<p>My H.S. grades were fine…nothing spectacular…mostly B’s/B+s but in the highest tracks of a well respected public H.S. outside Chicago.</p>
<p>I was going go to Kenyon College out of H.S. but some quite remarkable family issues kept me from matriculating as a 17 yr old with a partial scholarship, and I subsequently lost my scholarship and grant money so felt like matriculating at a later point wasnt in my best interest. Later, I was living abroad for a few years where attending just wasn’t so feasible. Our business was a ticket brokerage in downtown Chicago. Ive also held other jobs, tutored part time(strange, I know)…and just generally lived the life of a normal adult who happens to not have their bachelors. I dont have any extraordinary accomplishments in the community unless you consider cashing in 2 WSOP events an accomplishment. </p>
<p>Im now really worried about taking classes right now and somehow missing out on tremendous aid possibilities that I might be qualified for.</p>
<p>I dunno, I cant see myself as that attractive of a candidate for Yale, Stanford or any institution like that despite certainly being smart enough to wow on standardized tests and an essay. I simply haven’t jumped through all the hoops serious candidates for those schools have and are willing to do. Seems like a lot of the success through education game these days hinges on where you get your masters as many gate keepers are coming to terms with the fact that the best and brightest arent necessarily going to the top ranked undergrad program anymore due to cost and other factors…just an observation. </p>
<p>The other factor is the relative strength of my local state university. Since U of Illinois is so strong, and I know for a fact that they use ACT scores heavily in their decision making process for folks transferring in with less than 30 hours of college credits, im certainly leaning towards working hard and then trying to tranfer into a program there at a later date if possible.</p>
<p>NOTE: I wont have 30 even after this Spring term…and I know someone who transferred 24credits from another college + used AP credits to leave himself only 2 yrs at Champaign(He definitely used a summer term and might have taken 5 classes one term).</p>
<p>I just dont know what to think…I start classes tommorow… I think I better just stick to making progress and trying to transfer as someone with just under 30 credits.</p>
<p>this is a really tough one. You don’t mention whether you have a family and if you’re free to consider schools anywhere.</p>
<p>Your state school doesn’t meet need, are there state grants you would get on top of the Pell? if not, unless your assets are significant, a school that meets need will cost less.</p>
<p>i’d have to agree you’re probably not looking at Yale, but if you think you can get a high score and tell a good life story, there are schools that meet need you’d have a shot at. I would take a close look at schools that have non traditional student programs and meet need. you could get lucky.</p>
<p>Yes the terminal degree is most important but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t want the best undergrad education you can get.</p>
<p>What do you want to study?</p>
<p>I would post on the parents board here with details of your HS grades, current and potential scores, info on what you’ve done this last decade and anything else relevant. i think you’ll get some very good ideas.</p>
<p>There are pitiful few grants available to undergrad students at UIUC. I would probably qualify for a generic 1k one though. I also would marginally benefit from family being close. I would also be a legacy as my brother attended the school and just finished up his BS.</p>
<p>I have no family and at the moment am unattached. For free tuition and board at a top school I would move to Mexico…lol…though if I had to delay starting college for a yr and a half that would be a no go…probably…unless something was ironclad given how bad the economy is right now.</p>
<p>I also have looked at McGill University bc we have family in Montreal and I lived there as a 19 yr old and could probably rent/have a room in my Aunt’s house for a yr or two. They always tell me I should do this…and I lived with their son abroad so it wouldnt be a matter of imposing on them. Cost of living is also quite low there all around.</p>
<p>I want to study secondary education(Soft Sciences or Humanities)…and eventually get a masters in administration while teaching H.S. students. I have seen an advisor at the CC and we made sure every class I would be taking fit the IAI GECC which basically guarantees transferrability of the credits inside Illinois. Another reason why UIUC seems to be my best option.</p>
<p>Are there perhaps national teaching programs/grants I should be apprised of? </p>
<p>Im still pretty early in the process and feel quite ignorant.</p>
<p>I just realized my info was wrong. The $10,200 FAFSA asset protection figure is for a *married *29 year old student. For a single 29 year old student it would be $3500 ($4400 if you are turning 30 by 12/31/2011). Sorry for the bad info. After that 20% would go to the EFC (this is FAFSA only).</p>
<p>If you are eligible to file a 1040a or ez and income is below $50k, then you may be eligible for the simplified needs test where assets are ignored. If you are unable to file a 1040a or ez (possible if you have a business?) then there are alternative qualifiers, along with the income, such as being a dislocated worker or receiving means tested benefits.</p>