<p>Besides MIT. I'd never get in there, and if I did I'd fail out.</p>
<p>I can't remember my exact EFC, but I'm 99% sure that it's <$3k. The tuition alone at a lot of schools is almost as much or more than my family makes in a year, and I'm not a stellar student so I can't get into any of the really competitive universities, so finding one that I can afford has proved difficult.</p>
<p>I'd really like it to be a tech school, but it doesn't have to be. I'd also like it to be out of Florida (where I live), but again it doesn't have to be. I've read that the schools here aren't super generous with financial aid, though, so yeah.</p>
<p>I really don't want to be drowning in loans after graduation. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I have looked into Bright Futures, but I really don’t want to count on getting it only to find out that all of my applications to colleges were a waste because I didn’t get BF/it didn’t cover enough. So I’d like to find some colleges that I can afford without it.</p>
<p>As for my stats, I’m only a sophomore (no wait don’t click the back button!), so I don’t know for sure what I’m going to be like after junior year. However, I have been on a steady path since the beginning of this year, so I feel like the following are pretty close to how I’ll end up:</p>
<p>Mixed (black/white) female (this one is set in stone! :P) GPA: 3.79UW if I continue my trend. At least 3.7 if I don’t. Rigor of courses: All honors/AP, except for pre-calc SAT: I’ve taken a practice test and gotten ~2000. I got some books from the library, and I’m aiming for 2200+. ECs: In school: maybe one club Outside of school: I’m not sure what can count as an EC. I have hobbies that I’ve been doing for the last couple years, but it’s stuff like building things out of trash, teaching myself web design&programming languages (this one’s relevant at least), learning languages (Japanese, Korean), etc. Does any of that even count? Summer programs: Duke TIP (creative writing-9th, Algebra II-10th). I’m saving money to go to a software engineering summer program, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to.
*Volunteer work:*I’m hoping to start volunteering at a local elementary school soon, and if I do that’s all I’ll have. My parents don’t have the gas money to drive me anywhere else. Awards/Honors: Nada. Essays/Recs: I’ve always been great at writing essays, so I’m not worried about that at all. I’ve also been given great recs, but I don’t want to count on those so I’m going to assume they’ll be average. Things that might help slightly: Black dad (does that count?), first generation college, female CompSci major</p>
<p>Hopefully that can give an idea of where I should be looking. I’m not aiming for the really generous schools. I’m expecting to pay a fair bit in loans. I just don’t want to end up living with my parents after I graduate because I took out way too much.</p>
<p>The unfortunate truth is that very good need based aid requires excellent stats and the ability to get into a top college. They are the ones with the money to give. Other than that kids are mostly looking at their state schools if state grants are available.</p>
<p>That said, you look to have the stats. Google “colleges that meet 100% of need”, and you’ll have list of the Colleges you should consider.</p>
<p>If you keep up your grades and get 2200 in test scores, some schools like Carnegie Mellon, RPI, U Rochester, would be possibilities and may have merit/aid moneys for minorities/females. Look on their web sit and you can see this. But those are reach schools for anyone and when you throw in that you need money, it make them even more of a reach. Not a problem as you should throw some in the basket.</p>
<p>Where you need to focus is on a school that has some good programs in the area you like that will certainly take you even if your SAT is not where you hope it will be and your grades not quite there either, and be something you can afford. Look at Momfromtexas’s thread on Full Ride scholarships and use the technique to get some schools that are not so name brand but have some merit money that you can snag.</p>
<p>Also look at what is around you. What schools in your area, commuter schools have good computer programs? Which state schools do? Are there some good privates like Stetson, Rollins, Eckerd that you can try that would have good financial aid? Throw them in the basket too. Bright FUtures, plus PELL plus loans can take care of the commuter schools You need a bit more to cover the room and board for a state school, so you need see if FIT or other such school might ante it up for you. But have a good commuter school on your list as back up if the money does not pan out on your other schools. You have time, so look around, keep those grades up. Talk to your counselor, teachers, and maybe visit some local schools and see what they have.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how I can appear to have the stats. My ECs are terrible, and I don’t have any great awards or a 4.0 GPA to make up for that.</p>
<p>As for in state schools, I have been looking a lot, but from what I’ve seen their financial aid isn’t that impressive; I wouldn’t end up paying tons more at the more desirable, OOS private college with lots of money. The closest school to me is an hour away, and unless I get a motorcycle I won’t be able to afford the gas. I’m going to look into it a lot more. I definitely don’t know all of the colleges/universities in Florida.</p>
<p>While RPI is expensive and does not promise to meet need for all applicants, they do seem to want to attract high stats kids. My DS had his need fully met and is a sophomore in the CS department. He got the medal money plus an additional 11K in grants. The only loans he had included in the package were Stafford/Direct student loans.</p>
<p>Rochester Institute of Technology NY (RIT)
Clarkson University (NY) </p>
<p>Both schools would probably welcome a female minority student from Florida!
Winters are horrible, but you might like to check both of them out! :)</p>
I’m going to look into it a lot more. I definitely don’t know all of the colleges/universities in Florida.</p>