Mid-Level GPA, High SATs?

ucbalumnus
Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:19:58 +0000

ThePinko:

I also forgot to mention that very prestigious schools tend to have more generous financial aid policies, a matter very much relevant to a student whose guardians refuse to pay over one hundred dollars a month for his higher education.



There is a big difference between “they are middle or lower income and cannot pay” versus “they are upper income and refuse to pay”. In the former case, you are likely to get generous financial aid from schools that do give financial aid generously (not all do); in the latter case, your family will be expected to cover much or all of the cost, and you won’t get much need-based aid even at the generous schools.

In the latter case, you need to look for some cheap options:


Low safeties with big merit scholarships (Alabama, UAB, etc.).
Community college, followed by transfer to a four year school to complete your bachelor’s degree.
Military service academies, but that probably is not appealing to a communist.
Deep Springs College, but highly selective and only a two year school, so you need to find a four year school to complete your bachelor’s degree.
Wait until you are independent for financial aid purposes (age 24, married, or veteran of the armed forces) before attending a more expensive school.
Try for the rare full-ride scholarships (e.g. Robertson at UNC or Duke), but those are likely harder to get than the admission to the most selective schools.