What are my chances for Bard College at Simon's Rock, and the AEP scholarship?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Simon's Rock College of Bard
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<p>Hello, I'm a freshman in high school and I'm looking forward to apply to Bard College at Simon's Rock. Here is some info on me: </p>

<p>My rank is 299 out of 995 student, but isn't accurate because I take harder classes. They don't do it by the level of class.
My GPA is around a 3.167 and a 87% out of 100%
I'm in all honor classes and a AP class
I am very mature for my age, and I love to write
I have been acting since 6, and I currently have two talent agents in Nashville and ATL
I have been in more than 20 plays, but now do film acting
I would like to go to school to become a journalist.
I am writing to Miep Gies, the one who helped Anne Frank
I am going to apply to 2009 Holocaust Remembrance Project Essay Topic & Writing Prompt
I am raised Roman Catholic & I'm half Italian, but my father is Jewish
I love to read historic fiction
I may be going to UGA's journalism workshop this summer
I have volunteered for the AP Fair at my school & I am planning on talking to 8th graders about AP.
I am very inquisitive
I was a junior camp counselor at a summer Broadway Camp, which I volunteered in 2007. I helped lots of kids get out of their shell, even though I'm a terrible singer and dancer
I'm on the varsity swim team
I will be joining the drama club next year
I was nominated for most spirited in my school
I will be taking the AP Human Geo Test in May
I may also take the Biology E SAT subject test in June
I would like to apply for NYU's Tisch high school program in Dublin for acting
I also have an interest in dramatic writing
I also like to hike and the mountains. I'm use to the suburbs though.
Honor Roll most of middle school
I have great interviewing skills.</p>

<p>Here is my schedule for next year:
Accelerated Integrated Geometry
Honors Chemistry
AP World History
Advanced Acting
French I
Honors 10th grade Language Arts</p>

<p>I am also trying to convince my parents to let me take a course during the summer such as Chemistry. It would have to be regular though, since they don't offer honors in the summer. I then would either take AP Art History or Earth Science. My GPA went down because I got a 72% in math. It was because of a teacher problem, and I have to work a lot harder this semester. I am also more of a Language Arts & Social Studies person. I'm not the greatest test taker & standardized test taker, but when I put my mind on something I get it done. Here were my grades from last semester:</p>

<p>Accelerated Integrated Algebra I: 72%
Honors Biology: 84% (should I take that SAT Subject test for it, teacher has never talked about it)
AP Human Geography: 82% without the 10 points. 92% with the 10. I think I will get a 3 or 4 on the test. I just need to work on the vocabulary.
Theater: 96%
Health: 95%
Honors 9th grade LA: 83%. My teacher expects more of me, and I think she grades unfair. My grade is going down now, because of a group project. I did the whole thing and my group wouldn't help me. It's one of my best subjects though. I want to go Bard College at Simon's Rock, so I ca get better teachers who actually care about the student. I really want to go, but my parents aren't so thrilled. My mother doesn't want to send me away earlier, but I'm trying to convince them. I also have two brothers who one will be a junior next year and wants to go to culinary school. We are in the middle class, but can't afford 50k a year on a school. If I don't get the AEP, I won't be going. I would like to transfer to NYU, USC, or Northwestern after I get my AA there. What are my chances for the school and the AEP scholarship? Thank you!</p>

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<p>I also may be going there this summer for the interview, since I'm going to be in that area already. I really want to do this, and I really can careless about the whole high school experience. I just hope I don't regret not going to prom, graduation, etc. I don't think I will though. The guidance counselor has been positive about it, but some teachers didn't like the idea about leaving high school early. My biggest person to convince are my parents. I don't know how to, and I'm a freshman now. I'm also not sure about the area, lol. I have grew up in the suburbs of South Florida and Georgia. I have never lived in that small of an area, and I don't know if I would get bored. I'm usually can just get to a major city in just in a hour. I also don't know how you can live without a Wal-Mart, lol. I think I can handle it, but when I think of country I think of rednecks, lol. The area is my only concern, I think I much rather go to a school in NYC or LA or outside of it. I think I just need to visit the campus, but I have fallen for the school.</p>

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<p>early_college...
I would go and visit and see what you think.
I wish I had more experience with Simon's Rock to give you advice. What didn't come clear in your posts is why you want to do this. I would think this through and have a good answer when you visit. For instance, why Simon's Rock and not a boarding school? The people I've met who went there felt they had outgrown the high school curriculum.
For its rural feel, the Berkshires are a pretty sophisticated part of the country. I have the odd background of growing up both nearby and in South Florida. I graduated from the U of F.
Best of Luck!</p>

<p>danas</p>

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<p>Thank you danas. I want to do this to get a head start for college. I really don't want to go to a boarding school. I want to go to college early, and feel like I'm waisting my time at high school. Is there any other high schools by Simon's Rock, so is there other kids near by?</p>

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<p>To be honest, campus is kind of isolated, but lots of people take the bus or train off campus every once in a while to Boston or NYC. There's not much interaction with other high schools in the area (other than through sporting events). There's a pretty good sense of community, though, and lots of activities on campus, but when break rolls around, a lot of people do get pretty excited about getting away from seeing the same 400 faces for a little while.
Hope that answers at least some of your question about the social aspect. </p>

<p>As for admission, honestly, if you can really prove that you're determined to get in, you can probably get in. AEP is trickier; don't count yourself out just because of your stats. Hopefully your essays and interview showcase your interests and what you would bring to the school.</p>

<p>(Don't forget that there are quite a few other financial aid/scholarship opportunities available besides AEP too!)</p>

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<p>Ty space. Would it be possible for me to have a job at Friendly's or Kmart my first year? Can I walk there? I don't think I qualify for any other scholarships, because I'm not in the Northeast area, not person of color, and don't know anyone who went there.</p>

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<p>bump........</p>

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<p>no one, huh????</p>

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<p>bump.............</p>

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<p>From the Simon's Rock webpage, emphasis mine:</p>

<p>
[quote]
The Acceleration to Excellence Program (AEP) Scholarships are merit awards covering up to the full cost of tuition for outstanding students who apply during the 10th or 11th grade.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Also:
[quote]
Room and Board: $10,600

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Most AEP scholarships do not cover full, nor even half, tuition. Even a GPA of over 4.0 will not guarantee you a full or half tuition scholarship.</p>

<p>I've seen elsewhere that you are expecting to go to Simon's Rock for free; there are no "full rides" from Simon's Rock. You or your parents will have to cover at least R&B, which, as you can see from the 2008-2009 figure above, is over $10K. AEP scholarships are very competitive, especially the highest awards. Students with 4.0+ GPAs do apply to the school, so you might want to consider that in your planning.</p>

<p>Though there is a KMart with a Great Barrington address, it's actually closer to Housatonic than to Great Barrington. Simon's Rock is not in the downtown area; it's up a hill from the town and is separate from it. You might want to look at a map of the area to get a feel for where the school is in relation to the town and KMart. </p>

<p>For non-work study students, there are jobs available on campus in dining services, lifeguarding, and the bookstore. Other jobs on campus (working in student services, the library, etc.) are for those eligible for work-study.</p>

<p>There are a few other early-entrance programs you might investigate. If you are a girl, you might look at Mary Baldwin. You could also attend college classes while going to high school; I know a number of students who are doing that.</p>

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<p>Did you write that comment? When I was reading some posts, one person had a 2.7GPA and got 30k of AEP. I also read a high school drop out got full AEP. I am a guy, so that wouldn't work lol. I have looked at other programs, but really can't find any other good one's. I liked USC's Residence Honors Program, but that is a huge reach for me. You need like a 3.8UW GPA and like a 2100 on the SAT. Any other suggestions? I have looked at lots of the programs.</p>

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<p>I do know you could apply to Sarah Lawrence College and skip your senior year, but I rather have something sooner than that. I do like SLC though.</p>

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<p>Technically, everyone or nearly everyone who goes to Simon's Rock is a "high school dropout."</p>

<p>The highest AEP award that is possible is full tuition; that is straight from the Simon's Rock web site. Not many are given out, and I would not be at all surprised if the number of them goes down. Simon's Rock has a small endowment that has been affected by the economy (like all other college endowments). Full AEP is hard to get. You could have a 4.0 or higher and not qualify for it, a 2300+ on the SAT and not qualify for it; you could create your own written and spoken language and not qualify for it, or work on research in a college lab and not qualify for it.</p>

<p>The cost of attendance for this coming year is $49,775. Over $10K of that is room and board; you can go to the Simon's Rock web page to find the figures. (You also have to pay for health care and orientation; those costs are detailed on the website.) Not detailed on the website are the cost of travel back and forth -- there are more breaks than at most colleges, and these are typically a week long -- books, spending money, and so on; there are a lot of expenses associated with college, over and above tuition and room and board.</p>

<p>I've been calculating costs for travel (air, train, bus, car), and just getting to and from the school adds up to a good bit of money. Flying to/from where I live to SR is $260 with the cheapest fares (no guarantee I can always get those cheapest fares); do that four times a year, which is not unreasonable, and that's over $1K right there. Four times a year would cover the October break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the February break; still have spring break, and the beginning and end of the school year to consider.</p>

<p>The cost of SR has risen about $3,000/year for each of the last three years, so next year, going there will likely cost more.</p>

<p>If you plan to transfer after two years, you also need to consider funding the last two years of college. There are not a lot of merit scholarships out there for transfer students. </p>

<p>You need to sit down with your parents and talk over the realities of college financing with them, whether you go to Simon's Rock or not. They need to know what their EFC (Expected Family Contribution) is -- see the financial aid forum for more information -- and determine whether they can afford that, whether they have that or will have that in cash on hand for your college costs, regardless of where you go. Simon's Rock does NOT meet full need; they gap, as do most colleges. The EFC is the MINIMUM that Simon's Rock, and any college, will expect your family to be able to pay for college.</p>

<p>Many, many families cannot pay their EFC; many students and parents don't sit down to run the money numbers until too late. Even if you got a full-tuition scholarship -- and it would be unwise of you to assume getting one -- how will all the other costs associated with college be paid? If you haven't figured that out, you need to do so before thinking about ANY college. </p>

<p>There are many ways to attend college classes without going to Simon's Rock. I know 10th and 11th graders who are attending community college classes and university classes, even though they may also be in high school. You might want to try out a college course where you are and see how that goes.</p>

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<p>I find that hard to believe since it's more than GPA and SAT scores. When I talked to a lady she told me this and that GPA isn't everything. You have to be well rounded. You can make up for your low GPA. It's also about if your a fit for SR, I have also talked to people who got full AEP and they didn't have those stats at all or close to them. Most people don't know SR even exists and that's why people can apply up to May. I am NOT trying to be rude, but that's what I got from the admission's counselor. I do know that full AEP is far to come by, but most people usually get some AEP. Also, I could save money. I have family in NY who are about an hour or two away and could stay with them which could save costs. I am just going to apply and see what happens. I won't get my hopes up and won't know what to expect. It is different for each person. Also, most people don't send in the SATS to SR. I know full AEP is very competitive, but I think you need something to stand out. I am going all this by what she told me and I suppose she must know what she's talking about. I bet you do too. </p>

<p>I have talked to my parents about college and I know we could afford about 20k a year, but my father is starting his own business. So, you never know which way that can go. 10k would be the ideal price, but if I could actually go to UGA for free. I could get Hope which is a scholarship and get everything paid for except books and housing. The housing isn't much money at all for UGA. They want me to go there, but I really don't like it hear. I don't want to go to class locally and want to have a new experience at a college and not a boarding school. I also have an two brothers (1 year older and 3 yrs older) which the older one wants to go to culinary school.</p>

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<p>I think it’s important to recognize that we’re in a recession and that the school’s endowment, like lots of other schools’, has taken a moderate hit. Officially, the school has stated that they’re going to focus on students who’ve already matriculated, so I imagine it’s going to be a lot more competitive to get financial aid of any sort in the next few years.</p>

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<p>Ok, thanks. I guess I will have to leave a huge impression.</p>

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<p>bump…</p>

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<p>As far as getting to and fro, if you live more than 100 miles away, or have extenuating circumstances, res. life will let you stay on campus over breaks. Summer is trickier, but if you get a job on campus, room fees are really cheap, 60 bucks a week, I think. I wouldn’t depend on getting full AEP, because it’s really REALLY hard. I think they only give out 20 slots. And there’s usually upwards of 200 people applying each year. I also wouldn’t give up on it, if you really want to go, based on the money, however. I know students who have funded their entire four years in loans by themselves, which sucks, but it is possible. Also, if you turn in a really good application, you can end up with partial AEP, even if your high school grades weren’t necessarily spectacular. Partial AEP, plus loans and some financial aid will help. I got my out of pocket payments down to $8000 a semester, which I really didn’t have, but was totally worth it for me.
Transferring you do need to consider, because a lot of schools have limited slots and/or financial help for transfers. They tend to focus on incoming freshmen. However, there are some schools that really like transfers. I transferred to Alfred University, which gave me a basically free ride, and many students transfer to U of Chicago, which is need blind. (Need blind means that regardless of whatever aid and scholarships you get, the college will pay the portion of your tuition that exceeds your EFC. So conceivably, you could have extra aid, depending on how much you get.) Also, there is a lot more aid for students entering the upper college at SR, because 2/3 of each class transfers out.</p>

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<p>Thanks! I have decided not to apply. It came down to that I’m already stressed enough with high school. I also have considered doing a BFA in acting and if I would transfer, I would be a freshman all over again. It wouldn’t make much sense to go and then to start all over. </p>

<p>Thanks for the response though.</p>

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<p>I applied for the AEP scholarships and received a 7500 renewable scholarship. That isn’t even enough to cover room and board. That is about the average scholarship that the AEP applicants get. If you do really well on your AEP essay and have lots of EC’s, then you are more likely to get more AEP money. I still haven’t received my financial aid package yet, so I don’t know how much money my family is going to have to pay.</p>