<p>Thank you, that’s what I found too. The reach private schools end up being cheaper than UCs though I should be able to pay UC rates with loans and work study. I’m not looking at any ED choices, only EA. And while the schools people suggested before are fine, I don’t think I’ll be able to afford oos tuition which is why I’m sort of forced to apply only to UCs and reach schools, which is fine. I was unable to find any affordable EA options other than MIT Cal Tech and Chicago, which is why I made this thread. </p>
<p>I know CCers really dislike it when people say this but I honestly think Berkeley and UCLA can be considered safeties. 50 people got into Berkeley this year, 46 to LA. Our school acceptance average gpas were 4.26 for UCLA, 4.25 for Berkeley. Mine is 4.53. Average ACTs were 32 for both. I find it hard to believe I’ll be rejected from both.</p>
<p>You could always apply to more UC’s. By the time you get to UCI, I figure they’d meet full aid for you by some combination of fin aid and merit.</p>
<p>Yeah I’ll definitely apply to UCSD also, maybe UCSB</p>
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<p>Given the holistic consideration of essays, and the fact that the engineering majors and divisions are more selective than the school overall, it would be unwise to consider them as safeties, unless you are willing to start at a community college as your true safety. Sign up for the admission guarantee at UCR if you want a 100% certain UC safety: <a href=“New Students | Apply | Undergraduate Admissions | UC Riverside”>https://vcsaweb.ucr.edu/gap/index.aspx</a> .</p>
<p>Re: UMSL</p>
<p>UMSL is likely to be too expensive anyway for a non-Missouri low income resident.</p>
<p>I think IF I really do get rejected from every reach and from all 3 UCs, I would rather go to a community college than UC Riverside</p>
<p>If that is true, then you should write “Safety: [name] Community College” in your list of colleges whenever you post it so that people won’t tell you to find a safety for your list.</p>
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<p>I certainly hope the community college route was not serious. The community college route is a very viable route for a lot of people but, with the stats you have posted, there are 4 year universities out there that are going to be very affordable for you and provide a much more intellectually stimulating environment than a CC.</p>
<p>For your safeties, forget about the prestige and focus on finding schools with strong engineering programs that also have a variety of other programs if you decide not to do engineering.</p>
<p>You can get intellectual stimulation outside of school, though. In CA, CC’s are a good way to get in to UC’s. I knew a few Cal grads who went that route, and they weren’t dummies.</p>
<p>In fact, you can argue that you’d find more profs who actually care about teaching at a CC than at a large research university.</p>
<p>Don’t be so quick to dismiss the community college experience, WAPacker. Some systems, like those in California and Virginia are full of very talented students who are taught by rigorous professors. I know more than one alumnus of elite universities and law schools that began their studies at community college.</p>
<p>The problem is most OOS strong engineering but less selective programs are not going to be affordable.</p>
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@mom2collegekids I’m fairly confused… so are net price calculators inaccurate? I literally took my parents tax form, filled in the lines that the NPC indicated straight from the forms, and got an EFC of $500. He does have a business but it’s worth almost nothing because he started it only 2 years ago. Also, the business is based in Korea ( my dad lives there now) so I’m not sure how that works out.
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<p>the NPCs are NOT often accurate for those who own businesses. also do your parents own a home in Korea where your dad lives? and a home here?</p>
<p>Perhaps, I am wrong to stereotype community colleges. I do recognize that many successful people started in community colleges but I also have observed that, in general, community college completion rates are less than stellar. I would prefer to be surrounded by classmates that are going to challenge me and be around to graduate with me.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids No, we don’t own a house here or there.</p>
<p>Eh. The 4-year graduation rate at 'Bama is 41%. At LSU, it’s 39% (overall graduation rates are still under 70%), so it’s not like all the classmates who start with you at Big State U graduate with you anyway.</p>
<p>Not sure why you look down on CC’s so much (I mean, granted, I had the same attitude when I was younger, but not now and you’re older). In CA, CC’s are seen as a respectable way to go to college.</p>
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<p>YOUR definition of need and the colleges’ definitions can be wildly different. If your dad makes $100k but writes off $70k, your taxes will show an adjusted gross income of $30k. BUT, colleges have their own financial aid forms, so maybe they’ll add $60k back in and count your dad’s income as $90k. That’s why net price calculators are not reliable for families who own small businesses.</p>
<p>I guess my experience and observations have not been as positive as yours. Also if one goes to a CC first and then transfers to a four year university they seldom get any significant merit aid. With no merit aid, the last two years can end up costing more than one could have spent for all 4 years at a university. I think that when we are talking safeties and one has the stats of the OP there are better options than the CC’s I am familiar with.</p>
<p>I agree that the 4 year graduation rates at Bama and LSU are nothing to write home about but if you look at the CDS for Bama you will see 1/3 of the class has an ACT of greater than 30 and I bet if you find statistics for those kids 4 year graduation rate it will be 70-80%. Those students are the OP’s peers.</p>
<p>And by the way, I don’t look down on CCs or those who attend them. I also do not look down on those that don’t go to college but find other ways to become productive members of society.</p>
<p>OK, fair enough. With CC’s, it depends on the state and also the CC to an extent.</p>
<p>The OP seems heavily dependent on fin aid in any case. My guess is very few merit awards will match the fin aid he will get.</p>