellesley, but I decided that I really wanted a Co-ed environment. As far as a hook does aside from first generation, do you think that my extra-curricular activities would qualify as hooks? Just some stuff about me: President of the Italian Honor society, heavily involved in vocal activities (After school choirs, NYSSMA, All-County, etc.) Habitat for Humanity member, Several cancer related community services (both my mother and brother had cancer) including being district chair for Relay for Life which is a year-long cancer fundraiser, Several honor societies (Science, Italian, English, Music, National), Class Club, Women in Science award, involved in Advanced Science Research, took Spanish and Italian, worked several jobs, etc.”
None of those are hooks. A hook would be something like being a national-level champion at one of those things.
Yes, I have to agree with @chzbrgr. A true hook includes the types of things that @MurphyBrown listed above. However, this does not mean that you don’t have a shot at being accepted into some wonderful schools. I just think you need to be realistic about your odds of getting into the tippy top schools like the Ivies and the very top LACS (which would include Wellesley - it is very competitive). The fact is that there are many, many students with great stats applying to these schools, but there are only so many slots available. Here’s an example: for the class of 2020, Brown University had 1603 high school valedictorians apply. And each of those valedictorians likely had a list of great ECs just like you. Brown only accepted 306 of them (19%) (source: their website). There’s a lot of competition out there. Hooks tend to be the things that differentiate the applicants who end up being accepted from the rest of the pack of very, very qualified applicants.
But here’s the thing - just create a balanced list that includes a number of match schools and two safeties that you are very likely to be accepted to and that your family can afford and that you would be okay with attending (SUNY Geneseo might be a great choice!). Then you can add the reach schools and see what happens. Maybe your application will speak to an admissions officer. They are the ones who decide, not us. We just want to make sure you go into the process with open eyes.
And check out that list of schools that @MYOS1634 and the others offered which might give you merit! Those are great ideas for schools you have a good chance of being accepted to, possibly with merit aid. Definitely include schools like those as matches or safeties, depending on the school.
I mentioned the women’s colleges because with their more limited pool of applicants (eliminating men cuts the competition in half), they are more likely to accept strong students who might not have a hook, AND most of them meet 100% financial need (as defined by them, of course - that’s always the catch!). For merit aid, Smith, Bryn Mawr, and Mount Holyoke each offer some, while Wellesley and Barnard do not. All of the women’s colleges are in a consortium/partnership with coed school(s), too, although it would be important to visit and confirm that their environments are right for you.
You are great student and you will likely have a solid application. Just make sure you are smart about creating a realistic list of colleges. Good luck!
You’ve got a great profile and application, but of course the competition is great at any college that admits 20% or fewer applicants.
Look into Bryn Mawr and Barnard - there’s easy opportunity to interact with men. women’s colleges are great to develop leadership and have a fiercely loyal network of alumnae, which is very useful for first generation students.
With an EFC 4000 run the NPC and look for meet-need schools that provide you with a net cost below 10k. (with 4-5k from your parents, a subsidized loan, and a part time job, you’re good.)
I think you have some good choices given your achievements and focus on full-need schools. Good luck. Please let us know how things turn out!
I’d also suggest Alabama. Close to automatic full ride. Much better than WNEC or Hartford.