I really need help searching.

College Search & Lists
1

<p>I have always thought of a certain type of college I would have to attend - a top 10. I didn’t care if the colleges were completely different or if they “fitted me” because I thought that I could just adapt. Thing is, lately, I don’t care. </p>

<p>I thought that I would have to go to a top college to get a great finaid packet. I am from a low income household. </p>

<p>I really need help searching for colleges that would fit me. And I know this is a difficult question to ask a bunch of people who don’t know me, but I haven’t had any luck so far.</p>

<p>I am an incoming senior, and some information about me follows.
F - Afghan - S. CA
I have a strong attachment to my culture (and hoping to develop that with Islam). It’s very important to me, and it’s something that I will probably incorporate into my essays. I think it is a huge part of me, particularly the family life that has sprouted from the culture.</p>

<p>I have volunteered at a local mosque for years. For the past 2 years, I made a charity as a subset of the mosque that sends 300-400 books to 6 different schools in Afghanistan every 6 months. Takes a lot of my time. I’m basically the only one who does this. The charity is, however, under the name of the mosque’s mullah.</p>

<p>ACT: 33-34. (I got a 29 the first time, but am confident in my abilities to score around a 33-34. I know it may seem rash to assume I can pull that score off, but I know that, with studying, I can and will.)
SAT Subject Tests: ML2 780, Bio M 800, Lit (expected - not sure…) 700-750</p>

<p>My school is a very small, competitive high school. However, it does not offer many AP classes. College classes are more common. I have taken, I’d say, the hardest courseload allowable at my school and plan to continue to do so. About 200 students in the graduating class. A lot of people go to UCLA, UCB, CSULB, and UCI. Stanford about 8. Everything else is pretty thin. </p>

<p>I have self-studied and only taken 1 AP test, which was English Language. In truth, I didn’t study for this at all. I got a 4. AP classes outside of senior year at my school are VERY uncommon (only 2 offered: psych. + Spanish for native speakers)</p>

<p>I worked as a telecom agency last summer, and am working at Northrop Grumman this summer. I have taken part (and been published in the organization’s bulletin) in a science research project regarding radioresistance in breast cancer cells. I have not entered this in any fairs, and am not really interested in doing so for the sake of an award or scholarship. </p>

<p>Recommendations:
I will probably get one from an English teacher or Spanish teacher. The other will come from my sophomore biology teacher and senior anatomy teacher. She is, also, the sponsor of a Bio Club I am the president of.</p>

<p>Other ECs:
I mentioned the mosque. I’ve, also, been volunteering on/off for the past 1-2 years at a local aquariums. About 200 hours there. I have about 300 hours total turned in for service hours. I do not count mosque hours (which is about 7 hours a week b/c I teach a Sunday school class on the sciences and engineering in relation to Islam there) because my school district doesn’t count religious service hours.</p>

<p>I’m the president of a Bio Club as well as a Rights Club (eg. Human + Animal Rights). I founded the latter my freshman year and it has become a great passion of mine. I love the club - great members. We do a lot, and are quite active.</p>

<p>I run marathons. I’m not in any sport at school because I really don’t have the time to practice with the team. I usually have club meetings. I have completed about 7 marathons in the past three years, though. I don’t know whether or not I will mention this in my essays. (If I have room, that is…)</p>

<p>Future:
I have no idea. I need flexibility. I need not to be pressured to become a biologist or an engineer. I’m 16. So, I need a school that will let me grow and give me every opportunity to really discover myself. I, also, need to be challenged. I have no preferences to in-state or out, athletics, etc. It must be in the U.S., though.</p>

<p>I know it may seem weird to ask this as I enter my senior year. I just decided to go to college last year. After that, it was learning, reading, etc. </p>

<p>Please ask if you have any more questions. I know this is not necessarily the best organized thread. Thanks. :]</p>

2

<p>Oh, some of the schools I was planning on applying to (and maybe still will)</p>

<p>UCLA, Yale, Stanford, UCI, UCSB, CSULB, Smith</p>

<p>I’ll be honest and say that I know little about Smith. I know it is an all-girls college and it is fairly close to home. That would make my parents ecstatic. I believe it is one of the Claremont Colleges, which means I would be able to cross schedule at Mudd/Pomona. </p>

<p>Oh, and awards. I participated in, and was invited to “Honors Day @ Pomona” (the award, basically), the Pomona-Wisc. Talent Search. I’ve never really been competitive with other people. To be honest, I just don’t see a point to a lot of these contests (besides the scholarship ones). I just try to improve myself.</p>

3

<p>You probably meant Scripps-- Smith is also a women’s college (and a college you might really, really like, reading your summary) but it’s in Massachusetts.</p>

<p>If you’re looking for a structured school with an emphasis on discovering yourself through academics, I would also suggest University of Chicago (it’s my school; I have to bring it up!)</p>

4

<p>University of Chicago also seems to me to be a match (I graduated from there). They have just received 100 million to use for scholarships for low income students, so it is worth looking into. Scripps sounds good. Occidental College and USC give out a lot of aid and are good schools. Rice University in Houston is worth looking at, too. It has similarities with Yale and U Chicago but may have a somewhat more relaxed atmosphere, and gives aid.</p>

5

<p>Oh, you’re right. I did mean Scripps. Thanks so much for your help. I will definitely look into those schools. UChicago, Occidental, and USC seem really awesome to me.</p>

6

<p>I agree that you might like Smith–even though it’s in Massachusetts. I would also recommend Mount Holyoke, where I think you would be a strong candidate for financial aid–they have a very international outlook, strong science programs and an active group of Islamic women, as well as an innovative Kosher --Halal shared kitchen that has received positive notice in the press. It would be an excellent environment for self-discovery without pressure to specialize before you are ready.</p>

7

<p>Wow, prewacket. Thanks. I’ll look into both of those. They both sound great, especially Mount Holyoke.</p>