...Where Should I Be Looking?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So, I'm sure I'm not the only one around here, but I do need some help. I'm an Arizona resident (African American) and not sure where I should be focusing my attention for college admissions. Here are some stats:</p>

<p>*Academics *
GPA: 3.70 (unweighted)
Class Rank: 21/406
Top 6% of Class (will be in top 4% by this semester)
16 Honors Classes (pretty much all of the ones offered)
4 AP Classes (Our school offers ~6 AP classes total)
--EURO: 3
--CALC A/B: 4
--Didn't take US History AP Exam or Physics, since they were first semester classes.</p>

<p>I had one C in Pre-Calc, but re-took it with different teacher and got a B. Everything else are A's and B's.</p>

<p>I'm also enrolled in "Dual-Enrollment" at local community colleges for Physics 101/102 and English 101/102</p>

<p>*SAT *
Composite Score: 1820 (Scheduled again for Oct 10)
--Math: 660
--Verbal: 640
--Writing: 520 (bombed the essay)</p>

<p>I'm aiming for a 2000+ on this SAT, most of it coming from improving my horrendous Writing Score. (i.e. Actually finishing the essay). I'm taking the SAT Subject Tests on November 7th.</p>

<p>Part-Time Job
Safeway (2006-Present)
20-25 hours a week (easily worked over 2,500 hours since I started).</p>

<p>Having a job has really made me come out of my "shell". Not as shy anymore. </p>

<p>Clubs
M.E.S.A. Club (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement)
DECA Club (Distributive Education Clubs of America)
Reporter for School Newspaper (Technology Column)
S.U.R.E. Club (Students United For Racial Equality)</p>

<p>I've been getting letters from all extremes, from Stanford and Harvard, to Grand Canyon University. Really not sure what schools I should be aiming for. I'd be more comfortable in a big city (but would still prefer traditional college campus), weather is not much of an issue (but I'd prefer to be warm). We're pretty well-off (family income > $125,000), so financial Aid is important, but shouldn't be used to exclude any colleges. I'm contemplating majoring in Computer Science, or Electrical Engineering, and would prefer schools with a known reputation. Thanks for all the help!</p>

2

<p>Forgot to mention… Another extra-curricular: I currently have my first iPhone App up for approval into the App Store, developed by me. :slight_smile: Pretty excited.</p>

3

<p>Do you need Financial Aid?</p>

4

<p>If you get into Stanford, it would be a good fit. Others might be USC, Rice, UT Austin, Tulane. Apply to the best of your state schools, of course. If you are willing to go to a colder place, look at Olin, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Worchester Polytech. Congratulations on your IPhone app!</p>

5

<p>Penn, Cornell, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Purdue</p>

6

<p>Here is my opinion:</p>

<p>Considering that a 3.7 puts you in the top 5%, your school must be pretty difficult, which is a plus. If you’ve taken all the hardest classes in your school that’s wonderful. However, your SAT is bad, and you should aim for 2100+. Try the ACT.</p>

<p>The part time job looks really good, but your other extracurriculars don’t stand out much, unless you either founded or at least led them.</p>

<p>As of now, I’d say that you don’t have much of a chance at the elite schools, but if you get your SATs up then you definitely should be applying to the best schools in the nation.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for all the suggestion guys. It’s really helped me, but I do have a question: Is taking the SAT a third time looked down upon? Also, is December too late to take it? I’m just wondering in case I don’t reach my goal this Saturday.</p>

8

<p>Why not sign up for the Nov SAT…some won’t take the Dec score.</p>

<p>Also… </p>

<p>Did you make National Achievement? What was your PSAT score?</p>

<p>With that much income, you likely won’t get F/A from anyone but some ivies.</p>

<p>So, if you need money, you’ll need to look for merit $$$</p>

9

<p>I missed the info about family income. Apparently many of the above posters missed your stats. Stanford, Harvard, Penn, UT Austin, Cornell are all extreme reaches. Mom2CK is absolutely right about aid. If your family cannot pay the full amount for school then you need to consider some schools that offer merit aid. There is a good list in the financial aid forum. Good luck.</p>

10

<p>@Erin’s Dad
What schools should I be looking at, then? I’ll ask my parent’s what they can afford to pay (all I usually hear is “scholarships”). Regarding that, however, what schools are in my caliber? Like I said, I want a school in a city (or close to one) and a pretty well-known name. (Doesn’t have to be HYP, of course :slight_smile: )</p>

11

<p>Ok…</p>

<p>If your parents are saying “scholarships” then that means “merit money”…that doesn’t mean f/a, because your parents likely know they won’t qualify because of their income.</p>

<p>I know it can be confusing…F/A (financial aid) is based on “determined need” and those with higher incomes don’t usually qualify. Merit Scholarships are often based soley on achievement. Not all colleges give merit scholarships. And, usually the top ones don’t give merit $$ because ALL of their students are high achievers.</p>

<p>Also, (and this is just my gut feel, I may be wrong) if your parents are saying “scholarships” then that suggests that they don’t think they can afford to pay for some/all of your college costs, so they want you to look for some merit money. It sounds like they know they can’t afford the EFC (expected Family contribution) - which in their case would be substantial.</p>

<p>Can you ask them exactly how much they can pay per year…5k, 10k, 15k, more? less?</p>

12

<p>After talking to your parents…</p>

<p>I suggest going to the Parents Forum and creating a thread with a subject line something like this…</p>

<p>African American Male with strong stats needs ideas for merit $$ scholarships.</p>

<p>Then, include your stats, major, etc. Include your family income so they’ll know that you won’t qualify for much/any financial aid. Tell them what your parents can pay each year (if anything), so they’ll know how much you’ll need.</p>

<p>There are a lot of parents on the forum that know which good schools are looking specifically for black males with good stats. They’ll know which are most likely to give you substantial merit money. There are many schools that want to “balance” their diversity numbers, so they want men like you with your strong stats. :)</p>

<p>There are also some schools that will award you merit money based only on your achievements. But, some of those schools may also be able to “stack” another scholarship on top because you are a URM (under represented minority). :)</p>

13

<p>Ok, so my parent’s could contribute about $15,000 a year out of pocket to college. I’ll take your advice on posting this in the Parent’s forum, although I would still like to know a general area of colleges I should be aiming at. Syracuse? USC? Georgia Tech? Am I way off base here? Thanks for all the wonderful help!</p>

14

<p>USC would be a great fit for you, based on your stats. Money is another issue though, since it is really expensive.</p>

15

<p>At USC you would probably get in but may not get any aid. ASU and UA are right in your state and you might get some aid there. If you get your scores up Case Western might be a match and they do offer merit aid. Maybe Purdue.</p>

16

<p>Georgia Tech gives no money at all…sadly.</p>

<p>Based on your family income, I’m guessing your family’s EFC will be about $30k (plus or minus) per year. Like many parents, they can’t afford to pay that much (the number assumes parents have been saving for college since your birth.) F/A packages assume that EFC will be paid, and mostly only gives student loans for the difference. </p>

<p>So, if a private or OOS public costs $55k per year, the school will figure that your parents are paying $30k. Soo if the school meets 100% of determined need (which some don’t), they will give you a F/A package with student loans of $25k (per year) to make up the difference. (Determined or demonstrated need is determined by EFC…it isn’t determined by what a family thinks it needs)</p>

<p>As you can see, will this plan, you’d be taking out $25k student loans per year PLUS another $15k per year to make up the EFC shortfall. Even if you get a merit scholly for - say - $10k - all that will do is reduce your F/A by the same amount. It won’t reduce EFC.</p>

<p>So, you need to look at schools that will give you BIG merit money. Those aren’t likely to be USC and schools like that.</p>

<p>To get a rough estimate of what your EFC is … [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml]FinAid”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml)</p>