Hi All, I am currently in high school, and I am interested in furthering my education at SJSU in hopefully computer science. My parents are already paying for my brother’s college tuition, and I really want to pay my own tuition. Is there any opportunities for a merit-based full ride scholarship at SJSU?
Stats:
Race: Indian
GPA: 3.7
SAT: 1450
APs: European History, Calculus AB, Psychology, Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, Government, Physics
Subject Tests: Math: 800 Chemistry: 750
My weak point is my GPA, got stuck with a lot of unfortunate teachers in HS
It would be very unlikely. They don’t give much merit money and your stats, although solid, are not strong enough for that type of award. Much of your aid package there would depend on financial need. @Gumbymom could comment on SJSU and @ucbalumnus could potentially add names to consider where you might get a high award.
SJSU has some campus based, department based and private scholarships available but none of automatic and you need to apply for each scholarship that you think you could be eligible.
In general, Cal states offer good need based financial aid to qualified/eligible applicants but little merit aid is offered. For most students, without a parents help, it is very difficult for students to pay all college expenses. Attending a community college with transfer to SJSU is an option which will keep costs down.
If your parents are paying for your brothers tuition are they not going to help offer you same help? I would see what they are willing to pay, so CC posters can help with suggestions to fill the gap.
I have linked the SJSU Financial aid page with scholarship information: http://www.sjsu.edu/faso/Scholarships/
my teacher literally didnt show up to school until the day of the final lol
There are two issues to bring up. First, SJSU is a public school and is much more concerned with need based rather than merit based aid. Second, SJSU admits on a pure mathematical eligibility index. EI is calculated in general as (GPAx800)+SAT and for Stem Disciplines as (GPAx800)+ ((SATmathx3+EBRW)/2). This year the EI required for Computer Science was 4675. If your SAT was fully weighted towards math (800 M 650 EBRW) this would give you an EI of 4485 which would not make the cutoff for admission. You are better off looking for merit at a place that does Holistic admissions.
Cal State Fullerton has the presidential scholars. I know two girls who have won it. They were exceptional students.
If you are looking for merit aid, you need to target private schools that have a more holistic admission process and consider essays and LOR’s.
First, I would find out if your parents will help you out with some of the college costs so you know your budget.
Several Cal States do offer “full ride scholarships” but they are highly competitive and only a few are given out. As @collegeklatch stated, if your CSU GPA is truly 3.7 with your current SAT, you would not make the EI cutoff for SJSU’s CS major, but you make the Software Engineering cutoff of 4450.
Some Cal States that do offer decent merit, would be Cal Poly SLO (Departmental scholarships), San Diego State (Webers Honors college scholarships), Long Beach State (Presidential Scholarships) etc…
As stated by @VickiSoCal, you need to be an exceptional student to receive these scholarships.