One more question, do you currently live in Chicago or are you a NY state resident?
Are you a member of a minority? I searched for some state schools in IL for 2.5 and got nothing. If you are a minority and/or you will write about your homelessness in your personal statement you can explore these schools. Underrepresented minority (URM) status would make up for some of your GPA points:
Illinois Colleges for a 2.8 GPA
GPA
Chance
Southern Illinois University Carbondale 2.86 Avg -
Northeastern Illinois University 2.87 Avg -
MacMurray College 2.73 Avg +
Kendall College 2.8 Avg +
Robert Morris University Illinois
I just did an financial aid estimate for a girl in my state (VA) who is in foster care, a ward of the court. Our mid level state universities (she’s a C student) were coming back with the student borrowing $5500 from Fed loans and supplying about $6600 of her own money through work or outside scholarships. She would only pay $3300 per semester and have to work for books and living expenses. So she will essentially be paying her own room and board and the tuition will be covered. by the state and university.
I’d urge you to get a weekend job right away and start saving. I imagine Community College would be free for you but you need to do the financial aid calculators. Good luck!
I’m an African-American girl, I have ACT fee waivers.
Im a Chicago resident and my gpa will increase when I retake my classes.
You need to look in-state. Unfortunately IL colleges have pretty high prices, even for in-state students. You would probably be best served by starting at a CC, doing well there, and then moving on to a four year school. That will be the most affordable path.
The Midwest Student Exchange Program might give you additional options for schools, however even with the exchange program I don’t know if they would be affordable:
Are you retaking your act in October? This could make a lot of difference.
What’s your parents budget for college? Do you have a job, savings?
Run the net price calculator on northern Illinois, siu Springfield, Blackburn, doane, wartburg, Elmhurst.
OP, Thank you for the information. Being in Chicago is good news as there are many resources to help students in your position. In addition, there is the City College system. As other posters have stated, your first step is the guidance office. The counselor should be able to assist you or put you in touch with organizations in the city who can help you sort through all of this. Many of the African American organizations in Chicago have programs where members or staff serve as mentors to African American high school girls who want to go on to college. She may have a list. If your counselor is too busy, use the school library or the local library to look up the organizations. Also look up colleges for C students in the state of Illinois. The library is also a good place to find practice exams or practice questions for the ACT>
The second step is to think carefully about whether you want to go to college immediately or take a gap year. It sounds as if the change in your GPA will not be available until the end of the school year. Therefore, you will be applying to colleges with a 2.5 GPA. If the drop took place jr. year and before that you had a 3.5 to a 4.0 consider including an explanation about the drop. Look at the small colleges in your state. Some have programs that take at-risk academic students.
It is a daunting task, but if you are able to connect with an adult who can assist you , it will be easier.
Most of all don’t give up on your dream of going to college. You will get there, it just might not be in the traditional way.