Was it a mistake to apply to these colleges?? (Will chance back)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>So I applied to a few colleges and wanted to know if they are realistic targets for me and what my chances were at each.</p>

<p>University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
UCLA
UC Berkeley
Penn State University Park
University of Miami
Cornell University
University of Southern California
University of Connecticut
Emory University</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT: 1300/2040-- CR 670; Math 630; Writing 740 (just took the October SAT, haven't received yet)
GPA: ~3.9 unweighted, school doesn't weight
APs: English Lang (<strong>self-trained</strong> 3), AP Bio, AP Calc AB, AP Eng. Lit.
Honors: Geometry, Earth Science, Living Environment, Integrated Algebra, Global History, English 9
Major: Business Administration</p>

<p>Subjectives
ECs:
-Community Service Club/Peer Mediation Certification- ~100 volunteer hours-including helping construct homes in a poor West-African village
-Summer class at Emory U. for Experimental Economics
-Club Soccer on a nationally ranked African team (the #1 team in West-Africa)
-Competitive ranked Chess Player
-Future Business Leaders (Treasurer 2x and founder in my school)
-Varsity Soccer (4x, captain grades 11-12)
-Advanced Orchestra (first string cello, taught myself several instruments including African Djembe, xylophone, clarinet)
-Schoolwide Science fair (one 1st place and 1 second place award)
-Model UN (1 of 6 selected for conference in Ghana and South Africa)</p>

<p>**I work on my dad's plantation and so I'm poised to take over his 20-acre rubber-tree plantation as soon as I finish college</p>

<p>Honors:
Principals Award 2x- awarded to a select few who show excellence in effort and attitude</p>

<p>Senator Greg Ball Honor Roll-awarded to those in NY state who show consistency in making High Honor roll status</p>

<p>Excellence Awards in various subjects-(Algebra II, English 10/11, African History, Sciences, many others)</p>

<p>National J. Honor Society</p>

<p>Essays and Recommendations:
Had 2 pretty solid recommendations written; wrote my common app essay on my experience transitioning from a 1st world country to a third world country and making the most out of it.</p>

<p>Background:
Senior, US citizen (lived in US for 15 years)
African-American male (URM)
Currently live in Ivory Coast in West Africa which is an extremely poor area, my school hasn't offered any APs or very many extracurricular activities as a result. I will apply for financial aid.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading this, and I would appreciate any response/chance back!
PS: Please be as honest as possible!! Thank you!</p>

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<p>You’ve got a cool story bud. And you’ll certainly get into at least a few off of that list, especially the UCs and state schools </p>

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<p>Thanks @viewthroughkohl0‌ ! Anyone else please? I’m open to constructive criticism!</p>

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<p>Fascinating. I think those are realistic targets for you, but most of them are not known for handing out lots of financial aid or scholarships. I would’ve included U Penn, U Wisconsin and some others.</p>

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<p>Thanks @mommyrocks‌ ! I’ll surely consider that. Anyone else?</p>

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<p>I think you were already told that you will have to pay a lot of money for the public schools. So yes, I think the UC were a mistake, I never thought I would say mistake when I opened the thread because it is just an application, but you will pay a minimum of 30k at the UC. For sure same with Penn State, they don’t even give good aid instate. Probably same Miami and UConn. You need to add some private colleges that you might actually get in and get aid. Right now you just have no/klow aid situations or reaches. I don’t want to look back now at your past posts to dig for info–how much can you pay?</p>

<p>note: Wisc doesn’t give aid either. Penn yes but another big reach, especially the business school.</p>

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<p>@BrownParent‌ My parents could probably pay around 40-45k of the price, but this is without aid. Do you think that these colleges would provide enough aid to cover the rest considering how much my parents can pay? Thanks again btw!! </p>

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<p>Anyone else??</p>

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<p>University of Wisconsin has a full-tuition merit scholarship for minority students (both in state and out of state) that you can apply for till February. You have a great shot at this! Don’t listen to person who says Wisconsin doesn’t have any aid. <a href=“Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program – Chancellor's and Powers-Knapp Scholarships – UW–Madison”>http://provost.wisc.edu/csp.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks @mommyrocks‌ , I’ll check it out for sure. Anyone else?</p>

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<p>Thanks @mommyrocks‌ , I’ll check it out for sure. Anyone else?</p>

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<p>I can’t say because I don’t know what your ‘need’ calculation is. Did you run the Net Price Calculators for your colleges? If you don’t have need you won’t get any need aid. I doubt you will get merit awards at any.</p>

<p>Penn state no way. UCs will if they determine you are low income, but if you can pay that much you are likely not. They sometimes give smaller Regents merit awards to OOS but it isn’t usual. So when you look at your list assume unaffordable. I don’t know why you want to pay so much when you have a family business. It is kind of crazy to me for a Business Admin degree. I guess you no longer qualify for instate anywhere? I remember you posting a while back, did you not go over financially viable colleges?</p>

<p>You know you would get automatic merit aid at Univ of Alabama? I think 2/3rds tuition.They have business. If you don’t have a fallback put an application in ASAP Dec 15 deadline for auto merit. There are other less costly choices than 55 or 60k colleges, I think. What assured colleges do you have that you will get in and assuredly afford at this time?</p>

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<p>The only school which would be a stretch is UNC and that’s just because you are out of state, way out of state. The UC schools may not take the time to read your story which is very interesting. Your SAT is a bit low but I don’t think you have gotten carried away with too many reaches. I would consider a school like Amherst or Vassar as well, a top LAC with an extremely strong diversity push and great financial aid</p>

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<p>BrownParent, I think I will take your advice and send an application to University of Alabama by tomorrow. Thanks for that! @Wje9164be‌ I appreciate the response! Anyone else?</p>

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<p>I am not sure Amherst and Vassar have business admin as a major, though. One problem you may have is that your dad’s plantation (business) will possibly cause you problems in getting financial aid at the schools that DO offer good financial aid to OOS students, and also at most top private schools. I don’t see how you get around that, since it sounds like you don’t have an instate option given where you live now.</p>

<p>A couple of colleges that meet need with Business Admin majors (not a complete list, but ones I found easily) are Boston College, University of Richmond, Emory, and University of Rochester. You math score is low for all but Richmond, but as a URM you still might have a good shot at these. </p>

<p>If you need merit aid, though, not sure about these schools (just haven’t looked into it).</p>

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<p>Thanks @intparent‌ , that was very helpful information! I’ll certainly look into that aspect. Anyone else…?</p>

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<p>Also, you are right to get that Alabama app in ASAP. I think the deadline for merit scholarships is 12/15 (have seen that out here on CC, you should check their website). Get it done right away, that might be your most affordable choice.</p>

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<p>Yeah I’m working on that right now. This is really helping guys, keep the advice coming please!</p>

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<p>Is there a reason you want to go to a prestigious college if you’re just going to take over your father’s plantation? Anyways, I think you have a solid shot at most of these schools, Cornell and UNC being reaches</p>

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<p>I was planning on doing more than just own the plantation @Alden97‌ , thanks alot though! Anyone else?</p>