<p>You’ll have to act quickly and efficiently. You need to have a frank conversation with mom and dad asap about what money they can promise you. You need a number and they need a number. Then you will need specifics from them about their finances: W-2s, savings, cost/value/equity of home, other investments or real estate or businesses they might have, etc. Once you have a list of a dozen schools, take these figures and run net price calculators for each school you think you could attend. No sense having ambitions your family cannot afford. While you’re at it, try to explain to your parents why you want to explore the world while still understanding their concerns for you. God’s path for you might not be their path, but it is perhaps God’s path and they could allow you some time to explore it to see if it is right for you.</p>
<p>Now you need 12 schools (your family can afford) to investigate at length. You’ll whittle these down to 5 to 8 to which to apply. I think you’re smart to expect some culture shock, and a judicious, mature 18yo would not think ONLY in terms of brand name or far away schools where the shock might be severe. Give Yale the benefit of the doubt, however: if they didn’t think you belonged there they wouldn’t invite you to apply. Nonetheless, it’s important to have a range of schools, sometimes phrased as reach-match-safety. So if Yale is one of your reaches, let’s say, you can certainly find an equally prestigious LAC as a second reach school: a school like Amherst, Bowdoin, Pomona, etc. But also run the net price calculator on any of these schools and any of the 4 schools you’re going to list for each spot along the reach-match-safety spectrum. My point earlier is that you ought to consider LACs because you may find that you need the support. I think the “women’s” colleges I named range from reach-y to match for you, and you might find there women (and men, in some cases) who have been “you” at one point in their lives. Certainly these schools are brand name, too. (I’m sticking with your ambitions, you see.) On the other hand, if women’s schools are not for you or these are too far from home or you want some medium-sized schools, too, draw your match schools from very good medium-sized places like Tulane or Wake Forest. Then for safeties consider some medium-sized and some LACs: I agree with SouthernHope that this is where the state school or at least a not-too-distant medium-sized school can come onto the list. Perhaps an Honors College or Program at a state school. UGeorgia has a good one. Others can better pick these since I’m not from the South and not particularly good at finding safeties :+) </p>
<p>Having compiled your Do-able Dozen, having run the net price calculator, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you can afford and can substitute for some of these schools candidates that your family is more likely to be able to afford. Now, investigate these schools like crazy within the time limits you have, and that means calling the admissions officers from each prospective college. Such personal contact can provide information that will save you time (because time is one of the things you’re up against this semester). Have a pencil and writing pad next to you. Get advice from the AOs about how you fit at their schools, whether or not their schools will have an interest in you, some idea about costs of attendance. If they think you’re not right for them, ask them where you might be better suited. These people know colleges better than you or I ever will, so pay attention when they speak. </p>
<p>You’re not going to have much time to visit these schools before January 1st when many of the applications are due (it would be nice if a couple of your schools had app due dates in February). Be prepared to pay to send your SAT scores to your final list schools. Be prepared also to pay 40-75 dollars for the application, unless you can score an application waiver by officially visiting the campus or from some admissions officers (don’t be afraid to ask). </p>
<p>What schools mean when they say they will pay “100% of demonstrated need” is not what any of us could wish it meant, so ask the admissions officers about this. Remember, they really like college and high school students. They’re working at a college, after all, because they really enjoyed their college years and the people they befriended there. They’re going to like you, too, so don’t be afraid of them and do CALL them. Ask them too about what to major in and what you can do with those majors after you graduate. You’re going to change a lot the next four years, and your interests will change, and you want to go to a college where helping students to re-define themselves is something that college specializes in. If I can be of any further service to you, please ask. I apologize for any mistakes or poor judgement I may have made.</p>