Syracuse is need aware and it’s highly unlikely that they would take someone with your stats - period - but especially with that amount of aid. That makes it triply hard.
You are just not that student they’d invest in.
Please look at schools I mentioned earlier - Southern Illiniois, Central Michigan, W Carolina - all have your major and all will be lower price - and I don’t think we yet know your budget.
Sorry - but this is the reality.
Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try - but you need an assured, affordable admit. I mentioned some others earlier to you should look at for you to look at- but not sure how much you’re able to pay.
These are: Alabama, Indiana (maybe), Kansas, Ohio U as mentioned and the other OU - Oklahoma. Missouri may work but not sure how competitive journalism is to get in. URI is another. Again, not sure we have the budget.
Hi everyone, thought I would provide an update as it has been a while. I was accepted into UCF and FIU for my first choice major and semester! (I also qualify for Bright Futures)
I also took everyones advice and applied to more “safety/match” schools, such as University of Iowa, UArizona, and UTampa.
I am very much keeping my options open while also thinking very realistically on my top schools, as you all remind me to be (Syracuse, Clemson, FSU,and UF). I think a lot of you think I believe I really have a chance at these schools, and am getting my hopes up,but in reality I know it is VERY slim that I get accepted into any of them. I applied knowing that I will most likely attend one of my safeties, and I am ok with that and love my safeties; I just thought I’d give some more difficult schools a long shot (you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,right?)
Speaking of Syracuse,. I am considering applying ED2 to improve my chances, even if it is just by a little. Thoughts? Thank you everyone for helping me so far, this has been a long process.
Congratulations on the admits and qualifying for Bright Futures!
With respect to ED2 at Syracuse, have you visited? Is the result the Net Price Calculator is providing affordable for your family? Is it your clear first-choice?
I see above that you were fine with the results of the Syracuse NPC. Applying ED2 might increase your chances there. However, their admissions rate for ED is really not that much higher that their admissions rate for RD. Most importantly, the majors you have chosen there are among the most selective, and they are need-aware. To put it bluntly, they’ll have their pick of applicants for these majors and they’ll probably prioritize people with higher stats and/or full-pay.
But if you don’t apply ED2, you can compare the financial aid offers from other schools and you might find something that is an even better fit for you. (And if you haven’t visited, don’t consider applying ED anywhere).
Thank you guys!! I’m going to answer all of your questions in this response rather than 3 separate posts. (also, found out today I was accepted into UofIowa, so more options!)
I haven’t visited Syracuse, but I am this month, before I have to submit the ED2 or RD application (so, if I absolutely hate it I can still apply RD lol). I ran the Net Price Calculator and it is affordable, much more so then we assumed actually. (since my father passed, I have been getting payments from his Social Security into basically a fund that my mom has been saving for college; it almost covers the first 2 years entirely with the cost that was on the NPC.)
It is my clear first-choice, I know that could change when I visit but I doubt it. I understand being a very need-based applicant as well as not ideal stats doesn’t give me the best odds (to put it nicely). I am still deciding if I should apply ED2, and I understand that financial needs are a big factor of that;however, on the chance that it would be similar to the NPC cost, it would be doable.
I have 6 siblings, and 4 of them went to out of state schools. My family has always been a “if its your dream, we’ll make it work” family rather than just choosing the safe option (I’m not saying I’m not considering UCF and FIU, just that my family is not going to “not allow” me to go out of state).
Also, I was born and raised up north until I was 13, so I am very accustomed to freezing temperatures and negatives (even more so than this unbearable Florida heat!) I know that is a big factor when considering Syracuse.
I would also talk with the financial aid office about the financial situation and whether the type of account your mom has been putting the Social Security funds in will impact their needs calculations, as usually the need-based aid is about 1-2 years behind when you’re actually in attendance.
Will you be visiting Syracuse while students are on-campus or during their winter break? If at all possible, I’d urge you to visit with students on campus, as it can be a very different feel otherwise.
Are these good for you - i.e. are you excited to attend?
So Journalism or Sport Management - what would you study at Charleston?
HPU has the major - can you afford it?
FIU has sports and recreation - does the curriculum meet your needs? UCF has a minor.
Agreed on Clemson; FSU was unlikely so don’t be upset.
SU will be a long shot - can you afford it?
You should have no stress - really. Because you have two in state (hopefully affordable schools) and now HPU (don’t know your budget). Plus Charleston which is a fine school and a fun basketball team - maybe you can work in the SID office? You should reach out!! See what kind of internships they have.
If you’re open geographically (it seems you are), three great schools for both majors would be Kanas, Mizzou, and Ohio U - and I think you’d be in at all three…frankly, as good if not better for your desires than the rest of your list (although your list is great and congrats on your good news).
I wish I liked Iowa and High Point more, because they have good programs for my major, but they just seem off to me. I don’t feel like I could see myself there, but I also haven’t done real tours there, just walked around the campus myself, so I’m not counting them out at all.
FIU is whatever, obviously I live in Miami so I would rather leave home. Not saying it’s not a good school/program. Same thing with UCF, it just doesn’t feel right.
I hope I get into Clemson regular decision. I know its unlikely, but I’m going to retake the SAT for a higher score. Either way, the deferral was better than I expected, so I’m happy.
I really like Charleston honestly. I feel like I could see myself there and I grew up in the Carolinas, plus visited charleston a ton as a kid, so its not a new place. My major there is communications-the only problem su they don’t have a sports specific program. I did some research last night and they have an athletics communications/media department, but I’m not sure if students are allowed to participate/help/work. I was planning on reaching out today!
I’ll definitely look into Kansas Mizzou and Ohio, thank you! Looking forward to more decisions.
Smart on reaching out. I bet - between Charleston and Citadel (nearby) that opportunities for students exist.
I’m surprised with the GPA you were deferred at Clemson. It’s very different than Charleston, of course - as are FIU and UCF. if you can afford Charleston, it’s a great opportunity for you then - and I’m sure, with determination and grit, you can get the sports experience. Check minor league sports too.
As far as FIU being close to home - you can manage that - having rules with the family - i.e. you don’t come home any more often than you would from Charleston…no dinners, etc…that it’s time to grow.
If you don’t like Iowa, then you might not KU, Mizzou, or Ohio U…all three are flagship types - with Ohio U in Appalachia. But all three are known for journalism and have sports programs.
I think if you really like Charleston (small campus, urban) and your family can and wants to afford it - sure you can look for more - but you don’t need to.
You might reach out to Lynn Walsh to discuss opportunities:
College Sports Communicators recently named Lynn Walsh , director of athletics communications and creative content at the College of Charleston, to its 30 Under 30 Class of 2022.
Clemson likes a high gpa/class rank. They just admitted some EA applicants, and as far as I can tell those accepted had a 3.6+ gpa and were in the top 10% of their class. They do defer a lot and accept a lot in RD.
In reality, if you really want to work in that field, you are better off with a regular Communications major+ either a Business or Technical/Production minor AND a lot of on campus+off campus experience (especially with D1 and pro teams including minor leagues), than with a “sports comm” major. So CoC Honors sounds perfect. Reaching out is a great idea.
Btw, did you apply to PSU by Nov 1 or Dec1?
Is it within budget? Psu pretty much doesn’t offer scholarships and is super expensive because it’s obly state-related (like the Cornell contract colleges )
+
(If you’re a junior with excellent media activities and GPA, you can apply to this ==> John Curley Center for Sports Journalism / Bellisario College of Communications)
Considering your GPA, even if you checked Summer, you’d probably be admitted to Altoona or Harrisburg for the 2+2 program (take gen eds and pre reqs on a branch campus without weedout courses then take specialized courses on the main campus). Their decision is 2/3 GPA&Rigor.
Also, I eventually decided to apply ED2 to Syracuse for sports management. I guess we’ll find out soon.
So far, really liking CofC, and obviously know I have to do more research on Penn state. still waiting for a couple more schools, but hoping for the best!
Congrats. Just to confirm you got Univ Park and not a branch.
Very different than C of C which is small and urban. Beautiful school and obviously great sports but maybe (check into it) more competition to get on campus opportunities.
I was accepted into University park! I made sure to triple check that because I wouldn’t be considering one of the branches. I like it, its just very very big student population and expensive (my 2 downsides)
And a pain to get to. It is VERY rural. When you have a huge school it becomes a city in itself with movies and starbucks and restaurants, but rural Penn is a pain to get to. My mother went to a football game there once (she lived outside Philly) and said she felt like she’d been kidnapped as it took hours to get to (in an RV) and even more hours to get home.
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