Conflicted student with a confusing transcript + limited college options

balochi
Mon, 16 May 2016 19:10:51 +0000

I’m a junior but I should be a sophomore. Currently, my plans are graduating an entire year early (next year is my last). Next year, most of my classes (all but two) are through dual enrollment. I’ll apply to colleges second semester of next year. I believe myself to be mature enough for college, I would be 18 shortly into freshman year of college so it’s more of catching up than getting ahead.

I’ve exhausted most course options at my school, and the only courses left do not interest me at all, I’ve told my counselor this but she still pushes me to take AP sciences to complete my schedule. I used to have a STEM passion, but my interests have shifted. Next year is the first year I’m open to DE, which I’m really glad for, because I can take writing and history classes of my choice. I’ve finished all of my required classes for graduation except for English and history, which I enjoy anyways. But even with the DE selection, I will have worn it out if I stayed an extra year (senior year).

Prior to freshman year and during freshman year, I finished all of my maths up to Precalculus at the honors level. This year I did not take math, my only options are AP Calculus (which I am not interested in) and AP Statistics. I didn’t take math this year and my counselor said I need to take it once more or no college will accept me, so I’m opting for Statistics DE. One semester is a lot more convenient for me than two, since I’m trying to get credits. In freshman year I took AP Physics and finished my other two sciences at the honors level this year. I’m caught up on English at the honors level, History also, but I’m missing a few for graduation. I have a decent number of electives (more than required), I’m in two languages currently.

To graduate I need:
Two English Classes
One History Class
Any other classes of my choice to reach the amount of req’d credits for graduation

I average at about a 90 (B+ to A) for most of my classes at the honors level. I really feel that my school is limited, I have taken a decent amount of courses online to suit my needs which I really find dull and disappointing. I’m studying for my ACT, I’ve been scoring around 28s on practice tests, but I will study this summer and give the exam.

Currently I am enrolled in:
French II
Arabic I online (I took an online class as an alternative to Apparel or Microsoft Word, but I enjoy learning langauges)
Home Economics (not my choice, I had no other available options)
Creative Writing

ECs: I’m in Operation Smile, I was in the Math Honors Society but I couldn’t attend fundraisers (lack of transportation, can’t stay after school) and I didn’t have enough points to stay in the club so I got removed. I’m trying to get a job this summer and next year–if I can arrange a ride–to save for some important things (like a laptop for college). In my free time, I really like reading books (non-fiction, autobiographies) and writing about and researching global affairs and engaging in activism, but online. I’ve written a lot of pieces on conflicts in my home country (particularly an insurgency movement I find very interesting, and human rights in the Global South in general). I’ve reached out to journalists and activists for interviews, and I’ve done a lot of campaigning on social media. I feel like my complete absence of ECs is very detrimental to my applications.

I find politics very interesting, English as well, which is apparent in my transcript.
I’ll have taken
Honors English I
Honors English II
Honors English III (first semester)
Honors English IV (second semester)
Creative Writing
Journalism (this summer)
Writing & Inquiry (DE)
Writing & Research (DE)
American Lit I (DE)
by the time I graduate.
I’m actually ready for my last two English classes, we work on our graduation project and do a big research paper and make a product and presentation which I secretly enjoy NGL.

I really like researching the politics and issues of the ME/SA, foreign policy, and the history and cultures of the ME/SA. Currently, for example, I’m reading a book on communism in Afghanistan and the Saur revolution, and a book on the history and effects of British imperialism on India. I hope to study Political Science, International Affairs, or Journalism/English in college. I love learning about languages, especially Indo-European languages and their similarities, and I really want to go to a college where I can take courses for the languages I would be interested in learning.

I’m almost guaranteed admission to a nearby university that my siblings attend, I’m fine with going but I can’t dorm which is an issue. I’d have to get a ride everyday to class with my sisters, which is hard because they have their own schedules and work, so I have to work around their schedules and it’s very difficult. I don’t have my license and won’t have it anytime soon due to financial reasons. I’m not sure if I can dorm because my mom says that it’s too costly and financial aid doesn’t cover housing. My family makes about <$30,000, my sisters are in university, and there are 6 of us. They don’t pay any money for college and receive grants for books. So can financial aid cover housing? My mother is trying her best to send me to take classes at the community college next year so I can get credits (the nearby university will accept them), and she changed her work schedule so she can pick and drop me. I’ve picked all of my classes MTW, but on Thursday and Friday I won’t have a ride to English class at the high school, so I will have to take the bus and stay from 8 to 12 PM, take my class and then wait from 1:30 PM - dismissal twice a week in the school being unoccupied. It’s tiresome, but maybe I can find something to do that would equate to an EC.

My ideal college: top 200, urban, diverse, good political science program, really awesome library, good at meeting student’s needs fully, and a liberal atmosphere (leaning towards the left spectrum of politics)

I very much appreciate you if you took the time to read this, I am kind of lost about college and I don’t think where I am set to go meets my needs. And my parents just want me to have a good career, they aren’t too concerned with what field I choose and the classes I pick. If it helps, I am an NC resident. If you are willing to help me, I am willing to answer your questions.

My questions follow:

Can aid cover housing?
Is graduating early negative to admissions?
At schools with an International Affairs/Studies major, I heard you have to study abroad as part of your major. Is this true for most colleges, and could I evade this? (for financial reasons)
How can I demonstrate my interests through ECs?
What do you think would be a suitable college for me?

I also have no idea about scholarships, where to start, or which I would be eligible for.