<p>Arizona State University
CSU Chico
New Mexico State University
University of New Mexico
University of Nevada - Reno
CSU Sacramento</p>
<p>unweighted gpa: 3.1
SAT (all 3): 1430
ec: step team for 1 year, member
african american female
work at a pet resort
shadowed a veterinarian and have a signature to prove it</p>
<p>How much can your parents afford? What state do you live in? Cost will be a restricting factor, especially since all the universities on your list are public - and public universities don’t have need-based aid for out of state students. There are some agreements but you’d need to see if you meet their requirements.
The most important thing you can do beside retake the SAT is get the highest possible grades during your first term of senior year, taking Honors classes if possible (what’s your GPA, weighted?) You need to retake the SAT and reach a 1500-1600 score to increase your odds. What are your EC’s this year? (Are you continuing with the step team, for example)? This will not be as important as good grades and a higher SAT scores but showing you can keep an EC more than a year will be good - if the reason you couldn’t do ECs was because you were working a lot/to help your family financially, you’d need to explain that.</p>
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<p>It would be more accurate to say that most public universities don’t have very generous need-based aid for OOS students. But the point remains: if your need is great, then without exceptional stats an OOS public university probably won’t be affordable (unless it’s in a neighboring state with a reciprocity agreement with your own state.)</p>
<p>I live in texas and I already graduated high school. sorry I didn’t mention that in the original post. my need for financial aid would be great. I’m thinking of doing the ACT test because I feel I’d do better on that. is it worth it to take the ACT?</p>
<p>So, the only thing you can improve is your SAT or ACT score. Find books at your local libraries, register to take the tests in october and november or december, and prepare very hard. Use Khan Academy to review math, register for “question of the day”, and practice a lot.
And yes it’s worth trying the ACT. But prepare thoroughly before you take it.</p>
<p>If you already graduated 1° what are you doing this year 2° joining the NHS will be pointless since you won’t be able to do anything with the high school students, and what you DO with the club is the only thing that matters.
OOS costs for CSU’s would be around $22,000 tuition, with no grants (TX residents do not qualify for Cal Grants!) Plus housing, food, books, etc. The MAXIMUM loan you can get is $5,500. Unless you have 27,000 in the bank, forget the CSUs.</p>
<p>How did you pick these universities?</p>
<p>If you have great financial need, you should
1° apply to public universities in Texas. I assume your class rank kept you out of the auto admits but there has to be an affordable public school.
If you don’t want to stay in TX:
2° look for schools that have few applicants from Texas and apply there.
3° in particular, apply to the women’s colleges. (I’m surprised Spellman is not on your list? It’s probably the most prestigious school you can get into? The alumna network is something fierce. :p)
4° check out schools that meet 100% need, as well as those meeting more than 95% need, that are within range for your stats. Right now, I see University Northern Colorado (but that may be for in state applicants only), Berea College, Dean College, Illinois Wesleyan, Muhlenberg, Clark, Austin College, Agnes Scott, Alverno, and Mills.
You might want to check out University of Virginia at Wise (in case they provide FA like UVA does to out of state students), Carroll (WI), Carroll (MT), St Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Chatham. I’m sure there are others you can look into. I know these schools aren’t on your list but they’re a match for your stats and their typical recruitment would mean a very likely boost to your financial aid offers.
I’m sorry that there are so few OOS colleges meeting full need in the Southwest as far as I know, but do look as I must have missed some!</p>
<p>Now, it may be pointless since these schools may not meet your financial need at all so even if you have a shot at admission, if you get in and can’t afford it what’s the point, but…
<p>I used to live in ca but recently moved to tx. my family is now deciding to move back to ca, and they want me to stay close to them. I’ll check out Spellman college and thank you so much for the information. I didn’t know it was so hard for an oos student to get financial aid. and I will sign up and study more for the ACT in october. Although my parents might just make me do 2 years of cc before moving on to an actual university. but again, thank you for all the information!</p>