<p>Preferably:
Located in a medium-sized town (around 15,000-35,000), scenic (historic buildings, tree-lined streets, etc.), reasonably safe, pedestrian friendly. The school itself should be beautiful (ivy growing up the sides, little to no modern architecture, etc.). Has a wonderful library filled to the brim with old and rare books.</p>
<p>Important:
Rigorous academics. Enrollment of around 5,000. Not a party school. Single room dorms for freshman or something passable (safe area, with air-conditioning) for rent under $700 per month. Has places to hike. Students in general are intelligent, intellectual, studious, well-read, and curious. </p>
<p>Required:
Top-notch philosophy department and a high quality english department. In-state tuition and fees for a year tops out around 10,000, preferably closer to 5,000. Accepts homeschoolers.</p>
<p>I can’t think of any school that meets 100% of your very specific and unique wish list! </p>
<p>The first school that came to mind that meets quite a few of your requirements is Austin College in Sherman. But the tuition is beyond your $10K mark. </p>
<p>Trinity in San Antonio is another one.</p>
<p>I see in another post you are strongly considering attending UH as a commuter. That college experience would starkly contrast with the one shaped by your wish list. The only two matches I see are degree program and budget. </p>
<p>Your $10K figure is very limiting; $5 is out of the question. The only other schools I can think of off the top of my head with philosophy programs and costs likely in the ballpark are Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, but they don’t seem like good matches for the curricular or peer rigor you expect. </p>
<p>Have you investigated your eligibility for financial aid or scholarship assistance with college costs? I’m not recommending you go into any or significant debt, but your stats and family circumstances may qualify you for grants, awards, student loans, work study opportunities, etc. that could close some gaps and give you more schools from which to choose. You talk about wanting a highly intellectual environment, and you have defined ambitious grad schools. I’m not saying you can’t meet your goals from UH. But it’d be a shame not to have choice. </p>
<p>As a final, very “out there” thought, Google Deep Springs.</p>
<p>Yes, home schooling is fully embraced in Texas and certainly a non-issue when it comes to college admission provided your curriculum meets or exceeds college requirements and your work is sufficiently documented. You’ll need to take all of the usual standardized tests. See the UH admissions page for requirements and pointers. I gather you are a sophomore or junior looking ahead? Make sure you get involved with an active college bound home school group–there are plenty in the Houston area–so you can avail yourself of others with knowledge and experience with college admissions.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Trinity is just about perfect, Austin is quite nice (deep springs is interesting, but I’m not sure I could handle the physical work).</p>
<p>I don’t know if there is anyway (even with aid) I could afford it. I’m pretty sure I qualify for some aid (Dad makes 30,000-42,000 depending on the overtime (24,000 with no overtime), family of 3, low property value, maybe 3,000 total in bank accounts), but probably not that much, because we aren’t exactly poor. My parents can contribute 6,000-12,000 a year (depending on how much overtime Dad gets), I can try to work part-time/do work-study (but only if it doesn’t affect my grades), I have 5,000 in cash, and I’m willing to go up to 15,000 in debt. Mom is willing to go back to work, and she could get 15,000-20,000, but her Mom and Brother are both in such bad health that I don’t know if she could take care of them and work at the same time, without ruining her own health. Based on the information (if you need other info, just ask), do you think I could get enough aid to make up the difference? Then you have to count living expenses and books, after visiting UH I know without doubt it isn’t the right school for me, but the price-tag and not having to pay room&board make it very tantalizing.</p>
<p>I’m going to schedule a visit to Trinity (probably also to Austin), its very lovely, thank you for bringing it to my awareness.</p>
<p>Also will my parents bankruptcy (from medical debt, not being frivolous) affect my ability to get aid?</p>
<p>transparent, I am so sorry, I don’t know anything about working the ropes of financial aid. However, from what you have said, I think you are likely a good candidate for aid. Also, depending on your test scores and home school work, you may qualify for some merit awards.</p>
<p>Fortunately, there are is a wealth of online information about aid and merit. </p>
<p>On College Confidential - Look at the left nav, go down to Main CC Site>Paying for College, that is a good place to start learning key concepts. Now, in the forums, if you look at the left nav, see Top Forums>Financial Aid. </p>
<p>Go to [College</a> For All Texans: Home](<a href=“http://www.collegefortexans.com/]College”>http://www.collegefortexans.com/)</p>
<p>And [FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/]FAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)</p>
<p>And yes!!! Take some road trips. I think Trinity will blow you away. Ask if you can sit in on a philosophy class. You can arrange to talk with someone in their financial aid office–make an appointment and find out what paperwork you need to bring. They will help you understand the big picture. (Note, you haven’t said when you will be applying. I have gathered it is not this year. If I am wrong, you need to work fast on all of this–many deadlines! If I am correct and you are beginning your work a year or two early, than the only thing you need to be aware of and not get discouraged by is, college admission and financial aid staff are currently working hard to help all of the folks now applying. So if you encounter any delay or, for an appointment, any suggestion of doing it at another time, don’t interpret that the wrong way. These same folks will be giving your interests priority attention when you apply.)</p>
<p>Best wishes for a successful quest.</p>