<p>Very good record. What kind of college do you think you’d like (rural/urban, small/large)? What do you want to major in? Do you need financial aid? What state do you live in?</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad posed several critical questions.</p>
<p>On a different note, don’t take Math I and Math II just because you think you can do well on both of them; choose one or the other and/or take a third SAT II.</p>
<p>I am looking for a school in either a small city or the suburbs.
I intend to major in either psychology or sociology.
I live in Long Island, NY.
I am going to need a lot of financial aid, seeing as how my parents are not contributing to my college tuition and I figure I’m going to apply to schools costing 50G+…</p>
<p>But a lot of colleges are need-blind so why does that matter?</p>
<p>–</p>
<p>And btw, I know- I’m taking the SAT and subject tests separately.</p>
<p>What is your parents’ financial situation? Have them fill out the FAFSA and see what their EFC (expected financial contribution) is, or else use an estimator found on a couple of other sites. If it is low (0-10000) then feel free to apply to expensive, highly-ranked privates, as they are likely to give you a lot of aid. If this is the case, concentrate particularly on schools that meet full need, there should be a list somewhere on CC if you search for it.</p>
<p>If they have a large EFC, you are in a very tough situation because you will not be able to attend a school that is as good as your academic profile would allow you to get into. The Ivy League and the NESCAC do not offer merit aid, nor do most other top schools. You will have to go down the ladder to places that will give you merit money because you have stats in the top 10-20% of the admitted class.</p>
<p>Ivy League schools often give amazing, AMAZING financial aid so don’t lower your sights! You will really have to look for schools that give great financial aid, here is a list of them - [Test</a> Prep: GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, SAT, ACT, and More](<a href=“Colleges with Great Financial Aid | The Princeton Review”>Colleges with Great Financial Aid | The Princeton Review) .
Wake Forest has a lot of great merit/skill scholarships, and also some great financial aid scholarships. Look at some of the larger state schools also, like UNC-chapel hill, which are less expensive and also might give you some aid.</p>
<p>If your family makes roughly $60,000 or less you should consider applying for Questbridge.
[QuestBridge</a> National College Match - Selection Criteria](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/cmp/criteria.html#academic]QuestBridge”>http://www.questbridge.org/cmp/criteria.html#academic)
"The QuestBridge National College Match helps outstanding low-income high school seniors gain admission and full four-year scholarships to some of the nation’s most selective colleges.</p>
<p>If you are a student who has achieved academic excellence in the face of economic challenges, we encourage you to apply to the National College Match. You may be concerned about tuition costs, but QuestBridge’s partner colleges offer generous financial aid packages that cover 100% of demonstrated financial need, making them very affordable for low-income students."</p>
<p>Binghamton would be a good safety for you. If your parents cannot pay, you will be a great candidate for aid, but if they just do not want to pay, it will be hard. Tulane gives good need and merit aid, and is in a small city. You should also look at Vassar. Brandeis or Boston College may be a fit. University of Rochester may be a fit. Look at Rice if you are willing to go that far away. Northwestern could be a good idea. You are definitely a candidate for the top schools.</p>
<p>I agree with Boston College, Rochester and Tulane; Rice and NU may be a bit of a stretch until the SATs come up. Also consider Emory, George Washington, and Wake Forest as possible matches.</p>
<p>nobody is giving good aid to the kid whose parents make 300k but refuse to pay for college. i don’t know the OP’s situation, but given the LI location, a pretty typical income would be 200k-300k</p>
<p>Thanks SO MUCH for all the feedback everybody! This is supremely helpful!</p>
<p>In regards to my parent’s situation, ChoklitRain, we DO live in an expensive area, but my parents’ income is far from that of our neighbors. They make 60 G, and I think most of it goes to the mortgage and bills. </p>
<p>I took the FAFSA 4Caster to get an idea of what my EFC was and it said it was 6709, BUT then my Financial Aid was only 9G for a 30 G school! And I’d have to pay 22 G!
I thought my EFC was low, yet, the gvt wont give me any FA!!!</p>
<p>But in regards to the match suggestions, I already have Boston College, Brandeis and George Washington as matches. I also have Binghamton as a safety and Northwestern as a reach. So way to go, guys for guessing correctly! </p>
<p>I intend to investigatioin Tulane, Wake Forest and Emory, though, but I will not apply to Vassar and Rice [I’ve heard about Vassar and it doesn’t fit for me- and Rice is in TX].</p>
<p>If your EFC is 6709, then you will receive about (50000 minus 6709, I don’t do math in the summer) in aid at a school that costs 50K as long as it meets full need. I would recommend applying to a lot of reaches–if you can get into a full-need school, you will only be expected to come up with the 6709, and that can be met with a combination of summer earnings, work study, and loans without too much difficulty.</p>
<p>You will want to bring that SAT up, preferably to above 2200, to have a good shot at being admitted to such schools.</p>
<p>The government does not give you your aid. </p>
<p>Each school determines what they will give you. The FAFSA only determines if you are eligible for a couple of loans and grants, none of which would come close to covering your cost. You need to apply to a range of schools so that you can compare offers. They will vary widely. Some will meet full need with only grants not loans, others build in a lot of loans, and some leave you with unmet need.</p>
<p>Research here on CC which schools are generous with merit money as well. There are several discussions on that topic. You are crossing off Rice yet I’ve heard they are generous.</p>