This Girl Really Needs Help from All!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I have a first-generation candidate (actually first in her family with a diploma) who lives in New York City, and is starting to look at college, I know, in January-which isn't her fault, she does not have that supportive of a family at home.</p>

<p>She scored 930 on the SATs and has something around a 2.00</p>

<p>She has no particular preferences for majors, but she does want a small close community (probably less than 5,000) the emmulates the same bond and togetherness of our current school.</p>

<p>God has always been what has kept focused and positive, and she would like a school that's affiliated in someway with the Roman Catholic Church, but it doesn't have to be, as long as it is a small supportive community.</p>

<p>Her stats again are:
Young Black Female
First-Generation from Bronx, NY
GPA: ~2.00
SATs: 930
ECs: some smaller, good ECs and two Varsity Sports </p>

<p>So far, all I can find is:
Catholic University of America
College of St. Elizabeth
Russell Sage College
Trinity College (DC)
Seton Hall University</p>

<p>If you have any knowledge or info about any of those schools please share. My struggle with this is that generally, or atlest with my experience, is that when you get to 3rd and 4th tier institutions that are accepting of all, that the community, like at McDaniel, is undedicated, not close, and unsupportive. I'll do anything to find her warm, supportive community, where even though they may have not succeed that well in high school, they are still dedicated and focused at college. Are sure bet for her was Marymount College at Fordham, but as some of you know, they just announced that the college is closing in 2007 and accepting no new applicants.</p>

<p>By the way, the closer to NYC or lively areas, the better, but she can deal with rural areas, our boarding school is in the mountains of upstate New York.</p>

<p>All girl schools are fine, but they must be down-to-earth she says, she could never stand Wellesley (I'm not sure why, or why she was looking at Wellseley), but loved, Simmons, Mills, and Marymount.)</p>

<p>Please, if you can help, help, she really needs it because at home there is no one to help her.</p>

2

<p>has she spoken with your guidance counselor?</p>

3

<p>take a look at the <a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/articles/brief/06average_brief.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/articles/brief/06average_brief.php&lt;/a> as well as <a href="http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/78/07879796/0787979678.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/78/07879796/0787979678.pdf&lt;/a> which has some suggestions</p>

4

<p>Yes, I'm the College Guidance Prefect and also one of her two best friends, which is why this is personal.</p>

<p>Our school found some nice schools for her, however they were either too isolated for her, not diverse enough, or her she was lefft ineligible for because her grades slipped beyond belief.</p>

<p>We're working with her, have a representative coming from Russell Sage and Mills, but she has no chance at getting into Mills or Loyola Maryland, and her #1 choice, Marymount, is closing. So we're back at square one.</p>

5

<p>Thanks Mikemacc, although most of the schools on that list, if not all, would be reaches for her.</p>

<p>Come on, I know that atleast one of the 75 people that have looked on are familiar with some 3rd or 4th tiers schools that they can give some insight on.</p>

<p>Has anyone heard of any these schools:
Catholic University of America
College of St. Elizabeth
Russell Sage College
Trinity College (DC)
Seton Hall University</p>

<p>Any knowledge or opinions whatsoever?</p>

6

<p>My advice would be for her to go to community college for 2 years in NYC. Community colleges tend to be excellent with helping students like her who are first generation college and need support and nurturing.</p>

<p>Afterward, she could transfer to another college.</p>

<p>Because her gpa is so low and because she's first generation college, I think that even if she were accepted by a college out of her city, it would be a struggle for her to adjust both academically and socially to a new location, particularly a college like the ones that you suggest, where most of the students would NOT be first generation college and most would come from middle class homes. They also would likely be far more prepared academically for college.</p>

<p>Even at some of the lower ranked colleges, she's likely to be academically far behind. While some such colleges have students with similar SAT scores, most still have students with higher gpas, which indicate better study habits.</p>

<p>Schools like Wellesley, Mills, Simmons are far out of her range due to her low scores and grades.</p>

<p>In addition, the colleges that would accept her now are unlikely to be able to give her the major financial aid that she's likely to need.</p>

7

<p>Both guidance, admissions, and our worry for here is that she cannot live at home if she wants to succeed, we need a residential college. Her GPA is low because of where she started in the Bronx, and nowhere at and commuted, by near reflective of where she is now. If she went to a CUNY, and commuted, by bet is 9 out of 10 that she will not finish.</p>

<p>Also the deadlines for all the schools we've looked at have not passed, and Russell Sage. I know this isn't California, but are there any community, public, or city school around NYC with housing?</p>

<p>Russell Sage and MCLA both said there is a possiblity of acceptance but she would probably be required to tak summer coursesto be admitted.</p>

8

<p>But could those colleges give her the financial aid that she probably needs? If they can meet her documented financial need, would that mean a very large loan package? Those colleges aren't known for having a lot of $.</p>

9

<p>But, then again, I don't know, what moeny can community colleges give her? Because where ever she goes she'll need good money, she doesn't even have enough to pay for the per course per semester cost at community college. Right now, she's on a full scholarship from CityKids to our school.</p>

<p>This is really depressing, and I don't know what to do, she definitely has not pulled her part with the grades, and this makes it very difficult. Makes me almost tempted to give up :(</p>

10

<p>She may need to take a program like City Year or Americorps, which would give her about $4,750 toward her college costs and pay her a stipend. Such programs also help their participants figure out what to do after they leave the program. She could get good guidance on how to get into a college.</p>

<p>Check the websites for the programs that I mentioned.</p>

<p>You also could check out the web sites for local community colleges. Many people who attend such colleges also work part time or fulltime to pay for the tuition.</p>

11

<p>Wow, thank you so much, I'm not familiar with City Year New York, but she says she remembers the City Year Corps that work at her old elementary school and said she'd love to look into that. I didn't know that City Year was a full fledged program hat gave scholarships and benefits, I jus knew they recieved weekly stipends. But yesh, I'll definitely have her look into that.</p>

<p>Are there any other similar one year programs you know of geared toward high school graduates?</p>

<p>I know of VISTA, but that's it.</p>

12

<p>Check the City Year site because they list other programs. There's also a mom who posts on the Parents Forum whose S did City Year in, I think, Seattle. I think her name is something like Emeraldkitty.</p>

<p>My S, a h.s. senior, is considering City Year. I also met a h.s. graduate in my area who probably is similar to your friend, and is in her second year of doing Americorps, which is modeled after City Year.</p>

<p>I've visited CY in Boston, and was very impressed. It seemed like a great program for students who are a bit unfocused, and can use a little more structure and time before college. It's great for students who like to do community service.</p>

<p>The next deadline for apps is Feb. 15. Your friend probably could use some help and support from you in getting the recommendations and essay done. They don't care about grades or scores, but do want to see decent (perfection isn' t necessary) writing skills.</p>

13

<p>First off, if she only wants a Catholic school, Trinity in D.C. is no longer Catholic. It is now independent. It is, however, an excellent supportive school for female minorities. Unfortunately, it may be a bit reachy for your friend. Catholic University would be a high reach for her.</p>

<p>Try Assumption College in Massachussetts or St. Joseph's in Philadelpia. Immaculata College near Philadelphia would be another possibility (tuition is under $20,000, very good with financial aid), as would Iona College and the College of New Rochelle, both just outside of the Bronx, but with housing. A few other possiblilities would be Marymount College of Fordham - affiliated with Fordham but a separate campus in a nice town with easy access to the city - Manhattan College or the College of Mt. Saint Vincent, both in the Bronx, but again, with housing. </p>

<p>I'd also suggest you direct her to the website of the National Catholic College Admission Association - she can do a great deal of research very quickly there. The site is at <a href="http://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/&lt;/a> </p>

<p>And, finally, suggest she look at SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Delhi as relatively inexpensive, although rural, options. They are the SUNY system's residential 2 year community college (some 4 year degrees also available) and both make it relatively easy to then transfer to one of the SUNY's 4 year schools.</p>

14

<p>Thanks Carolyn, I forgot about Mt. Saint Vincent and Immaculata.</p>

<p>St. Josephs, Manhattan, and New Rochelle are out of her reach as well and Marymount, unfortunately, no longer exists( :( Makes me so mad)</p>

<p>I've heard of Cobleskill, but have never heard of Delhi, I'll be sure to check it out.</p>

15

<p>Carolyn, I think that Marymount College of Fordham is not accepting new students and that this school or its programs are being phased out.</p>

16

<p>Delhi, was a two year school that now has four year programs. It also offers vocational programs.</p>

17

<p>If she would look at state schools like Sunys, perhaps Kutztown in Pa., or Bloomsburg in Pa. might work.</p>

<p>To add a couple more- What about Rider University, Temple, or Jersey City University?</p>

<p>I think Iona would be a really good choice to consider, but I think it is kind of a reach. It sounds like more of a match in terms what she is looking for.</p>

18

<p>Ooh, Rider could be a possibility.. thank you. Now I have a good listof about 7 different options she could look at. But I'm really looking at her taking a year of to focus and regroup and the City Year program seems like just the place for her to do at. But I'll take all of these back to her. Thank you all once again!</p>

19

<p>Thought of one more, although also maybe a bit of a reach, but what she may be looking for-Le Moyne in Syracuse. I looked up the aid and it seemed good.</p>

20

<p>Notre Dame College of Maryland might be a good bet for her. Right up the road from Loyola and not nearly as selective but is a strong Roman Catholic College.</p>