Chance Me (and match): HS Senior, 95 GPA, 10 APs, 2 College Courses, 1510 SAT, <$15k [ME resident, $5k from parents, best NPC $15k, physics]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US domestic
  • State/Location of residency: Rural Maine Coast
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Town Academy (Private, but free for me)

Cost Constraints / Budget
*My parents will pay $5k a year… The best npc results are a minimum of $15k. I either need to get into a top school with good aid to keep it at $40k of debt or I’ll go to my state school.

Intended Major(s) Physics (plan to pursue masters, maybe PHD

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: (calculate it yourself if your high school does not calculate it)
  • Weighted HS GPA: My school doesn’t do this.
  • Class Rank: 4/114
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1510

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: AP Lang (5), AP Lit, H. English I and II
  • Math: H. Algebra II, H. Precalc, AP Calc AB (5), Dual-enrollment Calculus II (~95), DE Multivariable
  • Science: H. Biology, H. Chemistry, AP Physics C: Mechanics (5), AP Chem, AP Physics C: E&M
  • History and social studies: World History, Economics, APUSH (4), Ap Euro
  • Language other than English: H. French 1-3, AP French, Japanese independent study 1&2
  • Visual or performing arts: Band (four years), jazz ensemble, member of plays, ceramics, lots of film classes
  • Other academic courses:

Awards

RIT Math and Science
College Board National Rural and Small Town
Le Grand Concours top 15 national scorer
AP Scholar with distinction

Extracurriculars
(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)

Cinematographer of feature film - proped and recieved $20k from school and theater with two other students to make 1hr long film, showed at local theater

Quantum Phenomena at High Temperature Lab - First US Collaborator of Duong Group at UMaine, researching methods of detecting monolayers of 2D materials such as graphene. Research and housing funded by physics department.

Tennis - Varsity 4 years, team captain, undefeated three years so far, Coaches award x2, Southern Maine Class B runner-ups two years

Bass Clarinet - Districts first chair seven years in a row, band won gold at world strides competition in New York

Local Television Internship - shot in studio and field, and edited live shows and major broadcasts

Language School in Japan - funded by me, did a homestay

Theater sound and light tech - freshman and sophomore

Work - Oyster shucker on tour boat two years, dishwasher at james beard restaurant

Community service - taught children tennis at local ymca

Disaster documentation - photographically documented local storm disasters, arson, >8000 views on instagram

Essays/LORs/Other

Common Essay - strong; I talked about finding beauty in all aspects of my life, how my perception changed when coming back from Japan (finding it in the regular), and how I want to continue that in physics and my future, making the world a more beautiful place

Counselor rec - He said he had amazing things to say, probably 7-8/10
Math (calc ab) - He’s great at writing them, probably 7-9/10
Apush - probably 8/10
Research professor - English isn’t his first language, but he included specifics of lab work, probably 8/10

Schools

EA - MIT
ED??? - Williams
EA - RIT
EA - Northeastern

RD:

  • Harvard
  • Cornell
  • Princeton
  • Colby (in-state)
  • Bowdoin (in-state, legacy)
  • URochester

What’s plaguing me is this: In a perfect world, I would compare offers from different top choices. However, while I know I’m a ‘competitive’ applicant, I’m not hooked, and I’m struggling to decide whether or not ED to Williams is in my best interest. It’s third after MIT and Harvard, but I have no illusions that I’ll get into those places.

If you know of any other top-level schools (maybe LACs with a slightly higher acceptance rate but still good for physics and with good aid that I could add for RD, please let me know.

Ultimately, it’s all or nothing, because if I get into a place like URochester, I’ll have a lot of debt vs going to my state school (probably full ride) where I already have a position in a PHD-level lab.

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It’s difficult to chance you for your reaches, but if you need to compare different financial aid offers, you absolutely should not apply ED anywhere.

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First, fix the number in your title. I think you’ve added a zero you didn’t intend to add?

You don’t apply anywhere ED, because you cannot count on getting enough fin aid to be able to accept the ED acceptance, if it doesn’t come with enough aid.

Other than that, your list looks great, what with your flagship state U as your financial and academic safety.

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It sounds like your budget is the $5K from your parents and then the $5.5K first year student loan? Maybe a bit more from any work earnings you have? Any loans above the $5.5K will be on your parents…either directly or as a co-signer.

Is your flagship affordable? Will you be commuting to it while living at home?

I don’t know any flagships that will come in at $12K-$15K if you are living on campus. Some might get there with merit scholarships, but that means it is not a safety if you need basically full tuition to attend.

Any chance you are a national merit semifinalist?

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While my opinion might be that you should pursue MIT if you have a decided preference for it, it might be worth noting that strategic considerations now represent an accepted approach toward college applications at high schools with well-developed college advising. This is from SPS, for example:

Nonetheless, you also — as you suggested in your other topic — may appreciate Williams for its intrinsic attributes, especially its strong focus on undergraduate education.

Overall, however, there are several LACs that I’d recommend to you for physics. So, irrespective of how you arrange your applications, I believe you will preserve the option to attend a superb LAC, provided you include well-researched choices on your greater list.

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I plan on taking out $10k a year, my parents aren’t going to pay any more. My flagship is quite affordable, and given that I already am enrolled in early classes and a lab there, I expect to receive lots of merit aid. A friend of mine got her offer back for only $3k a year and is similarly competitive, without the research. I’ll hear back from them sometime next week. Unfortunately, I haven’t received any scholarships, I did not apply for national merit.

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Where is University of Maine listed as a choice for this applicant? How did I miss that? But good that this is one of their choices. But I’m curious how this is guaranteed to be affordable for this student.

Not without a cosigner…or parent who is willing to take out this amount of loans. Your loan limit is $5500 for freshman year…federally funded Direct Loan.

If this works out for University of Maine…fine. Otherwise…your list is comprised of many reach schools which you definitely have a chance of acceptance to. Just no guarantees.

Did you take the PSAT?

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You can only take $5.5k first year without a cosigner.

However, colleges typically assume that a student can earn $3-5k in part time and summer work, and may offer work study (basically a preference for being hired to on-campus jobs).

So $10k beyond the parent contribution would be a stretch budget needing both the loan and some work earnings.

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Unfortunately, I did not take the PSAT… only the one SAT. As for loans, my parents will help sign, but it will be up to me to cover anything past the $5k they can afford.

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You cannot get $40k or $10k a year. $27k over four years. That’s it including $5.5k the first. The feds wisely limit you.

Your parents can borrow more but you cannot.

I would ensure you apply to some Hail Mary schools - W&L, SMU, Vandy, Davidson - that have full rides.

It’s great you found $15k NPCs but run easier to get into full meets need schools - Franklin & Marshall, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Kenyon, Union. Unlikely to be as good but you need more options.

You want lots of merit - then you have to apply to schools that give lots of merit - Alabama, Ms State, UAH and more. But even those schools are not likely to be affordable.

It may be that your local school is where you end up - and that’s fine too.

But find the various full rides - some schools have Stamps Scholars too. They are unlikely but merit based and since you have 20 apps, you can afford a few Hail Marys to see if you get lucky. I’d start with W&L Johnson because they give so many and then continue on from there.

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Maybe in agreement but not in reality. They, not you, will be held responsible for non payment.

And don’t forget loans have not just interests but upfront fees so you think you are borrowing $10k but you are actually borrowing hundreds less.

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Actually, you will be borrowing that amount…but you will be paying the fees as part of your loan repayment.

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From student aid.gov (as I’m not a borrower):

Most federal student loans have loan fees. These fees are a percentage of the total loan amount . A loan fee comes out of the amount of money that is disbursed (paid out) to you while you’re in school. This means the money you receive will be less than the amount you actually borrow.

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@kelsmom if a student borrows the full $5500…is that full $5500 available to the student…or are fees subtracted…first.

This will help the OP understand their full loan amount for colleges.

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This is direct from the studentaid . gov website. The fees are especially onerous on the PLUS loans.

https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates#fees

The info is pretty self explanatory (IMHO). Loans are necessary for some but in my opinion are generally bad, especially when you go beyond the first level. They have to be paid back and that’s not always easy and $10k a year isn’t $10k !! With fees and interest, it’s a lot more - and that’s only if this student finds a school at $15k, not an easy task.

Fees for Federal Student Loans

Most federal student loans have loan fees. These fees are a percentage of the total loan amount.

A loan fee comes out of the amount of money that is disbursed (paid out) to you while you’re in school. This means the money you receive will be less than the amount you actually borrow.

You’re responsible for repaying the entire amount you borrowed and not just the amount you received.

The chart below shows the loan fees for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2019.

Loan Fees for Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans

First Disbursement Date Loan Fee
On or after 10/1/20 and before 10/1/25 1.057%
On or after 10/1/19 and before 10/1/20 1.059%

Loan Fees for Direct PLUS Loans

First Disbursement Date Loan Fee
On or after 10/1/20 and before 10/1/25 4.228%
On or after 10/1/19 and before 10/1/20 4.236%
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Let’s focus on the student instead of debating other users.

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@Mwfan1921 is there still an alternate way to NM status if a student didn’t take the PSAT? Might that help this student?

Or is it too late for a HS senior to do this anyway.

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Too late for a senior, unfortunately. The deadline is usually April 1 of junior year.

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It’s too bad this is too late for this student. Thanks for the answer.

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Ok…here are my thoughts:

  1. If you are happy with University of Maine and it’s affordable, then you know you will be attending college!

  2. I would suggest you not apply early decision anywhere if significant finances are an issue. Offers from schools that guarantee to meet full need can vary in net costs by many many thousands of dollars. I think it would be best for you to be able to compare amongst multiple acceptances and financial aid offers.

  3. What does the Amherst net price calculator say? Is the predicted net price within that $10,000 price point for you.

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