Hi, I am an early graduate with a 3.97 GPA (one 89 in eighth grade that stuck to my transcript ruined the 4.0 lol) and an sat score of 1530. I am currently 16 years old and will be 17 in college. I am wondering what I look like to colleges, and how I could potentially improve my chances to be accepted into a really strong college while also receiving enough aid and scholarships to be financially comfortable when I grow older. (I want to major in psych and neuroscience, maybe minor in some form of writing.) I will have taken only 9 AP tests by the time I graduate, but maybe it’s fine because I had three years of highschool and independent studied 3. I am involved in numerous clubs, president of philosophy and UIL debate, extempt speaking and LD debate district champion, part of two international organizations, and member of the chess team where I go to tournaments (big deal to my school since I’m the only girl on the team.) I volunteer at a nonprofit that helps teachers with supplies, but thats about it. Other than the 15+ extracurriculars I do at school, and the volunteering, there isn’t much about me. Although the amount of extracurriculars seem a lot, I really really do enjoy them and they made school memorable for me. But most of these extracurriculars are just standard clubs and I am member of them, besides the two organizations and theatre (part of my life for 7 years.) How can I, with the small amount of time left before Jan 1 deadlines, improve how I look to colleges? Academically, I worry, as I only took one semester credit more than the required minimum to graduate. I want to show colleges that I am not just trying to leave school and have no drive, but that I truly want to expand my education, and I am actually graduating early due to family issues and a really difficult home life. One more thing, I am really good at writing. It is my passion and something I think I can go really far with. Is there any way to utilize this skill for colleges? Also, I might, depending on how collaboration over a research paper goes, get a letter of recommendation from a former dean of student life at multiple ivy’s, so that may strengthen my profile. Honestly, my goals are pretty high, like Pomona, NYU, or Cornell, something like that. I have this huge drive and passion for life and I just want to prove it to the colleges. I am auto accepted to UT Austin, but the cost of attendance scares me. Sorry for this long rant, but if you made it this far, suggestions? And thank you!
also to prove how my ecs are kinda mediocre:
pres of philosophy club
pres of uil debate club
former treasurer/member of book club
member of stuco
member of Interact (Rotary)
inducted member of International Thespians Society
Chess team/chess club member
UIL Extempt speaking representative of my school
poetry/prose UIL representative of my school
theatre class/UIL one act theatre member
cast/crew member of all productions every year in theatre
meditation club member (i know how bad this looks hah)
NHS volunteer
Other things that kinda don’t involve school but are ecs:
gymnast/contortionist for 8 years ( one year in school beginner though, no varsity or anything, outside gymnasium closed so haven’t been there in a while but practice on my own)
musician (play guitar and piano)
…i write novel length fan fiction to 10k viewers… is this considered an ec loll
crochet and sew/alter clothes
speak russian
own depop store where I sell clothing
sorry for the extended detail but may help you understand what my profile looks like i guess
So you live in Texas. Why does the cost of UT Austin scare you ?
Have you run the net price calculator of schools like Pomona, etc that you mentioned.
Your ECs are not mediocre. You want involvement in tenure in a few.
Your age may or may not impact you.
Self studying APs is unnecessary.
9 is plenty.
You have a good profile but these are high reach schools.
Check the NPCs. What if they cost more than UT ?
Why not Rice ?
You have to prove your passion through essays and LORs but guess what - they see a zillion passionate people. You are not special in that regard.
Good luck.
There’s really nothing else you can do before January 1. Your record is your record - and it’s a very good one! The only remaining thing for you to do is to polish your personal statement and any supplementals. Since you enjoy writing, this should not be too hard for you.
Of course! Writing is one of the most fundamental skills and being a strong writer will help you tremendously in your classes.
So this is important: what can you afford? You mention some family issues…Will your parents be willing to pay for your college and, if so, how much can they afford? If not, how are you planning to pay for college? Will your family be eligible for need-based aid? Have you run the net price calculators for the schools you are applying to?
Thank you for your advice.
Thank you for your advice. I have looked at net price calculators, I just am hoping for full tuition from one of the schools I apply to if I get accepted, and perhaps I can see from there.
The issue isn’t so much being accepted into a really strong college. The issue would be how you would pay for that?
If you mean strong college, like one of the ivies, they are really competitive. Having three years of school might detract your application when most exceptional applicants will have four.
Having a major like psychology and neuroscience typically requires grad school. You get to pay for that on your own. Scholarships in those areas are typically competitive and limited.
As for being financially comfortable in the future, no one knows that. How could they know?
There are some schools that won’t allow you to sign college forms because you’re not an adult. Some things are legally binding at the age of 18, like housing forms. It depends on the schools.
All you can do is submit your application and hope that your parents help you with the financial aid forms. You need their help to fill out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid) to apply for funding.
Cornell has no merit aid. So you can’t get full tuition or any money unless you have need.
Your stats will get you near full tuition at schools like Alabama, which is a UT sub.
But you won’t get at NYU, BU, and certainly not Cornell unless you have need.
I think I disagree with almost everything written here, in the nicest possible way 
UT Austin may have a net cost that is too high and also no financial aid?
The ECs are fine, but you are competing with people who also have them, in general. What makes the picture “mediocre” is that you don’t have demonstrated focus/specialty, unless you can point to some of the chess, or the theater, as an activity where you have gotten more and more advanced and skilled, and been recognized with official roles, awards, etc.
Your age will impact you, because colleges will see young Russian girl who wants to leave home and may lack the social skills of kids two years older.
Self-studying for APs is great, and will demonstrate intellectual ability and maturity more than following the general curriculum. Nine APs is good, but as you note, most of your competition will have at least that many, particularly in Texas where they are emphasized. You’re at a disadvantage with only 3/4 the time to complete those courses.
Most of the advice on CC, including in this thread, is for standard kids who have a normal home life and are honing average/bright profiles to aim at selective schools. I caught from your original post that you are in a complicated home life and you’re perhaps hoping that you’ll get an escape via your academic ability, to go off to college.
I think that this is possible, but it will have to be a public university because you just don’t have as many years (and therefore as much to show) as older kids, in aiming at the fancy schools. If you looked at UT Austin or similar flagships, and went to the Honors college there, it could be what you’re looking for.
I think you should speak your truth in your essays, including about your challenges (but make sure you sound mature and thoughtful, not rebellious).
I’m not sure I understand the budget- OP, can you clarify? Without actual numbers it’s hard to advise you.
Sure, you’d like full tuition. Wouldn’t we all. But you need a budget- how much your family is prepared to pay every year, and then compare that to the numbers that the net price calculators spit out.
You sound terrific. I think there are challenges with early graduation-- not just that you have “less of everything” compared to someone graduating after four years, but that you may or may not have the life skills to live alone, do laundry, self-advocate, maintain a schedule without any family help, etc. But I’m sure you’ve anticipated this.
Let us know the actual dollar figures you are working with…
We don’t know the aid - just because someone wants a full tuition scholarship doesn’t make it appear. And OP wrote the COA scares them. I’m saying - do you know the cost…if they have money for them, great.
And others may - but it may be need dependent.
So if you have no need or little need and want a full ride to Pomona or Cornell, by rule it can’t happen - unless your need matches it.
APs depend upon how many are offered. If you took 9 of 11, it’s different than 9 of 30.
Self studying shows little…because it can’t be reflected in a grade. I’ll disagree with you here.
But it’s fine to disagree - so that OP can get a variety of opinions.
You are in state for Texas but the cost to attend scares you? Why?
Just a small request. And I mean this in a kind way so you can get good help…Could you please use the chance me template from this site. That way, your lack of paragraphs won’t be an obstacle to reading your information.
You have a very strong HS record and will be an appealing candidate at many schools. That being said, reach schools are reaches for any unhooked applicants so you cannot count on acceptance. It is important to have a good mix of target and likely schools as well as reaches. As you are an auto admit to UT Austin (an excellent school) that is one in the bag, which is great. I’m a little concerned about cost, however. Do you have a budget for college? Will you qualify for need-based aid (the only kind available at many of the most selective schools)?
Hi! My family of four makes just over 100k as annual income, which means I missed the mark for full tuition for UT this 2025 fall semester. Of course, I am content with my family income, but my mother told me she refuses to help me with college, and I am not allowed to get a job, so I have nothing to back me up if I do not get scholarships.
So what is your budget?
Is it nothing - then stay home and go to community college or check the full ride option at Prarie View.
College, in most cases, no matter how brilliant and driven you are, is not free.
When your family makes $100K, in most cases, you need to pay. You could check a Rice or Princeton net price calculator - but you or your parents don’t get to say what a college will charge you.
Can you spend any money?
$10K a year?
$20K a year?
UT Austin can be mid $20s to $28K direct billed in state.
You can cut $10K off the high end of that by looking at schools like Bama, Ms State - which are basically UT subs (big flagships) or look at other in state schools.
Closer to home, with merit, La Tech might be in the $20K range - for tuition, room and board - so there are cheaper options than UT. Ole Miss in the, I think $15K range - if I’m reading the COA minus merit properly.
For 95% of people - a flagship is a flagship - so UT or Ole Miss…both great.
Most important to you is affordability - you have to go somewhere you can afford.
My suggestion…don’t graduate early. If your high school offered dual credit college courses (at no or modest cost), take those. This could help you reduce the number of years to complete your undergrad college degree, and therefore the costs.
I understand you have a complicated home life…perhaps you can look beyond that.
Also, you need to check whether 17 year olds are allowed to live in the dorms. This is allowed at some colleges but not at others. Some places allow you to start as a 17 year old but you need to be 18 early in your freshman year. You need to see what’s up where you plan to apply…if you apply early.
In my opinion, you are a decently strong applicant…but you will be a stronger one after four years of high school.
I very much agree with this. My daughter got into Rice with 5 AP’s and 1 Dual Enrollment class. For her school that was a lot and you couldn’t really fit more in.
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