<p>I posted this in the 2011 thread, but that thread does not get much traffic and I'm hoping or many perspectives/advice. I know there are several threads devoted to this, but none seem able to fit.</p>
<p>I'm a junior with about a 3.3 or so, (1 D, 1 C, several Bs, Several As). I'm taking 3 APs this year and 1 AP last year. I got a 204 on my PSAT and will take the SAT in March. I got a 5 on the exam last year (European history). Anyway, I don't want this to turn into a stats thread.</p>
<p>However, my family's income is only $18,904 (W-2) with no other assets (we live with my grandmother. Maybe the car counts? It's old and paid off so idk...). To attend college, I'll essentially need a full ride.</p>
<p>So I have a few questions:</p>
<p>I would likely be eligible for a great scholarship at the University of Alabama and Louisiana State. Both of these schools give great merit packages for above a 1330 on the SAT (and a 3.5 GPA which hopefully I'll be able to achieve). Are there any other schools like this? Political Science major here.</p>
<p>Secondly, when being evaluated for merit scholarships, do they take your GPA at the end of Junior year or at the mid-way point of Senior year? That could really be the difference for me.</p>
<p>I realize that I'll be eligible for some need based aid at well, but at most colleges that need is not fully met. Hence the need for merit.</p>
<p>Thank you guys so much for putting up with this long post.</p>
<p>You need to have patience- only bump after several days, not minutes.</p>
<p>That said, your Junior year is the most important one. Work hard so you show you can do the work as well as get good test scores. Improving grades can offset a weak start.</p>
<p>Questbridge was made for students like you. Do look into it.</p>
<p>Anyway, at your family’s income level, you will end up paying very little for your college education. If you are required to pay anything at all, it will be no more than you can make with a part-time job. Just be sure to fill out all of the applications on-time! Good luck.</p>
<p>The one thing I’ve noticed about Questbridge is that the people they select have a long list of extracurriculars. </p>
<p>Because I have to babysit my sister every day after school, my ECs are limited. I am News Editor of the school paper (I applied for Editor-in-Chief for next year so we’ll see), on the debate team and I’ve volunteered with a political party. Would Questbridge take that into consideration? Also, will they look at me given my GPA?</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to try! You are going to have to show who you are in your essays and if you end this year with strong grades that will be really important. If you get the SAT scores and GPA (and many schools will look only at weighted if that is what is shown on the transcript), certainly aim for those schools which will offer you great $$$ but yes, look at Questbridge and you have good ECs but colleges will also appreciate that you needed to watch your sister to help your family. That does matter too. Good luck!</p>
<p>There aren’t very many schools that give full rides for your stats. Due to the economy, I anticipate that some of the schools now offering such full rides may not be offering them next year. </p>
<p>Your home state --particularly local public 4-year and 2-year colleges may be your best bet for an affordable college.</p>
<p>Most students also have to take out loans to attend college, so also prepare yourself for that possibility. The average amount of loans that students take out to cover all 4 years of college is $17,000, which for most is not that hard to repay. I</p>
<p>Northstarmom, I live in Virginia. I’m considering getting a part-time job now. Will that hurt me in some way when I apply for aid?</p>
<p>I’m just hoping that some schools give great aid based on test scores. I am fairly confident in my ability on the SAT. I really wish I had tried harder. I’m going to talk to my counselor about retaking the D course over summer and changing that D to an A. I’m not sure how that works on the transcript or GPA but it’s worth asking, right? Do you think that would make a huge difference?</p>
<p>I don’t think the part time job will hurt you when applying for aid. Given that most colleges aren’t able to meet the full demonstrated financial need of applicants, I think the money you’ll earn will help you afford your college education. I also suggest working full time during the summer.</p>
<p>If you are, however, able to get into U VA, it’s one of only 2 public schools in the country that promise to meet the full demonstrated need of all accepted students. You’re lucky to be a Virginia resident, which would give you an advantage there, too.</p>
<p>Secondly, when being evaluated for merit scholarships, do they take your GPA at the end of Junior year or at the mid-way point of Senior year? That could really be the difference for me.</p>
<p>I know that Alabama only uses grades up thru junior year, but they take weighted GPA and they accept all classes - even PE and religion.</p>
<p>So, if other schools are like Bama, then you need to finish this year as high as you can. </p>
<p>*I’m taking 3 APs this year *</p>
<p>Do well on those (and your other classes). Those weighted AP’s can help your GPA.</p>
<p>Hopefully, your PSAT is an indication that you’ll score well. Often kids can do better on the SAT than they did on PSAT. Also take the ACT, you may do better on that. Get fee waivers.</p>
<p>Yes, Virginia has some great schools and UVa does meet need!!! But, you’ll need strong stats.</p>
<p>Apply to some need-blind LAC’s… you’re competitive at schools ranked 20-50, and with your parents’ incomes you could be looking at a near-full-ride at a few places (or at most 10k of loans when you graduate)</p>
<p>Merit aid is always a plus but it often won’t approach the need-based aid you could get at a good school with a solid endowment.</p>
<p>Be careful to make sure that things like “full scholarship” do not just cover tuition, which can actually be a small portion of total costs, but also cover fees (often a large portion of total costs) and room and board.</p>
<p>A part-time job now will only provide a drop in the bucket for college costs. I think it might be more important to focus on your academic studies and extracurriculars, if possible, because the aid you could get will exceed any part-time job earnings. (Then again, working is always valued for the intitiative, work ethic, and responsibility it shows.)</p>
<p>If you baby sit your sister, is it hard to participate in extracurriculars or after school activities? How would you have a part-time job?</p>
<p>Your helping your family out in this way is very commendable and I think more colleges are starting to appreciate these things. They are also starting to value kids who work, and can’t do fancy summer programs or extracurriculars.</p>
<p>Not necessarily true at all. at non-need blind colleges, students at all income levels may be gapped. A student living in the dorms in our school is most likely taking out about 10K a year in loans–a sub and an unsub. And then may have a payment plan, too. Our aid rarely covers room and board; it often doesn’t stretch to cover all tuition, either. Almost all are low income.</p>
<p>I’m willing to go maybe 50k in debt over 4 years. At the absolute most. Is that reasonable or too much? Parents would know about this more than any other person I could ask.</p>
<p>CIA, it’s a moot point right now. You will qualify for a lot of non-loan aid. I would be surprised if you have to borrow anywhere near $50,000 over four years, as long as you control your personal expenses. (I know people who lived the good life for four years, financed by students loans. They are bitterly sorry now.)</p>
<p>Also consider that political science is not a lucrative major. You may not get a job in your chosen field. If you do, it probably won’t pay much. You’d be better off going to the best college that you can afford without loans, or with minimal loans. That will leave you free to pursue your dreams without regard for the need to pay off your debts.</p>
<p>Don’t mortgage your future. Look instead for solid opportunities that do not require you to go into debt. In ten years, or less, you’ll be glad you did.</p>