chances and questions

Northstarmom
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:59:51 +0000

What state do you live in? This is important information because being in-state is a plus when you’re applying to in state schools.

I strongly suggest that you pin your parents down about how much they feel they can pay each year for your education. I’ve seen many sad posts on CC by students whose parents told them what yours did, and then when April came, and the students got into their dream schools, the parents realized that there was no way they could afford $50,000 a year out of their own pockets.

I also have a friend – who is an Asian immigrant – who is literally working herself to death (stressful job that is exacerbating her health problems) to help pay for an expensive private education for an older child, who would have been just as well served by going to less expensive public or private schools. The stress of paying for that expensive education for their older child has affected both parents. The dad has had a heart attack.

The family learned its lesson when their second child went to college. He applied to places that were likely to provide him with the aid he needed and he got into and is happily going to a top 10 college that gave him excellent aid. Turned down a top 25 college that also gave him excellent aid.

If you have younger siblings and don’t come from a wealthy family, realize that your college choices will affect where your siblings are able to go.

That being said, you have nothing to lose by applying to schools like Brown that are difficult to get into and offer excellent need-based financial aid. None of us can estimate your chances of getting in. Much will depend on your essay and the exact nature of the ECs you listed. For instance, was the cultural experience in France a Rotary Scholarship, which would be a huge plus or was it something expensive that your family paid for? The latter wouldn’t be particularly impressive unless you earned the money for the trip. The nature of your hospital volunteer experience also is important. Did you just do what you were told or did you go above and beyond and have a recommendation to prove that you did?

Boston College does not promise to meet 100% of students’ financial need. It has very few merit scholarships and those are difficult to get. I know a BC prof whose kids went to BC. The prof told me that BC is a good, not great school, and the reason his kids went there is because since he’s faculty, they got free tuition. Prof also told me that there are lots of the sort of rich kids there that you described.

I suggest taking a close look at your state flagship and at the flagship publics in adjacent states, which may offer special scholarships to students from nearby states and also may offer in-state tuition to students from adjacent states. The honors programs at some midwestern flagships are wonderful, which could be another good opportunity for you.

USC, UCLA, NYU, BU, are not likely to be affordable or worth the extra expense when there are many excellent colleges that you probably could get into and that would be affordable for you.

Take a look at Macalester, which is an excellent LAC in a large urban area (I assume you want to be in a big city since that seems to be a commonality among the places you’re considering). I think it promises to meet 100% of financial need, but check their site to see if that’s the case.

Oh – and since you plan to go to medical school – which more than likely will result in your taking out large loans – it’s essential that you not take out large loans or overburden your family with undergraduate education costs.

Southern California and Boston are not as friendly and down to earth as is the Midwest, something to consider if Midwestern type friendliness is important to you.

Take a look at Emory, Vanderbilt, and Tulane, excellent southern schools with good merit (Tulane) and need-based aid (Emory, Vanderbilt) that may view it as a plus that you live in the Midwest. In general, the South is more friendly and down to earth than is Boston or LA.