Where should I go to college!?!?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm going to be a senior this far and I'm still really not sure where I want to go, although I have some ideas. I came up with a list of 11 schools, and I'm planning on applying to 7 of them. However, I still feel unsure that I'm making the right ch's oices!!!</p>

<p>Here's what I came up with : I'm applying to 4 florida school's (my home state) and 3 out of state. It's my dream to go out of state for college, but I have to be reasonable and think about finances.
Anyway these are the 11 schools</p>

<ul>
<li>FSU</li>
<li>UCF</li>
<li>University of North Florida</li>
<li>Flagler</li>
<li>UM</li>
<li>Loyola University in Baltimore</li>
<li>Boston University</li>
<li>Furman University</li>
<li>University of Richmond</li>
<li>Emerson College</li>
<li>Boston College</li>
</ul>

<p>I need help deciding which Florida schools I should go for! I'll probably apply to 4 of those, along with BU, Furman, and Loyola in Baltimore.</p>

<p>My GPA is 3.6 unweighted and 3.9 weighted. I go to a considerably difficult Catholic school, if that makes any difference.</p>

<p>By the time I graduate I'll have completed 7 APs and 16 honors courses and I've done 4 credits of all the major subjects including foreign language.</p>

<p>My test scores aren't the greatest, I'm awful at standardized testing. I only have a 1750 SAT (or 1100 reading/math) and 24 ACT. It's the math portion that always kills me. I retook both in June and should be getting those scores soon, hopefully I did better.</p>

<p>I also took lit and us history subject tests just for kicks, I got a 620 and 610 respectively. Also not the greatest scores.</p>

<p>I can write killer essays, I'm counting on that quite a lot for my applications.</p>

<p>Anyway, I need to know which schools I should apply too based on my stats and I need a school that can give me incredible financial aid. My dad only makes $13,000 a year which isn't even livable, luckily I have a wonderful grandmother who helps us out A LOT. But she's retired and shouldn't have to be providing for us, she is already paying for my expensive tuition for my high school and really doesn't have any more to give me when I go to college. Not that I would ask for it.</p>

<p>But anyway, I'm genuinely completely on my own when it comes to paying for college and I just need some guidance on where to go. </p>

<p>If you have any suggestions that aren't on the list I'd be happy to hear them. I know some of the schools on my list are a far cry (cough cough Boston College/ U of Richmond/ Miami) but if I can just bump of my test scored I think I'd have a good shot. </p>

<p>OH! And I'm not sure what I want to major in but I know if will be in either the Journalism/ Education/ English fields. Probably one of the first two because an english degree doesn't seem very logical. </p>

<p>PLEASE GIVE ME ANY ADVICE OR SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE!!!!. :)</p>

2

<p>Do you have any non-custodial parents like your mother & a step father? </p>

<p>The reason I am asking is because some privates use the CSS PROFILE for aid, and if so, your mother’s & step father’s income & assets would count toward your EFC. (Expected Family Contribution). </p>

<p>Emerson College is not really known for meeting financial need. </p>

<p>Any chance you will be taking the SATs again?</p>

3

<p>BU is really hit-or-miss when it comes to financial aid – I believe there’s a thread about it on the BU forum. There are students who have a lot of financial need and receive great aid packages, while there are others in the same position who are offered tens of thousands of dollars in loans, if even that. With that said, you should definitely apply and see what happens.</p>

<p>From your list of schools, I recommend applying to U of Richmond and Boston College as two of your out-of-state options because they claim to meet full financial need. Here’s a list of other schools that make the same claim: [Colleges</a> That Claim to Meet the Full Financial Needs of Students - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/articles/2010/02/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-the-full-financial-needs-of-students]Colleges”>http://www.usnews.com/education/articles/2010/02/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-the-full-financial-needs-of-students)</p>

<p>This does not mean you shouldn’t apply to schools that aren’t on that list. You may find that a school that, on average, meets only, say, 75% of students’ financial needs gives you a better aid award.</p>

<p>I really don’t know anything about schools in Florida as I never considered applying to any colleges there.</p>

4

<p>13000 a year??!!</p>

5

<p>You have a high chance of getting into FSU, I would apply Early decision. Another school to consider is University of Arkansas.</p>

6

<p>^^^
she can’t afford UArk…</p>

<p>You need to consider schools that you can afford…either thru aid or merit.</p>

<p>Will you qualify for Bright Futures?</p>

<p>If so, that, a Pell Grant, a student loan, and maybe other gov aid will make a Florida public affordable. :)</p>

<p>I don’t think you’ll get into the other schools that give GREAT aid. Other schools may accept you, but they’ll likely gap you.</p>

7

<p>I don’t know how practical it is for you, op, but take a look at this thread, <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/148852-what-ive-learned-about-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/148852-what-ive-learned-about-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>My stats were similar to yours but with a higher SAT but lower weighted GPA. I too have a low family income but luckily we had some put away for my education. I go yo Flagler & I barely pay anything & I don’t even have loans. It’s wonderful & we have all of the majors/minors you’re interested in. We have a very established education dept with a high post-grad employment &/or grad school rate. If you have Bright Futures that will also help as well as FRAG & other sources of aid. The admissions board is extremely fond of genuine essays & to be honest, you seem like a good fit for FC. I would encourage you to visit & apply! Much luck.</p>