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I tell students all the time that keeping TN Promise open is the best thing to do- if you end up needing a safety (say that the schools you apply to don’t offer the type of aid you need for it to make fiscal sense to attend) then you can start at a Community college and then transfer (ends up being half the cost overall).
I also tell them to apply to at least 1 safety; 2 match; and 1 dream school-- or essentially a wide range of schools. Safety is usually a community college as w/ TN Promise it is low cost and usually admissions are easier. 2 Match- mid priced, you seem to have a good chance to be admitted, and would like attending there. Dream - anywhere, any price, shoot for the stars.
A 27 ACT score isn’t bad- it could help you get merit scholarships at some school. Plus with your over a 3.0/21 ACT you will get HOPE scholarship and if you EFC is $0 you will probably get full Pell Grant and possibly others.
My point is that if you apply to a variety (safety, match, dream) then there is no need to worry about the financial aspect yet. You won’t know until the Aid Award Letter lady sings in the spring. Don’t let that be a reason you don’t apply. My philosophy is you won’t know if you don’t try. Also do remember that some schools have fee waivers that are specific to their school - UT Chattanooga and ETSU I know do. So check their website (and if you can’t find any information about a fee waiver call their admissions office and ask). This will help keep your cost down when applying to schools.
For now focus on:
Applying to TN Promise-- Deadline is Nov. 1st so do this ASAP
Applying to Colleges (if you get overwhelmed start with 1 safety, 1 match, 1 dream and then add on from there)
Completing the FAFSA-- It is open now so you can fill it out whenever- but the sooner the better as state aid is on a first come first served basis and there are one or two (TSAA grant- extra money based on family income)… assuming you didn’t already (as you seem to know your EFC is $0).
Actually, you CAN know ahead of time. Net price tends to differ (sometimes drastically - ie., if your family makes 65K and you apply to Amherst, it’d seem that costs are unmanageable… except they would offer a full ride. And a random university that costs 40K may offer nothing even if your EFC is zero). You MUST run the NPC on all colleges, focusing on “meet need” colleges.
Financial aid is a BIG issue for me, my family would only be able to afford $1-2k a year. I’m starting to realize what position im in considering my mediocre stats, and I have no one to talk to in person about my worries right now.
Is there even any schools out there for someone with my mediocre stats, that would actually admit me AND give good aid( by good, I mean cover almost all cost)? Is there even any schools out there like that, other than CC, I’d prefer a small school, but again im open to anything. Is there really people in my position who have gotten ito a small college, and gotten, good need-based aid, with mediocre stats like mine?
Im open to any school recs
Your stats are good, but you must run the NPCs.
To start somewhere, try, for example, Beloit, St Olaf, Dickinson, Wheaton Massachusetts, Connecticut College, Trinity University Texas, Colby, Davidson. Which universities turn out to be affordable?
Ughh, looking at it, the ones with the best aid are all extremely selective, with little chance of me getting in. Colby would be affordable, with a net price of around $3k, but the others not so much.
I get what you’re saying though thanks.
Would you recommend any schools in the Midwest that would give good aid/accept me, since you said earlier somewhere that they tend to want more students out there?
Have you run the net price calculator on Dickinson? They claim to meet 96% of aid, which is pretty good, so they sometimes slip below the radar. Your URM status will help, even though your stats are a little low for there, I think.
Yeah I’ll look into them thanks.
Any one have any other recs? Would my situation/ hook/whatever you call it help at all, because I think I could bring a somewhat unique perspective to schools, even if my stats aren’t high, right?
Where should I be looking at that would provide great aid for a student in my circumstances, average stats, but low income and a URM? Could I maybe have a shot at some top schools?
Anyone?
I’m feeling in over my head here, is there even a chance ill go to college, other than community college at this point?
I just want a good, small LAC that would cover my costs to study there.
You might run the NPCs for Kalamazoo and Lawrence.
Hmm I checked Lawrence and Kalamazoo, and they both seem to have a net price of $15,000, which is most definitely not affordable for me. I think anything under $5K would be manageable possibly, under $10K would be a reach, but worth a look, and anything above basically impossible.
How do people even afford college? Would I be a “valuable” student that they would try to recruit, even with my low stats, considering I’m a URM, and low-income? Could they possibly stack extra financial aid beyond that if I applied to certain schools, to try to entice me?
@distressedsenior_ You certainly should try a college in the Northeast like Colby. They like geographic diversity in addition to your other hooks. And btw working with your dad is a good EC.
@Lindagaf or others knowledgeable about LACs – might this poster have a chance at Bates? It looks like schools that meet 93-95% of need are still coming in too high for someone with a zero EFC.
At this point you are pressed for time. Absolutely Follow through on your public state options. As far as finding privates, I wouldn’t look all over the country as figuring out transportation will be a challenge over the next 4 years.
Your stats are certainly strong especially when taken with the rest of you story. But don’t get too hung up on finding merit aid at private schools, as you will qualify for need based aid. Some private colleges are not considered ‘meets full need’ , but they do meet full need for 80% or more of their students. So consider them anyway. There is a great chance they would meet your full need given your strengths as a student. For the privates, don’t dispair if the net price calculator leaves you with 5k or so to pay. Go ahead and Apply, get accepted, then work with financial aid.
Absolutely consider Berea. They can work with you on the interview requirement. They only serve kids with high financial need. They can work with you!
Sewanee and Rhodes are close by and will likely to need your full need. Keep on list.
Consider Transylvania and Birmingham southern. They are not quite as competitive as Rhodes and sewanee, and generous with aid.
Keep you list short (you are pressed for time) and local (for logistics). You can do this! Good luck!
What you guys have said so far is good/ relevant, thanks.
Alright, I’ll check it out, but only one teacher was able to agree to writing a recommendation, since all my others where busy, but I do have a counselor recommendation, so I was looking at school that would accept only one teacher recommendation. I’ll try to get another one, but I just don’t think they’ll get to me in time. I was planning to apply to a few northern schools though, especially ones in D.C. (George Washington, American). Do they give good aid?
Idk, seems like a reach for me, and they require several teacher recommendation, and supplementals, but ill keep it in mind. 0 EF
Wait why is geographic location an issue? Wouldn’t i just have to get there one time or something?
I honestly am very pressed for time though. . .
Sewanee and Rhodes are close by and will likely to need your full need. Keep on list.
Consider Transylvania and Birmingham southern. They are not quite as competitive as Rhodes and sewanee, and generous with aid.
Keep you list short (you are pressed for time) and local (for logistics). You can do this! Good luck!
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Alright, thanks! I’ll just have to manage time perfectly i guess.
Could any of you guys recommend me some reaches to apply to though, I was considering Washington
University and Northwestern right now.
Heres my list so far:
In State
- Sewanee
- Rhodes College
Matches?
- Emory & Henry
- Eckerd
- Earlham
- Beloit
- Goucher
Reach?
- Cornell College
- Ursinus
- Knox
- Hendrix
- Millsaps
- Allegheny
D.C. Schools
- American University
- George Washington
Reach/dream
- Lafayette
- Washingotn University
- Northwestern U
- Dickinson
Anything I should know about any of these? Any I should cut?
Also should I apply to the ones I have materials for, counselor rec, and just add my teacher recommendation later, or would that weaken my chance?
Your list is all over the place. Dickinson is just not in the same category as WUSTL and Northwestern. Dickinson is a solid reach, but they really like ED applicants and your region and URM status are a boost. Our tour guide there was from Tennessee. IMO, some of your choices are out of reach and very iffy: WUSTL, NW, GW, Lafayette and AU. Lucky Charms thought maybe Bates, but I do think your GPA will be the problem there. You are hispanic, which is helpful, but it isn’t a golden ticket.
Your list is much too long. You will have to write a ton of time-consuming supplements and do them very well, and your time is short. Have a look at the stats of accepted students to your schools, using their common data sets. You have some very solid choices on your list at the moment and have been given some great options. Apply ED to a school where you have a realistic chance of getting in with your current stats. ED also isn’t a golden ticket. You still have to be qualified.
Please go back and read what @MYOS1634 has said. I’ve been here for several years now, and MYOS is truly one of the most knowledgable people on the whole of CC. You will not go wrong with her advice. Best of Luck.
@distressedsenior_ From @MYOS1634 list choose Connecticut College or Trinity. You need big money somewhere.
@distressedsenior_
- You are getting some good guidance from the parents here. Keep updating them and getting input. All of this is a bit complex. When you hit a roadblock, tell the parents here.
- If you need a second teach evaluation ask your counselor to help you get one. S/he should be able to pry loose a second teacher for you.
- Regarding the paragraph about yourself, the basis for it is really your original post here.
- Do you have one or two safety schools?
- Do you mean Cornell College in Iowa? Don't confuse it with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
- Hang in there, and keep going moving forward. You can do it!
^#2. Yes! Be the squeaky wheel. Don’t let another recommendation impact your application process. Have an information sheet about yourself ready to go to help your last minute second recommendation letter writer.