Seemingly impossible situation...suggestions please!

Paying for College
1

<p>Hey all, I really wanna go to either Brown University, Amherst College, or Middlebury College and I think I could get in to one of these, but, of course, I’m not sure. Then there’s my real problem: could I get into one of these, and get scholarship money? I have two brothers stepping into college the same day as I do, and my family just doesn’t have enough money to pay the full ride for each of us. Now, I love each of these schools for their well-known liberal arts programs (I’m not quite sure on what I want to major in yet, but I’m thinking a double major in International Relations and Spanish) and I REALLY love Brown and Amherst for their free curriculum. Here’s my transcript so far:</p>

<p>Freshman Year
Catholic Christianity- A
Concert Band- A
Honors Literature and Composition- A
Honors Algebra II- B
Honors Biology I- B+
Honors Spanish II- C+ (ouch, I know)
Health (1st semester)- A
Phys Ed I (2nd semester)- A</p>

<p>Sophmore Year
Sacred Scripture- A
Intro to Theater- A-
Honors Rhetoric- A
Honors Geometry w/ Trigonometry- B
Honors Biology II- A
Honors Spanish III- B+
Honors Western Civilization- A-
Speech Communications (1st semester)- B+
Phys Ed II (2nd semester)- A</p>

<p>Junior Year </p>

<p>First Semester, USA
Christian Ethics- A
Honors Madrigal Choir- A
Honors Government- A
AP English III- A
Honors Pre-Calculus- B+
Honors Chemistry- A
Honors Spanish IV- A-
AP U.S. History- B+
Second Semester, Chile (still subject to change)
Religion- A
Music- A
History- B+
Language- A
Mathematics- A
Chemistry- A
Biology- A
Filosophy- A</p>

<p>EC’s (so far)</p>

<p>Chess Club (9,10,11)
Theatre Program (9)
Teens in Action (10,11)
NHS (10,11)
Spanish Club (11)
Black Cultural Alliance (10,11) -co-president
Krav Maga martial art (10)
Martial Arts Club (11)
Piano (9,10,11) -intermediate/advanced level, 7+ hours per week
Plan on creating an InterCultural Exchange Club next year
Chosen student ambassador by school (9,10,11)</p>

<p>Awards
Presidential Scholarship to school (9,10,11)
President’s List (most of 9,10,11)
Science Fair- 2nd place in Bio (9)
Science Fair- 1st place in Environmental Science (10)
Bro. Andre Award in Biology (10)
Bro. Andre Award in Spanish (9)
State Distinguished Scholar (11)
Hopefully National Merit recognition 4 PSAT!</p>

<p>Job/Internship
Worked at local bookstore (summer ‘05- 40 hrs/week; weekends fall ‘05)
Mother’s helper to family friend ('00-'06)
Selected by school to apply for ADL Leadership Mission, selected my ADL to attend '05 Leadership Mission (really selective, only 10 candidates from every major city selected to go)
Attended ACE aviation program summer of '04 and '05</p>

<p>Scores
PSAT
Math- 62
CR- 67
W- 80</p>

<p>SAT
Math- 630
Critical Reading- 660
Writing- 710 </p>

<p>Rank
Somewhere in the top 10%, last time I saw my rank it was 18/~200</p>

<p>Special thing
I am currently living on Chiloe Island, Chile because of a 6-month study abroad program that I decided to apply for and was accepted into. I’ve been here since March and put pretty much my entire first semester of 11th grade into making this trip happen, including working enough to pay half of the price and going through the lengthy application process. It’s paid off. I’ve had a wonderful experience that I will never forget, and even though I can’t speak fluently yet, I can understand almost everything that is said to me in spanish, and I plan on spending my last 6 weeks here working on speaking skills, so that when I return to the States I’ll be able to speak almost fluently. I plan on making this unforgettable trip the subject of my college essay. </p>

<p>Application: Early Decision</p>

<p>So there it is! If anyone could just give me a bit of advice on what to do, i mean, if I might get into one of these colleges, and if so if I might stand a chance at scholarship money, or even a few suggestions at cheaper small, New England liberal arts schools, that would be awesome. Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>The main suggestion I, and I’m sure others would have as well, is that if you are concerned about finances do not apply Early Decision. It takes away your ability to compare financial aid packages, and from the sound of your post that seems important.</p>

3

<p>It really depends on your need, i.e. your EFC. These are all need based schools and all use the Profile. There are a number of Profile calculators around. I think Brown and Amherst will be big reaches for you and Middlebury is a reach as well.</p>

4

<p>Thanks, yes I know that Brown and especially Amherst will be big reaches for me, but I do have a few safeties such as University of Maryland and George Washington University. Could anyone recommend a few possible matches for me?</p>

5

<p>i don’t know what your EFC is… but since none of those schools give merit money, if it’s higher than your family can pay, they aren’t going to give you what your family actually needs (they will go according to what the FAFSA says it “needs”). when i was applying as a high school senior, i applied to and got into brown and amherst - neither of which gave my family the money we needed in order to go. (i fell in love with brown, begged and pleaded to no avail w/financial aid…). i ended up going to a school i didn’t really like because i received merit money. (thankfully i’m transferring :slight_smile: )</p>

<p>have you thought about looking into schools that give merit money? i honestly do regret not applying to more schools that give merit money… i didn’t visit schools before i was accepted to them, so i didn’t know how much i disliked the one school that gave merit money until i visited. if i had known, i would have searched for others…</p>

6

<p>Definitely do not apply ED Because you are committing to attend reagardless of the aid you are given. What happens if you cannot afford the school, then you have no other options other than state U.</p>

<p>Your first step would be to calculate your EFC (using both the federal an institutional methodology).</p>

<p>Step 2: talk to your parents as to whether or not being able to meet the EFC (is going to be a problem). This is where your disconnect is going to be as the schools on your list all meet 100% of your demonstrated need (so if admitted, they will cover their end). IF either of your brothers are attending grad or professional schools (no longer an undergrad) then they being in college at the same time as you is going to be a non-issue.</p>

<p>thanks scarlet: I saw that and went back and edited my post (we cross posted)</p>

7

<p>I don’t think the OP is an international student. I believe she stated she was on a study-abroad program.</p>

8

<p>As stated, if finances are a consideration, do not apply ED anywhere. I think your SAT scores are a bit on the low side for the schools you listed above. I would suggest working on improving those and having a terrific (ie. all A) first semester of senior year to maximize your chances at those schools. If you apply ED the school doesn’t use your senior grades as a basis for admission. You want to show them that your upward trend of grades is consistent, and continues. Have you considered schools like Hamilton, Union, Muhlenberg, Lafayette, Wheaton (MA), Stonehill, Drew or any of the other gazzion smaller LACs in Pennsylvania and New York? Many of them would offer you merit aid as well.</p>

9

<p>Having three in college at the same is not always a bad thing. Right now, though, I think a push to raise your SAT scores should be a priority if you are leaning toward Brown or Amherst or merit at some of the other places mentioned. And to echo: ED is a bad idea if you need financial aid.</p>

10

<p>macalester is a great LAC, very international and less competitive than some others</p>

11

<p>Starcatch has excellent advice in post #5.</p>

<p>If you want to look at a very nice LAC with strong academic, a lovely campus, in a great town, friendly kids, look at Denison University. GREAT merit money available.</p>