<p>I am a junior in high school, and I have no idea which schools would fit my goals.
Here are some stats:
Tennessee Public School
3.65 UWGPA
3.95 WGPA
31 ACT (I expect a couple points to be gained upon my next test)
AP Classes(taking or will take):
APCal AB (taking BC test)
APUSH
APChemistry
APMicroeconomics
APEnglish4
APUSGovernment
AP Statistics
AP Computer Science A
My only extracurricular is the school TV show.
My intended major is Computer Science, with a possible double major into mathematics.
I want to do undergraduate research, and earn a doctorate after my bachelors. My career of choice is computer science researcher, likely focusing on theory or systems.
My college of choice would be one that would look good when I look to graduate school, while also being at a level where someone with my stats could get good financial aid.
Where should I look for college?
(A slightly related question: What kind of extracurriculars would be of benefit to me when applying to college?)</p>
<p>What kind of net price limit are you looking at?</p>
<p>Remember, find your safeties first when making your application list. (And safeties must be affordable.)</p>
<p>Schools with <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-14.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-14.html</a> may be suitable for safety purposes; your in-state public schools may also be suitable.</p>
<p>For need-based financial aid estimates, you can try the net price calculator on each school’s web site.</p>
<p>Extra curriculars that you really like and dig into are the best. 
Seriously… colleges don’t really care what they are, as long as you show you are an engaged member of your community in some way (and I mean that broadly – sports, other school ECs, volunteering, etc.). Honestly, junior year is kind of late to start ECs (colleges are pretty tuned into students who only join late in high school to make their college apps look good). At this point some things I would suggest:</p>
<ul>
<li>Does your school have a programming club? Could you start one?</li>
<li>Find a volunteer activity and start doing it regularly. Maybe once a week now, and more hours in the summer. Stick with it from now through next year.</li>
<li>Take a free online class or two this summer – there is some pretty good stuff out there on the tech side.</li>
<li>Is there more you could add to whatever you are doing for the school TV show? Take on more responsibility of some kind if you can (not sure if there are any “leadership” roles, but those are good).</li>
</ul>
<p>Your stats and schedule sound pretty good. Like UCB says, cost is often a deciding factor for students, and it is important to consider it when you start making your college list. In addition to UCB’s suggestions, you might get a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges and look through it for some ideas.</p>
<p>I was thinking of using some state schools as backups. Does it matter where I go if I am looking to get into a good graduate school, or is it more based on what I do during undergraduate?</p>
<p>Graduate school is more based on how/what you do for undergrad.</p>
<p>Because I plan to do research, it seems a larger college with more research would be good. Would going to a state college and being in an honors program be beneficial?
In reply to UCB, I will be depending on scholarships and hopefully small loans.</p>
<p>Yes, going to a state college with an honors program is generally good. Most that I’ve read about allow the honors program students to get first choice of classes or are handled like a small school inside a larger one.</p>
<p>Many of the schools good for CS are state universities.</p>
<p>A problem is, most of the good CS universities are outside my state. How does one lessen the huge burden of OOS tuition?</p>
<p>One’s family moves there before the senior year of HS. 
</p>
<p>You might want to take a look at this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/932455-best-computer-science-undergraduate-programs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/932455-best-computer-science-undergraduate-programs.html</a></p>
<p>What is your state of residency, and what is your price limit?</p>
<p>In some cases, there are regional tuition discount programs with state universities in other states in the region. Some state universities are not super-expensive even for out-of-state students (if you can afford a $30,000 to $35,000 per year school, some good-for-CS ones may be within reach even without financial aid and scholarships).</p>
<p>My state of residence is TN, and I have no reserved money… my college funds will be completely from scholarships, grants, and (hopefully not too large) loans. One college that has caught my interest is GIT, and the institition’s calculator shows 20k tuition with aid, while it would be 2k in-state.</p>
<p>It really depends on what you are looking for in a college. Vanderbilt is in Nashville, and your grades are pretty good. You could make that your stretch. UT has a ton of schools, its flagship being Knoxville. Both UT-Knoxville and Vanderbilt will give you the SEC/big-college experience, while the UT satellites will be smaller. If you are looking to stay close, I would start with those. If you are not looking to stay close, your possibilities are endless.</p>
<p>Have you checked the Tennessee public schools’ net price calculators?</p>
<p>If you can get a 32 on the ACT, you should be able to get an automatic full ride at Louisiana Tech. Prairie View A&M should also offer you an automatic full ride with your current stats.</p>
<p>Of course, you can certainly try for non-automatic large merit scholarships at other schools. But find your safeties first.</p>
<p>I will likely stay relatively close, so I will search for schools in the surrounding states of TN with automatic scholarships as my safeties. Money is the issue, so I will likely not apply to any reaches. I will likely just want a low match with good academics that offers me good money for my stats. (I tend to use likely a lot, as to not restrict my options)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Some reaches can still be applied to, if their need-based financial aid would make them affordable if you are admitted (check their net price calculators). Other schools with non-automatic merit scholarships may also be reaches, if the large-enough scholarship is a reach (even if the school is a match or safety for admission).</p>
<p>From what I’ve observed, the thing with reaches or non-automatic scholarships is that you have to be unique, or have some kind of hook. I do not have much besides my stats.</p>
<p>Go to the College Board’s website and use the EFC calculator for both formulas for financial aid, the IM for Institutional Methodology and the FM for Federal Methodology. Use your parents’ and your 2012 Tax returns.
Keep hitting save so you can refer back to it. You need to know what your Expected Family Contribution will be. It will give you a good idea of what you may be up against financially.</p>
<p>It is fine to say you need institutional grants, loans etc, but the colleges determine your need, you don’t.</p>
<p>The Net Price Calculators on school’s website do not often project a precise or accurate scenario of what financial aid you might receive. This is especially true if parents are divorced, were never married or maybe one parent is self-employed or owns his own company.</p>