<p>Hello! I'm a junior in Connecticut and I could use some help picking schools to visit. I'm probably going to major in History or International Relations.</p>
<ul>
<li>I have a 3.9 UW and a 4.2 W (although I think my school uses a slightly different weighting system than most). </li>
<li>I took the SAT for the first time in March and got a 2070 (760 Reading, 750 Writing, 560 Math... I know.) My PSAT scores qualify for the Hispanic Recognition Program, since I'm half Cuban. I'm going to take the ACT.</li>
<li>I took AP Euro last year and got a 5. I'm in 3 APs this year.</li>
<li>I'm Vice President of Model UN, and a member of GSA, NHS, Spanish Honor Society and the literary magazine. I also tutor and work part time.</li>
<li>I need a lot of financial aid, so I could use schools with good policies or where I would qualify for merit aid. </li>
<li>I think I would prefer a liberal arts school, but I would probably be fine at a large university as well. If there's no college town a vibrant campus life is important.</li>
</ul>
<p>Any help would be appreciated. :)</p>
<p>The first thing I’d recommend is to learn more about your specific financial limits. You can find good calculators for your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Calculate Your Cost – BigFuture | College Board) and at [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator - Finaid) Find out whether or not your family can pay your EFC. If yes, then how much more can they pay? If no, then what is their real limit? That way you will know how to focus your college list.</p>
<p>Your grades and scores are good, and would qualify you for merit-based aid at some institutions. Here is one list worth looking at: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html</a> There are more threads on that topic (mostly in the Financial Aid Forum, but also in other forums) so spend some time looking around.</p>
<p>If you are female and don’t have a problem with attending a women’s college, some of them have excellent aid. You would be competitive for the top institutions where aid is primarily need-based, and desirable enough for merit-based aid at some of the lower-ranked ones. For the full list, see [The</a> Women’s College Coalition](<a href=“http://www.womenscolleges.org/]The”>http://www.womenscolleges.org/)</p>
<p>I see that you’ve already found the Questbridge sub-forum. If you hadn’t, I would point you there.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you, happymomof1! I’ve been looking at women’s colleges and I’ll look through that thread. The main problem for merit-based aid is that I’m not in the top decile. My class is really competitive. </p>
<p>Also, for anyone else with advice, I don’t really have any desire for a big sports scene. I’d prefer a more intellectual vibe, but not a pretentious hipster-y feeling.</p>
<p>I’d recommend checking out the book Colleges That Change Lives. It’s full of small, good, intellectual LACs, most of which give out quite a bit of aid because they’re not that well-known.</p>
<p>I’ve looked at that list but haven’t read too much about the schools. Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>
Would you qualify for a lot of FA? If you come from a low-income low-asset family then you would probably qualify from some very good FA but only at schools that are hard to get into. Denison has pretty good merit and financial aid. Being hispanic may help you there as well.</p>
<p>Probably. My dad makes about 32k and my mom is currently unemployed. I also have a twin sister so I think that would cut my EFC in half? I’ve seen Denison recommended a lot but there’s no way for me to visit, especially with gas prices where they are now. I’ll definitely read more about it, though. Thank you! :)</p>
<p>Take a look at U Richmond. I believe their IR is good and the president is a historian, so I assume he has some interest in the history dept. They have very nice merit $$$ and are interested in diversity. The campus is perfectly beautiful.</p>
<p>Will do, redshoes. :)</p>
<p>Check these out and see if they have your area of study: </p>
<p>All will meet a high percentage of need. </p>
<p>Hamilton College (NY)
Colgate University (NY)
Skidmore College (NY)
Mt. Holyoke (MA)
Connecticut College (CT)
Wheaton College (MA)
Hobart & William Smith (NY)
St. Lawrence University (NY)
Holy Cross (MA)</p>
<p>Those are great because they’re not as highly selective. Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Sorry, but I’m going to bump this again. I got a Questbridge College Prep award if that makes any difference.</p>
<p>Questbridge will be of great assistance to you if you qualify. </p>
<p>Some schools with excellent IR departments are JHU, GW, Georgetown, American, Pitt, Dickinson, Syracuse. </p>
<p>However, make sure your base is covered first in terms of financial and admissions safeties. Work your way up in selectivity and chances of getting financial/merit aid.</p>