Hi everyone, senior year has come along for me and apparently I decided not to get stressed about college until the last minute. Basically, I go from thinking I’m a solid college candidate one minute to thinking I’ll be rejected from basically anything moderately harder to get into than community college. I’m not aiming for anything near Ivy Leagues, but I’m still concerned. Basically I have a good GPA, 4.125 weighted, but have gotten B’s and got a C sophomore year in chemistry due to personal issues. This still leaves me as valedictorian at my school, but I’m not sure that would mean anything as my school is so small my graduating class has 29 people. However, I am graduating with an associates which may work in my favor or completely against me for all I know. I also should be getting what is called a “new tech seal” which verifies I did at least 100 hours of community service and 50 hours of an internship (i will most likely be doing over 100 internship hours as well). As far as EC’s, I unfortunately heard the advice of having a “spike” far too late. Not that it would have helped, by nature I am interested in many things for shorter bursts, and haven’t found a huge lifelong passion that I could display. I would consider myself the epitome of “jack of all trades”. I only started noticing some genuine passions last semester, but it is far too late for colleges to actually see any dedication. I’m guessing I would be able to get into a branch of a state school, but the idea of staying in my home state is upsetting enough for me to the point that I might prefer not going to college. This isn’t me saying I’m above a state school by any means, I just have a weird mental thing where if the school is not in an area that I enjoy, I will feel constantly drained and not be able to do well. Does anyone have any reassurances or suggestions? I got accepted into a gap year program in China next year with an environmental focus and an internship the second semester, but I havent made the final decision on whether to attend so if you think that is a good or bad idea in my situation please let me know.
If you are valedictorian of your high school, with a weighted GPA over 4, then you certainly can get accepted to multiple very good universities. Even without any ECs you would still be able to get into good schools.
If you attend a university that is five miles from your home and live on campus, then it will feel like you are in a different world compared to living at home. A good state public university will have many opportunities, many great professors, many strong students, and a range of interesting courses and majors.
There are a lot of universities in the US, and many more outside the US. One thing that I did not see in your post is a hint regarding which schools you intent to apply to. Do you already have a good list with at least two solid safeties? Are you thinking of taking a gap year and applying during the gap year?
Very few students have found their lifelong passion during high school. Of those who do find their lifelong passion while they are in high school, most are going to change their mind by the second semester of university (if not sooner). This may seem odd, but I still didn’t know what I was going to do with my life after graduating university. I eventually figured it out. It takes time and experience.
Also I forgot to mention the biggest issue with my application, my SAT score was only 1280 superscored. I might make one more attempt, however my score actually went down after my second attempt so I think this is the highest I am able to get unfortunately.
Anyway thank you for the encouragement @DadTwoGirls, I realize the distance even for a state school is significant, I have just been fortunate enough to travel accross and out of the country so ending up at a state school will make me feel a bit like I failed, despite how illogical it actually is. I have visited the main prospectove schools in my state and unfortunately seeing them in person did not improve my perspective on them. I have a vague list of mostly safeties, but I am only confident on a few of them as I am trying to balance picking a school i feel I will be happy at (because of either culture or location) with the academic programs and probable cost. I am hoping to find a good safety that will offer me a merit scholarship. Again, thank you for the help and encouragement
Here are a few comments.
–Apply wisely and have reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be excited to attend.
–Many people don’t have a “spike” and it is perfectly fine. I’ve heard numerous admission officer say that they look to create a well rounded class and that will comprise of some students who are well rounded and some students with various talents/passions. Don’t worry about it.
–Staying in state should be no issue. College will be a new and different world even if you are in the same state. Most people have to factor costs into the college decision and many people end up at state schools for their affordability. You can always take a semester or even a year abroad to break up the four years of college.
For everyone stating that an in state college should be no issue because its still different, please understand that I realize this but for personal reasons I cannot see myself going to one. It is also an issue with one of my parents and isn’t me just “trying to get away from them” in case I give off that impression. I’m applying to an in state school but it would really take a major circumstance for me to feel comfortable going (nearly a full ride). I understand why in state is recommended, however when answering please consider that I have acknowledged all of these advantages and am reacting accordingly.
@happy1 thank you for your words and encouragement, I appreciate it. I am planning to do a year abroad and am actually applying to 2 schools in other countries instead of any major reaches. I am targetting more safeties and a few matches to try to get better prices at schools since they are mostly out of state, and the international schools are replacing my reaches. The reassurance about my lack of a “spike” makes me feel a lot better as well, thank you.
Do you know your budget?
What would you like in a school?
What state are you from?
@DadTwoGirls I actually don’t have a budget. This isn’t because I’m irresponsible, the issue is my mother (my primary gaurdian and the only one I should be listing on the FAFSA) is very secretive about her finances, leaving me with no idea how much she has saved. She says she has savings, but when I asked how much she was extremely vague. I get the impression that she doesn’t have as much as she lets on, but when I mentioned applying to a few colleges based on affordability she said not to do that and she’d take out loans if she has to. All I know for sure is I have 10k saved, but I was planning to use that towards my gap year program and possibly do a second gap year through americorps.
I live in Indiana.
In a school location is important, ideally I’d like to be in a somewhat large city, but as long as there are things to do nearby and seeing the campus doesn’t make me unhappy. Ideally I would like an Aerospace engineering program, though Im not picking based on major as I know I am prone to switching. I also really like the idea of a “design your own degree program” or other really unique aspects. I am looking at a few schools that are environmentally friendly as a focus and some that don’t use the normal grading system and give written feedback instead. Basically I want to like what I see rather than have it check off some bullet points.
Most students go to college in state because they have no other choices financially. Your mom is going to have to give financial information for FAFSA if you are going to apply for need based aid or take out your federal loans. You probably would be leaving free money on the table if she refuses.
Honestly, it is s very immature attitude to say you don’t want to go to college at all if you have to stay in state. Many state schools will give you credit for some of the associates classes you took, cutting the time off needed to get your degree. Get your degree so you can get a good job, then you can likely afford to travel more, or move out of state if you want to.
If you tell us your home state, we may be able to make suggestions.
You do have a budget – you just don’t know what it is. Too many times people say cost isn’t an issue only to be sadly surprised late in the process. I think you need to have a serous talk with your mother before you decide to spend her savings on an abroad program. You don’t want to be taking out loans in amounts that will leave you with huge debt payments that they will handcuff your and your mother’s life decisions for the next 20 or so years. Your mother will eventually have to fill out the FAFSA – in the meantime she should run some net price calculators for different colleges you are considering. Please be smart about this.
@intparent the OP’s home state is Indiana per post 8.
@intparent My mom does plan to fill out the FAFSA, she is just hiding as much financial information as possible. I stated in another answer I live in Indiana. I am applying to one or two state schools, but I mentioned in another answer that my mother is actually discouraging me from it. Me considering not going to college if my only option is a state school is not me pouting though it may seem that way, even without that aspect I have been looking critically about the idea of going to college at all. If a state school gives me a near full ride I would probably go, but again this would be against my mother’s wishes. Also, only Purdue offers my intended major in Indiana, and my brother went there for a while and it was still about as expensive as an out of state safety school would probably be. I have thought about in state schools and am considering it accordingly, but I have genuine reasons for my hesitance.
@happy1 ah yes you are correct, I did not mean to give the impression that I think money is no issue. I have talked seriously with my mother about this, however there is only so much I can do. The way she described the situation, she would take out third party loans in her name as long as she thinks its a worthy school, which is anything out of the country, a big name school (not ivy league obviously but something she may recognize), and/or in a major city. Regardless, I am planning for all of this based on the idea that I will have no financial help from either parent. This is the reason I am almost exclusively applying to safeties, as they are more likely to offer merit scholarships. I am considering costs in this situation, however I am looking at this as an investment and am only going to attend a college if I consider it something I am willing to invest in.
What is your intended major? There is NO WAY you should count on your mom to take out private loans so you can go to a school more expensive than your state schools. She may not be able to qualify, and even if she can, it could very well jeopardize her own retirement to do it. Take out your own federal loans. Has she at least run the FAFSA EFC to see if you are eligible for Pell Grants?
I don’t hear anything more mature in your answers about why you wouldn’t consider your state schools. If you want to be an engineer, you can do that at other state schools besides Purdue. I’m just assuming you are looking at some kind of major in that area, since you mention that Purdue offers it. Not going to college seems ridiculous, as you have okay stats and seem to want to go – you just don’t have a very good idea of how to conduct your search, and a bias against spending a few years more in your home state and likely saving yourself a LOT of money. It is harder and harder to get a good job without going to college. And it is hard to go back later – people get married or get started in jobs, and it gets tougher to take the time to go to college. Indiana is a big state; if you are worried about going to the same school as kids you know, don’t be. You don’t have to socialize with anyone from high school if you don’t want to at a large university.
Why does a school in a “big city” mean anything in terms of being an education worth investing in? And often a foreign degree isn’t very helpful in getting a job back in the US if you want to work here (although there are some good deals to be had in Canada). I really think you and your mom have a misguided sense of what colleges are worth considering and are in your price range.
Over the years, I’ve read many threads similar to yours. Typically, when a parent is vague about details it’s because the money is not there. Loans are only possible if your mom can qualify. However, I agree you can only ask so many times and you have little control over her sharing the information.
That being said, FAFSA for the fall 2019-2020 school year opens on Oct 1, 2018 and uses the tax information from 2017. Perhaps, letting your mom know that that you’ll need the information in two weeks to complete the application will be helpful. For there, you can use the information to complete the net price calculator on your target schools.
Can’t offer any advice regarding your internship in China. I’ve traveled there on vacation, but that’s the extent of my knowledge.
Good luck.
@intparent as I’ve said, even without the aspect of in state or out of state I’ve been weighing my options about going at all. I am waiting on the offers I get to make a final decision. I want to go into Aerospace engineering, and as far as I know Purdue is the only in-state college that offers it. I’m not really interested in a STEM field outside of that, and a non stem degree is just not worth the investment. The only exceptions Im considering are a few schools with a sort of “design your own degree path/program” but I still have to research with that. I visited Purdue and its an option I guess, Im applying, but I would need a good offer to consider it worth going. My mom will be filling out the FAFSA, as I’ve said Im making plans under the assumption that the money isn’t there. We could debate all day about whether college is for everyone always, in my opinion college is always there. I am fortunate enough to have options even if not having a bachelor’s leaves me jobless, I’d rather take those with no debt. I feel like you’re making a lot of assumptions about me just because I don’t want to go to a state school, but whether you believe it or not I’ve thought that part out. I appreciate that you think I have reasonable stats though, and thank you for the advice.
@svlab112 thank you for the advice financially. Luckily she is willing to fill out the FAFSA as she’s already promised me, past that I’ll have to see what I can do. And I know she has a very good credit score so qualifying won’t be a major issue. I’m going to try to avoid her doing that but again, only so much I can do. I will see if the upcoming date motivates her to do it quickly, but it depends on her mood. Hopefully all goes well. Thank you for the advice and wishes of luck!
i’m not sure what advice you want. You posted saying you might not get in anywhere. From your posts, it seems like you might not get in anywhere affordable. So… you are right to be stressed.
Have you looked at U Alabama-Huntsville? They have your major and may offer you a lot of merit aid.
@intparent thank you for the suggestion, I will look into that school.
@TheMerryBerry By any chance did you take the June SAT? The scaling on that test has been criticized as unduly harsh and many reported on CC that they got fewer questions wrong and got worse scores than previous sittings. If that is the case, you might consider another try.
You might also consider NMSU for aerospace engineering. Guesstimating your unweighted GPA at around a 3.6, you’d be eligible for around 20K in merit money, leaving 13K annually to pay. Apply early for best consideration. There are minimum GPA and credit hour stipulations to meet once enrolled.