<p>From the description in #34, it appears that the branch campuses in PA fulfill the transfer-preparation function of community colleges in other states like CA (which also have the associates and vocational certificate programs under the same roof). CA in particular has a well developed community college system, and the state universities are intended to be 60% upper division and 40% lower division for undergraduate enrollment, with the “extra” upper division students coming as transfers from community colleges.</p>
<p>The ACT is often better for students who work fast. But you can improve your score on either test by doing timed practice tests at home. They are long (ACT longer) tests and you can improve your score by knowing how to pace yourself and keep concentrating.</p>
<p>I would take Seattle U off of your list - their financial aid has not been even marginally good recently.</p>
<p>I want to give you two small pieces of data to consider. </p>
<p>First, a friend of ours graduated from a well-respected 4 year private U. She decided to change majors and took some classes at the local CC. She was amazed at how much better the $300 CC classes were than her $5000 4-year classes. She loved her time at her 4 year U but felt the academics were a huge waste of money.</p>
<p>Second, I know a boy who recently graduated with a 4.0 from Cornell Engineering. His HS grades were about the same as yours, not good enough for top schools, but he decided to work really hard at his CC, got a 4.0 there, and transferred with some nice aid into Cornell. For a kid who maybe didn’t have all the tools coming out of HS, a couple of years at a CC to mature and develop resulted in one of the most prestigious BS degrees in the nation. </p>
<p>My sister and one of my nieces did the more traditional local CC to local state U route. For them, it was the right (and most affordable) path.</p>
<p>Thank you, Magentron! the second part of your was really encouraging. I like the idea that I can basically start over in CC and if I get very good grades like a 4.0, I can qualify to go to better schools that’s on my list and get good financial aid for it.
I have a question though, did the boy get his associates degree and then transfer?</p>
<p>I have no to ill feelings at going to a CC and I will not be upset if I had to go. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>I just want to point out that what most of you describe ( first two years at cc followed by two years at state college
) is typically accomplished via the branch campus system in PA. While the advice is good generally speaking OP should try and apply to the branch campus near his home .
For those outside Pa : there are lots of branch campuses all over the state where students whose grades were not good enough for the flagships go . They attend for two years and if they have a 3.0 -or more for impacted majors such as business - they are guaranteed admission to the flagship. If they don’t meet the conditions they get. an Associate degree and/or can stay for a BS on a few campuses that have expanded and go a few majors of interest to the local economy. Branch campuses offer smaller classes and are small, being. purposely located within driving distance of most communities.
Within the context of PA what most posters are advising is that you attend a branch campus. </p>
<p>I second the recommendation that you devote serious time to the Act. Study with a good book - cracking the act for example but check out your township’s library if you’d rather not buy one. - register for question of the day. Based on what we know this is an investment you will not regret.</p>
<p>Are you a URM? If so, then maybe some schools that give good aid would really want you to help with diversity numbers.</p>
<p>But, I agree that you need to study for the ACT and SAT and retake.</p>
<p>To have a shot at ‘main campus’ you need to bring that GPA to 3.5 or3.6 and get to that 25 on the Act - more doable than 1750 sat which is your other choice.<br>
With that current Gpa you’re at the top of the applicant pool for branch campuses though.
Work on that test 
it’ll make a difference in how much you get in scholarships and don’t neglect the private colleges if you can increase that score.</p>
<p>I suggest that you check with your local community college to find out which CC credits will transfer to Penn State main campus or private schools. If you can transfer after 2 years and most credits transfer, it will make more sense to go to CC than one of the Penn State branch campuses, as even the branch campuses are much more expensive than CC, and PA is notoriously poor with financial aid for its state and state-related schools. As a parent of teenagers and fellow PA resident, with an EFC of 0 and kids with decent but not great stats, I’m also trying to figure out the most affordable strategies for getting a good college education.</p>
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<p>Yes, 2 year pre-engineering AAS.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids, I am black and I’m also hearing impaired.
But I would feel guilty if a college offered me more financial aid just because I’m black.</p>
<p>Myos1634, are private colleges usually better price-wise?</p>
<p>Kidzandcatz, I thought small branch colleges like Penn State Beaver and CC’s were similar in terms of price?</p>
<p>Public colleges and private colleges have somewhat different goals. for example public colleges want a large number of in state students whereas private colleges want a large diversity of students ie who represent different cultures, areas of the country, socio- economic backgrounds so that discussions can offer diverse perspectives - can you imagine how boring a discussion would be if everyone had the same background to shed light on the issue? So if you bring different things than their average applicant they’ll value that and if you have the stats they’ll provide a good financial age package to make sure you attend. Not all private schools do though but the ones I named do. Sometimes for a low income applicant a private college can actually cost less than a public college. Case in point - a kid who’s currently attending Hendrix-very good private college - for less than the cost of Slippery Rock.
But to qualify you need to improve those scores to 25 or 1500 at least.</p>
<p>And of course you need to get a waiver from your counselor and apply to a variety of colleges .</p>
<p>You won’t get better FA for being an URM but it may help in your admission.</p>
<p>Penn State Beaver (for PA residents): $12,568
CC of Beaver County (for Beaver County residents): $4,380</p>
<p>This is for tuition for 30 credits (1 year) for 2013-14. For the CC, it includes fees. I’m not sure if there are additional fees for Penn State.</p>
<p>I’ll agree with the others that you will do best financially by studying for the SAT/ACT and retaking.</p>
<p>A private college many of our local students like is York College of PA - take a look at them and see if they offer what you’d like. You’d have loans, but basic loans - not 120K plus (based on packages others have received). If your stats come up, take a look at Franklin & Marshall. If they don’t come up, that’s not a likely school for you.</p>
<p>One thing to consider if your stats don’t come up… even if you were to get into a school with majorly higher stats, the other students there will be a bit more prepared foundationally than you are - making it difficult for you to succeed like you would want to. At a cc, branch campus, or true state school, you’d fit in knowledge/stats-wise and classes would be more tailored to you. I’ve seen plenty of students make it in to a “reach” school and end up dropping out due to being discouraged. Those who opt for a school more in line with their stats often do well.</p>
<p>You can succeed in life from any college - personal skills/drive and tact count more for that. The degree is a piece of paper showing you know the basics about your major. Sometimes that is used in a job and sometimes they just want the degree. Higher level schools DO (generally) go into more depth, especially in their freshman classes, but that additional info is not always needed for actual jobs, so you don’t always “lose out.” Instead, you’re more likely to win by picking a school where you’re likely to succeed.</p>
<p>When picking schools look at their graduation rates. This is especially important for low- income students since they tend to do better at high graduation colleges all things being equal - ie. for the same basic stats two students could have different outcomes based on where you study. Low income students are one exception to ‘it does not matter what undergrad school you attend’ because the top schools provide the network less selective schools can’t replacing family help many middle class students take for granted.</p>
<p>OP, definitely take a look at York college like creek said. I graduated from there and the business program is very very good. Great job placement rates and they have all new business facilities that were just built. </p>
<p>Penn state costs about the same, has giant classes, and unless you got your grades and test scores up you would have to start at a satellite campus… Which costs about three or four times more then a CC.</p>
<p>You don’t wasn’t such large debt. Our intern at work borrowed 40k and his payments are about 400 a month. The more the figure, the more the interest. Borrowing 120k is probably about 1600 a month to pay back (calculated in my head as an estimate)</p>