I’m interested in majoring in Journalism, Communications, English or something of the sort. When I put my stats into things like SuperMatch, I get a bunch of Ivy Leagues that I don’t think I can get into. I’m interested in a rigorous school with a good sense of community in an urban setting. Can I get some help here?
GPA: 3.998 (for real)
SAT: 2120, taking again in June
AP Classes taken: AP World, AP US History, AP Physics, AP Calc AB, AP Language and Composition,and the University of Washington’s Spanish 301 (planning to take AP Psych, AP Gov, AP Statistics and AP Literature)
ECs:
Editor in Chief of school newspaper (best in the state)
Theatre (nominated for a 5th Avenue Award as a sophomore)
Volunteer at local independent movie theatre (about 100 hours since freshman year)
Cross country and choir
Standup comedy (headlined a show in downtown Olympia)
Job at grocery store
@txstella We have enough saved for four years at the local state school (University of Washington), and I’m hoping for aid to help with the rest. My parents are both teachers, so we don’t have a ton of money, but hopefully I can get a decent scholarship.
Your state school is a great safety for you! Run some of the NPC for schools that meet full need and see if your parents can afford the EFC. If so, then apply to some of those. Are you a possible NMSF? What is your SAT breakout in terms of scores? You should also try the ACT. If you can bump up your score just a bit, you will be better situated for merit scholarships and admittance to selective meet-full need schools.
Do you have a preference for regions of the country?
Definitely apply to Tulane. With that resume you are very likely to get a strong merit scholarship (I am guessing around $30,000), especially if you can get your SAT up just a bit more. Get it into the 2200+ range and you have a shot at one of their full tuition scholarships. Very high level scholastically, exciting city, and amazing school spirit centered around the school and the city, as opposed to being centered on their athletics. Excellent English department, and lots of opportunities in communications as well.
Another school with good merit aid that fits your criteria is U Miami. I don’t know anything about their departments in those areas, but I wouldn’t focus on that if I were you anyway. Most high level schools will have plenty of opportunity for you in those areas, not to mention that over half of undergraduates change their majors at least once anyway. Find the schools that fit financially, academically in terms of overall fit, and meet your miscellaneous criteria, which I think are very important. You will find plenty of interesting things to study at any of them.
@txstella I am a possible NMSF, I got a 21 on the PSAT and I got in to the National Hispanic Recognition Program because of my PSATs. My SAT breakdown is Math 640, Reading 760, Writing 720. My parents want me to stay on the West coast, but that’s a bit frustrating because there are way more schools in the East. I think money is the real issue, though.
@fallenchemist I will definitely check out Tulane! It sounds really good.
I also second Tulane for you. I attended a college preview event recently and Tulane sounded terrific with its emphasis on community service and top academics. A friend’s daughter is very happy there. She is finding the courses to be quite challenging.
My son is also a possible NMSF and NHRP . There are school where you can qualify for quite a bit of merit aid. My DS has several of these schools on his list.
If you need aid don’t look to schools that won’t give it, like UC will not give you aid for the OOS tuition… Ask your parents to help you run the Net Price Calculator for a few colleges that you are interested in. That will give an estimate of the need aid you could get. Then you can look at colleges that have competitive merit for high stats kids like you, like Tulane.
You sound like you can get aid from the ‘meets full need schools’ there are quite a variety of them. The Ivy level ones give the most aid, but others do to.
You can probably get into Emerson, with decent merit aid, but the financial scenario could be problematic. I’d try Northwestern, even for ED. Another student on CC got in with lower stats than yours, based on her writing ability. Syracuse is also very strong in those fields, and you’d probably get a nice aid package. Ditto for American, Goucher, Pitt, Temple, and U. of Miami. NYU is obvious, but they’re stinkers for financial aid. Try Fordham.
You should definitely consider Missouri. It’s one of the best journalism schools in county. Very strong alumni network. Not in a big city, but with your stats, you’d be pretty much guaranteed in-state tuition – and possibly merit aid beyond that. Gorgeous campus and nice weather too.
I second @woogzmama. If you make NMF, Fordham offers free tuition, and it’s right in NYC. Not sure of their journalism program though. (My daughter has similar #s and interests and is considering both Mizzou and Fordham as solid options that won’t be reaches to be admitted and will be affordable).
Fordham is great because the campus is beautiful and there’s a train station right on campus that gives you a 25 min train ride to the grand central. I live in the area and spend a lot of time near the campus I would really recommend looking at it.
I agree with all that until the very end. Not sure which Midwest you are referring to, but the one I grew up in very close to Columbia is not known for nice weather in the least. Hot summers, cold winters, possible tornadoes every spring, sits right on the New Madrid fault area (although that is not weather, it is pertinent)…No one decides to live in the Midwest because of the weather. :))