<p>I am a junior with a 2.9 GPA unweighted in almost all IB classes, have 650 on reading, 600 on math and 500 on writing sat scores.I have over 250 hour of community service and political activism and am a minority student .My grades were awful the first two years of high school but have been almost all A's this year and I think the trend will happen again next year with lots of AP's instead of IB's.Do you think I can get into umass amherst, University of New Hampshire,University of Vermont ,George Washington University,George Mason University,and BU?Can apply eary to any?</p>
<p>Most of these colleges look great. You’ll have to bring up your GPA to at least a 3.2 and bring up your SAT writing score a bit (or try the ACTs). That community service will help you a lot, and schools like to see <em>improvement</em> in transcripts, not just those straight-a kids. If you really are taking the hardest courses and staying active with ec’s, all these schools seem like matches. You usually can’t apply to any in your junior year for freshman admission nowadays, but you can apply Early Action (non-binding) the fall of your senior year. Another option: Early Decision is binding and you can only apply to that one college. Do some research, check out these school’s websites, and see which early admission plans are right for you.</p>
<p>You’re applying to several out of state publics. Will your parents pay for the non-resident costs at these schools?</p>
<p>UNH = OOS about $38,000 </p>
<p>UVM = OOS about $42,000 </p>
<p>UMASS = OOS about $35,000 </p>
<p>crankdat50, I hope that you & your parents are not thinking that OOS publics are financial bargains, because they are not! Financial aid to OOS students is very limited. </p>
<p>One of my children went to UCONN OOS, but then the costs were very reasonable, it was only around $26,000 per year & she did get financial aid & it worked out for us. Now the costs have gone up so much at UCONN, I think it is about 40K for OOS.</p>
<p>Many friends and family have gone to these schools. UNH tends to give a semi-reasonable amount of aid - could be better, but most public school financial aid could be. UVM is very iffy (then again, UVM arguably offers a bit better education). Some people I know receive great aid, others struggle, so I’m not really sure on this one. BU is actually pretty good about aid, scholarships, etc. but some of it may depend on your academics. Many of my friends have been offered full rides or close to it from BU, but they also had much better stats. You many not get a full ride, but you sure might get a lot. Publics do tend to offer much less money, but try not to let money overwhelm your decision. Yes it’s an important factor, but if a school really feels right to you, don’t let the initial price tag get you down.</p>
<p>This student has posted on a ton of threads…much the same info. HOWEVER he/she also indicated that he will need significant financial aid to attend college. I would suggest that this student NOT apply Early DECISION anywhere…no chance to compare financial aid packages. The schools on his list do not meet full need.</p>
<p>BU is “pretty good about aid” to high achieving students but this includes SAT or ACT scores AND GPA. A 3.0 GPA is not going to put this student in the running for significant enough merit aid at BU with a 1250 CR/Math SAT score. We are parents of a BU grad with significantly HIGHER stats from a few years ago…who got NO academic merit aid (he got merit aid but not academic merit aid). Criteria for awarding academic merit awards at BU has gotten MORE competitive over the years.</p>
<p>This student needs both financial AND academic safety schools in his list. IF George Mason is instate for him, this might fulfill this need. If not, he needs to start looking for some schools that he can will likely get accepted to AND that he will be able to pay for. Yes, he might get some aid…but then again, he might not.</p>
<p>Getting a $10,000 a year merit award at a school that costs more than $50K a year is drop in the bucket (BU would be in that category as would George Washington).</p>
<p>I am instate in NC my first choice is UVM and as long as I am at or a little above the Average indebtedness at graduation, $27,680 I think I will be fine.I hear they give good aid to minority students (there 92% white) any one else hear that?</p>
<p>Crankdat…you are OOS for UVM. They do not meet full need. They are one of the MOST expensive schools in the country for out of state students. How do you plan to pay to go there?</p>
<p>I would boldly suggest that you add one of the terrific public universities in NC to your list. </p>
<p>UVM, like any other school, gives its best aid to students with very good academic stats regardless of their URM status. Your stats, simply put, are not going to be in the top of their applicant pool. Your grades are not all that terrific. Your SAT scores are not tippy top.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if I’m sounding very rough, but you need to be realistic about your ability to get accepted and PAY FOR these expensive out of state public universities…especially since you sound like you will need significant aid to attend. NONE OF THESE SCHOOLS guarantees to meet your full need. Most will require you to take additional loans in addition to the Stafford loans that will be part of your package. You will likely have a significant GAP between what the school offers you and what it costs…this will have to be filled somehow…loans or parents paying or something. The money will need to come from somewhere.</p>
<p>Bu is not a good choicetoo expensive and you wont re4cieve aid bcuz youre stats arent the best</p>