<p>I would double check that your parents are truly willing to pay 50% of a school like Northwestern or BU. That seems like a lot to me to be able to pay on that income UNLESS they’ve been specifically saving for your college for many years. Or maybe they’re thinking they’ll pay 15k or 20k out of pocket and then take out PLUS loans for the rest of their share.</p>
<p>That said, I understand their approach. They want you to have some skin in the (very expensive) game. I don’t know what the problem would be with a SUNY for you. I think you should seriously consider them. </p>
<p>But first, nail down what it is exactly your parents are willing to pay. Are they willing to cover only half tuition but full room and board? </p>
<p>^^^You’re right. OP also needs to figure out if her parents are willing to co-sign loans. All of it goes into nailing down what and how the parents are willing to pay. </p>
<p>Does the OP know if the parents know how much these privates cost these days? and how much R&B is these days? I still chuckle at my neighbor’s surprise to find out that R&B doesn’t cost $1500 per year…like it did when he went to college. And when he found out that privates are charging 35k-40k+ for tuition, he practically fell back into the bushes.</p>
<p>These parents may have no idea that they would have to cough up $30k+ per year if the D got a half-ride somewhere. </p>
<p>I actually feel your pain and your parents pain. We are in NY and 220K for a family in NYC or within 50 miles of the city doesn’t buy too much. It is just plain middle class and it is difficult for the rest of the country to understand that when you could live very well in other parts of the country with that salary. 1/2 of our paycheck goes to taxes and insurance the remainder goes to mortgage,rent, utilities, etc… The leftover is what you can pay for college plus whatever savings you have been able to achieve. Your parents are probably considering all this and want to have some savings left over for emergencies and retirement.</p>
<p>Anyhow, a few years ago when we started looking at colleges for D1, like you, we did not qualify for need and we had to focus on merit aid. D1 had pretty good stats (2140 SAT, 31 ACT) and was able to get merit from most schools she was accepted to. U of Chicago, actually gave her more money after I sent a list of our actual basic expenses outside of the regular FAFSA and CSS profile, however, it was not enough as that was an expensive school to begin with. BU gave her 1/2 tuition scholarship but room and board were additional. She ended up at a flagship OOS public that did not give her aid but was affordable to us and she was able to graduate in 3 years with a major and a minor due to all the AP credit they gave her. That saved us a lot of money. We did look at SUNY but, sadly, when compared to other flagship states, they disappoint. This is not to say, she did not consider them. </p>
<p>D2 is currently looking, but like you, she has to up her game. Her stats are in the mid 1800 for SAT and 28 for ACT. I also see that the schools have upped their game as well so it is going to be difficult. For example, Northeastern is now a harder school to get into than it was 5 years ago. We still can only pay 50%-60% of the EFC and that is why we will focus on state schools (OOS and instate) and privates within her range that give merit. GC said to focus on those schools where she would be the big fish and they would want to fill their bucket with what she has to offer.</p>
<p>Have you looked at schools in Canada? They can actually be affordable. For example, University of British Columbia annual tuition varies per field of study but range from 23K to 28K for internationals. Room and board probably around 10K but in Canada,dorms are not the norm after freshman year and you would probably rent an apartment with roommates. McGill is an excellent school in Montreal but their requirements are higher and you need to know what you want to study right away and if you are diligent can graduate in 3 years. Maybe this is an option your parents might be open to. We considered these schools for D1 and McGill was on her top three list and was actually financially on par with the OOS state flagship. Amtrak goes up to Montreal and Cathay Pacific often has sales to Vancouver as it is a stop over to Hong Kong. Both are fantastic cities. </p>
<p>Finally, take a look at the common data set and see what the schools you are interested in are looking for. Maybe you will find some where you fit the niche they need to fill. </p>
<p>That’s what I suspect. Unless they’ve been saving purposefully for college, 220k doesn’t seem like it can easily afford even 30k. And if they’ve been saving purposefully, I would think they would have some better idea that 30k in merit doesn’t fall out of the sky with so so GPA’s and SAT’s. But maybe not. </p>
<p>@crookshanks I don’t have anything against CC. The poster had said that my grades would land me in a CC. I felt like that statement discounted hundreds of universities around the country.</p>
<p>“I have been on this site for awhile now, and always fascinated by the kids who look for advice and don’t want to listen. I can’t figure that out. Then why ask?”</p>
<p>I don’t know, but at least the advice on CC is here for anyone who is interested in it. CC is a wealth of advice. However, people’s ideas and wishes about college are influenced and shaped by so many factors that all anyone can do is provide information, and then let the applicant/families do what they choose with it.</p>
<p>So what do you guys think my best course of action is? </p>
<p>Do you recommend writing essays for outside scholarship money?</p>
<p>Getting a job? </p>
<p>Or solely focusing on increasing my test scores? </p>
<p>I got a 31 when I tried out an ACT practice test and I will be taking it officially in June. However I’m not involved in a prep course for the ACT.</p>
<p>Or should I just look at different schools all together? </p>
<p>KiraInNYC, Your ideas are all good ones but I think it was mentioned that getting the highest grades and scores will be the best investment for your time and effort at this time, and writing the best essays for your actual applications. Outside scholarships that you write essays for tend to be small awards that won’t likely help you get the amount of assistance you are looking for. As a high school student working part time, you won’t earn much towards a 4 year degree, but students having summer jobs can help with personal expenses and be good experiences.
Look through the financial aid sections of CC - and the threads on automatic and competitive merit scholarships to get an idea of what your options might be and what grades and scores are necessary. Don’t post personal info here, but if you post some basic statistics, what you wish to study, location of colleges you would consider, and types ( women’s colleges for instance), posters can make suggestions. “Fit” is personal though, so after looking into them, you can choose the ones you are interested in.</p>
<p>The SUNYs are good deals and at the low end of $20K. Half paid leaves room for you to work and borrow the rest. Also any CUNYs and SUNYs within commuting distance are variable bargains. </p>
<p>Absoutely try the ACT. As I said from the get go, look at the full ride scholarship and generous awards at the beginning of the Fin Aid forum and look at what’s out there. Check out the schools you are considering right now and see if they even offer merit money. If they don’t or don’t have big awards or very few of them and you don’t make the top echelon, then they are not good bets.</p>
<p>Also talk to your parents and let them know what you are finding with your research. Keep that communication flow going. </p>
<p>When you want/need a lot of money, you need to cast a wide net for the best chances and you may have to consider some different kinds of “fish” than you were seeking if they turn out to be good catches. </p>
<p>The problem with outside scholarships is that they’re most often for only one year. That’ll help and if you have time, of course you should try for them, but I don’t think that’s a serious action plan for affordability. </p>
<p>My daughter is looking at them now. A lot of them are 500 dollars here 500 dollars there. Absolutely they help but she is trying to figure out the return on the investment of her time. So far, she’s identified three scholarships for which she’ll apply. One (for her specialized EC) has a top amount of 2k. We think she’ll be a decent contender for that one. If not one of the top 2k prizes, probably one of the lesser ones. Another one is a straight national essay contest and has a top prize of 1.5k. That one’s probably a huge longshot. The final scholarship to which she’ll apply is for $500. I would imagine competition for that one is fierce, but it’s three short paragraph answers, her transcript, and her community service, so even though winning is a longshot, it’s easy enough to enter.</p>
<p>Finally, a fair number of the really good scholarships have a financial need component. </p>
<p>I think your best course of action is probably to 1) Try to get your SAT’s up a bit and 2) start considering more affordable schools.</p>
<p>Yes, my one son worked hard at getting some. Didn’t get but one. But the OP is a gifted writer, so she should check out some of the big ticket ones listed as well as some of the smaller ones. Some are for more than one year–one has to read the rules, but a big one can be divided by four and the cost applied as part of the half for the whole college time that the parents want the OP to pay. Do understand that many of these are like buying lottery tickets, but YMMV. You do better looking at directed ones, local ones where there isn’t the whole country, world competing for them. </p>
<p>I think OP should go for the ACT, because her numbers are better there, and, yes, absolutley researching affordable options as well as where she has a good chance for merit money. The schools are the best sources for it</p>
<p><<
So what do you guys think my best course of action is?</p>
<p>Do you recommend writing essays for outside scholarship money?</p>
<p>Getting a job?</p>
<p>Or solely focusing on increasing my test scores?</p>
<p>I got a 31 when I tried out an ACT practice test and I will be taking it officially in June. However I’m not involved in a prep course for the ACT.</p>
<p>Or should I just look at different schools all together?</p>
<p>You have all been extremely helpful.
<<<</p>
<p>I doubt that there are any substantial 4 year outside scholarships that do not have a need component. If you look at the offerings, they are for frosh year only and for small amounts.</p>
<p>think about it…there isnt much incentive for outside entities to be funding four year awards to high income students just for writing good essays. What would be in it for the entity to provide such money? entities provide money for a reason. GatesMS does it for low-income minorities because B & M Gates want to help raise low-income URMs out of poverty. I know my H’s company does it to fund high stats engineering students to provide a gateway for future employees…but even their awards are modest.</p>
<p>you would best spend your time raising your ACT, SAT, and GPA. Finish strong this last semester…your Jr year grades are important.</p>
<p>also, get a job this summer. You need to show your parents that you are doing YOUR part…so even if you come up short, they probably would be willing to bend their rules.</p>
<p>OP, if you want your parents to invest tons of money in your college education you need to prove to them that you are worthy of their investment. If my kids had 3.5 GPA and 1700 SAT I would tell them that I will pay only for Community College. Anyone with upper middle class upbringing whose native language is English and no learning disabilities should be able to get at least 2000 on the SAT or ACT equivalent. Hit the books. If it does not work out with June tests - prep every day over the Summer and retest in the Fall. When your parents see that you are serious the college financing rules may change. Come back here in the Fall with improved stats and the crowd here will help you craft a reasonable list of colleges.</p>
<p>^^^
I would somewhat agree with this. Likely, the OP has been attending good schools and English is her primary language. her mom, I think, is well-educated, so she has had the benefit of being in a home with at least one well-educated parent. the dad may not have a college education, but he is a high-earner. </p>
<p>I still think the student needs to make a new thread as I suggested above and then have the parents read the responses. The whole family seems to be operating from a position of magical-thinking. </p>