<p>FYI, I found this interesting: [Bowdoin</a> Says No Need for SAT While Buying College Board Scores - Bloomberg](<a href=“Bloomberg - Are you a robot?”>Bloomberg - Are you a robot?)</p>
<p>EC- As was mentioned before, test anxiety is real and neccessitates a cure (test taking strategies, learning Coping techniques, etc.). I’m also of the opinion that your scores would have gone up. Though if you a feel carefree attitude is more to blame here, that’s all the more reason to really study and give the SAT one more go. It’s all up to you and please know that I’m only trying to help.</p>
<p>As for different reaches that are more affordable? Im not too familiar with LACs and I’m sure the lovely posters here can give more suggestions. However I was thinking maybe UGA? I know you’re not super thrilled about it and they do require test scores but it would certainly be more affordable! </p>
<p>I do think you’ve compiled a pretty good list though, I just don’t see how SLC/Pitzer would be financially doable. Congrats on your acceptance to LR btw!</p>
<p>wearypenguin,</p>
<p>IMO, retaking the SAT is not advisable for the O-P. Without significant change in study habits/test prep, it is not likely to produce a result that will make a difference. IMO better to focus on applications and senior grades. Unfortunately, the standardized test scores/grades make UGA out of reach. The OP has some instate safeties on his list.</p>
<p>Last semester, I really procrastinated way too much and I never understood physics at all. I really liked APUSH, but not the teacher. I really should have studied a lot more for the SAT. I really needed a tutor to help study for it. Although, the tutors we looked at costed way too much. I agree with Jym. At this point, I have to deal with my SAT scores. The schools on my list are mostly SAT Optional, so I hope my scores don’t hurt me too much.</p>
<p>I have always scored average on standardized tests growing up. I’ve always had to work harder then the gifted kids. My mother was the same way. Although, on my state graduation tests I scored above average on everything except science. I’m very happy I got a 4 though on my APUSH exam. Wittenberg was on my list, but I discovered it was too conservative. I have read Fairtest multiple times as well. I really love Sarah Lawrence, Knox, Hobart, and Wheaton. I am a bit worried about applying to Clark, Ohio Wesleyan, and the College of Wooster due to them not being SAT Optional. I will already get 10k a year from Hiram. Alfred was a good choice $$$, but I really didn’t get that feeling that I would like it. </p>
<p>I am having a very hard time narrowing down my list. I pretty much liked most of the CTCL schools. Allegheny was another school I liked. I liked Goucher & Muhlenberg, but I didn’t think they would be affordable because I couldn’t get any merit scholarships if I didn’t submit SAT Scores. I think a lot of the schools are too rural, but really food fits nonetheless. Besides Pitzer and Sarah Lawrence, any other schools you suggest I get rid of? I really wanted to apply to more schools in California, but haven’t found that many great fits. I also read the article Jym which was quite interesting. I couldn’t get into UGA I’m afraid and even if I could it would be a terrible fit. UGA is basically the opposite from most the schools on my list.</p>
<p>I really don’t understand much about financial aid and I need to learn more about it. I won’t go out of state if I have to be in debt for the rest of my life. I don’t think any school is worth it. Also, I appreciate everyone helping me out with this process. Many of you (including Jym) have been giving me advice since freshman year. I’m so glad I didn’t apply to Simon’s Rock LOL.</p>
<p>Interestingly, my daughter is also looking at some CA schools. Whittier has a beautiful campus and is situated a in a cool little town. Hip shops, coffee and antiques (my daughter loves the immediate area around the college). However, just barely outside of the town/campus and you are in a pretty rough area. Whittier sits backed up to the San Gabriel Mountains. It’s just a very nice little college. Again, we are specifically looking at art scholarships and it offers a potential 12K, but there are others so check out their site. I don’t know about test optional or not, but you may actually be within range test wise (the avg. gpa is 3.1). </p>
<p>Other schools you may like in CA are Humboldt State (I think this is test optional), and Sonoma State. Humboldt is about 30K per year OOS. I can’t remember what Sonoma costs OOS, but seem to remember it being close. Pitzer would of course be a great option if they offer you enough, but it’s getting so competitive now (avg. incoming gpa jumped from about 3.4-3.8 in only a couple years). Did you take ACT yet? Again, apologize for repeat questions, but this thread has become so long that I really don’t have time to go back and see if you have, sorry for the repeat in other words!</p>
<p>OP, please look at Earlham College! Yes, it’s kind of in the middle of no where, but it’s highly respected, and it has the climate you are looking for in a college (just basing on your list), avg. accepted GPA is 3.5. They do have a “test optional” policy:</p>
<p>[Apply</a> | Earlham College](<a href=“http://www.earlham.edu/admissions/apply]Apply”>How to apply : Earlham College)</p>
<p>Visit days are next week and also on Aug. 3 (my daughter and I are attending!). I just have a feeling that you will love Earlham. It’s her first choice school :). They have their own calculator you can use to see what kind of FA package you may be offered. They take the entire application into consideration in a holistic approach. I just have a hunch…</p>
<p>Whittier’s deadline for the best scholarships is Oct. 15. Friends’ daughter got in with ACT scores under 20; I think she only took it once. Merit scholarship was $18/19K or so. However, she has a documented LD and got straight As in HS (not the most challenging courses) through grit and extremely hard work, and the school rates <em>character</em> as extremely important. Another friend’s daughter was also accepted with a similar merit scholarship; her mom describes her as a <em>B</em> student. I know she only took two years of science, math only thru trig and not calculus, and no APs other than psychology. Students and faculty were friendly. At the one class DD sat in on, she felt the students were less engaged than in the classes she visited at other LACs. (They were texting and the like.)</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the cost of living in California is very high, including room, board, and gasoline. Thus, financial aid + merit $ will have to be a lot higher to net out below schools in the South and Midwest where you don’t have to pay $15K+ for R&B and $4/gallon for gas.</p>
<p>I always wanted to go to California because I act. I always wanted to audition for films/tv shows while I’m in college. I have an agent, but the market is really slow these days. I also am interested in becoming a talent agent/casting director, so LA is the best place for internships. However, I also realized that if I do book a job I will have to miss classes. Pitzer is probably too far to audition and freshman can’t have cars. I think Southern California is very materialistic, so I don’t think I would fit in. I really want to get in the entertainment business though. </p>
<p>To refresh everyone’s memory, I scored a 1420 on the SAT and an 18 on the ACT. I actually did the best in science on the ACT. I will have taken 5 AP Classes by the time I graduate and around 12 Honors classes. The only CP class I have taken is math; however, I took honors math freshman year but got two D’s. I will have taken 4 years of math, science, social studies, language arts, and drama. I will have three years of French. My cumulative GPA is a 3.398. I had a 3.4, but it went down this semester. I do have an upward trend until junior year (went down a little), but I got an academic letter for my sophomore year. I had an A average both semesters. The only bad grades on my transcript are the two D’s in honors math freshman year and I got a C+ in Honors Physics junior year. </p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion of Earlham. I’ve heard of it, but never knew they were SAT Optional for some reason. I looked at Guilford in NC (also Quaker), but they had too many nonresidential adults taking classes. I can’t go to any schools visit days because I’m in France. I will be back in Georgia in about a week and I only have 10 days before school starts. Is Earlham hippy? I’m not hippy or preppy. I also looked at URedlands, but I don’t know if I fit into the Cali atmosphere.</p>
<p>Okay, this all helps paint the full picture. Earlham is not hippie. It has some hippies, but it has that all inclusive friendly atomosphere. The theatre dept. is actually excellent. Do submit a theatre supplement if you apply. </p>
<p>If you really want to head to CA, then Whittier may be your best bet. Here’s the link to their talent scholarship for theatre (also 12K!). It’s only a 30 minute drive to downtown LA, and there is also a Metro station (don’t know what they call it in LA) right near the campus that heads to downtown LA. And it’s a liberal climate school, but definitely not hippie or preppy. Just a good mix of students of all types and they are very friendly too. CCObsessed gives some great points. I really think you have a good chance of getting accepted to Whittier College.</p>
<p>[Talent</a> Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.whittier.edu/AdmissionAndAid/Scholarships/TalentScholarships.aspx]Talent”>http://www.whittier.edu/AdmissionAndAid/Scholarships/TalentScholarships.aspx)</p>
<p>I am very grateful for all your suggestions, but I have to cut down my list as well. Can you describe the differences between Whittier, URedlands, and Pitzer? What makes each school unique and different? I will also take a closer look at Earlham. My school is obsessed with football. Everything revolves around football! I’ve had a swim meet canceled because we were in the state semi-finals. You can’t even have a drama performance if there is a football game. Our principal is willing to cut spending money for fine arts and give it to the football team. I really do not want to go to a college like this. That’s why even if I could get into UGA, I would never go. I have been acting since 6, but I’ve gotten more into film acting then theater. I really like film acting better. It feels more natural. However, I may consider minoring or double majoring in drama in college depending on where I go. I’m also interested in print journalism, anthropology, holocaust studies, and law. I really like social studies/language arts, but not science and math. I like the non math sciences; however, I did get an A in Honors Chem due to a great teacher. I’m sorry for repeating all of this, but I wanted to fill in the newbies to this thread. </p>
<p>I am really having trouble with cutting down schools. I have 15 schools on my list and I’m still considering adding Whittier and Earlham. I always thought I’d apply to around 12 schools or so, but who knows I may get sick applying to so many schools. Can anyone tell me unique differences between the schools? At this point it gets very hard to differentiate schools. A lot of the CLCL’s are very similar.</p>
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<p>Yea, I agree. I only meant the OP should put in the time if he were to be really devoted to studying hard. I get the impression that he could have prepared better.</p>
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<p>If you were to attend VSU, do you intend to transfer to UGA after two years still? I saw you make a few comments to that effect and that’s why I suggested you apply to UGA right off the bat. My reasoning: it’s a reach, yea, but it would be affordable/why not? It’s an easy application. </p>
<p>I think maybe you should take another look at Guilford (apparently they give pretty good aid, your stats aren’t far off from their averages, etc.) and that Whittier is a great choice for you too. Sorry for throwing more schools out there when you’re trying to narrow the options. What is your current list?</p>
<p>If you can find the Kaplan SAT software use that. My daughter came within 10-20 points of her at home tests…</p>
<p>Honestly, I think at this point I should be focusing on senior grades and applications. I don’t think I can spend enough time to actually make a difference with my SAT Scores. If I went to VSU, I would probably want to transfer to UGA. If I went to GCSU, I wouldn’t transfer. Valdosta is really a last resort school though. I understand what you are saying about UGA though. It makes perfect chance, but their admission process is different from other small liberal arts schools. I think it is fine to have reaches with liberal arts colleges, but state schools will probably go more with the numbers. I know UGA looks at everything as well, but my SAT Scores/GPA won’t get me in. It really doesn’t matter what instate safety I would attend. If I would attend West GA or Armstrong, I’d still want to transfer to UGA. My current list is on post 231.</p>
<p>I have one quick question. I already got accepted to Lenior-Rhyne, but didn’t recieve any info about scholarships and finanical aid. I know I apply for FASFA in January, but when do I get the info from the school? I put my stats/SAT scores/income on LR’s website before I applied and it said I should get around $4,000 a year. I am really confused about the finanical aid aspect. Financial aid is going to be the most important factor in determing what college I will be attending. I know it is still very early, but I am just wondering. I got my acceptance letter a week and a half ago. Should I just email LR and ask? Thanks. </p>
<p>And also once I start getting acceptances to colleges. Does your finanical aid come with your acceptance letter usually? Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>I am no expert on FA. You might post a question on the FA forum</p>
<p>You should ask LR but usually even when a school does rolling admissions, they still wait until March/April to do financial aid offers. They won’t give you anything official until after you submit the FAFSA at the very least.</p>
<p>Thanks mathmomvt! I emailed LR and asked them the question. So, even if I apply to schools early action I still won’t know my finanical aid offer until March/April? Do schools tend to give you scholarship offers when they give you their financial aid offer? I was thinking I may go to one of the early action schools because it would help my stress. But if early action schools don’t tell me my finanical aid until March then it wouldn’t make a difference. I can’t accept an acceptance without knowing my finanical aid. If you guys don’t know much on the subject, I will start a thread in the finanical aid forum. I have researched a lot of colleges, but my knowledge on finanical aid isn’t that good.</p>
<p>Most schools offer merit scholarships around the same time they send out an offer of acceptance – often a week or two later. Any additional need-based aid is offered later. I know that many ED (but not generally EA) schools will give you an “estimate” of financial aid around the time they send their acceptance, but it’s not official until much later in April or May. If you’re lucky you’ll at least get a good scholarship offer from one EA or rolling admission school, which you can then designate as a financial safety, even if you don’t decide for sure until you see all your other competing offers in the spring. That’s what my S ended up doing.</p>
<p>ETA: some schools that offer competitive merit scholarships may also not inform you until spring.</p>
<p>Thanks. I was just wondering because when I did the online finanical offer on their website, it said I was suppose to get a couple thousand dollars in scholarships. Even though it isn’t a huge amount, I didn’t get any info about scholarships in the acceptance. It may be different with rolling admission schools. Flagler and U Minn-Morris were finanical safeties, but I took them off because they weren’t great fits overall. I hope I do not regret it. Valdosta is my true finanical/academic safety right now. LR can be affordable depending on the finanical aid they give me. I have a feeling Hiram College will be affordable with the $10,000 and with the rest of finanical aid. I will prob end up doing what your son did.</p>
<p>Are you sure the estimator was referring to merit-based scholarships, versus need-based grants? In any case, what is “generally” done doesn’t make much difference – obviously you need to contact the individual schools in question (or carefully read their financial aid pages) and find out what they do.</p>