What is my best prospect at higher education?

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
1

I am currently going to the Center for Advanced Technologies in Florida, and am currently having a bit of a dilemma as to where I should go in my next year, my Junior year.

I’m doing well, academically, having a 3.8 unweighted GPA, currently. I am currently taking 2 AP courses (US Gov and Macro). I am interested at doing the full-time early college program at my local community college for next year. Along with it being early college, it is also a lot closer to my home, and I wouldn’t have to ride an hour-long bus ride each way every day, like I do currently. The problem is, is that by my estimates, there is likely to be 150-200+ applicants to the program, and the program goes by computerized lottery for the open 65-70 slots, so the odds aren’t exactly the best. I am wondering if there are any other programs of the sort that I could do next year. My first interest is to getting as well of an education as I possibly can, such as a school like MIT, or CMU, as the major I am interested in is Computer Science, with my second interest being hemorrhaging as much college credit as I can for an in-state school, so I don’t rack up massive loan debt. Contradictory, right? I am currently taking a programming course in my high school. What should my next step be, after application to early college? Thank you, in advance, for your help.

2

Hemorrhaging is the wrong word. More like accumulated. Serves me right for trying to sound fancy.

3

I’m going to bump. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

4

Another wee little bump.

5

Is the reason there is no response because I posted in the wrong section? If so, what would be the right section?

6

You should post this in the college admissions forum. I think your best bet is to look at the common data sets of the schools you aspire to. Give yourself a realistic understanding of what it would take to be admitted. Run the Net Price Calculators on their websites to see how much you will realistically have to pay. My experience has been that highly selective private schools will give generous financial aid for elite students who come from modest backgrounds. Some state schools will give generous financial aid for students with excellent grades and test scores.

7

Thanks for that. My family probably makes a little bit too much for something like a need-based scholarship, but I could be wrong, and could get other financial aid. What should I do about next year?