Tell Me What to Do. I Want to Go to College?

Applying to College
1

<p>I hv a major problem. You see, I come frm a rural town, and I never knew about which colleges I should apply until I came to CC. I had to muddle everywhere till I got a sort of rough picture. I only hv my mom but she hardly notice I am alive (:
I can't go to college without a full ride, because of my finances and I am dirt poor. I applied to some good colleges finally but the problem is I think I am probably not good enough for thm and this scares me. I really want to go to college. My biggest problem was my HS did not rank and the teachers gave every kid some lame recs I know.
Now here are my stats</p>

<p>2110 (CR 760, Math 690, Wrting 660)
SAT Subjects (bio 790, math level 2 760, chem 700 physics 690)
AP (Calc AB 5, Psychology 4, Environmental Science 4)
AP Scholar Award
GPA 3.7
Honors classes n averages ( Bio A+, Math A, Chem B+)
All the other classes are college prep levels too ig history, English
EC (volunteered at the county hospital, cross-country team,
tutored-for money, science club- committee member, was in charge of an environmental project all year)
I am in some more clubs but just a regular member.
Here are the colleges I applied : Oberlin College (my dream school!)
Colby College, Lafayette College, Hamilton, Barnard, Amherst, Brandeis
You guys probably noticed all these school are reach schools for me. This fact started to hit me this month. </p>

<p>So should I be applying to colleges at my level just in case every school up there rejects me? I do not know what to do. I do not want to end up a loser. My uncles told me I will never go to college and I should stop dreaming. I can never afford college (:</p>

2

<p>Have you applied to any of the schools in your state university system? You should be well-qualified for some of those, and they would probably have at least some need-based aid for you, too.</p>

3

<p>Beloit and Lake Forest are very good with financial aid.</p>

4

<p>I actually think you have an excellent chance for admittance at some of those schools specifically, Lafayette and Hamilton, as you're in the top 25% of SAT scores here. If you were to make it into Colby or Amherst, they have a no loan policy and are completely need-blind, so you wouldn't even graduate with loans. I don't know anything about Lafayette's, Hamilton's or Oberlin's financial aid policies but they all have above a 95 in Princeton Review financial aid ratings, so here too you should be a go. I think you did very well with your college choices, and I feel you should remain optimistic about admittance and financial aid.</p>

<p>I actually disagree with the public university suggestion, because unless you're in a state like Florida or NC, these can become very expensive, very quickly, while if a top student with high need, you can obtain scholarships much easier from schools with gigantic endowments like some of the ones you have mentioned.</p>

5

<p>I don't know why you think that all of those schools are reaches for you. Did either of your parents go to college? If not then you are a first generation college student and will tend to get a boost because they look at what you accomplished given where you started from. </p>

<p>I'd be more concerned that you don't have a financial safety. It's past the application deadline for many schools but I agree about looking into some state schools. What state are you from?</p>

6

<p>More info. please. Where did you already apply? There are schools whose application deadline hasn't passed yet. Google those and start narrowing down.</p>

7

<p>Calm down. Every college-bound senior has admissions anxiety at this point. You have a good list of schools, and have done an excellent job on your tests, etc., so congratulate yourself! I absolutely believe that you are going to get into some of your schools. Schools will be aware of your background - in fact, it will make you stand out.</p>

<p>Prepare yourself for some rejections. Almost no one gets into every school, so there will be disappointments. April is a real roller coaster of a month. The worst that could happen is that you don't get enough financial aid and have to work for a year or two before you can go to college. </p>

<p>Stay focused on your school work, and use your "worry time" to learn about financial aid packages. Be sure you know what you are getting, and what you have to do to keep it. You'll also need to figure out transportation to school and how to cover books and other expenses.</p>

<p>If you can, try to work with the best writing teacher at your school to make sure your writing is comparable to the top kids from other schools. It will give you a boost on next years' workload.</p>

8

<p>My mom never finished HS, but my dad, he passed away, had a degree.</p>

<p>I did apply to my safety school last year, but I received a letter of acceptance frm thm last month without any aid or scholarship they promised last year whn I spoke to thm. I e-mailed thm n called thm and thy seemed unresponsive. Maybe thy figured out thy are my safety?</p>

<p>I am also worried bout Hamilton because thy wanted a graded sample and my teacher does not grade. So I gave my own writing piece and they may not like my method. They hv not acknowledged tht piece yet. Barnard still has not acknowledged my app submission while everyone have gotten their acknowledgment. When, I told thm they said they will look it.
Another school I had applied is Grinnell.
The truth I love to attend a LAC especially Oberlin. Colby and Lafayette are top choices too. I was hoping to do neuroscience if possible. Or biochem.</p>

<p>Wht worries me bout Hamilton is I sent thm 3 e-mails regarding the essay and I figured thy must hv gotten annoyed with me.</p>

9

<p>Hopefully, need-based aid would enable you to go to any school you prefer to go to. I think you did apply to very competitive schools where your stats won't get you THAT much merit aid. Possibly look into a book that has colleges with rolling admissions in it and hope that you find one you like? </p>

<p>Hopefully, your top colleges meet your aid 100%!</p>

10

<p>" did apply to my safety school last year, but I received a letter of acceptance frm thm last month without any aid or scholarship they promised last year whn I spoke to thm. I e-mailed thm n called thm and thy seemed unresponsive. Maybe thy figured out thy are my safety?:</p>

<p>Usually financial aid info comes in March or April even if you were accepted months earlier. The possible exception is ED admits at some schools learn about their financial aid when they are admitted.</p>

<p>Did you file the financial aid paperwork? If you didn't (and it does require extensive tax info from your parent(s)), you need to get it in ASAP.</p>

<p>Did you apply to any public universities in your state -- particularly one within commuting distance? Usually a public that's close enough to commute to is an excellent financial safety as long as your stats are within their range. However, typically public universities don't have enough money to be able to give financial aid to all who have financial need, so typically at publics, the aid is alloted on a first come, first served basis, with a tip, too, to students who are high stat.</p>

<p>Your uncle is wrong. You can go to college, and a good college at that. </p>

<p>If, however, you don't get the aid you need this year or you don't get into colleges (I think your list is a little top heavy, though you may get into some of them), you can continue to live at home and either work a fulltime job or be an Americorps volunteer (look it up) which would give you a living stipend plus at least $4,700 to use for college. Some college also match their stipend. Some colleges (Vanderbilt, Rhodes, Wofford are ones that I know off the top of my head) also are extremely generous to low income students who have a strong history of community service involvement. Check out the financial aid and merit aid parts of their web sites to find out about their scholarships for low income students with strong community service. Then Google the scholarship to find out other colleges that offer it.</p>

<p>Another option for college would be to live at home and go to community college for 2 years and then transfer. With your stats, you may qualify for merit aid and/or an honors program at your local community college.</p>

<p>Also post on CC's Parents Forum for advice.</p>

11

<p>I'm really sorry about your dad =(. I wish you luck.</p>

12

<p>My safety was a public university but I think they are not prepared to meet my full need by the way they spoke to me (:</p>

<p>I tried to see through the US News 07 colleges ranking book today, not sure which one is right. They stack up all the names together and I had did some tedious research last year looking through the book but had not been a successful way for me</p>

13

<p>What state do you live in? People may have suggestions about some public schools where you may be able to get good aid.</p>

14

<p>Skygirl, are you sure you've filed all the financial aid forms? It sounds like you are on your own, and those things confuse most adults as well as kids. I'm surprised you don't have questions about them.</p>

15

<p>midwesterner,
Actually I think I filled out all those forms okay. I had problems at first, but one college's fin aid counselor been helpful and accommodating recently so I kinda figured it out I think. I hv to contact the other colleges I applied to check over any prob with the forms.
Northstarmom, I hope u don't think I am rude. I really don't want to reveal my location. I already hv stats all over cc, n I hv been in some college threads asking advice so I really don't want to disclose my location. It will be easy to know my identity thn. And admission people do go through cc I heard. Hope u dont mind.</p>

16

<p>don't worry, you're a good student (if that helps)</p>

17

<p>"Northstarmom, I hope u don't think I am rude. I really don't want to reveal my location. I already hv stats all over cc, n I hv been in some college threads asking advice so I really don't want to disclose my location. It will be easy to know my identity thn. And admission people do go through cc I heard. "</p>

<p>That's OK.
Just in case you're in the Midwest, I am fairly sure that U Minn. has scholarships for students who are rural and live in, I believe, the Dakotas, Minn. and Wisconsin. Check out their website if that applies.</p>

<p>Being from a rural area can be a plus at some other colleges, too, particularly when they don't attract a lot of rural students.</p>

18

<p>Thanks northstarmom for understanding.</p>

19

<p>It's sad to see otherwise smart students be limited only by their financial situation.</p>

<p>Good luck, and hopefully you'll end up somewhere where you'll be happy at</p>

20

<p>Hey skatj, thanks.</p>

<p>Can anyone advice me on how to speak politely to the admission people on the phone? A 20 minute phone call last week ended as a total train wreck. I suck at this calls. I have to make one call bout missing documents and other regarding fin aid.</p>