<p>Northeastmom, You're right about Marymount - I should have checked the website before suggesting it. It's unfortunate they're phasing it out as it was a nice option for women who wanted access to some of Fordham's programs but a smaller more intimate experience. :(</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>First, I hope that the "McDaniel" that you are referring to in your post is not McDaniel College in Maryland. Everything that I have come to observe about the school is that it is very close knit and very supportive of its students and that it fosters and values a strong sense of community. The students there seem very happy. Academics are demanding, but there are many services in place. It is among the Loren Pope Colleges That Change Lives. Since my son has been accepted to McDaniel for the fall 2006 term, I would certainly appreciate knowing why you feel negatively toward McDaniel.</p>
<p>Second, one school we found to be very accepting and supportive its students is little Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, NC. They are very hands-on and loving with the students, and go out of their way to ensure that if the student makes a real effort, the child will receive all the help he or she needs and will not fall through the cracks. L-R is a very kind and gentle place. A place that a student of a certain level, with academic and other insecurities, can feel safe and valued. A while back, I put a trip report out there called "Lenoir-Rhyne: A True College of Distinction". Search for it on this site. L-R is affiliated with the Lutheran church but is welcoming of all faiths. The faculty, staff, and students are all the most wonderfully pleasant and gentle people. It is a truly special place. Even if your student does not attend, do explore it. Several CC posters have very high regard for L-R's ability to take struggling or low achieving students and turn their lives around. Students are well cared for there. Alums all seem to love the place forever. It is a warm and loving place that my son felt so at home at. Also there are many persons of color in positions of authority at the college and a decent size and growing African American population. All populations co-exist happily there.</p>
<p>The gap year proposed by Northstarmom would be a nice way to get the student out of the difficult home situation and build independence and self-confidence and give her a feel for her talents. I'm not a big fan of two-year colleges for people who are not highly motivated or who are coming out of a difficult situation; the 4-year experience offers more of a lifeline.</p>
<p>I wish you and your student the best of luck.</p>
<p>Wanted to add that, as an african american, some of the schools that are being called "reaches" may actually be within range for her. I would not rule them out if they are of interest. There is no harm in submitting applications to a wide variety of schools.</p>
<p>how about UMass-Boston (their appl for fall 06 isnt due in Jan)</p>
<p>Wow, thank you all for coming through, I can't believe I've gotten so much advice and support for her. Thank you, especially you Northstarmom.</p>
<p>And Maryland Mom, you struck gold their, I didn't know Loyola College of Mryland had a women's college affiliated with it. Perfect, an in Baltimore, and she can also take classes at Loyola if she wanted to. Thanks!</p>
<p>Thank you very much OrangeBlossom, I will look into this school. In regards to McDaniel, my school's experience with it has been somewhat sour. </p>
<p>We've sent 5 students their in recent years, and we've heard dissatisfaction from each. Two graduated, two transferred to Hartiwck and Curry College, and one still remains. The general response from them was that their peers did not take their classes seriously, their was an excessive amount of drinking, extreme difficulty forming relationships with students, and an overalll expression of discontent and unsupportiveness among the community. I know this can't be true for all students, but for students coming from my school, the most close-knit body of 120 students you could imagine, it has definitely not been a fit, and I'm not sure if we'll send another student their for a quite some time.</p>
<p>Okay I got back to her, we're setting up forher to go see Immaculata, looks like she loves it, I can't say I don't think it's beautiful myself, and it also looks like she has a small chance of getting in there!</p>
<p>Thank you all very much, looks like we've found a winner, and many other great options.</p>
<p>I wish her the best of luck!</p>
<p>Cre8ative,
With the encouragement of caring friends like you, I'm sure that your friend will have good options by the time graduation comes. </p>
<p>Happy New Year to you both! Let us know what happens to both of you as you figure out your post high school options.</p>
<p>Is Salve Regina too selective?</p>
<p>And would she consider some of the Christian Colleges, many of which have relatively poor ethnic diversity & might favor a URM applicant? I am thinking of Point Loma, Biola in Ca-- surely there are many others that are similar around the country... I think Gordon is one in Ma?</p>
<p>A little NAIA school might want her athletically too.</p>
<p>Gordon might be worth looking into. Their sat midrange is pretty high for her, but I know of someone who graduated from there not too long ago. This student needed nurturing and this school must have provided what was needed.</p>
<p>No Salve Regina is a bit too far with her transcript, but for some reason, Salve Regina reminded me of Anna Maria, which she could probably attend. But after 4 years in Up-State New York, I don't think she want to be stuck in central Mass. on that tiny tiny campus.</p>
<p>How much of a community is University of Bridgeport? I've heard that their are so many commuter, evening, and par-time students that it disrupts the feeling of it being a liberal arts school and that it feels more like a community college? Is that true? Because I don't want to send her all the way to Connecticut for what feels like a community college. Otherwise, it seems like what fits...</p>
<p>She knows that she can't be overly picky, b/c she inpart put her in this position, but she just wants to go to a school, regardless of quality, that still feels like a university, not just some second chance educational center like the ones you see on television (Those are her words, not mine) I'm having trouble about what shes saying, because none of these schools are like ITT Tech. But shes says she can sense if it feels like a career college, and she immediately discarded Hilbert and SUNY Delhi.</p>
<p>Creative,</p>
<p>You must keep in mind that if she is low income, it is not in her best interest to look at public universities outdside of the SUNY system (if she is a NY State resident) as the financial aid is not going to be there for her and she will have problems getting enough loan money to meet the cost of attendance. While she may likely be a candidate for Pell and maybe SEOG at schools that have the funds, this will still not be enough to cover the cost of attendance.</p>
<p>I agree with NSM that you need to seriously investigate the possiblity of her gettting FA because it has already been mentioned that tier 3/4 schools may not have the $ to meet 100% of her demonstrated need without loan aid.</p>
<p>The current cost of attendance at U of bridgeport is $33,942</p>
<p>Undergrad tuition and fees at UMass boston is $10,366 (she still needs room and board)</p>
<p>If she were to start out at SUNY Sullivan the Cost of attendance would be $7,101. If she is eligible for TAP being a NYS resident, Pell and maybe SEOG,she could probably swing this with little out of pocket or loan cost.</p>
<p>List of SUNY schools</p>
<p>I would also suggest that she look at some of the HEOP programs through NYS.</p>
<p>list of HEOP schools in NYS</p>
<p>She should find out what the HEOP requirements are, as if she fits the requirements, it would definitely be an affordable education.</p>
<p>Remember as a freshman the most amount she will be able to borrow is $2650 as a subsidized stafford loan , $4000 for a perkins loan and (maybe an additional $4000 if her parents are deemed to be not credit worthy) Maxing out at $10,000 per year in loans IMHO is too heavy a burden for someone who may not be in a position to pay it.</p>
<p>Check out Calvin College, a relatively small Christian College in Grand Rapids Michigan. It has gotten good ratings from US News. It provides a good education and is very nurturing.</p>
<p>My husband went there, and was first generation college, black, and from the inner city of a large city, and had a good experience there.
They also have wonderful scholarships for minority students. In addition, they have a summer program that prepares minority students for college. Seniors like your friend can apply.</p>
<p>My husband has close ties with the college, and if you need more info, feel free to PM me. Below is info about their precollege and scholarship programs. While the program requires a "B" average perhaps Calvin would make an exception if your friend is at a school that is very rigorous or if there are reasons that her average is so low.</p>
<p>Thanks Sybbie, I know off the Higher Education Opportunity Program, but I have no idea of how to find requirements for it, I assumed that was determined by the financial aid office at each of the HEOP supported colleges. But so far, I do know that 5 of her options do have HEOP funding.</p>
<p>I'm wondering who is going to handle all of the financial work, because are school's guidance can only do so much 4 hours away from her home and her mother is in no position to do this, I might have to speak to her sister about taking up the financial responsibilities.</p>
<p>And Northstarmom thanks for that piece. She is, to put itsimply, a wandering butterfly who is unfocused. My school is not particularly rigorous in the least bit, although we are known regionally for an exstensive and strong environmental studies program, I can mention that anything in that department is a pain in the butt (not a single A given this year) but that's no excuse for her performance. The reason she recieved this scholarship from CityKid was a second chance and an independent school as an alternative to public school in a struggling family, but I'm not the first or last to say that she has not taken full advantage of this oppurtunity and her GPA is only reflective of her own dedication/work ethic/intelligence.</p>
<p>From how you describe her, then, Cre8ative, I think that the City Year program would be her best option because it would give her the structure she needs, $ for college, the time to mature, assistance figuring out what to do after City Year, and the opportunity to be of service while also being around role models who are college graduates. </p>
<p>She also wouldn't have to worry about filling out financial aid forms, and no one would care about her gpa! But she would need to do the essays for the applications. Fortunately, that's something that you can help her with if she's motivated to proceed on this.</p>
<p>After finishing City Year, a place like Calvin College might be a good match for her.</p>
<p>Two of my friends go to College of St Joseph in Vermont. One had a terrible time in high school and has completely turned her life around since starting college two years ago. It is very small and nurturing, has rolling admission and met 100% of both their needs(both from very poor families).</p>
<p>HEOP serves New York State residents who are both academically and economically disadvantaged. Disadvantaged students are individuals from low-income families with potential for successful collegiate experiences but who have not acquired the verbal, mathematical, and other cognitive skills required to complete their college work.</p>
<p>What you would have to do is a search for HEOP at the 5 schools on the list because there you woould find the eligibility requirements. </p>
<p>for example:</p>
<p>at Barnard to be considered they require the following:</p>
<p>Be a New York State resident for a minimum of 12 months prior to college matriculation.
Be a high school graduate by June 2004 and under 21 years of age.
Have an SAT I verbal score of 620 or below or an ACT I English subscore of 24 or below.
Have a high school average of 85 or above </p>
<p>there will also be a supplemental application telling the student what they need to submit</p>
<p>hope this helps</p>
<p>Le Moyne College:
HEOP Admits - Liberal Arts
Class Average: 75-90 (I hope she still has a 2.0)
Combined SAT Scores: 750-1000
Class Rank: Upper 2/3 (school doesn't rank w/ a senior class of 32, but I could probably tally that, 31 kids aren't hard to stack up ;))
Number in Household: 2
Total Annual Income in Preceeding Calender Year Under: $19,600</p>
<p>Russell Sage College: Doesn't list requirement, but I'll contact their office</p>
<p>St. Thomas Aquinas College: Their financial aid page is a broken link, LOL</p>
<p>my sister was accepted to the college of st. rose in albany, NY. It seems pretty chill and has a scenic campus.</p>
<p>College of St. Elizabeth-
Beautiful small school in pretty Morris county, NJ.
My daughter's tutor graduated from there; she is a remarkable young lady.
I don't know its' admission data or what programs are like.
The campus is scenic, cozy. Old buildings, tree lined walks.
Front entrance to school is ON the train station that has Midtown Direct trains into NYC. Easy trip.
Best of luck!</p>