What schools should I be shooting for? (Connecticut/New England)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello, I'm new to this forum, and I just wanna know what schools I should shoot for. I'm not entirely sure if this is the right section for this post, but I think it works here. </p>

<p>I live in Connecticut so I want to go somewhere in state or at least in New England. I just finished my junior year. I speak Polish (although somewhat poorly now), English, and some French. I'm a bit economically disadvantaged (single mom, low income). </p>

<p>I got my SAT scores back recently. 660 CR, 610 Math, 580 Writing. That's an 1850 in total. I admit that I didn't prepare as much as I should have. I plan to take them again in October and again in November if I'm not satisfied. I have the summer to prepare so I will use my time wisely, I have the prep book from the College Board.</p>

<p>I took all core honors classes every year and some AP courses. </p>

<p>Freshman year: Foundations of English, Geometry, American Gov't (civics essentially), Physical Science, and Intro to Engineering Design (Project Lead the Way). I was the only one in my class to pass the exam that year that qualified me for college credit. I also took some electives that I don't recall.</p>

<p>Sophomore year: American Literature, AP US history with a 4 on the AP exam, Algebra 2, Biology, French 1, and Digital Electronics (Project Lead the Way), which I, once more, was the only one in my class to pass the exam at the end of the year. I also took electives in the tech department. </p>

<p>This year, my junior year: AP English Language and Composition (I think I did very well on the AP exam), AP World History (crappy on the exam, I'm sure), AP Statistics (feel good about the exam), Pre-Calculus, Pre AP Chemistry, and French 2. </p>

<p>Senior year classes: AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Literature, and French 3. (Bit lazy of me, I know.)</p>

<p>I currently have a 3.53 unweighted GPA, and my rank, last time I checked with my guidance counselor, was 5. I'm sure that will change, because it fluctuates. But hopefully it'll stay in the top 10. I know I will be in the top 10%. </p>

<p>I did Junior Varsity Golf for 2 years. (Hahaha, I am very bad at golf, in the 60's on 9 holes.) I was a bit lazy and bogged down with a workload, especially this year, so I guess that's my bad excuse for not doing more.</p>

<p>I don't want to come off as somewhat cocky, I'm really not. Maybe on the Internet it appears so, but I'm shy and also really worried in real life about college. I would really appreciate any help and suggestions that anyone can offer to me. </p>

<p>I'm sorry if this is really long and if I have too much information, or not the right kind of info.</p>

<p>Thank you for any help! It's much appreciated.</p>

2

<p>You should make a list that hits reach schools, target schools and safety schools. You’re safety schools can be the local state schools in New England, none of which are excellent but they can be good alternatives if you lack the means of paying for the more expensive private schools. Luckily, the northeast is filled with decent schools in your’re range. I listed them in categories of national universities which are you’re typical larger more well-known universities and the smaller liberal arts colleges. It depends on what type of school you are looking for.</p>

<p>Here is a sample list of schools I would look into:</p>

<p>National Universities:
Tufts
Boston College
Northeastern University
Boston University
UMass - Amherst
UConn</p>

<p>Liberal Arts Colleges:
Middlebury
Bowdoin
Colgate
Bates
Holy Cross
Trinity
Connecticut College
Wheaton</p>

3

<p>If you are from a low income family, you need to look at the net price calculators at each school to see what kind of financial aid each may offer.</p>

<p>You may also want to consider large merit scholarship schools. although be warned that most of them are likely looking for students with higher academic credentials than yours:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-18.html#post15895768[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-18.html#post15895768&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-2.html#post15889078[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-2.html#post15889078&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Since financial issues will be paramount, you should only consider schools whose financial aid policy is to meet full need (see the NPC’s referenced in the above post), or and/or schools where your stats put you in the upper 25% of applicants so you might get a merit award. (This means that out of state public school like UMass are likely off the table.) In addition, some of the schools listed by Informative may be beyond you based on your stats (and one of then, Colgate, isn’t in New England at all!), but you need to do your own research. Start by going to the library and taking out some college guide books like Fiske. In addition to helping you identify schools you can afford, they will help you narrow down your choices by focusing your attention on size, style and location (urban, suburban, rural, etc.) There are a lot of colleges in New England!</p>

5

<p>Would UConn be a good option? considering that its in Connecticut, and its not extremely expensive? Also I would probably like to go to a larger university, and UConn falls under that category. Aren’t some of those universities you listed a bit of a reach, I guess? Like Northeastern? I thought so because my sister didn’t get in and I think her GPA was a bit higher but SAT was lower. She goes to Hofstra, a rather expensive school, and took out loans and all. So I don’t want my financial situation to limit me, I will probably be in debt for a while like most students anyway. I’m not severely poor, but I only have one parent who works. I will most definitely apply to UConn, I guess its a target school. The larger universities are attractive options to me, just the problem is I don’t really know which ones I should be looking at based on my SAT score and GPA and I guess relatively weak extra curricular activities. But might I add, my high school has rather lowish standards and is kinda crappy, which puts my SAT scores in the 98th (CR), 91st (Math), and 89th (Writing) percentiles based on average scores of my school, and I wonder if that matters or is something schools consider. Thanks for the help, much appreciated–this all really stresses me out.</p>

6

<p>UConn is a good choice.Perhaps, Quinnipiac if you are looking for a private school. Ditto what others have said regarding F/A.</p>

7

<p>UCONN is $23,000 per year in state tuition, room and board. I don’t believe that your SAT scores would be eligible for scholarship. It is important to discuss this with your guidance counselor. There are other CT State schools with different requirements. Some of the schools, such as Middlebury like to see 4 years in a foreign language. See if your guidance office is open this summer and make an appointment to review your scores, financial status and explore some good options for you. Best of luck!</p>

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<p>I can always improve my SAT scores, I got an 1850 without preparation, and I have the summer to improve and take some practice tests. Is a jump of 150 points possible? To hit 2000? Also, I really don’t want to limit options because of money, I shouldn’t have mentioned it. I don’t want to go to a state school like CCSU or SCSU. Are schools like Boston University or Northeastern a stretch after I improve my SAT score? I think I could possibly manage 2000 if I prepare really well this summer. Honestly I really don’t want money to be a limiting factor, I want to go to a good school :(</p>

9

<p>Northeastern may be a reach but if you improved your SAT you could get into range for BU. Note the high cost of both schools though.</p>

10

<p>I know they are expensive, but I’ve read more about them and I like them, along with UConn, which is obviously cheaper as I’m in-state. The thing is the UConn campus in Storrs is so rural. Haha yuck. I will definitely apply to UConn, state schools just in case even though I don’t want to go there, and maybe some of those reach schools, because why not. Also, I really like chemistry, are there any schools that have really good undergrad programs for it? I may major in some kind of chemistry, or pharmacy. I know that these schools could get expensive, but I’m going to be in debt either way… Sadly I’m not gifted with rich parents :(. My sister and I are also the first generation of my family to go to college.</p>

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<p>62 percent of UCONN students receive an average of $10,000 in grant or scholarship aid.</p>

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<p>[University</a> of Connecticut College Portrait](<a href=“http://www.collegeportraits.org/CT/UConn/costs]University”>http://www.collegeportraits.org/CT/UConn/costs)</p>

13

<p>

Putting aside the usual warnings about the stupidity of racking up big loans for college (you can find plenty of that info on this forum), there are tight limits on how much you can borrow on your own without a creditworthy co-signer, so your willingness to go into debt will not by itself enable you to attend a very expensive school. The time to start educating yourself about paying for college is before you start looking at specific schools.</p>

14

<p>I just want to caution you that everyone would like to see their SATs jump 150 points but until it happens you can’t count on it. Don’t make your list based on a drastic change. You can only work with the stats you actually have. Similarly no students “wants to limit options” because of lack of money! But if you go into this with your eyes closed you will regret it later when all your schools – even state ones – gap you in their financial aid offers. Do a net price calculator ASAP on a public school (you mention UConn) and a private one, maybe BU or Northeastern (since you mention them.) Don’t get discouraged! You will get good advice here. </p>

<p>Also – I bet there are some (small) scholarships for Polish speakers offered by Polish associations. You would have to find these on your own. Good luck!</p>

15

<p>Thank you all for the sound advice and reality check. I am being a bit stupid on the money situation. I just wanted to go somewhere really nice.</p>