I’m looking for schools where I can get a good education at a low price. I’m looking to major in econ/stats/computer science. At the moment my top schools are the U of M and Madison because I live in Minnesota and would get a good price for in state, but are there other Universities I could consider? I’m currently a junior. I feel my academic credentials are quite strong.(though my ECs are really weak…)
UW GPA: 3.9
Weighted: 4.3 (and rising since all my classes are weighted now)
SAT: not yet taken, 220 PSAT
ACT: 34
Class Rank: Top 10%
AP Classes:
Human Geography: 4
Statistics: 5
Calc AB: 5
APUSH: 5
Chem: 4
This year
Econ(Macro + Micro)
Euro
Calc BC
Physics C(Mech + E&M)
Next Year:
Spanish
US Gov
Comp Gov
Computer Science AB
Psych
IB HL Further Maths
IB HL Lit
IB SL Bio
ECs(really weak like I said…)
Swimming (whole life)
Piano (whole life)
Looking to do some volunteering this summer
Thanks for reading! Any and all suggestions are appreciated!
Sorry, I don’t have a clue about Minnesota schools.
But, depending on where you live, you may be able to cross state lines and still keep the distance reasonable. From my home on Long Island, a 240ish mile radius stretches from Boston to Baltimore, and west past Scranton.
Ask your guidance counselor for suggestions. She can go onto Naviance and get a list of schools where kids from your high school with similar stats have gotten in.
Do you know if your parents qualify for need based aid? Have them run a (free) EFC calculator to see if it’s affordable. If so, you’ll have many options to try.
If not, then you’ll want to be looking at good merit aid schools.
The schools that are on each list tend to be different, so it’s very helpful to know which your situation fits into.
Focus on a volunteer experience that will be significant to you and enable you to take on responsibility other than just to show up for 3 hours a week. Also, where ECs are weak, colleges like to see part-time employment. Your dedication to Piano and Swimming will be viewed positively. If you partake in these activities with others (play piano in an ensemble or swim on a team), then emphasize that, as colleges want to see that you desire to be part of a larger community.
As for Minnesota-based schools, Macalester College has a great Economics curriculum and is located in St. Paul. Would it be possible to commute? They award merit and need-based aid, but there is no set formula.
Some state universities that award significant merit aid to high stats out of state students: Alabama (100% tuition); Ohio State (up to 50% tuition); North Carolina State (Park Scholarship - 100% of all costs, but very competitive); Maryland (up to 30% tuition).
Some private schools that award significant merit aid to high stats students: Case Western (50%); Tulane (50% to 75%), with some full scholarships on a very competitive basis; Bard (Levy Scholarship for Economics, 100% tuition, very competitive).
It is very good that you are getting an early start. Most of these merit programs favor (or are limited) to students who apply early action or by an earlier deadline than regular admission.
The list above is by no means exhaustive, but just based on our family’s experience. I hope you find it useful as you put your list together.
Thank you for your replies. I should clarify that I am not at all opposed to leaving Minnesota as long as it is affordable. My problem is less that my parents don’t make enough money but more that they are unwilling to pay much towards college, and for this reason I fear need-based aid will be low. I will definitely research the schools albclemom provided further, thank you!
You need to find out what your parents are ready, willing, and able to pay. If they won’t pay anything at all, then you need to find places where you will get enough aid to cover all of your expenses except for whatever it is that you would be able to make with school-year and summer jobs. If they will pay something, then that increases your options.
Run the NPC on UMN-TC and UW Madison, + Macalester, St Olaf, Gustavus Adolphus, Illinois Wesleyan, Grinnell, and Lawrence.
Show the results to your parents: how much are they able/willing to invest in your education?
Then post here with your budget and whether it’s similar to your EFC or lower (and by how much).
As happymomof1 above said, if their budget is much lower than EFC, it means you need to find merit aid. And if necessary you’ll need to find full tuition scholarships.