I’m so sorry about the long post but I thought that the more information would be better. I’m a rising senior and I’ve been preparing for college ever since I can remember but now that it’s almost here I’m confused as ever. I’m the first person in my family to go to college and it’s like I’m searching in the dark for answers. My family,although very supportive, doesn’t like to talk about college to me and ,although I understand,I’d still like an adults perspective. I’ve got pretty good grades a (weighted) 4.5 gpa and a 1440 (old) sat score. I’m waiting for the new sat scores to come and hopefully score higher (I don’t test well).I’ve been taking the hardest courses (all honors and two ap) possible at my school and next year I’ll do the same with added writing courses. I’m extremely involved with my school and I am in over ten clubs,and with leadership positions in each one, I have over a hundred volunteer hours and a part time job. This year I’ve been inducted into the national honor society as well. I think I’m in meh to okay shape but I just can’t pick colleges, a career or a major. I have a list of colleges I want to apply to but I’m not fond of them. I am also not sure of which schools (selectivity wise) should I apply to. I’m a writer and I write everything from plays to poetry to speeches. I enjoy writing to the point of obsession but I’m not sure if it’s good to do as a living. It’s important to me to have a firm,satisfying, career. I’m afraid that I’ll regret my choice either way because of the lack or money if I giving up my dreams as well. My parents say that I’ve worked too hard to throw away my shot but I’m still unsure. That being said I want to double major with Creative writing and another or at least have a minor in it. No matter what I still want writing to influence my choice. But now I’m unsure of where or what to do. I’m not interested in STEM because i hate math and science and I was thinking about being a lawyer but I have little passion for it. At times I think I’m being too picky but this feels like forever to me. At the end of the day I want to make the right choice but it’s all so confusing and I’m not sure what to do. Any advice or suggestions? If you have a college that you think I’d like please tell me! Again I’m so sorry that this is long but I have no clue what to do .
If you got this far thank you so much for reading! I really love and appreciate it! Xxx
First, don’t worry about your major. Most colleges admit you to their college as a whole, and big universities can admit you “undecided” to the College of Liberal Arts.
What state do you live in?
What’s your parents budget for your college?
Can you go to a library and borrow one (or all) of these books: Fiske Guide, Princeton Review’s Best Colleges, CTCL?
Thank you so much for answering! I live in New Jersey but I’m willing to go literally everywhere! My parents,in short, don’t have a budget. My (birth) Dad is a vet and I’m gonna try to go for the GI Bill and put my hat in the ring for any and all scholarships. He’s had a saving account for a little bit to save money but he tells me that I shouldn’t ask about a budget. He’s on the richer end of the scale. My parents are divorced and my my mom and dad (that live with me) are middle-classed to middle lower classed. I might get a little help with paying a little of my tuition from them but I don’t think from their standpoint I’ll get crazy amounts of money. I’ve worked ever since I was able to and I’ll be willing to work all of college if I have to. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more-I can absolutely get some or all of the books or download the ebooks. It shouldn’t be a problem at all!
Budget is a MAJOR issue. If your father tells you not to speak about it, it means he’s unlikely to contribute - but your efc at Css profile schools will expect him to.
Run the NPC on tcnj, Rutgers, Princeton, and Vassar (the last two offer excellent financial aid packages and try to attract first generation students - the challenge is getting in, which is almost impossible.)
If Vassar and Princeton come back as too expensive once you’ve entered the numbers from your mom, dad, and bio dad, your best bet will be to explore gi bill schools - you likely won’t find better than that.
quote Dad is a vet and I’m gonna try to go for the GI Bill
[/quote]
If you mean your Dad’s GI Bill benefits then you need to ask him if he will assign them to you (assuming he is able to). Ask now (I’m a vet but I left before this possibility existed so am unable to do this). Otherwise the only way to get GI Bill benefits is to go into the military yourself before college.
Parents who don’t like to talk about the budget or who tell you there is no budget = are feeling suddenly inadequate and panicking inside because they realize they do not have enough saved up AND/OR they have zero idea of how much college really costs these days (not always, but a lot of the time). I am not trying to insult your dad. Most parents just don’t understand the process these days and especially parents who did not go to college themselves. Heck, I went to college and had NO idea it had changed so much in the last 20 years.
Before you go one step further, tell him before you can go further in the college search process you REALLY need to go over your financial information so you can understand how much you have to spend and how much college is really going to cost.
(@carachel2)Okay sounds good. I don’t feel insulted at all I agree 100%. I’m going to try to talk to my parents again and try to get a straight forward answer even if it’s one they don’t like. Thank you so much for your help!
(@Erin’s Dad) We’ve checked and I am eligible. Thank you so much for replying!
your old SAT 1440 – what did you get on each section (Critical Reading + Math + Writing) ?
(@MYOS1634) That sounds like a solid plan of action thank you so much for helping me!
If you qualify for the GI Bill transfer then you are in good shape. The GI Bill should cover 100% instate tuition at public universities. If you attend an out of state public university or private school see if they have the yellow ribbon program. The below link will take you to a website that will tell you what is covered at what school.
This link is a list of school that participates in the yellow ribbon program by state. It also show how many spots they have the amounts they offer.
http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/yellow_ribbon/yrp_list_2016.asp
Maybe Journalism or Business along with creative writing.
If you aren’t 100% sure about law (or any other career requiring extensive graduate school) do not do it. You can major in English and still get a job, but you will need to find a school that is good at putting their students into internships or other opportunities to gain business experience. Whenever you need a new job, look for the one that makes your brain work the hardest, that is likely the one that will help you build your resume the most.
Once upon a time, long long ago, I worked at the same company as Jeff Abbott. He worked in marketing writing ads and sales copy and such by day and mystery novels by night. Eventually he was able to support himself full time as a writer and quit. It’s not a common story, but it does happen.
Ok. On to the college search. You should start by just visiting any and all colleges within driving distance, even if you would never get in. Try to make each campus as different as possible from the last. Visit big schools, small schools, urban, rural, lots of majors, more specialized, etc. until you get a feel for what you are looking for.
Visit your high school guidance counselor to see what state-based aid you may qualify for. Find a school or two in your state system to start building your list, then branch out from there. If your test scores do not improve, look at test optional schools at fairest.org as well.
When you have that money talk with your parents, run the FAFSA4caster at studentaid.ed.gov together. There is what your family can actually afford (budget) and what the financial aid formulas think you should afford (EFC) and what colleges think you can pay (net price). The FAFSA4caster will tell you the center of the range of prices colleges will give you. Each school will have a net price calculator (NPC) as well, search each college website. A school with a net price at or below your EFC is being relatively generous, while one with a NPC price much higher than your EFC is not.
The Debt by Degrees website can also help find schools that are generous to lower income kids. https://projects.propublica.org/colleges/
Another tool is to use the college board big future website to identify schools that meet 80% or more of need.
@Wien2NC
I’ve gotten a 550 in Critical Reading a 380 Mathematics and 510 in Writing. I think that I improved in the math section for the new SAT and I feel like I did well in the english sections.
@sensation723
Thank you so much for the link and the info I’ll be sure to check it out!
@nw2this
I was thinking about majoring in journalism as well. I’m taking a class for it senior year to see if I like it. Thank you so much for the reply!
@AroundHere
Thank you so much about the advice. You’re right about the grad school and it is very relieving to know that I have options with a major in English. The story about Jeff Abbott is very helpful because it shows that I have options to write no matter what situation I’m in. Thank you for the advice for looking for colleges I think I’ll sign up for different tours to take. Thank you for the link and the website I’ll be sure to use it. Again I can’t thank you enough for the helpful comment!
@moooop
Thank you so much for the link I was looking at a career in advertising as well as journalism. It’s funny but I was looking at the college that you sent a link to as well today. (One of my favorite writers wrote about it) Thank you so much for commenting!