Chance/Match Me - applying Yale REA, intended math/math ed major; $0 from divorced parents [3.97 GPA, 32 ACT, rural KS resident]

Chance Me / Match Me
, , , , ,
1

Hello you guys! I’m interested in any reassurance/advice/brutal truths you may have for me and am open to any chancing or college recommendations you may have.

Demographics

  • US Citizen
  • Male
  • Kansas
  • Public High School, rural ~130 in graduating class

Cost Constraints / Budget
NO PARENT ASSISTANCE (I know that it’s crazy) Low-income divorced family (<$75K)

Intended Major(s)

Mathematics

Mathematics Education

Women’s, Sexuality, & Gender Studies (No money to be made??? But a passion of mine - maybe double major?)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.97
  • Weighted HS GPA: (school doesn’t calculate, but self-calculated with an A in DE/Honors being 5.0) 4.52
  • Class Rank: 9/137
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 32 ACT… (36 in Math, no SAT available)

List your HS coursework

My school doesn’t offer any IB/AP, only offers 4 honors classes, and you have to advocate for the ability to take DE classes. (Very bizarre system)

  • English: Honors English 9-11, DE Composition 1&2 (taken at HS)
  • Math: Geometry (taken my 8th grade year at the HS), regular Algebra 2 & Precalc, DE Algebra & DE stats (taken at HS), DE Calc (taken in-person @ College, highest avaliable math).
  • Science: Biology, Honors Physical Science (taken online over the summer), Chemistry, DE Biology & Lab (taken at HS),
  • History and social studies (not offered freshman year…): World History, Economics, & Gov; DE US History II & DE Psych (taken at HS); DE Geography & DE Sociology (taken online)
  • Language other than English : Spanish 1-4 (only available classes)
  • Visual or performing arts: DE Speech (taken at HS)

Awards -

National Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish

1st & 6th at FCCLA Nationals in math events

Knowledge Bowl National Semifinalist through FCCLA

School Awards (Honor Roll, Top 5%)

Outstanding member award at State FCCLA

Extracurriculars
HUGE into FCCLA, Regional & Chapter Leadership, tons of competitions and community outreach

Scholar’s Bowl, Captain every year, state qualifiers, regional champions

Non-Profit- Founder and Operator of a coffee shop at our school that puts all revenue into funding FCS and CTSO programs and assisting needy students

Tutoring - I tutor kids who need help in DE math classes, as well as being a DE math TA, and also I teach Math lessons to an ACT Prep class.

Employment- manager at McDonald’s (25 hours weekly/ 40 during summer), summer job as Camp Counselor( 20 hours weekly, worked both concurrently )

Cultural and Language Club - Officer in Spanish Club, lead educational campaign for hispanic heritage month.

NHS (only honor society at my school, actually competitive) - President, created service project where I lead a team of 50 volunteers in creating free food bags for our small community.

Internship at a local accounting firm, I only did this because it is the only math-related internship available near me.

Drag (as in drag queen) passion project where I led demonstrations, attended protests, educated my peers about the art of Drag, performed in Drag.

Essays/LORs/Other
Personal Statement, I think it’s very competitive, discusses my parents divorce (happened during my Freshman Year), and talks about how living in 8 houses in 6 months changed my mindset in life.

Supplementals, I also think these are good, talk about being queer in rural Kansas/how adovating is important in every aspect of life, others about my passion in math that came from watching the movie Matilda.

Schools:

Factors in my college preferences that are important include things like, class size (I want a bigger school), Location (I need the Northeast/cold), academics, and diversity. I also have EXTREMELY limited finances and require good financial aid.

Okay yall I know that I am not very competitive, but I have also had an insane lack of assistance and resources from my school and community and think that I’ve made the best of everything. Lastly, I am completely okay with going to a state school in the circumstance I get rejected from these schools.

Yale (MY LITERAL DREAMM) - REA ( I know about how Yale REA is, but I really want my decision earlier and cannot commit to an ED )

Brown (I feel like I match the open curriculum given the way my HS works) - RD

Columbia (Test Optional - NYC is my destiny) - RD

((Cornell?? (as a Hospitality Major) - RD)) - I don’t know much about the program

NYU (As Education Major)- RD

Colby - RD

UMich - EA

UNC (As Education Major) - EA

U of Alabama ( I really am interested in the Blount Scholar’s program )

SUNY Stony Brook (I am intersted in the University Scholar’s Program)

Kansas State (basically assured full-ride) already admitted

OKAY THANK YOU GUYSSS SO MUCH, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO ADD OR COMMENT ABOUT AND ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE FOR ME<3!! (I can also answer any questions about my stats)

2

Will both parents do the CSS Profile as Yale requires? Yale (and some other colleges on your list) will consider both of their income and assets to determine financial aid.

1 Like
3

Yes, I am in contact with both parents, I have older siblings that messed up my parents credit with loans, that’s why the no assistance

4

Have you or they checked the net price calculator at each college, using both of their finances if required by the college?

5

Yes, and for all of the ones on my list I am willing to pay their prices, I will have a job throughout college (maybe multiple), and will have over 15k saved by this summer, any additional private loans neccessary are okay by me (I will have a grandparent co-sign)

6

Great topic. If executed well, this should help.

If admitted to Yale, you should receive full financial aid based on family income of $75,000 per year.

Why Colby College in Maine ?

1 Like
7

Do not apply to Cornell for Hotel Management unless you know what the hospitality industry is all about and you are focused on working in it. This is a literal waste of time and money for you.

Run the NPC’s for Fordham and Hunter if NYC is a draw- living in Manhattan is expensive, but if they are within budget they are worth considering.

Some of your choices are leaving me scratching my head. Can you walk us through your logic?

3 Likes
8

For Colby College, I have a friend who attends and she has told me great things about her professors and the aid provided

9

For Cornell, when I said I didn’t know much about the program, I meant what the actual program looks like, I have a certification in Hotel Managment and understand what it entails, I am just uncertain of the university as a whole.

And then your point on Manhattan being unaffordable, I agree completely and would have to incur some serious debts.

And then lastly, what choices specifically left you confused, I don’t want to apply to schools that don’t make sense for me.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE!

10

I’m glad you’ve already received one acceptance to KSU, congrats!

Focusing on Yale, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, & NYU. I would submit the 36 ACT math score to all of these schools. Are the English & Reading scores both 30’s? Those are still quite good. I don’t see this as a disadvantage.

Brown & NYU offer one-year MAT graduate program, if your plan to continue with math education.

Bates College & Bowdoin College are other two ME colleges to consider in addition to Colby. Bowdoin offers a Math & Education interdisciplinary major.

Also, is applying through QuestBridge an option?

11

UNC and Alabama are not in cold/Northeast.

I get prioritizing affordable options wherever they might be-- not sure Alabama is a welcoming haven for someone who loves Drag.

1 Like
12

I believe the deadline for Questbridge has already passed and was on 10/1.

3 Likes
13

University of Alabama removes LGBTQ language from nondiscrimination statement (7/31/2026)

14

Yeah, UNC is because it’s a great college for education and I have family in NC, and then Alabama is definitly a bit iffy, but the specific program I’m interested in is a fantastic match for me (Blount) as well as having great aid.

15

dang okay, I guess my glasses have been really rose-tinted, definitely need to rethink.

2 Likes
16

Do you want to be a teacher? I’m not sure your list for that. And why would you apply to Cornell.

You say you’ve run the NPCs but did your parents run the NPCs. A lot of times they have assets or other things kids aren’t aware about. That they don’t desire to contribute doesn’t mean the cost will be what you think.

I don’t believe you are considered first gen, low income - so if that’s the case, while you have an impressive record, here’s how I see it:

I don’t see Yale, Brown, Columbia, or Cornell happening. Sorry. Your non STEM SAT is very low. It’s just my opinion - doesn’t make it right.

Cornell is a school that wants interest in the hospitality area, etc. in the subject and you’re not going to have a way to demonstrate that. Apply for the major you want, not Hotel. I think TO at Columbia is dangerous - given the high percentage that submits but it would likely be your best shot. I think a very limited set of people (athletes, other hooked groups could go TO) but - well you can try.

NYU - being from Kansas can help but unlikely

Colby - unlikely. They’re need aware and while they don’t have a common data set, I somewhere once saw their aid stats - they are generous to some but not a large amount overall.

U Mich - unless they throw boatloads of aid at you and they don’t profess to meet need for OOS - so I wouldn’t apply

UNC is a hard no - when you look at their NPC, make sure to be careful of loans. But it’s a hard in from OOS.

Bama - will still be mid 20s although there’s a chance to get more aid. But yes, you’ll get in. Make sure to do the scholarship app for even more aid. Even with money saved, it would seem too expensive.

Stony Brook - how will you afford it? Unless I’m missing something, I don’t see money there.

K State is great - does the state help yo with tuition and room and board? Those who have gone to K State and posted on this board (or their parents have) - only have great things to say.

I’m sorry but it’s a chance me.

Thoughts -

UNCC has the Levine Scholars Program - it’s a full ride - so it’s likely a better chance than Yale because you’ll get into UNCC - but a good chance, unlikely.

East Carolina has Brinkley Lane - you’d pay the OOS tuition portion

These are both unlikely as they are limited but the competition might be less. So worth a hail mary. I’m sure there are others too - if you research - at other schools.

I’m putting a list below of colleges that meet need and I’d have your parents run the calculators. Now, some of the schools (including a Colby) are need aware so if you have too much need, they might turn you down just for that. There was a magazine article posted and Lafayette shared their strategy which was - not giving anyone so so much because the budget is the budget, and they wanted to spread it amongst more people.

So look at this list and run the NPCs. It’s just my opinion, but with your list, you’re likely to be at K State.

And check each of the publics - Bama has Blount. Others might also have something under a different name.

I would run NPCs on schools like Bates (if ED), Connecticut College, Colorado College, F&M, Holy Cross (if ED), Lehigh, U Miami, Occidental, Tufts, Union, Wesleyan and may be some others but they are down a notch or two competitively speaking.

Willamette (in WA) states you’ll only pay up to 10% of your parents income (+ room and board) so likely Bama pricing.

So you want a large school and the NE cold but you have no money - and I think this is the difficulty of the situation. If you need/want someone else to pay, there has to be tradeoffs.

But as I said above - K State has a FANTASTIC rep but will you be able to afford room and board, etc?

And I do worry if the NPCs are being done correctly - are you sure they gave you every scintilla if info that the schools will discover via the IDOC check? You might triple check but the parents not wanting to contribute doesn’t mean the schools will cover their portion.

I wish you the best of luck. You have a great profile.

Here’s Every College That Offers 100% Financial Aid · PrepScholar

17

I agree with the posters on accuracy in affordability.

I think you are overestimating your aid packages. Unless your parents have both sat with you, to input their financial information, on each school’s NPC, then you don’t know your true costs.

You’ve picked some very expensive real estate for school locations and some of those costs will seriously hamper your ease of mind.

Just because you need financial aid to attend, doesn’t mean that each school will be affordable. THEY will decide what THEY will provide.

That’s for your incidentals. Divided by 4 years is $3750 per year. That’s $1875 per semester. This will have to cover your toiletries, laundry items, occasional coffees, transportation around campus or uber/flights/bus, health insurance, study group items, etc. It dissolves extremely rapidly. You might get a campus job, but your grades may take a hit.

Please, don’t do this to your grandparent. Find an affordable school. It gets very messy if the type of loan received requires immediate payments as you attend. Your loans get sold and resold constantly.

My kids saw students who had to leave their universities because the loan costs were hampering the family finances. They ended up with debts and no degree. Loans are based on collateral, and you should not ever use a family home for that.

The schools you have listed are extremely expensive and the schools have to spread their limited budgets amongst the thousands of students who are asking for aid.
A lot of government funding has been taken away, so Financial Aid offices have to have strict limiting budgets.

Please include more affordable schools when you apply.

1 Like
18

The student should also check out the Midwest Student Exchange. It’s unlikely to beat in state with merit but it may give more options.

If you have a home to reside, you might also consider community college so you can save for two years.

Debt is not your friend, especially if you go into teaching. It has to be paid back and often kids can’t.

You can certainly apply where you want but if you get in and significant loans are required, it’s unlikely the right path to pursue - at least in my opinion.

Good luck.

19

Wesleyan’s about a third bigger than Colby (both are NESCAC colleges) and has a doctoral program in Math that offers super-advanced classes to Math majors.

1 Like