twistandtimshel

Stupid title, I know. Here's the thing, my family's income is above $150,000 annually, but none of us really ever see it. My father is in a tremendous amount of debt and owes in IRS and alimony expenses. On all of the EFC calculators I've used, I've found that colleges expect my family to pay the tuition in its entirety! Obviously, this is not an option. I've tried discussing my future college plans with my family and they say that we cannot spend more than 8,000 a year (tuition + room and boarding + fees).

I'm posting to get advice or help from anyone that has been in my situation or has an idea of what I should do.

Here are some of my stand out 'stats'....

-11th grade
-Member of National Society of High School Scholars
-SAT 'superscore' 2030 (math 700, writing 700, reading 630)
-best SAT single sitting score 1970 (math 700, writing 700, reading....570)
-GPA of ~3.9
-No AP classes (limited curriculum)
-5 years (one accelerated course, one summer course) of math; I'm currently learning calculus
-TWENTY hours of community service (yeah yeah, I'm horrible at giving back to my community....)
-1 year of volleyball, 2 years of softball (two awards; one award for MVP, one for most improved.)
-Taking courses at a local community college.
-Several academic awards (i.e. "Excellence in Spanish, Geometry, History, English, etc.)

Other diminutive yet possibly notable characteristics:
-Single parent family
-Excluding my older sister, I will be the first of my family to attend college. (So kind of first generation college attendance?)

Any advice or ideas? I'm open to attend any college in California or the rest of the country just as long as the whole package is inexpensive.

Thanks~

Ya Ya

ROTC scholarship

happymomof1

Start reading here: IMPORTANT: Links to AUTOMATIC/GUARANTEED Merit Scholarships

Waverly

Your best bet is probably 2 years at a CC and 2 at your state flagship. Schools that meet need will probably give you little and 'm not seeing the stats for big merit.

twistandtimshel

Waverly, I still have an academic year and a summer left. How do you think I could improve my stats?

mom2collegekids

You need to retest....take both the SAT and ACT. Get your SAT (M+CR) from one sitting above a 1400 or your ACT to at least a 32.


With your dad's $8k, a 5500 loan, and a full tuition scholarship, you can make this happen.

Also...work over the summer and save your money...you'll need it.

happymomof1

The next time you are at that community college, pop in to the Transfer Counselor's office, and ask where they send their graduates. If money is tight, finishing up your Associates degree with a good GPA and membership in Phi Theta Kappa could mean transfer to some place that will be within your budget for the last two years of college. Not the experience you are dreaming of right now perhaps, but financially workable.

Iron Maiden

Please stop suggesting ROTC scholarships for kids that want to pay for school. That is not what they are intended for.

Only go ROTC if your #1 goal in life is to serve your country as an officer. Those kids just wanting the money are quickly weeded out and are left with no way to pay for school.

Ya Ya

Iron Maiden
Your opinion is NOT what recruiters say. :-)

prefect

What was your PSAT? Is there any way you will be national merit/national achievement/national Hispanic scholar?

Iron Maiden

Ya Ya, it is not an opinion it is a fact. I have experience in this area and advise kids on this all the time.

You do realize that recruiters will tell you anything to make quota, right?

Ya Ya

Iron Maiden

My D made some very high score on ASVAB (all the seniors had to take in on PSAT day) and the recruiters just plagued us. Called at least twice a week for several months both about GI bill and ROTC.

What is your experience? Is it really difficult to get ROTC scholarship?

Iron Maiden

ASAVAB has zero to do with ROTC. Not even considered.

Which branch of the service were you interested in more ROTC info for? They have very different programs and requirements.

Depending on the branch of the service ROTC scholarships can be very very difficult to obtain.

The recruiters contacting you are enlisted recruiters. They get no credit for ROTC recruitments and will push you towards enlisted. In th vast majority of cases the enlisted recruiters no nothing about ROTC and will provide bad info ROTC is a totally separate process.

Ya Ya

Well, they first talked to my daughter about GI bill. I told her to tell them that she was a minor and they had to talk to me. When they tried to talk to me I told them she was already going to college and was not interested. Then Army recruiters (from 2 or 3 different places actually) asked what colleges she was accepted to and asked if she was interested in Army ROTC. Invited to visit and get more information.

Erin's Dad

'rich kids' scholarships = merit scholarships. As mentioned above you need to bring up your SAT or ACT score. Many people do better on one test over the other and schools will use either one for scholarship consideration.