I need some extreme safety schools

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Times have been rough between my parents and me and they are saying that they might not pay for any of my college tuition (even though they have more than enough money to do so). So right now I’m looking for some good, cheap, instate (Illinois) options or some private schools that will offer me good aid. My gpa is low – 3.32. But I go to a selective private Jesuit school in Chicago which should help. My act is a 33. Right now, I’m thinking about majoring in journalism or English, but my mind literally changes all the time so if they don’t have/aren’t good in those areas it’s okay. </p>

<p>Currently, the only schools I know of that fit this criteria are UIC and Regis (Jesuit), but I feel like those would still be pretty expensive. I have never worked, so I have no money to my name whatsoever.</p>

2

<p>I think you could probably get a great scholarship from Lindenwood University based on your ACT alone. </p>

<p>[Lindenwood</a> University](<a href=“http://www.lindenwood.edu%5DLindenwood”>http://www.lindenwood.edu)</p>

3

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-20.html#post16451378[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-20.html#post16451378&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Your stats indicate an automatic full ride at Louisiana Tech, which does offer majors in English (literature), English (technical writing), and journalism.</p>

4

<p>Is that your GPA including your religion and PE classes? If not, add those back in.</p>

<p>Is that your weighted GPA? </p>

<p>Are you saying that your parents CAN pay, but you are having “issues” with them? If so, then frankly, you’re better off patching things up, getting your act together, acting maturely, and then they’ll pay.</p>

<p>Obviously, I don’t know what’s going on between you and your parents, but I’m guessing that they think you’re too immature/lazy/irresponsible/mouthy/etc so they don’t want to pay. (this is only based on what’s happened to other kids who’ve posted here w/ similar situations). </p>

<p>If any of that is real for you, I suggest that you “mind your P’s and Q’s”… That means:</p>

<p>Getting up in the morning w/o being told/reminded
Going to bed ontime w/o being told
Doing your chores w/o being told
Doing EXTRA chores w/o being asked
Cleaning up after yourself
Know where your stuff is (don’t lose things and don’t need help finding your stuff)
Respect curfews
Get your homework done w/o being reminded.
Know where your school stuff is
If you wear uniforms to school, then get those ready on Sunday for the week.
Use respectful language to your parents. No backtalk, no foul language, etc.</p>

<p>The above are just issues that kids have with their parents which sometimes leads them to say, “We’re not going to pay for college because you’re acting __________.”</p>

<p>It’s VERY doubtful that you’d get ENOUGH aid to a school that you’d want to attend. You may get partial scholarships, but that’s not going to cover the rest. Even if you got a so-called full ride, it’s not going to cover your transportation, personal expenses, etc…and likely it would be a school that is mostly commuter/suitcase…not good for an OOS student.</p>

<p>Spring Hill (Jesuit) would likely give you a high offer, but not a full ride. Your GPA is the problem. A number of the Jesuits will give you awards, but not close to full rides…maybe half tuition…but you’d still have $30k or so to pay each year.</p>

<p>Your problem won’t be with getting a “great scholarship”, your problem will be getting a HUGE FULL RIDE scholarship at a school that you’d want to attend. That’s the problem.</p>

<p>So, if your issues are fixable with your parents, do THAT!!!</p>

5

<p>My issues with my parents are my business, so please stay out of them. I am doing my best to fix them. I asked for help finding some schools where it would be cheap to go to, not for advice with my family. </p>

<p>And I don’t necessarily need a full ride because I could work this summer and take out loans. So really any school that gives out a lot of merit aid or any cheap Illinois instate schools.</p>

6

<p>There are no cheap IL schools (except for CCs). Perhaps you should look up the costs on their web sites. And you are limited to a loan of $5.5K as a freshman.</p>

7

<p>Hey, I wasn’t asking for the details of what’s going on between you and your parents. My point was that when kids post here with a similar issue, often the kid can turn things around by doing a few things differently. and, for seniors, that can mean only doing things “their way” for a few months…and then you’re on your way to college where you can do more things your way. If that doesn’t apply to you, then fine. No need to be snippy about it. </p>

<p>And I don’t necessarily need a full ride because I could work this summer and take out loans. So really any school that gives out a lot of merit aid or any cheap Illinois instate schools.</p>

<p>How much do you think you could earn and SAVE over the summer (after paying gas and summer expenses)?</p>

<p>Can you work during the school year a little bit for “day to day” expenses?</p>

<p>YOU can only borrow $5500 for your freshman year. That’s not much. AND…you will need your parents co-operation to be able to do that. You’d need THEIR cooperation to fill out FAFSA. So, would they provide their financial information so that you can get a $5500 student loan? If not, then that will be an issue.</p>

<p>So, if you can possibly save $2000 over the summer (after expenses, gas, taxes, etc), and if you can earn another $2000 over the school year for “day to day” expenses, and you’re able to borrow $5500 for a student loan, then you’d still ALMOST need a Full Ride. </p>

<p>If you were to ONLY get a “full tuition” scholarship, then you’d have a hard time covering the $15,000 that’s needed for room, board, books, fees, and misc expenses.</p>

8

<p>The automatic financial aid thread on the financial aid forum, as has been stated above, is your best bet then.</p>

<p>You can only have $5,500 in loans and what mom2collegekids above said is correct.</p>

<p>Colleges consider that your college education is, first, your family’s responsibility. To get a full ride scholarship, you’d have to attend 3rd/4th tier schools for the most part, except for those where the criteria are relaxed so that they state something like " 3.5 OR top 15%", etc</p>