What colleges should I consider?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am a senior in high school and, much like everyone at this time, college is looming overhead. However, as most of everyone I know is, I'm overwhelmed at all the schools interested in me soley by PSAT/ACT scores. I've gotten mail/email/calls from all sorts of colleges (podunk community colleges all the way to Ivy league) and its hard to filter out where I want to go. Granted, I've done my share of searches, but data can only give such a limited image of not only the campus itself, but my chances of actually getting in. Here is my info:</p>

<ul>
<li>High School: My GPA is 3.911 Weighted (3.767 U/W) with only AP classes being weighted. That said, I'm not in the top ten percent of my class (one percentage point and about 6 kids from being there; an easy feat with one more year of consistant grades) out of 561 students. I've taken all honors classes in the core areas of curriculum (sans math freshman year. Long story short I had to take Algebra I and Geometry simultaneously in order to enter the honors track sophmore year). I've taken 3 APs up to this point: AP Chemistry (5), AP English Language (4), and AP US Government (3). Current course load consists of 4 APs (AP US History, AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC, and AP English Literature) and the electives I have to take in order to get enough P.E./Arts credits to graduate.</li>
</ul>

<p>-SAT: Ugh, I really wish I could undo my SAT score; 1910/2400 and 1300/1600. I scored higher on the PSAT than my best on the SAT. I've taken the SAT twice and, from what I've heard from a friend of mine who has Ivy league aspirations, taking it more than twice lessens the impact of getting a higher score. That said, I might consider re-taking it one last time should I want to get that higher score and especially since my score improved by 200 between takes.</p>

<p>Oh, and no subject tests yet. I do plan on taking Math II and a science (likely Chem) by the end of the year (as in, happy new year, not happy new school year) since that seems like what most of the colleges I've looked at require.</p>

<p>-ACT: I did many times better on the ACT than the SAT. 32 composite, with 30 W/ 32 Math/ 28 CR/ 36 S (Don't ask how I pulled off the perfect science subscore especially looking at my CR. I don't even know how I did it myself). This is my first real take at it (I did two talent searches that involved taking the test when I was in middle school) and I am retaking the ACT next month in hopes of bumping up the score and so that I take it with writting (the session that our school required didn't allow anyone to take the writting portion).</p>

<p>-Extra Curriculurs: To be honest, I haven't done much for Extra curriculars. Sure I was in spanish club for two years, but actually looking at what we did it meets no schools definition of "extra curricular". I have started attending Student Council and do plan on joining NHS this year, but starting as late as I did says "desperate" on a college app even though neither really is. I do have some other activities (helping out my dad's/brother's youth football team on weekends, guitar lessons), but none of them really paint that pleasent of a picture in terms of EC.</p>

<p>-College plans: As of right now, I'm looking primaraly at schools with good science programs (particularly engeneering), but ideally I'd want to keep myself open to a more liberal arts oriented degree as lord knows whether or not my aptitute will change over the course of my college career. I do have to consider tuition to an extent as neither my parents or I can affoard an Ivy league education without some form of financial aid or merit bassed (yeah, I know, fat chance of that happening at an Ivy level). I'm not as limited in terms of location as I wouldn't mind going anywhere as long as in the country. I'm also free in terms of city sizes and class sizes (though I'd shoot for mid-sized in both areas). I plan to apply to schools in my state (University of Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, and maybe CSU + University of Denver) as schools that I shouldn't have a hard time getting into.</p>

<p>There are two saving graces to my good but not excellent portfolio that may make some more selective schools options. First is my 1/4 hispanic ethnicity which not only gives me an ethnicity card (...technically) but is just enough to qualify for the title "National Hispanic Merit Scholar" in combination with my PSAT scores. Not much comes with the title, but it qualifies for financial aid at some schools. I've also skipped two grades up to this point. I don't know how much this will benefit or hurt me in the long run (which, going off of what my current high school principal said as he first met me, I know that it may be a drawback to admittance at any school), but I know that doing what I have done being two years younger than everyone else is a factor that colleges will have to look at to some extent.</p>

<p>So, what schools should I consider options? I'm open to whatever imput you may have.</p>

2

<p>Are you a NMSF? IF so, then you do have to retake the SAT, because your current score isn’t high enough for NMF.</p>

<p>*I’ve taken the SAT twice and, from what I’ve heard from a friend of mine who has Ivy league aspirations, taking it more than twice lessens the impact of getting a higher score. *</p>

<p>TOTAL BS…LOL Especially since at least one of your earlier scores was during a non-senior year.</p>

<p>Your ACT is good - hopefully you will do as well or better with the essay portion.</p>

<p>I do have to consider tuition to an extent as neither my parents or I can afford an Ivy league education without some form of financial aid or merit based (yeah, I know, fat chance of that happening at an Ivy level). I’m not as limited in terms of location as I wouldn’t mind going anywhere as long as in the country.</p>

<p>Ivies don’t give merit scholarships.</p>

<p>Ivies cost the same as most popular privates…about $55k per year. </p>

<p>How much will your parents pay each year? (if you don’t know, ask them) From that number you can determine how much merit you need.</p>

<p>If your parents can pay - say $15k per year - then you’ll need to find schools that offer big scholarships - such as full tuition. </p>

<p>If you need a lot of merit, then you need to look at schools that give big merit (not all do). Your stats need to be about in the top 5% of the school for big merit. That typically means schools that are not top-ranked schools…however they are good schools.</p>

<p>As for need-based aid…that will depend on whether you qualify and whether your schools give institutional aid (many schools do not).</p>

<p>Do you know your FAFSA EFC?
Quick EFC
[FinAid</a> | Calculators | QuickEFC](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Quick EFC - Finaid)</p>

3

<p>NHMS is not like NMS in that regard. You don’t have to get a high enough SAT to still qualify. The downside is that it isn’t a scholarship. It’s like the AP scholar titles; it means a lot, but it doesn’t guerantee anything else.</p>

<p>I might take the SAT again, but I’m adament I can at least get my ACT up to a 33 if not higher by bumping up my CR (which is easy; I didn’t finish that section and had to guess my way through the last passage). Besides, I’m not sure I can get my score much higher than 2000 on the SAT. I can’t put my finger on why, but I’ve never been able to do that well on the test. I guess I’m a good “case in point” for why the ACT is easier; outside of how little my teachers taught that was directed to the SAT in comparason to the ACT, there should be no reason why I’m scoring so low.</p>

<p>Money for college only matters to an extent. Assuming that I don’t go Ivy league (which the most selective I want to go is MIT, but I have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting in unless I pull off a miracle ACT score) my family shouldn’t struggle paying me in. It would be nice, of course, but it won’t make or break a school by itself.</p>

4

<p>MIT is not an ivy league school. </p>

<p>Assuming that I don’t go Ivy league (which the most selective I want to go is MIT, but I have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting in unless I pull off a miracle ACT score) my family shouldn’t struggle paying me in.</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>Don’t know what you mean. It sounds like you’re saying that if you don’t go to an elite school, then your parents can afford the school. But, non-elite privates cost the same as elites. </p>

<p>What are you saying? Will your parents pay $55k per year for college?</p>

5

<p>I consider MIT selective enough to be considered Ivy league even though it isn’t technically.</p>

<p>Well, an Ivy-league type school in terms of budget is what I mean. They won’t pay for everything, but they are willing to pay some money. Finances are going to more of a final decision factor than anything else.</p>

6

<p>*They won’t pay for everything, but they are willing to pay some money. Finances are going to more of a final decision factor than anything else. *</p>

<p>Then you need to be sure to apply to some financial safety schools. Otherwise you could have a handful of unaffordable acceptances if all your schools expect a larger family contribution than your family is willing to pay. That happens to some kids EVERY year here on CC. They neglected to include some REAL financial safety schools that they KNEW for SURE that they could afford to attend because of ASSURED merit and/or family contribution.</p>

<p>Do yourself a favor and get an approx number from your parents so that you can select some appropriate financial safety schools based on ASSURED merit money and their contribution.</p>

7

<p>As young as you are, I would consider taking a gap year. I think you would appeal to selective colleges more, especially if you do something useful during that gap year.</p>

8

<p>I haven’t thought of doing a gap year. Honestly, though, I’d rather go to a much less higher calibre school and use those two years to get a graduate level education than take a year off to get into a better school. I don’t think the age will be too strong of a negative factor that will completly deter admission, but even then I plan to use my principal as a rec; not only does he know me better than a majority of my teachers, but I believe his oppinion about my maturity level compared to some of the other double skips in my school (which he has told my entire family that is gone up since he first met me) will be a way to negate any concerns of a college admitting a 16 year old. Plus, I don’t think I can do anything that will truely be beneficial on my resume outside of independant study (which, even though I do most of what that entails on my own, I couldn’t take a class without some teacher in front of me).</p>

9

<p>*First is my 1/4 hispanic ethnicity which not only gives me an ethnicity card (…technically) but is just enough to qualify for the title “National Hispanic Merit Scholar” in combination with my PSAT scores. Not much comes with the title, but it qualifies for financial aid at some schools. </p>

<p>I’ve also skipped two grades up to this point.*</p>

<p>Oh…I missed this point. </p>

<p>Are you 15? How old will you be when you graduate???</p>

<p>Being Hispanic and/or National Hispanic doesn’t mean more financial aid. FA isn’t based on ethnicity…it’s based on income/assets.</p>

<p>however, there are schools that give big merit scholarships for NH. You should look at Auburn University…big NH scholarship and good engineering.</p>

10

<p>I’ll be 16 at graduation.</p>

<p>Some schools do seek out ethnicities. In all the student search letters I’ve gotten, a good half of them have been trying to lure me in by prospects of a good hispanic community. It helps admission much like any other honor and it may help for FA.</p>

<p>My parents and I actually have already had our eyes on Auburn. Just from reading the mission statement and a few facts about the academics, it seems like it would be a perfect fit for me. Plus, they offer amazing financial aid for any NMS recipiant including the minority varients.</p>

11

<p>since finances are your biggest concern, i’ll offer you a piece of advice.</p>

<p>mom2collegekids is correct when she says you need to figure out how much your parents are willing to pay. HOWEVER, this doesn’t mean that you need to apply to a bunch of “financial safety” state schools. you just need one or two that you KNOW you will be accepted to.</p>

<p>the most important thing you need to do is research private universities with large endowments and generous finaid packages (hint: look at the top 30 or so private national universities/LACs). if you get in at one of these schools, almost all of them will meet your demonstrated need with a combination of grants and loans (the better schools will give you much more in grants than loans). you need to be active and call admissions/finaid offices at schools. </p>

<p>good luck</p>

12

<p>Look at Denison U. (Merit and your stats are “target” there. No need to retake anything. Ohio University gave my nephew a full ride for NMF and even out of state, you would be likely to get a lot of aid (his SAT’s were 2100 but he only had a 3.0 gpa!). This one is far, but Clark University near Boston gives good merit money (you would be within their range of a better student which is what you want in order to get considered for merit aid at all). I am not as familiar with schools closer to you, but there are lots of others! </p>

<p>Start really researching the schools near you (the smaller liberal arts and state) and look up whether they offer NON-Need based Aid as well as Need-based. Look at their percentages of merit aid given. Then keep in mind that in order to get merit aid, you need to be one of the BETTER applicants. Did the National Merit Corp. give you a blue sheet with a list of schools that offer NM Aid? That’s the list to start with! Not all of them will give full rides, some only give 1 thousand dollars so you have to actually research the schools individually.</p>

<p>I think you may have to accept that this is where you are now. Your Gpa isn’t Ivy. You’re EC isn’t Ivy. Your test/scores aren’t either. It’s time to look at the best possible fits for you and the good news is that there are lots of lots of colleges that will gladly accept you and even offer you merit or need-aid, but you’re going to have to lower the bar. Go through the book, the Best 373 Colleges (or the Best 371 from last year). Mark the schools that interested you and don’t rule out the liberal arts schools with only a 3.2 gpa average! Those could be your ticket :). And since you mentioned grad school — do what my nephew is doing at OU on his “full ride” — he’s getting a 4.0 and making dean’s list. Why the sudden change in his attitude? He intends to go to Duke Law (where his grandparents went). He was able to save all of his college savings money for grad school to boot! My point is that, if Ivy is what you want, then work your butt off in undergrad and earn your way into the grad program of your dreams!</p>

13

<p>I’ve never bluntly said finances are the biggest concern nor are they. A consideration, sure, but not something that will hinder where I apply. I’d rather go to a more expensive school if it ment a better undergrad program than to the local community college since, hey, its the cheapest thing around. My family’s plan is to throw out apps wherever I can so that when it is time to decide so that I have a variety of options in terms of cost and we can make a holistic decision based on everywhere I’m accepted to. Besides, who knows how much aid my parents will be able to give next year? Who knows what schools will offer Financial aid? There are so many uncertainties with worrying about aid that it is best left until I’m actually accepted into schools.</p>

<p>Right now, my largest concern is where I can get into as reach schools. I have some acceptance “safe” in-state schools (+ Auburn), so I’m more concerned about seeing how prestigous of a school I can get accepted to.</p>

<p>Edit: @jkiwmom: I know Ivys are gonna be monumental reach schools (as in, I’d need a random act of god in order for my app to not be incinerated upon arrriving), so I think going to, say, Yale as a grad is the best plan of action if I still want to get into those schools. To be honest, my middle school had not prepared me for high school (as in, I had never had a lesson about essay writting, grammer, allongside other problems) that caused a majority of my problems. Since I’ve conquered most of those problems now excelling at a much smaller University should be a cake walk.</p>

14

<p>Are there any schools that would be a good match for me that I’d have a chance of getting into? I honestly ignored about 90% of the college brochures I’ve gotten outside Ivy leauges and other prestigous schools (plus local schools), so I’ve only looked at a handful of possibilities.</p>

15

<p>You have a good shot at Lehigh or Bucknell. Also, Rose-Hulman and RPI.</p>

16

<p>I’ve looked at RPI to an extent (which looks like a great school if I still want to be out NE and not at one of the Ivy calibre universities), but haven’t done as much for the others. I’ll look into them. Thanks!</p>

17

<p>Some schools do seek out ethnicities. In all the student search letters I’ve gotten, a good half of them have been trying to lure me in by prospects of a good hispanic community. It helps admission much like any other honor and it may help for FA</p>

<p>Yes…schools do seek out URMs. some schools need more diversity.</p>

<p>However, don’t assume that a URM gets more need-based FA just for being a URM. If your financial forms don’t indicate that you qualify for FA, then you won’t get any. </p>

<p>However, you may get merit-aid (such as a NH scholarship, but that’s not need-based.)</p>

<p>When money is an issue, it can sometimes be hard to find “match schools.” Reach schools often give big financial aid (if you qualify), and safety schools often give big merit for stats. However, match schools often don’t give much merit and don’t give a lot of aid.</p>

<p>I’ve never bluntly said finances are the biggest concern nor are they. A consideration, sure, but not something that will hinder where I apply.</p>

<p>No, you didn’t SAY that finances are your big concern, but you gave enough info to indicate that finances are somewhat of an issue.</p>

<p>*but not something that will hinder where I apply. *</p>

<p>It shouldn’t completely hinder where you should apply, but when someone can’t pay “full freight” they need to make sure that they include some financial safety schools - which you are doing with schools like Auburn and some Calif schools.</p>

<p>Besides, who knows how much aid my parents will be able to give next year?</p>

<p>Yes…but…college is not a one-year deal. Your parents may be able to contribute their EFC next year, but what if they can’t for the next year? AT that point, it will be too late to transfer to a school that would give you big merit…because those offers are ONLY for incoming freshmen. </p>

<p>That’s why you need to have a “sit-down” with your parents and go over this issue. They may not be thinking ahead. They may think that they can pay $25k next year without realizing that if they can’t also pay the same amount the following years, you may have given up better financial opportunities.</p>

<p>That said…apply around…include your financial safety schools…find out what your parents EFC is.</p>

<p>You say that your parents are self-employed. Your EFC may be higher than you think.</p>

18

<p>Gah, I hate how the forums don’t have an easy to use quote feature.</p>

<p>How I see it, this is how financing college is going to break down:

  1. Parents work in morgage industry (not self employed), a VERY volatile industry where you can go from making tons of money to barely holding on to your job in a week. Therefore, it’s hard to know where my parents will be over the next four years. Considering my parents have both recently started working for a new company, their salaries are still at very low levels but will rise. To what extent no one knows. We can’t make a financial decision until the time closes in. We MAY qualify for some Financial aid, but with the odd position we are in FA will not likely be much more than a few thousand. Even if my family starts making more money, I may still have to go to an in-state school getting more financial aid just because their jobs are so volitale.</p>

<p>2) I might get some merit for the NHMS thing. It won’t be the same as a NMS (which stinks because I was about 3 points off on my PSAT from making the lower boundry of qualification), but at schools like Auburn the aid is substantial. It will likely only be a few thousand a year (if they even give credit) if they give credit. But, hey, every bit helps…</p>

<p>3) Location is going to be a much larger factor than most students. The farther I am from Colorado, the more flights to and fro will cost and, considering my age, being all the way on the east coast is worrysome to my parents. Conversly, schools like University of Colorado and School of Mines (both of which have great engeneering programs) are going to be prefered if only because they are only an hour or so from where I live. Obviously everything will be looked at holistically, but I do have to keep in mind travel expenses.</p>

<p>I really need to sit down with a list of scholarships and EFA calculator and see where I land as of right now. I know I have some financial safe schools and hopefully as the year progresses I’ll have a pretty good idea where to go to be safe on the monetary side.</p>

19

<p>Any other schools that would be a seemingly good fit and might have a chance of getting accepted? I want to get an idea of where my “reach schools” are in terms of academics before sending an app to “World’s Most Selective University” University and not getting in (which, considering how low my stats are, I know would happen if said college was real).</p>