Before you start plugging in your reach schools you need to have a serious talk with your parents about how much they can afford to give you for four years of schooling.
If your parents tell you that they’re not going to pay for your out-of-state tuition, then believe them.
Who’s going to pay the bill?
$80,000 a year is a lot of money. I hope you don’t think that the financial aid offices will be footing your bill.
Students who attend these schools are supported by the Bank of Mom and Dad.
How much money do you think the federal government actually has to give you?
Full rides are RARE. Loans are not going to happen unless your parents decide to loan you the money.
You are allowed to have about $5500 a year in federal loans. The total, over four years, is $27,000. That’s it. That’s all the government will loan to you in your four years of study. $27K is ~1/4 the cost for one year at some of these schools.
Most financial aid is need-based which means if you don’t think you’re going to qualify for financial aid, you probably won’t.
If you apply Early Action, you are telling that university that, come hell or high water, you’re going to attend and pay their full fee bill. (NYU/USC) They will expect to be paid and bound to them paying $90,000 a year.
Financial aid offers do not come with early action acceptances. With that early action application you’re telling them you’re paying.
Scholarships? Too competitive, generally for small amounts and you currently don’t have the GPA and you don’t have an SAT test score competing with hundreds of thousands of students trying to find money for college.
Speak to your parents get a straight budget and check the net price calculator, (NPC) at each school that you plan to apply to and see what they expect you to pay. Each college or university has a net price calculator so that you can get your estimate of costs.