Hi guys, I’m currently looking for some private schools to apply to. My current cumulative GPA is a 4.129 and my class rank is 10.5 percent which unfortunately forces me to put top 20% for my application. However, the interesting thing about my application is that my 10-12 GPA is a 4.55 while my ninth grade GPA is around a 3.3. 10-11 alone, I am in the top 1 percent of my school. Even with a dismal ninth grade, are there any good private schools that overlook this. Can you guys give me suggestions for schools good private schools that value an upward trend?
There are so many. Any financial restraints? What would be your basic preferences: region of the country; urban v. college town v. rural; large, medium, or small; any specific areas you’d like to study; any special interests (i.e. skiing, outdoor opportunities, etc.)? Answers to these questions will help you get helpful recommendations.
I’m from a middle class family, but i’m applying for FAFSA. In terms of basic preferences, I am open to all places and suggestions. I just want to know any good private schools that I have a decent shot at for political science.
I suggest you google “colleges that offer good merit aid” and “colleges that meet full financial need.” The latter includes many of the tip-tip, most competitive schools, like Harvard. They sometimes have such large endowments that they don’t really need students to pay. However, there are also some outstanding schools that are competitive but not insanely competitive, like Harvard. These include Bates, Berea, Colby, Holy Cross, Connecticut College, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Lafayette, Macalester, Richmond, and Union College. I know less about Berea but would be happy if a family member were studying at any of these schools.
Academics are tremendous at Holy Cross. I personally love Bates. It’s more funky. Colby, also in Maine, is has more of a traditional New England vibe. They are both way up there, and travel would be something to consider. Connecticut has a beautiful campus and setting. F&M and Gettysburg are in nice PA towns, Lafayette too. Macalester is much more of an urban audience. Richmond has a beautiful campus in a nice suburban area near downtown RVA; nice weather too. Union College has a really unique campus. Funny story: we visited Union the day fall athletes arrived, including football players. They were the only ones around campus. My son had just finished a hardship service project in Asia where he had lost about 30 pounds, to about 120. He liked the school but said he felt like a stick there.
Note that these schools that meet full financial need might be “need aware” and give preference to full-pay students. They also might calculate that a family can pay more than the family believes it can pay, so it would not feel like the school was meeting full need. But still, they are the best bets. There can also be some loans. If any look good to you, you can run the net price calculator (NPC) to get an estimate of what the school might expect you to pay.
Denison and College of Wooster come to mind as privates that just provide generous merit aid.
Last point: check deadlines of schools where you are interested. Sometimes students must apply by a certain date to be considered for aid/merit aid. For example, the RD deadline is later, but an applicant won’t be considered for merit aid at Miami of Ohio if they apply after December 1. Good luck!