<p>My family makes around $30K a year. I live in Texas and would like to major in music. My grades are nothing special compared to the people on this forum. I rank in the top 5% of my high school class. I think my GPA is 3.5 W. I took 4 AP classes, gonna take 2 more my senior year. AP scores: 3, 3, 4, 5. I took the SAT one time and have: 560 M, 570 W, 600 CR.</p>
<p>My question is, should I even bother applying to private schools? I'd like to attend a small, liberal arts school, but I don't know if I'll be able to afford it. Any recommendations are welcome. Thanks!!!</p>
<p>Any school that won’t be able to financially help you will not work for you.</p>
<p>While your stats are good, they’re not high enough for many/most of the schools that “meet need” without big loans. Since most privates cost more than Texas state schools, it’s likely that many of these schools will not be affordable. </p>
<p>I think the state of Texas has extra aid for students who go to school in Texas. </p>
<p>What Texas state schools do you like?</p>
<p>Some schools may offer music scholarships. What instrument(s) do you play?</p>
<p>Are any Texas state schools close enough to commute to?</p>
<p>Your school list should include UT and/or A&M since you’re within the top 10% of your class, but you’ll need to also include some schools that you know will be affordable - which may be a local UT school that you could commute to.</p>
<p>Since you’re going to major in music, it’s not a good idea to take on much debt. New grads with music degrees often don’t earn enough to pay back their loans.</p>