Where do I even start looking?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>As a Junior, I've obviously had to start thinking about the college process. I've been a little bit of a lurker for the past few months and decided to post my own thread today. </p>

<p>Basically, I'm first generation American (yes, my parents went to college) and neither my parents or I know much about the college process. I've been on a little bit of a self-education spree but I don't really know what I'm looking for yet. </p>

<p>I consider myself to be a pretty smart person and a stellar student and I have more than 2-3 teachers who would give me excellent recommendations, however I don't really know where I have a realistic shot of getting in, where I can afford to go, or really where I should even be looking at.</p>

<p>I'm starting this thread to get some opinions from all you guys here at CC about where I should think about applying to and what colleges that I might not have heard of would be good ideas for me. </p>

<p>Here are some of my Stats (please let me know if I should include anything else, I'm new at this)</p>

<p>WGPA: 4.7 (my school does not report UW as far as I am aware) (4.84 for Junior Year so far)
UWGPA: 3.7 (again, pretty sure my school does not report this)
PSAT: 233 (80 CR, 77 W, 76 M) (Missed one question in each section)
SAT II Math: 800</p>

<p>I get mostly A's and A-'s with one or two B+'s sprinkled in, I almost never get B's. I also take all the most challenging courses I can, and am in the equivalent of (my school does not offer) AP Calculus BC, Chemistry, and US History. </p>

<p>EC's:
Design Editor of my School Newspaper for 2 Years
NSPA (National Scholastic Press Association) Design Award for the above
Co-Captain of Mock Trial
Chess Club for a year (probably not worth mentioning)
Peer Tutor in Math and Science for the past 2 years
Volunteered at my local Synagogue for the past year teaching kids</p>

<p>Currently in Process:
- Engineering Business Project (I'd rather not give specifics... hehe)
- Other Business Proposal (same)
- I'm working through these two with my friend, and we hope to get online by this summer.
- Organizing a charity run at my school to create a fund for the Micro-Finance program Kiva in honor of the victims of the Sandy Hook Shooting
- Applying to MITES for this summer, if I don't get in I will be applying to get a job or start one of the aforementioned businesses</p>

<p>Hooks: Hispanic, First Gen American</p>

<p>Financial Needs: I probably can't afford to pay more than 20k a year, and that's pushing it. Going to a school where I can get close to a free ride would be amazing. </p>

<p>Major: Engineering and/or Economics </p>

<p>Let me know what you think are schools I should look at and my chances for them! Much appreciated, thank you.</p>

2

<p>Score a 2300+ on the SAT or a 35 on the ACT, and you’re likely accepted to almost all of the top colleges. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, and Caltech aren’t for sure for anyone, but you’d have a pretty solid chance given your ECs and URM status.</p>

<p>Engineering and Economics are two pretty different majors… I would work on really determining which one may suit you better, and sculpt your colleges around one or the other. If you’re really unsure you can apply to some schools for each.</p>

<p>Have you considered prices? What’s your budget? Make sure you find an inexpensive safety that you and your family can afford.</p>

3

<p>It seems like you may have a lot of good choices given your stats and information. Rather than just getting lists of colleges from people out here, why don’t you try this:</p>

<ul>
<li>Get a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges book. Look through and pick out some schools that look interesting to you, and are strong in your majors of interest.</li>
<li>Think about whether you want a big vs. smaller school, university vs. liberal arts school, urban vs. rural, etc. If you are not sure, go visit one of each type near where you live if possible just to figure that out.</li>
<li>Once you identify some schools, have your parents help you run the Net Price Calculator on each school’s website to see how much you might be expected to pay at each school. Note that if your parents have complicated finances or own a business, the calculator may not give accurate results. If the schools expect you to pay more than you realistically think you can, it is time to start looking for schools where you would pay in-state tuition or get really good merit aid. </li>
<li>Look around on the websites for those schools (virtual tours, statistics, read about their academic departments, extra curricular activities, etc.). Also read out here on CC about them (go back over a couple years’ worth of threads to get a good feeling for the various issues and discussions). Visit if you can.</li>
<li>If those schools come to your city and have a session you can go to, attend if possible(shows interest in the school even if you can’t visit)</li>
<li>Because you need good financial aid or merit aid, you may end up applying to quite a few schools (10 or more) so you can compare aid packages. You want a couple of reach schools (where you stats are lower, but you really like the school). And several match schools where it looks probable that you would get in. And a couple of safety schools where you are sure to be admitted and you know you can afford the school.</li>
</ul>

<p>Good luck! :)</p>

4

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>you sound like someone who should look at Vanderbilt University or Dickinson College</p>

6

<p>I definitely agree with many here. Saving guap is essential when you go to college, so search for places where your national merit saves you guap. I dont know how much guap HYPSM will save you but apply and then see your GUAP-ancial aid package. If it is not enough, you have many other colleges that will save you guap.</p>

<p>–YungGuap</p>

7

<p>[FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://Www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://Www.finaid.org) and the Financial Aid Forum here are where you should start learning about the money issues.</p>

<p>Since your parents weren’t educated here, they may find it useful to read through <a href=“http://www.EducationUSA.state.gov%5B/url%5D”>www.EducationUSA.state.gov</a> and you certainly should encourage them to bring their questions to the Parents and Fin Aid Forums.</p>