School suggestions? Journalism-Low GPA-Strong ECs

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a male junior at a 1500-student public high school in Oregon. </p>

<p>I'm currently looking at University of Missouri, Ithaca, and SUNY New Paltz. I'm interested in a career in journalism. </p>

<p>I'd especially like to hear about "close but far" schools, in terms of distance from Oregon. However, I'll take any and all suggestions! </p>

<p>I definitely want it to feel like I'm on a campus, rather than two skyscrapers in the middle of a big city. I have nothing against going to school in a big city, as long as the campus feels like one. </p>

<p>Grade Info</p>

<p>Middle school:
Spanish 1-2, Algebra 1-2. Pass credit for both. </p>

<p>Freshman year:
Geometry (B,C), Acting 1-2 (A,B), PE (A,A), Spanish 3-4 Honors (C,C), English (A,B), World History (C,D), Biology (C,D). GPA: 2.64</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
Chemistry (F,D), TA (P,P), Acting 3-4 (B,B), Algebra 3-4 (F,D), Newspaper (A,A), US History (C,D), Honors English (A,D). GPA: 2.0</p>

<p>[Cumulative GPA: 2.35]</p>

<p>Junior schedule:
Honors English, Algebra 3-4, Health, Yearbook, Political Economy, Newspaper (Editor Credit), Chemistry. </p>

<p>Although my Fs in Algebra & Chem will remain on my transcript, they will be removed from my GPA. </p>

<p>Projected senior schedule:
Functions-Stats-Trig, AP Literature, AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, Newspaper. Maybe yearbook if I can stand it. </p>

<p>Family/Financial situation:
Divorced single mother, three younger siblings, free/reduced lunch program. Absolutely no money saved for college. </p>

<p>ECs/points of interest:</p>

<p>-Outdoor School Student Leader (Camp counselor for a week each semester for 6th graders, teaching environmental science and maintaining a cabin. I receive a "pass" 0.5 elective credit for this. This is easily my favorite EC.) 10,11,12</p>

<p>-School Newspaper 10,11,12 (Editor 11/12)</p>

<p>-Published on The Huffington Post 11</p>

<p>-Yearbook 11 (Maybe 12)</p>

<p>-Regional religious youth organization officer 10,11,12</p>

<p>-DoSomething.org National Youth Advisory Council member (At the time of my acceptance, only 15 of over 200 applicants were accepted) 10,11</p>

<p>-Nordstrom BP. Fashion Board 10 (Considering not reporting)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Look at Syracuse.</p>

3

<p>

You would be best off looking instate. All the schools listed are going to cost a pretty penny and your grades will not warrant any merit aid. Those schools that would offer great FA are highly selective and you probably would not be admitted.</p>

4

<p>Erin’s Dad is right. Your stats aren’t high enough for admittance into the schools that give great aid. ECs do not make up for low stats.</p>

<p>Those OOS publics aren’t going to give you much at all. You need to use the various schools’ online Net Price Calculators…you’ll see that these schools won’t be affordable.</p>

<p>Your best choices will likely be instate publics. Doesn’t the state of Oregon offer residents state aid?</p>

<p>I know that this is probably disappointing, but there isn’t much aid out there. The few schools that have a lot of aid to give only accept kids with much higher stats.</p>

<p>The reality is that most schools have little aid to give regardless of how low income a student is. </p>

<p>What is your SAT or ACT score?</p>

5

<p>I plan on taking the SAT in March and the ACT in April or May. I’m determined to score highly. </p>

<p>My junior year will bring up my GPA. The last thing I want is to stay in Oregon or to start at a CC.</p>

6

<p>Fellow high school journalist here! I think you should definitely look at at the University of Montana. Before you disregard this, Montana has a fantastic journalism program and it was actually our editor-in-chief from two years ago’s top pick. In addition, since you reside in Oregon, you should check out the Western Undergraduate Exchange program. UMontana is a participant and essentially, if you get into the school, you will only have to pay twice the instate tuition, instead of the OOS-price. You should also think about looking for other schools within WUE if you really don’t want to stay in Oregon.</p>

<p>[Western</a> Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) | Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education](<a href=“http://wiche.edu/wue]Western”>http://wiche.edu/wue)</p>

7

<p>^Thanks! I actually forgot about WUE. I’ll definitely look at Montana :slight_smile: What do you think of the social/campus life?</p>

8

<p>*
Family/Financial situation:
Divorced single mother, three younger siblings, free/reduced lunch program. Absolutely no money saved for college. *</p>

<p>I actually forgot about WUE.</p>

<p>Even if you aren’t paying the full OOS rate, the total COA (20,000) for a WUE school like Wyoming isn’t likely going to be low enough for you to get enough aid to cover the costs. </p>

<p>You need to use the Net Price Calculators </p>

<p>When I used UWyoming’s NPC and put in a low income as an OOS student, it only showed getting a Pell Grant5550 and 5500 in student loans!</p>

<p>Cumulative GPA: 2.35…
My junior year will bring up my GPA.</p>

<p>With a cum GPA of 2.35 after two years, if you get a 4.0 this year, your cum will be a 2.8. </p>

<p>Use various school’s NPC’s to figure out where you’d get the aid you’d need. It sounds like you’ll be using fee waivers for your apps (and I think you’re limited to like 4 or so), so you don’t want to be wasting your time and your waivers on schools that will not work.</p>

<p>Do not rule out Oregon’s publics. They may end being your only affordable choices because of state aid.</p>

9

<p>My cum. GPA will end up being different, as my failed courses from last year will not be counted into my GPA, since they’re being retaken. </p>

<p>Thanks for the advice.
Anyway, UO actually has a really interesting journalism program. I’m really considering it now.</p>