Will I be financially stereotyped?

@Madison85 nope, none. I have more savings than my entire family (which is in the range of 100-200 dollars regularly, most of the money goes towards helping w/ bills and expenses).

Colgate only accepted 27% of applicants last year. https://www.colgate.edu/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cds_2015-2016-final_updated-05182016.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Your ACT and GPA put you in the match category (and alumni relation is only considered).

Tulane accepted 30% last year. http://www2.tulane.edu/oair/upload/CDS_2015-2016-Final.pdf Once again your stats make you a match and alumni relation is only considered.

Look here for some potential safeties: http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1678964-links-to-popular-threads-on-scholarships-and-lower-cost-colleges.html#latest

Read everything in this linked thread. Lots of info on lower cost schools, auto and competitive scholarships, etc.

Check the colleges for current availability.

I wouldn’t make the mistake of overestimating the power of QuestBridge. Many kids do. The reality is, most finalists are not admitted into QuestBridge partner schools. Their stats are on their website.

Try for sure. But OP shouldn’t expect QB to help.

In reading this, don’t forget all of the extras that go into going to a school far away from home. Are you going to have the extra money for all of travel and extras? Are your parents going to be able to contribute anything? Just thinking ahead for you. I have a child that is a rising senior as well. I have every expense planned ahead, so there are no surprises.

@sodonewithHS16 OK, run the net price calculator at some of these and see what you get. If you need to know how much your parents pay in taxes to complete them, do ask.

Some possible safeties to consider that also meet full need:

Albright College in PA (was one of my D’s safeties and is a sweet LAC in York, PA with really amazing people, she didn’t expect to like it so much but it surprised her). It packages both merit and need-based aid and for us came in around the same price as Temple in Philly with the full tuition scholarship.

College of Wooster - offered an almost identical FA package as Albright to D - don’t say they meet need but they often do for kids they want and your stats are high.

Temple in Philly - because with the Presidential Scholarship you can take your parents’ $2K, borrow your federal Direct limit and work enough, most likely, to pay the room and board (if you get any Pell at all you can stack that too). Honors program comes with the scholarship. Much like Alabama, a lot of high stats kids are following the money to Temple. 3.72 UW, 32 ACT - GPA would need to be 3.8 or above but they calculate it and weight it themselves so you might make it.

On your list…

Tulane - not a safety but you will be considered for this: http://www2.tulane.edu/financialaid/grants/nola.cfm - D was offered a VERY good package from Tulane, the second best she got. They really care that you want to go there so plan to apply EA and make sure they know how you’d fit in there.