He’s not, he’s trying to grow our money since he knows the bank will give him nothing otherwise. He didn’t borrow, I let him have it since I didn’t need it at the time, also, he will need it more than me (he works 60 hrs a week, and has to take care of everyone in the family (3 kids including me, him and my mom), I want to make him proud since he has worked his entire life since he was six)). I hope to get into a good university and make him proud (I know he is proud of me but I want to show him that all his sacrifice was worth it).
For a first gen URM, your SAT scores are perfectly fine. I would take a shot at one of the top 20 schools ED. You can always back out of the ED deal if the finances don’t work out. That being said, the schools with the best financial aid, also happen to be the most selective.
So take your pick from the Top 20 schools and apply early. Binding ED is better than EA or SCEA. If engineering is your main interest, then schools like: Columbia, UPenn, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, etc.
If you don’t get into to your ED choice, then consider ED2. There are some really good colleges that offer ED2 (binding): UChicago comes to mind.
Then for your RD round, make sure you have enough colleges that are affordable. The in-state NJ schools should be here: NJIT, Rutgers, Rowan, TCNJ, etc. Then add the local privates which may throw you some financial aid: Stevens, etc.
Good luck!
After you pick your ED, and Ivys, you could look at Lehigh.
About Lehigh - it is listed as “meeting full need” for certain situations / certain incomes on a recent blog at prepscholar website
Has ED2 and RD
You’d have to inquire, fill out CSS PROFILE financial aid form.
https://www1.lehigh.edu/admissions/how-apply-financial-aid
I’m thinking Catholic schools like Notre Dame. St. Joes, Fordham, or Seton Hall if you want to stay close to home.
Use the net price calculator on each college’s web site to see what its financial aid may be like for you.
Notre Dame meets full need but is 80% Catholic and has a proud, distinct Catholic identity.
The others don’t meet need and an EFC 0 or close to 0 means needing close to a full ride.
Are you seeking general engineering, or do you have a specific type in mind (mechanical, etc.?). Engineering is tough as your choice are so limited. The big state schools graduate, by far, the largest number of engineers. But you sound like a great young man and your record is super strong. If you are looking for one of the traditional engineering majors, you should definitely apply to Cornell and Columbia. I think Clarkson will love you (I know a young man who headed there this year with all of his tuition covered).
I know you want to hit Th e ground, work wise, and that is why engineering is so appealing? Is that correct? Because I think you would do fantastically well at a number of small liberal arts colleges, especially as a male.
Also, you can major in many things at a top college and find a job even if the subject is not “preprofessional” per se (like engineering, teaching, nursing that all lead directly to a specific career path). Case in point is Art History/Williams.
In terms of finding a job easily and making money quickly, Computer Science (in all its iterations) is probably the most obvious choice. You need strong quantitative skills as well as an ability for abstract thinking and hard work/resilience.
Ivies are within your reach. Apply to multiple ones (at least 3 of them). You have a real shot. Use fee waivers as much as possible.
Agree that there are top-tier engineering schools with generous full-need-met aid that you’d have a significantly better shot at as an Early Decision applicant. UPenn strongly favors ED applicants. Rice has very generous aid and a significant ED bump. Duke, Vanderbilt, Tufts, Northwestern, and WashU in St. Louis could all be good ED choices.
It’s admittedly a scramble to get an ED1 application in at this point, but potentially worth a try. Good EDII options could include Tufts, Vanderbilt, Case Western, Lafayette, Lehigh, Northeastern, and WashU.
Run the Net Price Calculator for all schools you’re considering - that will give you an idea whether you’ll get enough aid, and whether that aid will include loans. (The most generous schools would give you no-loan aid which would of course be ideal.)
There are a lot of good non-binding Early Action options too, if you already have your personal statement done and are able to get apps in quickly. Northeastern, for example, does not have a supplemental essay, so you could probably make their 11/1 EA deadline if your general Common App is ready to go. And since you’re pretty focused on getting into the workforce, you might really like their co-op model.
UMichigan meets need for low-income OOS students and also has a non-binding early application cycle. CWRU has EA as well.
You have some good in-state public options, so that sets the bar - the priority for your out-of-state applications should be getting even better aid than your state schools will offer. You definitely have a shot at that, as a 1st-gen URM with solid stats - and yes, working to support your family absolutely counts as an EC!
You are getting great advice. Hurry and write those supplements. Here is a link to help you do them, though you might not have enough time to do them in depth. http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/2161062-supplemental-essay-tips.html#latest
Double up and reuse supplemental essays where ever you can, though for the Why Us essays, don’t be too generic.
I do not think Ivies are all out of reach for you. I’m not good with engineering, so I don’t have great suggestions. But I do think schools like Lafayette and Lehigh would love you and give you good aid. Good luck!
I also wanted to add — while applying ED is helpful, don’t rush to make that deadline if it means weaker supplements. I think it’s better to take your time and get those essays polished, even if it means applying RD.
Thank you for your advice. I already applied to Rutgers, Rowan, TCNJ, Ramapo, NJIT, Stevens, the local easy ones. I was wondering if I needed target or reach schools, so thanks for the advice!
Where has your GC been through all of this? Why did you not apply for Questbridge? With a zero EFC, you would have had a better than average shot at some amazing schools, a full ride and a lot of support in the process. But that ship has sailed for you for this year. If you want to belatedly check out this program and maybe try next year, as another student who was similarly not informed of opportunities that program could give is doing during his gap year after not having acceptable and affordable choices after last years application process.
Yes, as a first generation URM with a 0 EFC, taking rigorous courses, you have possibilities of acceptances and generous financial aid packages from the schools that do meet full need. Your chances are better than average with your “hooks” just mentioned. But ”average” acceptance rates are single digits for some of those Schools, so they are no sure things. Just shots in the dark, or “just fishing’ “. Especially if you have not been working on the applications and if you aren’t set with the essays and process. You have a lot to learn in a very short time frame.
You should apply to a number of schools that guarantee to meet full need, and, yes, ivies are in that category. Duke is also a good choice because they really do seek first generation applicants.
I know next to nothing about what NJ offers high stats low income students. My state would pretty much pick up the tab on tuition but only guarantee Direct Loan for living expenses like room and board. And living on campus has a pretty big tab in NY state with costs estimated up to $18k for non tuition costs at SUNYs.
Your GC should know the ins and outs of what NJ has for students in your situation. You may find commuting to a school your least expensive option.
If you are left with options that are not acceptable and affordable to you, you can try again next year wiser about the procedure and options
Priority order
- when you read this, TODAY, use your lunch hour to check or finish checking NPCs for colleges listed on this thread.
Pick 3 with the lowest net costs for you (and no packages loans) and list them here.
People will give you comments about each during the day. - when you come home tonight, check the comments and pick the college that best matches your personality. Indicate this on this thread. Sign the ED agreement and get a parent to sign it too. (ED is binding unless they don’t give you enough money to attend). Send us (pm) your common app essay. Start working on the supplemental essays for the college you chose. Before you go to bed send whatever drafts you have.
- tomorrow will be dedicated to improving these drafts.
- we’ll reassess on the 31st.
OP, read the thread by @HKimPOSSIBLE . I think it’s called “Reject Train Going Full Speed.” This student took a gap year and is now a Questbridge finalist. I think we all feel that you can aim higher and that you have a decent shot at some very selective schools that will give you a lot of aid. If you take a gap year and apply through Questbridge, and become a finalist, you could be looking at a full ride for four years at some of the best colleges in the country.
If you absolutely want to apply for fall 2020, takes the advice of MYOS1634. Run the NPC’s and try to get out at least a couple of Early Action applications. Obviously ED improves your odds, but it’s binding if the finances work. You should be certain that and ED college is your first choice.
If you apply ED, you must see your guidance counselor ASAP because he/she and your parents have to sign off on that.
P.S. might be a good idea to have a sick day tomorrow or the next day if you are definitely trying to apply EA or ED somewhere. You need good supplemental essays if you plan to do that.
+100 on the sick days today and tomorrow.
I think the ED app is worth it. Make sure to list the cheapest choices during lunch so you can come back after work tonight and see their description. You can also borrow a book like the Fiske Guide (any edition) from your school library to read up on these colleges.
If you can’t do it, you’re likely to get a good scholarship at Rowan or NJIT, perhaps even Rutgers but resources and professional networks will be greater at the “meet need” private colleges. Again - if the Ed College doesn’t meet need, you don’t have to go. So the trick is picking the best fit for your personality.
Sick day: Send an email to let your professors know (“Dear Pr.Z”…/Sincerely yours, signature), indicate you won’t be able to attend class and if they’d be so kind as to help you catch up when you return, perhaps through office hours?
You can do this 
Ok, so I plan on applying to Princeton, Lehigh, Lafayette, CWRU, and Northeastern. Thank you for giving me great advice!
Run, don’t walk, to your GC! You need him/her to send all your stuff asap.
Excellent choices.
@firstgencollege , your job is an important EC. Be sure to emphasize that the money you earn helps pay family expenses.
May I suggest looking into Colgate University? They meet 100% need based. They offer generous grants and may give you a better chance as a first generation. Check with your school counselor about fee waived for college applications. Work closely with your counselor now so you can get the help and guidance you need. From the information you provided, you seem to be a very highly motivated, high achieving and smart person. I know its overwhelming. But with proper planning and prep now, things will be less overwhelming for you.
My daughter went through with this last year. What helped her was making a lists. Since she’s undecided, what she did was:
- She focused on her strengths and what she see herself doing in the future. That in a way narrow down what degree to focus on.
- She weighed in whether to stay in-state or out of state. She stayed in-state. Now the search started. Here’s where you look up the requirements and deadlines.
- Now for schools, she applied to about 9 schools - 6 private schools, 2 public universities and our local community college. She got accepted to 7 with 1 wait listed. After receiving all the financial aid packages which I put on a spreadsheet, we were able to compare which school offers the best FA with less out of pocket plus what school we think she can get out most of in terms of learning, opportunities , networking and later on a return of investment.
- Decision time. Although we already narrowed down her choices, she still felt uncertain. I know she was worried about the financial aspect of things but we sat down and discussed things with her and she also spoke to her friends and one of her HS teachers. She made the final decision on the last day (May 1 which is usually for most colleges) late in the evening!!!
I hope this will help you a bit. Good luck and best wishes on your college applications!!!