Match me for earth sciences / urban planning potential double major and programs that offer decent scholarships(merit or need based) [<$30k]; junior in HS, 97 GPA, lower middle class [divorced parents]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Hey all! Just trying to get an idea of places to looks into as I begin my college search (I know, late and all, but I’m a good procrastinator)

Demographics

US resident from new england (Not Massachusetts or Connecticut), female

Cost Constraints / Budget
Anything less than 30k/year (can be after aid) is probably my limit. Haven’t looked too into household incomes as I’m not really sure how it works since I have divorced parents, but we are middle class (lower-middle side)

Intended Major(s): earth sciences (potentially geology or climate research) and possibly second major in urban planning

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

Weighted GPA is a 97.78

Unweighted GPA is 94.84

  • Class Rank: N/A
  • ACT/SAT Scores: Haven’t taken the official SAT, but my PSAT scores were pretty bad - 1120 (didn’t study and skipped breakfast that day for what it’s worth :sob: )
  • My freshman year I attended a different high school that had a very different grading system– had a 1 to 4 grading system. The standard grade was a 3 and that was converted to a 93 I think?? but most of my grades from freshman year were 93 and 96. The school also had mandatory standard classes every student had to take regardless of skill level, like geometry and standard english. (they followed EL education)

List your HS coursework

  • English: English 9, Pre-AP English, AP Lang (senior yr plan to take lit)
  • Math: Geometry 9, Algebra 2 seminar, Accelerated Precalculus, Dual Enrollment Calc A, AP Calculus BC (senior yr plan to take ap stats & DE multivar)
  • Science: Biology 9, HR chem, AP physics 1, Dual Enrollment Earth Science (senior plan to take AP bio & AP chem)
  • History and social studies: Social Studies 9, APUSH, DE History of my state, AP World
  • Language other than English: Spanish 3 HR, Spanish 4 HR, AP Spanish
  • Visual or performing arts: Art 9 (plan to take ap art senior year)
  • Other academic courses: AP computer science

Awards: Coach’s award for track and XC, Bronze medal in Science Olympiad, Seal of Biliteracy

Extracurriculars
*-*XC, Indoor track team captain, outdoor track team captain

-non-competitive figure skating

-School clubs: Science Olympiad, Key club, Math Team, NHS

-Work: freshman year parks & rec internship summer & fall, summer job 25 hrs/week summer of junior year, TA for geometry summer sophomore year

Schools
Schools to recommend me can be a range of reach, target and safety, I’m just looking for good ideas and potential places to tour.

Preferably on the east coast and not in a landlocked state, new england area is more accessible but also interested in warmer-climate areas down south. I have family in Atlanta which makes that area more accessible as well.

West would be cool –was looking at california but those are costly

Not opposed to places outside the country but also no knowledge in that area

Would love places that give good scholarships for me (merit-based or need based)

Thanks!

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This site may offer you ideas for colleges to explore further:

As one specific suggestion, look into Hobart and William Smith.

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Am I missing something or do you only have three years of English?

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Next year (senior year) I plan on taking AP Lit as my final english class, sorry if that wasn’t clear!!

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With divorced parents, you need to check each college’s financial aid web sites carefully to see if they require finances from the custodial parent (the one who provides the most financial support) or both the custodial and non-custodial parents. This is necessary so that you can put one or both parents’ finances into the net price calculator of each college.

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I am an Urban Planner. We are a small profession, and there are few colleges that offer programs. Usually can be found at state schools, which is also where you will most easily find a cost under $30k. The standard in the field is a Master’s degree, and while that can sound like an added expense, many Master’s programs are set up to allow you to work part time in the field to cover living expenses.

Geology would be an excellent undergrad degree for a Planning career, as would earth or environmental sciences. I was a Geography major, which is a common lead-in, but also hard to find outside of state schools.

The New England States have an agreement where they offer discounted pricing to residents of other New England states. So any of the state schools in New England should be in your price range. Many of the SUNY schools do not draw out-of-state residents and therefore offer good aid. Geology was a reputable program where I went for undergrad (SUNY-Geneseo), and SUNY-Albany and Buffalo both offer Planning programs.

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There are 35 colleges with “Geology/Earth Science, General” and “City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning” majors:

There are 10 colleges with “Geology/Earth Science, Other” and “City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning” majors:

For “Earth Systems Science” and “City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning” majors, there is only Arizona State University (on campus or distance):

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So from a safety POV - your in state school is best.

One thing is though - urban planning may be tough - but you may have to find it through various majors - or a couple minors.

There’s tuition break - but since you don’t name your state but you can look for your majors here.

A school like Salisbury in Maryland may hit, with merit. They have an urban planning degree. Not sure if they use the SAT in the merit calc.

W Carolina will hit - has a geography minor.

Central Michigan will hit.

U Kansas may hit as may W Virginia

Southern Illinois likely hits.

Depending on your SAT (or not), UAH, Southern Miss, MIssissippi State and more will hit.

I hesitate to give you reaches until you run some net price calculators - and you’ll need both parents income.

When you have a budget, it’s not about safety, target and reach - it’s about affordable safety - and then you can try others.

Here’s a few NPCs to have your parent(s) review:

Welcome | Net Price Calculator

Welcome | Net Price Calculator

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