<p>Im a 29 yr old mature student who is transitioning out of being a small business owner/operator and back into school thanks to our "new reality" which has decimated most of the small businessmen I know.</p>
<p>I have a little over a yrs worth of credit due to 3 old community college classes and tonnes of APs which I performed well in over a decade ago(all 4s/5s). Im currently enrolled in my local CC full time for the Spring and hope to be able to complete my associates by the end of Fall, though I might be able to finish during the summer. Ive already met with an advisor at my current CC to verify that my credits can be used towards an associates.</p>
<p>I originally took the SAT1 in 1997 and scored a 1510 (710 math/800 verbal) without prepping.</p>
<p>I have taken a practice ACT recently and got a 32/33 with only the math being at all challenging for me. Im sure if I practiced/prepped for the math with my brother who has prepped folks professionally, I could bump that to a 34/35. I anticipate pretty good grades, but I did get a D at the college bc I neglected to withdraw from a class there 10 yrs ago.</p>
<p>Im in a unique position where my income will be very small in 2010 and probably not that much greater in 2011 as I live off of savings. Im looking to either use Pell and Stafford to attend UIUC or explore options where universities guarantee grand in aid for any expense above the EFC.</p>
<p>Any school you could recommend contacting/looking at?</p>
<p>What is your FAFSA EFC and how great are your assets? As you know, Pell eligibility requires a pretty low EFC and students have no asset protection allowance. There are some schools that guarantee to meet 100% of need with no/low loans, but they also use Profile to determine the expected contribution and your need. You can find the list on the Project on Student Debt website, under Initiatives.</p>
<p>As far as specific college recommendations, you’ll get better answers if you include your geographic and school type preferences as well as your intended major.</p>
<p>EFC will be super low by 12’ …ill be Pell eligible i’ve already played with multiple calculators. Im essentially unemployed right now…though id rather not go on public assistance and or food stamps.</p>
<p>Lets assume I run through most of my assets by then(2011) also as i’m not working right now and not interested in getting any super meaningful employment while readjusting to student life.</p>
<p>I live in Illinois near Chicago. I could move for an impressive aid package. I already talked to a few admissions counselors but most of them seemed not so clear on how that fact that im a mature student and will be entering school as a JR.(or whatever the equivalent credit status is) will affect need and merit based aid.</p>
<p>Im looking for schools who guarantee grant to meet exhibited need(terminology?) and like high scorers without minding the transfer basically.</p>
<p>Most schools do not offer much merit aid for transfer students and do not consider test scores for junior transfers anyway. Admissions and merit aid, if any, will be based on your college coursework. Look at the list on POSD’s site for the list of schools that guarantee to meet need…there are not many of them and they are very selective but it’s worth a shot. Other than that, you should probably look at affordable schools in IL as you would benefit from paying instate rates and possibly being eligible for whatever state grant aid they offer.</p>
<p>Im definitely looking at University of Illinois…and im pretty sure they still look at ACT scores for all transferring students…in fact im sure they do as of 2008 when a family friend transferred.</p>
<p>Im not sure id technically be a Jr. I might just be initially enrolled into a 90 credit program bc of the APs and then use as many CC credits as I could(definitely would lose some) to get close to 60 left to complete on campus.</p>
<p>I know Canadian schools use that approach. I can come in as a 1st yr student…but only be responsible for 90 credits instead of the usual 120 at McGill or U of T…then later I can transfer as many CC credits as possible. They might be pretty minimal though.</p>
Unlike dependent students, independent students do have some asset protection. A 29 year old independent student would have $10,200 in asset protection ($12,700 if he is turning 30 this year).</p>
<p>Student might also qualify for simplified needs where assets are ignored.</p>
<p>zaxx1981 - have you taken a look at the Non-Traditional Students sub-forum? It is tucked under the heading “Specialty College Admissions Topics” in the College Admissions Forum. You might find more ideas there.</p>
<p>It is not true that most schools don’t look at SAT scores for junior transfers. The schools that meet need almost all very much care about scores. This is an advantage for you so if the old scores don’t stand, retake.</p>
<p>I think you should look at schools/ programs for non traditional students. Yale ays an excellent one, Eli Whitney. Smith if you’re female. Penn has one as does Columbia, but I’m not sure if these last 2 meet need in these programs.</p>
<p>This whole thread raises a question ive been pondering.</p>
<p>Is it worth transferring in all my credit eventually if I lose the chance of significant aid?</p>
<p>Could I matriculate as a normal entering student with a ton of APs(Freshman with essentially Soph. standing at most school), and then try to fit my CC credits in where I can later maybe scavenging some classes or something? From what i’ve hear, I can at most large schools, not so readily at Ivies or smaller LAs schools which tend to be pretty anal over transferring in credit. It seems to be the same as the kid who is super hurried to get through school and took APs/CC course in H.S. or the summer…and later navigates undergrad in 2.5 yrs or something. If i’m trading an extra semester or summers on campus for huge aid packages and a more prestigious degree…well that would be a fair trade in my eyes. If it become an entire year extra…then it’s really close as im pretty motivated to start a new career as soon as I can given my age.</p>
<p>Again, I might be totally wrong as im super early in the process and only stopped trying to wind down a business and look for work full time as of a month ago or so.</p>
<p>Im definitely a bit confused…but ill take a look at all the resources you guys suggested anyway, and im very thankful for your help.</p>
<p>Sorry, when you apply to a college or university, you must submit transcripts of all college work attempted. You cannot pretend to be a freshman applicant. There is a National Clearinghouse for information about college enrollment they will check. You do not have the option of telling them later that you attended college already.</p>
<p>If you choose not to submit transcripts of college work attempted, the consequences can be rescinded admission, explusion, and revocation of any degrees granted. (In other words, you really DO have to submit all transcripts )</p>
<p>But that necessarily mean I have to apply as a Jr.</p>
<p>People choose to apply APs or not apply APs all the time…in fact schools would probably rather you didnt try to apply APs.</p>
<p>Im not really understanding what you are saying…perhaps you dont understand that I only have a few classes taken at CC(one of which may not be transferable bc of it being a D) and then a lot of APs as of right now. If I take a semester of CC classes right now…that still isnt “forcing” me into any class as it were.</p>
<p>People here take CC classes while in HS and apply it to college later all the time…or take them the summer after their Sr. summer and do so.</p>
<p>Are you saying they arent applying to college as freshman?</p>
<p>AP courses do not affect your class standing as a transfer applicant. That is not an issue.</p>
<p>In general, community college courses taken *while you are still in high school *do not count as college enrollment in terms of keeping an applicant from applying as a freshman applicant. Community college or four-year college courses taken **after leaving high **school DO. </p>
<p>Colleges will differ in how they define “Freshman applicant.” Some have a maximum number of college units (usually less than a semester’s worth of credits) you can have and still be considered a freshman applicant. Others, such as one mentioned in this thread - USC, say that if you take any college courses after leaving high school - even one - you are considered a transfer. (USC meets need for transfers, btw.)</p>
<p>Students who have been accepted as freshman to colleges and take community college courses during the summer between high school and starting their freshman year applied as freshmen, and generally must seek pre-approval from their college for the summer units or check to be sure those units will be accepted.</p>
<p>Remember, *it will not be you *deciding what your class level is when you apply - colleges and universities have it spelled out clearly on their websites. One thing that is clearly spelled out by ALL of them is that you must submit transcripts of all college work attempted when you apply - whether it was before or after you left high school (AP courses, again, are not part of that requirement. If you don’t want credit for your APs, all you have to do is not submit your score report).</p>
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And to be sure you understand, transcripts of *all college work **attempted ***must be submitted, even if the courses will not transfer, even if you don’t like the grades, and even if you received a mark of “W” or “I.” All transcripts.</p>
<p>Since you are currently taking coursework at a community college, you should stop by their Transfer Office and talk with the counselors about the specific history that college has of placing transfers at various colleges and universities. Find out what kind of help they can give you in this process, and whether or not their students have been successful in receiving significant financial aid. It might be worth your while to complete a full AA or AS at your current CC and then transfer into a program that it has a formal articulation agreement with.</p>
<p>In rereading your original post, I think there’s a possibility of applying as a freshmen if you don’t attend spring term at a CC.</p>
<p>If I read it correctly. You have just 3 old CC classes. Given that, I think most schools would not consider you a transfer. Call a few, explain your situation and when you took the 3 classes. They’ll tell you how they view it.</p>
<p>That said, you should assess the whole picture. Whether its worth not getting on with school. The big issue is whether you can get into a school that meets need or youre likely to end up at oneof your state schools. The schools that meet need are mostly top schools and it’s hard to know how they’ll see you. Many are small LACs where a 29 year old would have a hard time fitting in.</p>
<p>How were your high school grades? What was your business? Why did you not go to collegemout of high school? Do you do any activities bin the community while working?</p>
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