<p>I could really use some help and wisdom in regards to helping my sons girlfriend with her college search.
Some background: She is a rising junior at the same high school my son is graduating from (we always have a high number of students who go on to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, NCSU( along with the other state universities), as well as kids who go to Wake Forest, Duke, Georgetown (my son!) my point being that it is a solid school, whose graduates are well-prepared for college. She is an accomplished student, currently in the top 15 of her class of @380. She is a very gifted writer. Without a doubt, she is one of the most personable, charismatic, and impressive people Ive ever met, in spite of the hand life has dealt her. She will be the first person in her family to attend college. Her grandmother is her legal guardian, because both of her parents are in prison (serious drug issues). Their financial circumstances are very modest, and Im quite certain that there will not be family funds available to help her with college.
I would like to help her with her college search by serving as a sounding board, taking her to visit colleges, and gathering information that will help guide her along the way. Like a lot of kids who lack financial support, she seems to be looking at the more affordable in-state publics with lower tuition. While I definitely think they should be on the list, I really want to encourage her to consider quality private schools with strong merit/financial aid, especially ones who might more fully appreciate the special circumstances that she has had in her life.
If any of you have advice, suggestions, or can point me towards anything that you think might be helpful I would certainly appreciate it.</p>
<p>What are her test scores? If they are way up there, then she should certainly give it a go with the top ranked schools that guarantee to meet full need. I suggest that you get familiar with the forms and process to have her counselors provide the wavers for parental information, Getting a full statement of the issues on paper for the school to provide for the colleges will be a necessity. Be aware that school counselors, teachers, etc are under the gun come reference time and they can use all the help they can get for things like this, and in this young woman’s case, it is important that the issues are presented clearly.</p>
<p>If her test scores are way up there, schools like HPY are a consideration ,and generous aid might be in the offing if she can get accepted to any such schools. Schools like Georgetown, BC, Duke, Rice, Wash U,Davidson, UVA, may also be good considerations. But if her scores are not way up there, her story may not be enough to garner an accept at highly competive schools. There are a lot of sad stories out there. No shortage of them. The rarity comes in that group of kids who excell with the test scores and grades and difficult courses, to even be under consideration for such schools. </p>
<p>UNC-CH actually does outreach for those students from tough circumstances, and is a generous school in terms of meeting need. I know OOSers who have gone there under such circumstances and gotten generous aid. </p>
<p>But get all of the paperwork in terms of the best route for FAFSA/PROFILE status and Counselor telling the schools her situation, in place. Look at the schools that give the most money in aid, and add them to the list along with the local possibilities.</p>
<p>If she can get into UNC-Chapel Hill, game over.</p>
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<p>Game over makes it sound like she lost a competition. Getting into UNC-Chapel Hill is a win!</p>
<p>Because of her limited financial resources, she might be most comfortable at a state school, where the financial situations of the students vary greatly.</p>
<p>My son attended a state university. He and his friends were very careful to only choose activities that everyone could afford. I’m not sure that students at a private school would be this sensitive to the tight budgets of certain classmates.</p>
<p>If she is a top tier student with great standardized exam scores, she should consider applying to the HYP schools. These schools are exceptionally affordable for lower income families. Otherwise, stick to the state flagship schools that offer her major. If I remember correctly, Chapel Hill lacks an engineering department and that may be a big deal for her if this is her area of choice.</p>
<p>I would recommend that the very first step is to have her get into the counselor’s office as soon as possible and get the Fee Waiver set up. She is going to have a lot of costs for SAT tests, ACT tests, test score submissions, application fees, etc. She needs to get her Fee Waiver ready to go or the cost of just getting ready will be overwhelming.</p>
<p>Probably should get this done before school office closes for the summer, if possible.</p>
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<p>You’re probably not accustomed to sports terminology.</p>
<p>In video games, “game over” is a negative term, meaning the player has “lost” and the session has therefore ended.</p>
<p>But in sports, “game over” means someone has won and therefore there is no need to continue playing.</p>
<p>Sort of like “game, set and match” in tennis.</p>
<p>" would recommend that the very first step is to have her get into the counselor’s office as soon as possible and get the Fee Waiver set up. She is going to have a lot of costs for SAT tests, ACT tests, test score submissions, application fees, etc. She needs to get her Fee Waiver ready to go or the cost of just getting ready will be overwhelming.</p>
<p>Probably should get this done before school office closes for the summer, if possible. "</p>
<p>This and all the other stuff I was saying about the statements to accompany her fin aid apps as well as the admissions apps.</p>
<p>It’s fun to help a kid apply to HPY and the like and do that part of the apps. The pain in the neck is the above stuff that is going to be essential in making college happen for her. You are generous to be helping her through this, because it is truly onerous work… You may be in an area where she is the rare bird with those circumstances. The problem is that that is not the case. There are many, many in that situation with every variation of sad stories, and it is critical for those kids to have there paperwork in place when it comes to the money game. Getting anyone to pay for you is tough, very tough. And she will have to have the numbers, test scores, class rank, and the paperwork get this cranking.</p>
<p>If her parents are in prison is there even any income? I am not sure for FAFSA if the Grandma’s income is considered, there are probably more out there who know better so my guess she needs to look at colleges who will cover full need.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the replies! I wasn’t even aware that there is primary form that can be completed to assist with fee waivers for testing, scores, and apps. I had assumed that one would have to jump through hoops every time one of these things came up - so thank you for that information! I plan on sitting down with her this weekend and sharing what I’m learning here.</p>
<p>I agree that UNC-CH should be on her list, and I’d be more than surprised if she wasn’t accepted there. Beyond that, she would be happiest on the east coast. I know she wants to pursue opportunities outside of NC. Her grandmother, who is a lovely lady, is very intimidated by the process, and seems especially overwhelmed by the various pricetags. I hope that I can help make this feel simpler to her, and also offer anecdotal evidence of the possibilities that exist.</p>
<p>I hear you in terms of there being lots of kids with challenging circumstances out there - a very sad reality. Whatever I can do to help her in the process is absolutely my pleasure.</p>
<p>Has she thought about questbridge? I don’t think she should rule out expensive private schools only because she thinks she won’t fit in. I think she would find students who would not leave her out due to her financial circumstances at HYP etc</p>
<p>And Posse. Posse Scholarships aren’t just for minorities. It sounds like she could use such a support system.</p>
<p>I think we would all love to help her. Can you give us more information?</p>
<p>Amherst is another school that meets full need without loans.</p>
<p>I agree with looking into Questbridge. The application process can be grueling but the payoff is worth it. For low income, high stats kids with great recommendations from GCs and teachers, it’s a shortcut to a lot of tier 1 schools. There’s a Questbridge subforum in the Financial Aid forum here on CC. Check that out as well as the QB website.</p>
<p>Fortunately, UNC-CH is one of the best state universities for meeting need for in-state students.</p>
<p>She may want to check the other state universities in NC as well (try the net price calculators). Of course, “meet full need” private schools should be considered. Note that “meet full need” schools do expect a student contribution (usually a few thousand of work and/or Stafford loan).</p>
<p>So can schools with automatic or competitive full ride merit scholarships:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15895768-post264.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15895768-post264.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15889078-post29.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15889078-post29.html</a></p>
<p>NC State’s Pack Promise program is similiar to UNC-CH’s Carolina Covenant </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ncsu.edu/future-students/can-i-afford-it/financial-aid/[/url]”>http://www.ncsu.edu/future-students/can-i-afford-it/financial-aid/</a></p>
<p>So that’s what “PackMom” means! After 7 years . . . .</p>
<p>[FAQs</a> for Application Fee Waiver Form](<a href=“http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/feewaiver/Pages/default.aspx]FAQs”>http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/feewaiver/Pages/default.aspx)</p>
<p>Fee waiver from NACAC for school’s app fees.</p>
<p>[College</a> Application Fee Waivers](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/fee-waivers]College”>College Application – Counselors | College Board)</p>
<p>College Board fee waivers</p>
<p>[SAT</a> Fee Waivers](<a href=“The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board”>The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board)</p>
<p>SAT fee waivers</p>
<p>[Ventures</a> Scholars Program | Member Institution Fee Waiver](<a href=“http://www.venturescholar.org/portals/feewaiverlist.php]Ventures”>http://www.venturescholar.org/portals/feewaiverlist.php)</p>
<p>Venture scholars fee waivers</p>
<p>College board fee waivers are limited to 4 and the NACAC RECOMMENDS nor more than 4 BUT you can use more than 4. So at least 8, NACAC can be used more however. GC will have to sign off on it.</p>
<p>Some schools will grant their own fee waivers so you would not have to use up the College Board ones or NACAC. I know Swat, Colby, Amherst, Williams and few others offered them to my kiddos. Just ask and the worst they say is no.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>PS like Packmom we too are in NC- GO WOLFPACK!</p>
<p>You might want to include some women’s colleges on her list. They often can be very supportive and generous.</p>
<p>-1- Make sure your S is okay with you helping his girlfriend
-2- Does she want your help, and to what extent?
-3- Set up counselor visit at HS, with her approving in writing her okay with you being a part of the meeting…or you just going along with GF and grandma if necessary. Discuss GPA, leadership, etc along with reasonable college options there.
-4- Get those fee waiver forms completed for SAT, ACT, SATII’s + college apps and get tests scheduled. Best “first ACT/SAT” time would’ve been in May already, as she’d have school-related things fresh in her mind…taking in early fall is a disadvantage I think as kids have had the summer off and haven’t been thinking about school stuff.
-5- Prep, prep, prep for the ACT and/or SAT. High % of kids don’t check workbook out of library and take sample tests or learn the test styles + tips. They should!
-6- Get into Questbridge program, where she’ll get a lot of addt’l assistance
-7- Make list of possible colleges, rated by potential for getting accepted there + her areas of interest (MARKETABLE fields / areas, NOT majors like art history of eastern European studies, etc). Make sure that among them there are several reaches (HPY?), and several safeties. Those safeties, given her financial situation, should probably be in-state public universities.
-8- I agree that if her grades, etc are there then she should go for HYP or equiv institution that gives full financial need that’s all in the form of grants, not loans.</p>
<p>Can I ask what her stats are, aside from rank of 15/380? How about GPA weighted + unweighted, any AP classes (+ scores), any leadership, and any hooks beyond “first gen college”?</p>
<p>Given her unique family situation + fact that she’s first gen, she has an opportunity to get into some fabulous colleges if she has the grades, etc.</p>
<p>P.S. Only apply for reach colleges that meet full financial need in grants, not loans! Example: Georgetown would end up fulfilling her financial needs with fair % of loans, whereas most ivies would be all grants.</p>