<p>Hi, I’m going to be a senior in high school next year and I’m starting my college search. I have 8 or 9 schools that are on my list, and most of them I’m pretty sure I can get into. I’m not applying to the Ivies or anything. However, I really need scholarship money or financial aid and while a lot of the public schools I’m applying to offer great packages, I’m not so sure how much the private schools offer. I really would like to attend a Catholic college, mostly because that’s a big part of my life. The three Catholic colleges I’m interested in are University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN., Loyola in Chicago, and St. Louis University. My number one is St. Thomas, but from the looks of it they give the least amount of aid. My act score is a 29 right now and I’m retaking it in June to try to get it up to at least a 30. My g.p.a. is a 4.4 weighted and my class rank is 28 out of 188. I’ve also taken a lot of honors courses and two ap courses, ap U.S. history and ap psychology. I took both tests and got a 5 on history and I don’t know about psych yet. I’m also taking ap English and ap bio next year along with a few other honors classes. I’ve been involved in a lot of stuff at my school such as band, theater, SADD, student ministry, student ambassador, several other clubs and many different service things. Service is kind of my thing. I’m doing this local service initiative where you plan and lead your own service project at you high school during your senior year, so I’m hoping that will carry some weight especially with the Catholic schools. I’ve been on 3 mission/service trips, which is where I realized how much I loved service and doing those kinds of things, and this is what my application essay will most likely be about. I also do readings at church and I’m a service leader for our student ministry at school, and I’m on the executive board for SADD next year. I also planned a few service projects during my junior year at school. Both of my parents were out of work for part of this year also (from about October to April) and my dad now has a temporary job. I’ve had a job during the summer since I was 15 and I plan to have one next year during school, with most of the money going towards college. Do you think, based on all this, I have a good shot at getting some kind of scholarships from these schools? Also if you know anyone who has went to any of these schools or anything about them, good or bad, I would like to know! And I plan to major in social work, Spanish education, or nursing, but I’m mostly leaning towards social work, so if you know how good their programs are for these that would be great too! Thanks so much and sorry this is such a long post!!</p>
<p>I suggest paying the $15 to access the U.S. News college guide on-line site from Aug. to Aug. because it provides detailed info about the financial aid (and admissions and other information) of thousands of colleges.</p>
<p>Also check the financial aid web pages of colleges that interest you, and read the financial aid and scholarship board here on CC.</p>
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<p>I hope that you’ve included a couple of safeties on your list, schools that A) your grades/scores would put you into the top 25% of applicants, and B) you’d still be able to attend with no financial aid at all.</p>
<p>The classes of '08 and '09 fell prey to “I’m pretty sure I’ll get in” thinking. What they didn’t realize is that they (and you) are part of a huge baby boom, making college admissions extremely competitive right now. I know a few very bright, very accomplished kids who will be attending community college in the fall, because they unintentionally shot too high when making their list.</p>
<p>To answer your question, it’s sometimes the case that private schools will offer more aid than publics – and sometimes not. It depends on how much money they have to give out, and how much they want you. Focus on schools that historically give more aid AND where you’d be among their top applicants. I wouldn’t advise you to focus strictly on Catholic schools; that limits you pretty severely. But based on what you posted, I think there are schools that would want to give you incentive to attend. :)</p>
<p>^Most of the public schools I’m applying to I know for sure I can get into and, according to their websites and visits, they are offering me enough aid so I will be able to attend if the Catholic colleges fall through. Missouri State is one of my top choices if the Catholic colleges don’t work out, and based on my g.p.a. and act scores, I qualify for full tuition paid and possible room and board if I get my act score up to a 30. And they told me this at the visit. Anyone who has the g.p.a. and act score can qualify for paid tuition, there’s no certain number of students who get it every year. It depends on how many who qualify apply. So I do have backups, I would just prefer to go to a Catholic school if that’s possible. Thank you for your responses!</p>