<p>Your posts are scattered and confusing, and you are being a bit rude to people who are trying to help you. Hope you come across better in your interviews and applications… you don’t seem to want the advice you have been given.</p>
<p>I do admit my last post was rude. But I take it personally when people say I don’t research/ work hard. I started this thread so I could know some schools that would be good for me. I wasn’t Going to base all my decisions on the responses I got. This is just so I could get pointed in the right direction, for the beginnings of college searching.
I would have had some solid stats posted, but then I’d have to post this thread a lot later. I’m seriously worrying about college, and I was hoping some of the responses id get would destress me, but after hearing my nonprofit (and my other extra curriculars that I’ve put a lot of effort and time into) , is apparently nothing spectacular, I’m getting more stressed
Sorry, I do appreciate the responses. I’m just getting really stressed ATM. Sorry for being rude.</p>
<p>Based on what you stated about your parents’ willingness to contribute, your list is likely to have the following realistic choices:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Safeties with automatic full or near-full ride scholarships.</p></li>
<li><p>Other schools not prestigious enough for your parents but which have competitive full ride scholarships for you; these may be match or reach schools, where the match or reach assessment is based on the scholarship, not admission.</p></li>
<li><p>Schools prestigious enough for your parents, which would likely be reach schools based on your 3.5 GPA. Even then, it is possible for them not to be affordable, if you and your two siblings all get into prestigious-enough, but very expensive, schools.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Regarding ECs, their importance is magnified mainly when you get to the super-selective schools, where lots of applicants have extremely high GPAs (significantly higher than 3.5), ranks, and test scores. But at less selective schools, grades, rank, and/or test scores typically dominate the selection process, with ECs typically being smaller additions.</p>
<p>Whether Mom and Dad want to pay their share, how much they are willing to pay, is someting you must clarify with them, ASAP. Many kids are visiting schools now and over summer. The financial openness will allow you and the sibs to target the right places. This should be done now. Learn about Fafsa and CSS Profile. (And, it’s not just income that determines aid- it’s assets, too.)</p>
<p>But, you have to find target schools. It’s not enough to ask on CC. Whether or not you have done some other research, you haven’t said anything yet that reflects that. Go get a Fiske or PR to see the wide range of colleges, to start to narrow down. Dig into the colleges’ websites, look at their freshman profile, see if you are in the top 25% or outside it. Find safeties you can love- and afford, after talking with Mom and Dad. See which schools would offer merit aid for 3.5 or 2000. </p>
<p>Many good colleges want bright, motivated compassionate, activated 3.5/2000 kids- and many will give URMs an extra look. But, you need to have some research behind you to id those schools. Then, dig deeper to learn their admissions realities and aid policies. Run their NPCs to get an idea of what their aid “might” be. Rinse and repeat. When you see you can’t match WUSTL or aid is crappy at BU, start over.</p>
<p>This is how you empower yourself. The faster you do all this, the sooner you can get back on CC for insider or side info about a few schools. You’ve been asking for advice, pretty much the same question, for nearly two years. Now is crunch time.</p>
<p>You have everythng to gain from all this and nothing to lose. If this work sounds like a lot, it’s only the short version. Good luck, but get started.</p>
<p>Perhaps an initial stint at one of the satellite campuses of a reputed university before transferring to their main campus might be a feasible option. </p>
<p>Does your high school transcript display both unweighted and weighted GPA? Some high schools’ transcripts show only weighted GPA. Some universities recalculate GPAs (Michigan, Chicago etc.), while some don’t (Pittsburgh, Miami etc). </p>
<p>With the high rigor of your coursework, and with excellent ECs, your best bet would be to:</p>
<p>(i) improve your SAT/ACT scores - you still have time!
(ii) Get high scores (4s & 5s) in your upcoming APs
(iii) Apply to either satellite campuses of ‘reach’ Universities, or colleges that consider weighted GPA mainly, and take a more holistic admissions approach.
(iv) Reach out to admission counselors of colleges of your interest, and who are assigned to your city/region; they may advocate on your behalf, since they may have better info about your high school’s rigor & caliber. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>