<p>I'm an URM 1st gen from Oklahoma and come from a low income background. Because of this I want to see what colleges I can get into that give good need based aid. </p>
<p>I have a 30 act and a 3.75 gpa and in the top ~17% of my class. I have a decent amount of extracurriculars and about 3 leadership positions in them. Based on that, which one of these colleges do you think I have a chance at getting accepted at:</p>
<p>Bowdoin College
Boston College
Brown University
Claremont McKenna College
Colby College
Connecticut College
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Duke University
Emory University
Grinnell College
Haverford College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
Middlebury College
Oberlin College
Pomona College
Rice University
Swarthmore College
Tufts University
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of Richmond
University of Virginia
University of South California
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Washington University, St. Louis
Wesleyan University
Williams College</p>
<p>ALSO, just know that I'm applying to my state flagship as both an academic and financial safety. Please feel free to let me know any other colleges you think I can get into that would give me significant need based aid.</p>
<p>Which URM are you?</p>
<p>Are you male or female?</p>
<p>Are you going to test again?</p>
<p>Are you certain that OU is a financial safety? Does it meet need?</p>
<p>Hispanic
Male
Maybe if it would help
Yes, it does not meet need but my parents and I have discussed it and we think we would be able to afford it especially if I commute.</p>
<p>Target the reach schools that don’t have a high Hispanic population. </p>
<p>Go to Collegeboard and look up the Hispanic numbers at those schools. </p>
<p>If a school has a good Hispanic representation, then your ACT 30 and ranking are not likely going to get you admitted. </p>
<p>Also look at the middle quartile ranges…your chances won’t be good if a 30 is towards the bottom 25% </p>
<p>you do need to test again…your scores are in the lower 25% for a number of these schools. </p>
<p>What is your major and career goal?</p>
<p>Ok I will definitely do that and as for now I’m undecided. Do you thinking I should apply for Questbridge? I doubt I would be matched but do you think I have a shot of being a finalist? That might raise my chances at these schools along with a higher ACT score I think.</p>
<p>Anyone else want to chance me for some of these schools?</p>
<p>Yes…try Questbridge.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input mom2collegekids!</p>
<p>You also should spend some time in the Financial Aid Forum reading up on other options. Start here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>I know a student at Guilford who got a monster scholarship with a GPA a bit higher than yours, but an ACT score of 29. Guilford is one of the colleges that participates in the Bonner Scholars Program. If you like community service, that might be another possibility for you.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for that link. How does community service tie into the Bonner Scholars Program?</p>
<p>Also, does being a URM really lower academic standards slightly at the schools listed above?</p>
<p>So basically what that thread is saying is that socio-economic factors that some URMS face is more important to college admission officers?</p>
<p>Re: Bonner Scholars</p>
<p>The policies vary a bit between the various participating colleges and universities, but in general, students selected for the Bonner Scholarship must participate in a number of community service projects while in college. They also receive their work-study salaries for work with approved non-profit organizations during the school year, and some of their summer jobs must be with non-profit organizations. Obviously, this requires a lot of commitment and planning on the part of each individual student, so normally students who have shown a strong interest in community service while they are in high school are the ones selected for the program. Do read up on it so that you have a better sense of whether it is something that you would like to pursue.</p>
<p>SES is ONE factor considered, please reread last sentence of the first paragraph in post #2.</p>
<p>Ok well can somebody chance me at these colleges as in how much of a reach they each are:
Boston College
University of Southern California
University of Virginia
Rice University</p>