<p>I know I would love to go to Wellesley or other women’s liberal arts colleges, but how do I pay for tuition and fees? My parents are divorced and each make about 20k a year maybe less 
and I don’t have ANY savings whatsoever. I don’t want to get into 100k or more in debt and not only that, I don’t live in MA. Can I still go to my dream college? Please help. Thanks 
still hopeful</p>
<p>Does anyone have anything to say? I really need help to figure out how to pay for this.</p>
<p>Over half of the Wellesley student body gets financial aid, and given your parents’ financial situation, it seems very likely that you would get a substantial aid package. In addition to that, I’d recommend looking into scholarships such as Questbridge and doing your best on the PSAT so you’ll be eligible for the National Merit competition.</p>
<p>There’s more information here: [Financial</a> Aid & Costs | Wellesley College - Wellesley College](<a href=“http://new.wellesley.edu/admission/finaid]Financial”>http://new.wellesley.edu/admission/finaid)</p>
<p>Go to the finaid pages for whatever colleges, find and run the NPC/Net Price Calculator. It will give an idea of the amount of finaid they may give you.</p>
<p>Apply for financial aid. Speak to your counselor. Best of luck! Don’t worry you’ll figure something out:)</p>
<p>If I can’t afford Wellesley, I’ll have to go to Spelman, UGA, or GA State University. Because they are all in-state and they all have the HOPE scholarship and financial aid. I really want to go to Wellesley or one of the Seven Sisters, but TOO expensive. :(</p>
<p>Definitely apply for admission and aid! Some of the most expensive colleges are also the most generous, so if your family doesn’t have much money you could get a really amazing financial package that makes Wellesley even cheaper than an in-state option. Pretty sure Wellesley meets your full calculated need. Have you tried the net price calculator like lookingforward suggested? That’s the best way to see if it’s do-able (other than actually applying, of course).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Wellesley is need blind and fulfills 100% of financial aid needs. Go for it :)</p>
<p>I’m looking at many other liberal arts schools like Williams and Amherst, because I have heard they have very good financial aid.</p>
<p>That’s a good idea. It’s always smart to apply wide so that you can compare a lot of different financial aid packages. Other women’s colleges that might interest you include Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Barnard, and Scripps. Some great coed schools are Grinnell, Kenyon, Oberlin, Haverford, and Carleton.</p>
<p>What are your grades and ec’s like? If you have top grades, ec’s, etc. as well as need, definitely apply to the women’s colleges, Williams and Amherst. The schools that “say” they fulfill 100% of need of very competitive academically and calculate a student’s need based upon the college’s parameters. But if your parents’ incomes are as you state, it sounds like you fit for fin aid. Good luck!</p>
<p>I’m still a freshman in high school, but all my academics are the highest classes except for math. I’m the secretary for the Art Club and in FCCLA. When I turn 15, I plan on volunteering at hospitals and clinics, and maybe shadowing a doctor. Next year I plan on being in Chorus and the Volleyball Team. Are there other things you may want to recommend so I can get good financial aid?</p>
<p>If you get in, you’ll get financial aid regardless of your extracurriculars, GPA, and test scores. Just continue to do what you love and take challenging classes. :)</p>
<p>Fin aid is never guaranteed. But you sound highly motivated and appear to have need. Remember that income is not the only determiner when it comes to aid. Other factors include savings, investments, if your parents own their own business or other real estate. Many families are surprised that they do not get the aid they THINK they deserve; that includes those from high, low and middle income brackets. </p>
<p>I will tell you a little secret strategy that I learned after my daughter applied to college (she goes to Smith; her top choice). The best, most competitive women’s colleges (Smith, Wellesley, Barnard, etc.) probably won’t admit this but they do vie for the best applicants, sending out pre-decision likely letters and awarding the very few academic scholarships (this is different from fin aid) to the top students they want. So, this means, if you are interested in one specific woman’s college and have top grades, ec’s, etc. apply to them all, even if Wellesley is your top pick. Many of these colleges will even ask you where else you are applying to on their apps. They know what’s going on and who is going where and when they spot a good candidate, they will go after that person. Good luck!</p>
<p>The main colleges I’m looking at are the Seven Sisters, Williams College, Amherst College, Spelman, GA Tech, and UGA. I have already visited UGA since a family member goes there, and I can visit Spelman and GA Tech since its in the same state as mine. I plan to visit all the Seven Sisters, Williams, and Amherst. I think most of these schools have good financial aid. If there’s one that dosen’t please point that out to me. :)</p>
<p>Even though I love the seven sisters, Williams, and Amherst. I think I’m going towards Spelman, because it financial aid and HOPE scholarship. I like the other schools better, but its all expensive. UGA and GA Tech are basically my last resort. If I get great financial aid with Seven Sisters, Williams, and Amherst, I probably would go one.</p>
<p>You’re only a freshman in high school? Trust me, you’re way, way ahead of the curve!
I definitely wouldn’t write off any of the schools you’ve mentioned yet, especially not due to financial concerns. My financial situation’s better than yours, but most of my tuition at Wellesley is still paid for by need-based grants and work study. I’ll have zero post-grad debt.
Wellesley (and a lot of the other schools you’ve mentioned) are need-blind, which means that your finances will not be taken into account in admissions. Once you’re admitted, they’ll look at your financial aid application and make their offer. If your top choices are out of range, I would highly recommend that you apply to them anyway regardless of cost and wait to see what kinds of offers you get. You can always keep a couple affordable back-ups just in case.</p>
<p>But above all, don’t worry too much about college admissions yet! Enjoy your first year of high school! Take classes that challenge and interest you, get involved in a couple activities that you care about, and keep busy during your summer breaks. You’ll be fine. :)</p>