Schools with good computer science program + very good need-based financial aid?

Neilime
Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:26:58 +0000

I have looked into Bright Futures, but I really don’t want to count on getting it only to find out that all of my applications to colleges were a waste because I didn’t get BF/it didn’t cover enough. So I’d like to find some colleges that I can afford without it.

As for my stats, I’m only a sophomore (no wait don’t click the back button!), so I don’t know for sure what I’m going to be like after junior year. However, I have been on a steady path since the beginning of this year, so I feel like the following are pretty close to how I’ll end up:

Mixed (black/white) female (this one is set in stone! :P)
GPA: 3.79UW if I continue my trend. At least 3.7 if I don’t.
Rigor of courses: All honors/AP, except for pre-calc
SAT: I’ve taken a practice test and gotten ~2000. I got some books from the library, and I’m aiming for 2200+.
ECs:
In school: maybe one club
Outside of school: I’m not sure what can count as an EC. I have hobbies that I’ve been doing for the last couple years, but it’s stuff like building things out of trash, teaching myself web design&programming languages (this one’s relevant at least), learning languages (Japanese, Korean), etc. Does any of that even count?
Summer programs: Duke TIP (creative writing-9th, Algebra II-10th). I’m saving money to go to a software engineering summer program, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to.
*Volunteer work:*I’m hoping to start volunteering at a local elementary school soon, and if I do that’s all I’ll have. My parents don’t have the gas money to drive me anywhere else.
Awards/Honors: Nada.
Essays/Recs: I’ve always been great at writing essays, so I’m not worried about that at all. I’ve also been given great recs, but I don’t want to count on those so I’m going to assume they’ll be average.
Things that might help slightly: Black dad (does that count?), first generation college, female CompSci major

Hopefully that can give an idea of where I should be looking. I’m not aiming for the really generous schools. I’m expecting to pay a fair bit in loans. I just don’t want to end up living with my parents after I graduate because I took out way too much.