Hi! I’m trying to make a college list, but I’m struggling a bit at the moment. I know I definitely want to attend one focused on biology and/or medicine, and I have a small list at the moment.
I don’t have much of an idea of how to effectively search for schools aside from the general info: financial aid, location, etc and I’d appreciate any tips.I feel like I only have one or two safe schools for me on this list, which I hope not, but may be assuming too much. I want to apply to maybe 8 colleges? (how may colleges I should apply to is another question of mine)
Johns Hopkins University (GOAL)
Brown University
Emory University
Georgetown University
Rutgers (safety)
Provided you have one college on your list that your family can afford, that offers your major, and that guarantees admission to you based on your GPA and test scores, you are good to go. Anything beyond that is gravy.
Are you an auto-admit to Rutgers, or is it just that no student with stats like yours from your HS has ever been denied admission?
Have you talked to your parents about cost? Have you run a NPC on any of the schools above to see if what your parents are willing and able to commit to are at or above what the colleges will ask you to pay? If your parents say “don’t worry about it” tell them no, we need to worry about it. This board is about to have many posts about kids that can’t afford the school they got accepted into. Of course if $300k is nothing to your parents ignore this advice.
@Eeyore123 My parents say they will do whatever is necessary for me to receive the education they desire. I’ve said htat before: “Worry about it.” However, all they say is to apply for any scholarship possible, which I will do.
My family is not horribly broke, but we are far from rich. We can live comfortably, but obviously college tuition will place a strain. What truly concerns me is that my mom works two jobs, which pushes her income into six figures, making it seem much greater than it is, despite the fact she pays for the house, my brothers tuition, and my siblings tuition (as a public school teacher, she refuses to send us to public school). She constantly denies herself for my family, just to eat, etc. or to send money to our family back in our home country. If colleges perceive my income to be manageable/acceptable, I fear they will not consider me for anything.
@kokopta another strategy then is to make sure you apply to schools with good merit aid (assuming you have strong GPA and scores). There are many good threads and lists here on CC that will point you to good merit options.
Are you the oldest? Is the tuition for High/Elementary school? If you are the oldest, assume that your parents no nothing about paying for college. Sit down with them and run a few net price calculators on some different types of schools and see what the results look like. For scholarships, the only likely ones that can make a dent in the total cost come from the schools. Outside scholarships are nice but it takes many of them to add up They are normally only for one year.
If female, would you consider Wellesley (women’s school)? Why? Run the NPC, you might get aid. Your schools are urban, and Wellesley has an absolutely stunning campus in a nice suburban town outside Boston. Really world-class education. Small classes, great community. Wellesley students can cross-register at MIT, and other schools. We know a recent grad who socialized a lot and had lots of friends at MIT and Harvard. Check out the “About” tab on the Wellesley homepage.
Maybe also Mount Holyoke or Smith, also women’s schools. They are in Western Massachusetts and part of the Five College Consortium with U Mass Amherst, Amherst College, and Hampshire College. Nice area, and students can take classes at the other schools. Among the three women’s colleges, some give more merit, some more financial aid. I can’t remember specifically though.
If male, never mind.
The total number can vary–how much money for apps, how willing are you to write essays, how much financial aid will you need. Six to ten seems reasonable but one could argue that if you have several reaches you love, it might make sense to take a few more cracks at getting accepted and getting aid, since it can be so hard to predict today. Just try to find schools you think you’ll love at all levels (reach, match, safety), and have a couple that seem extremely likely in terms of admission and definitely affordable. Good luck!
I don’t think colleges will give you more grant money because your parents send money back to your home country. Have you run the net price calculator for any school you’re interested in? The best aid comes from schools, so run the calculators on all the schools you consider applying to.
Colleges won’t care that your mom is supporting relatives in another country. They will consider that a personal choice that she can just drop in order to have more money for your college education. Some private colleges might take your siblings’ private K-12 costs into consideration, but many won’t - again that is something she could cut from her budget. You need to get a figure from her that she can work with. What is she paying for your private school now? Could you have that much available each year to put toward your college education.
Are you a senior applying now, or are you a junior making your list for next year? If your mom is a single parent with a six figure income, even if you are offered need-based aid the package might not end up being affordable. Go read through the threads in the Financial Aid Forum on the topic of automatic merit-based aid. You might find something there that could work for you.
@Eeyore123 I apologize for the late response, and thank you for your thoughtful consideration. High school, not the oldest (my brother is in college). They’re aware of the strain which is why I am so aware of the strain. It’s why I can not believe her when she says “Do not worry about it”.
@happymomof1 I did not include the fact that she was supporting relatives in another country. In hindsight, I do not know why I included that at all, but I included it to show that there was strain on our financial income which makes it less than it really seems. It concerns me because colleges won’t see what that money goes to, all they see is that the money is coming in. I appreciate the information you have provided and will take it into consideration.
Considering how much my mother pays for tuition now helped me put things into perspective; thank you for that. Have a wonderful night and happy new year. Got to go!