Help me define safety/target/ reach schools!

proudterrier
Mon, 10 Oct 2016 06:22:49 +0000

Hmm, either those schools are lying when they say they meet need, or you input something wrong… or your family’s income isn’t actually 25K a year? At a 25K a year income, you should have an EFC of 0, or very close to it. There ARE schools where you would need to pay ZERO, if you get in. You need to find and apply to those schools.

The fact of the matter is: your family makes a poverty level income. Those who live on this line a) need the most help to get to college–you are the kind of student generous aid was designed for and b) you should NOT be taking on extra debt because you’re the kind of student who won’t have any cushion of financial help from your family; debt could cripple you in the future. Limit yourself to federal debt, or not debt if you can manage. You can’t afford a school that expects you to come up with 10K a year, at your income. Where would you get the 10K? 10K might as well be 100K to a poverty level family. It’s frustrating and upsetting, but like I said: you are the very type of student that generous aid is meant to help! There are schools out there who are looking for you.

But I know there are schools out there that might give you the aid, if you can find the right schools. I work with low-income students on college apps and every year someone gets a full ride. I know a girl currently at Smith for free. She just had to get into Smith first (easier said than done!).

Here is my recommendation: look at the Colleges that Change Lives, like I suggested: http://ctcl.org/category/college-profiles/page/2/. Look through the schools. Pick 3-4 favorites and run the EFC calculator on their website, making sure you input the right values. Look for those that offer specific scholarships that may fit you (I already mentioned Agnes Scott which may be ideal for you). I’d also like to recommend Kalamazoo and Denison. Denison is well known and liked here on CC for being generous with merit aid, and Kalamazoo has given full rides to many girls I work with in LA. Kalamazoo is definitely looking for candidates like you.

For your reaches, look at Bates, Bryn Mawr, Smith. All three are test optional, so you can apply but not submit your SAT score. Look at Mount Holyoke as a match–it is also test optional. All of these say they meet full need.

Talk to your counselor about fee waivers. You should qualify for them, so you could apply to schools for free.