M's Mom

How did you end up with Colorado College on this list? Definitely NOT like the others. It's a LAC with a block program for starters. Culturally not a fit either, based on how you described yourself and it's not culturally similar to the other schools either.

CLBI143

@m'smom one of my good friends is a freshman there and she loves it, we are very similar and she thinks I would like it too so I thought it would be worth looking into.

Also by semi-wealthy I meant that I live in an area with high property values and a very sought after school district. Our income bracket is definitely less than $100 K, I know that much. I'd say we are well off and live close to comfortably, probably middle middle class.

siliconvalleymom

SlitheyTove is exactly right...you need to start with the FAFSA forecaster and a discussion about your realistic budget for college.

CLBI143

I would, but my parents won't tell me how much I have to spend. They always kind of dance around the subject and say we will talk about it later but we never do. That's why I came here.

gettinin

I'd say to cast a wide net of safety/matches to increase your chances at merit aid, which varies widely from college to college, even similarly ranked ones.

I agree American might be good. And Vandy would be a reach but not an impossible one (although $40,000 won't cut it there. You should talk to your parents to find out exactly what they are able to pay, if you're willing to take out a small loan, etc.)
Maybe Brandeis, GW, Drexel (would probably get decent merit aid here), Northeastern (possibly some aid here), Tulane (financial reach)

gettinin

We can't give you the answers you need from your parents. You need to let them know that it's time to get serious. . . that you will be basing your application decisions on what they can afford and what they are willing to pay and you do not want to apply to schools only to be disappointed in the spring if they tell you they can't/won't pay for them. If they are dancing around the subject there could be information they're withholding that you will need to know. Tell them that you know it's a delicate subject but that you're ready to hear their answers and thoughts.

Good luck.

Midwestmomofboys

If you are putting IU on your list, but not thrilled, consider instead Wisconsin. Great, liberal, capitol city, stronger academic reputation than IU and especially strong in poli sci. Bloomington IN is considered a classic college town but the population, other than students, is relatively small. I always felt like you drove through the whole town after about 8-10 blocks. Wisconsin is no slouch as a party/school spirit school. Out of state tuition about $27k, room and board another 9-10k at the most.

Biased here, as we live in Indiana and my son will be at Wisconsin.

ucbalumnus

Not a good situation.

To give yourself a backup against not being able to afford any school in April, your stats (3.77 GPA and 33 ACT) may be able to find some very generous merit scholarships, such as:

Alabama Birmingham: $15,000 per year, leaves about $10,000 remaining cost of attendance

Alabama Huntsville: full tuition, leaves about $10,000 remaining cost of attendance (get ACT to 34 or SAT equivalent to get a full ride)

Alabama Tuscaloosa: full out of state tuition, leaves about $14,000 remaining cost of attendance:

Howard: almost full ride

However, family income of under $100,000 per year often gets some need based financial aid. But you need to get some information to run the net price calculators (or get your parents to run the net price calculators).

Chardo

^ Howard is clearly not an option for OP.

siliconvalleymom

SlitheyTove's link from the Reform Judaism magazine has lots of great suggestions...I did not know that some of the listed schools had such a significant Jewish student population.

ucbalumnus

It does meet the OP's top two (most important) criteria, with about 10,500 students and a location in a big city (Washington, DC). The third criterion, "decently selective, have a good academic reputation but not necessarily top tier" needs more explanation from the OP to determine what schools are likely to meet that. Probably not a big Jewish population, but that is the least important of the OP's criteria.

Columbia18

@CLBI143

I've really been diving into the college search process lately, and I've found that the College Board (collegeboard.org) has a very useful tool. Just make an account (it's free), and you can narrow down your results from thousands of schools by specifying certain criteria, like aid, location, selectivity, and majors. Once you've narrowed the broader topics, the list is much more manageable for you to sift through; then visit the websites of universities that interest you. This is a good start to finding a school that meets all, if not most, of your requirements.

tk21769

Another way to do it is by looking up schools on the US News college site (under "Academic Life" for each school). Examples:
Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt University | Academic Life | Best College | US News
Colorado College | Academic Life | Best College | US News
UAB | University of Alabama--Birmingham | Academic Life | Best College | US News
University of Maryland | University of Maryland--College Park | Academic Life | Best College | US News
(Google for [College Name] + "USNWR")

Or, search the College Confidential site for threads on this subject.
Example: Avg Class size?

As for costs ...
If your family income is $100K or less, and your family assets are typical for that income level, then out-of-state public universities may not be your most affordable options. A well-endowed, selective private school may wind up being cheaper after need-based aid. For example, among students at Trinity College (Hartford) who receive need-based aid, those with family income of $90K-119,999 on average received an aid package worth about $38K for the 2012 academic year. (Trinity College: Financial Aid Facts)

A $100K family income should qualify you for need-based aid at private schools like Vanderbilt or Colorado College (although you really do need to get the facts from your parents and run an online calculator to estimate your Expected Family Contribution.) For that income, with typical assets, at selective private schools like those, I would expect your net out-of-pocket cost to be about $20K-$25K/year. Typically, the more selective the college, the more generous the need-based aid (but of course, you have to be accepted to get it.) Best Values in Private Colleges, 2011-12

barrk123

"^ Howard is clearly not an option for OP. "


Howard lets any race in, you don't have to be african

Chardo

Sorry, while Howard may be a fine school of the right size and location, it's extremely unlikely to be a fit for a semi-wealthy Jewish girl.