Is my Final College List ok? - Page 2

FlyMeToTheMoon · 10-21-2012, 11:35 AM

Without looking up each of the schools on your list, I can't be certain whether your stats fit in the match, reach, or safety range. After our experience with our older daughter, who applied to 7 reaches, one match, and one safety, we advocated a different approach with our younger daughter who is applying now.

Older D is attending her safety and is very happy there, although the summer prior to the start was mottled with tears and anger, because she HAD to go to her safety.

Younger D is applying to only 5 schools, all of which are safeties or matches. She would be happy to attend any of the 5 if accepted. It's a much more peaceful year.

My advice: be sure to have plenty of safeties and matches.

beth's mom · 10-21-2012, 11:42 AM

I'm not familiar enough with the schools on your list to comment, but to answer your other question, my D applied to 5 schools (2 matches, 3 safeties). She got into all, is attending one of the safeties, and is loving it there. I think as long as you would be happy to attend all of the schools on your list and there's at least one (preferably 2, so you have a choice in the spring) that you can afford and to which you will definitely be admitted, it's a good list.

Jazzii · 10-21-2012, 11:48 AM

Thanks everyone! I kind of felt like I was going a bit overboard (as far as no reaches). I'm like deathly afraid to apply anywhere that isn't a safety/ match/ mostly match. It's good to know that I was taking the right approach.

Jazzii · 10-21-2012, 11:51 AM

@ proud Patriot.

As I said In my earlier post I want to major in Education. Chances are that after College I will be living back home, or I will be living nearby in the NY/NJ area which means that is where I will be teaching.

Teaching requirements in CT are not the same as teaching requirements in NYS therefore if I get an education degree in CT I will not be able to teach in NY without taking extra courses (that NY needs) which will cost more money.

SteveMA · 10-21-2012, 12:09 PM

With a 24 ACT score a lot of those schools could be considered reaches. While testing requirements may be different in CT, you can always contact the NY Department of Ed and make sure you have the course requirements covered if you go to school in CT and then take the NY test when the time comes. I agree, you are limiting yourself, especially since you have been agonizing over this for over a year now.

Jazzii · 10-21-2012, 12:33 PM

Agonizing I don't think is the word... I go in cycles. I get really nervous & then I don't care lol. anyway, I spoke to the admissions people at Pace - they weren't much help- but at hofstra I'm right in that mid 50% range and I spoke to admissions there and she said my chances are pretty good.

I was fine with my list until someone commented asking why I wasn't applying to more schools that were reaches... and another said more safeties, I'm sure I'm beyond annoying with the # of times I post and I apologize, I'm just a little lost and none of my parents went through this process and although my GC is helpful she does have 300 other senior to worry about, so her office is always full.

I appreciate your guys' answers

CountingDown · 10-21-2012, 02:17 PM

OK, I did some legwork here, mostly on CB. 24 ACT is equivalent to an 1110 CR/M, which is what most of the OP's schools use in admissions.

Mercy -- test optional, no range given. Accepts 64.5%.
Pace Briarcliff -- no midrange given, avg. SAT per Pace website 1098. Accepts 79.1%.
Hofstra -- midrange SAT 1080-1180, ACT 23-27. Accepts 59%.
SUNY New Paltz -- midrange 1040-1220, 23-26 per online CDS. Accepts 40%.
CUNY Queens -- midrange 1040-1220 CR/M. Accepts 31%.
CCNY -- midrange SAT 950-1190 CR/M. Accepts 32%.

My biggest question for the OP is whether Mercy, Pace Briarcliff and Hofstra (the likelies on your list) will give you enough grant-based FA to attend. Are you planning to live at home or on campus? This is the stuff I would make sure you talk to your parents about before sending those apps. Get them to run a Net Price Calculator. It sounds like you are first gen and if they haven't been through this process with older siblings, the expected family contribution numbers may be shocking.

mathmom · 10-21-2012, 03:01 PM

Jazzii, there is no one right approach. My older son applied to 6 reaches and 2 safeties. He wanted the best programs in the country in his field, but would have been fine at either safety and he got merit money at both of them. My younger son had planned to apply to 7 reaches and 2 safeties. (He really loved 1 safety.) When he got into a reach he hadn't visited EA he dropped the other safety since he figured he would have a choice of two colleges no matter how things fell out for the other schools. Both my kids thrive by being pushed to their limits, my eldest in particular really wanted to be challenged in his field. But others are more comfortable in a slightly less competitive environment. My youngest, in particular, feels that a somewhat better GPA might serve him better, even if the school were a little less prestigious.

Given that you would welcome merit money, I think having somewhat safer schools is a good idea. I imagine that Hispanic plus being in the midrange of students, makes a school on the safer end of a match.

Good luck, I know this all seems very overwhelming at this stage in the game. The CUNY's give you some very affordable options.

Lakemom · 10-21-2012, 03:36 PM

Jazzii, if you only want to apply to matches and safeties that is really fine. People apply to reaches to see if they can get in because then they won't wonder if they should have tried. But you have to want to go to school at one of those reaches or why bother.

You have to do what is comfortable for you. My son applied to 1 reach, 2 matches and 3 safeties. He choose one of the matches and did not get into the reach.

And BTW, Montclair state (definitely a safety) is known for their teaching program and I believe Rowan (close to Phily) and Mommouth also have good teaching programs if you want some NJ options.

Jazzii · 10-21-2012, 04:35 PM

Thanks guys! Out of pocket costs for both pace & Hofstra are looking like 25k ( after fin aid). I'm not first gen college student either. My dad didn't finish HS but my mom went to mercy, however at the time they accepted anyone she just went in and said " I want to apply here" and the basically took her. Oh and at all campuses I will be living on campus.

CUNY's are looking like full price out Of pocket

When I went on Pace's website it says I should get between 12-14k a year

Will I be notified of scholarships with an acceptance letter? Or would that come in with the Fin Aid package in feb?

LINYMOM · 10-21-2012, 05:03 PM

St Joseph"s on Long Island is another option for education. It's in Patchogue. Not sure about dorm situation as DD"s friends who go there commute.

SteveMA · 10-21-2012, 06:20 PM

Another thing to consider, there is no need to go to a "reach" school to get a degree in education. It will not help you what so ever in getting a job and that $50,000+ in debt isn't going to help you get a higher wage. Apply to the schools known for teaching in your area. They will have the best connections for student teaching and the best reputations for getting your foot in the door for a job. I personally would not LET, yes LET, my child go to an expensive college to earn a teaching degree unless that school came in under what it would cost to go to a "teacher's" college.

mathmom · 10-21-2012, 06:47 PM

For what it's worth the principal of our elementary school liked the teachers who came out of SUNY Oneanta. Looks like your scores are in range.

CountingDown · 10-22-2012, 12:14 AM

One of my nieces wanted to go to Boston U to be an secondary English education major. Mom and Dad are divorced, both are unemployed/underemployed. Had to run the EFC calc to show her and mom that the numbers were just not going to work, and that she was FAR better off taking her nearly free ride at her instate flagship.

jazzii, if you know you want to teach in the NY area, agree that getting your degree there will make credentialing a lot easier and cheaper (esp. if you don't have to take post-UG credentialing courses).

Our experience with scholarships is that we didn't get letters until April. These were usually separate from the FA award. However, schools vary in this regard, and some of your schools may offer scholarship $$ sooner in order to entice you to attend.

ellemenope · 10-22-2012, 12:44 AM

Quote:

I'm like deathly afraid to apply anywhere that isn't a safety/ match/ mostly match.

Why? The worst thing they can say to you is no.

As long as you have a solid foundation of match and safety schools in your mix, you can apply to the University of Mars if you want to (the ultimate reach).