What schools would take me? Psychology/Criminology major; VA resident đź’”

Chance Me / Match Me
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Hi I don’t have the best stats, I’m applying to: UVA, William and Mary, Virginia Tech, George Mason, George Washington, Northeastern, Penn State, Rutgers, and Virginia Commonwealth

I do need scholarships for all schools outside of Virginia and expensive ones within (like tech probably)

Demographics

  • US citizen
  • Virginia
  • Public school/governor’s school
  • First generation

Intended Major(s)

Psychology/Criminology

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.1

  • 4.42 out of 5.5 (only AP and DE are weighted)

  • Class Rank: 14/360
  • ACT/SAT Scores: none to report

List your HS coursework

  • English: Honors English 9 and 10, AP LANG, AP Lit
  • Math: Algebra I and Geometry concurrently, algebra 2, DE Pre calc, AP stats
  • Science: DE Chemistry, AP Physics, Honors biology, environmental science, earth science
  • History and social studies: AP psych, sociology, criminal justice
  • Language other than English: Spanish I-V + AP Spanish
  • Visual or performing arts: Art I and II
  • Other academic courses: Small Animal Care

Awards

AP Scholar w Distinction

4.0+ gpa academic excellence

College board recognition program: rural and small town, first generation, school recognition

National Spanish honor society

Extracurriculars
2 year research project, wrote literature review, producing documentary with help of Baylor university professor

Sheriff’s Office Cadet

2 Jobs, trainer at one

Reseller

Animal shelter volunteer

Chores including livestock care

Suicide coalition volunteer

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What’s your budget? And do you qualify for need based financial aid?

Just to be sure: neither of your parents has a college degree from anywhere in the world?

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I see you differently as an applicant from how you see you. You have very solid stats, being in the top 5% of your class. Your extras are pretty interesting as well. You should get into the large majority of the schools you listed. As far as scholarships for the OOS schools, that can be harder. GW may offer the greatest odds on that front.

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You look like a strong applicant apart from the need for tuition assistance. I would caution about the psychology/criminology path. Psychology is a very popular and is an over-produced major, and criminology is not about being a lawyer. I think you should think a bit more, and talk to people in these jobs if possible.

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Agree.
I don’t know exactly what a sheriff’s office cadet does but it seems to support the idea of a criminology major, while the suicide coalition volunteer supports a psych major. Both these stand out from “typical” ECs one might see, as does the livestock care (which also adds a different angle to the animal shelter volunteer).

I think this is a robust and interesting applicant. I am assuming instate will be the best option for financial aid but agree there is a chance of merit at some of the privates.

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Hi - seems a good profile to me. I like the animal shelter volunteer - very meaningful activity my kids did.

You were already asked for your budget. The reason is - if you need scholarships in state, then what can you afford down to the dollar? $20K? $30K, etc.

Did you take a test and just feel the score is too low? If so, what is the score? Do you know how it compares to others? For OOS schools, you often need to have a test - and yes, some can beat in-state rates.

What is your 4.1 UW GPA out of? 4.33? What’s the max unweighted, in other words.

I don’t see any Virginia low income college assistance short of community college. Talk to your counselor - there may be some.

I agree with @neela1 that there may be better majors. At the same time, kids change and in the end, have to study what they want. I don’t see law school listed anywhere but if it’s in the future, a) it has a cost b) it’s unlikely to matter where you go but you would need a strong test c) you can major in anything.

Some majors have better “outcomes” than others, but some have to study what they love but outcome wise, yours will be tough. But I know a lot of successes with psych degrees so it can be done.

I would not apply to $60K Penn State because you aren’t getting money. If you can afford high 20s, you can apply to PASSHE schools like Lock Haven or Bloomsburg. They haven’t set OOS scholarships yet but high 20s would be past #s. Temple might also be a reasonable sub.

I would not apply to Rutgers or GW - you can’t afford them. GW doesn’t assure to meet need and if you need too much may not accept you anyway. Rutgers, like Penn State, is there to benefit in state students. Temple might be a reasonable sub, depending on budget. Check U Maine - they have a flagship match for some states - meaning you’d pay UVA tuition (not cheap) but perhaps there’s other money.

The 4 NC Promise Schools will be mid 20s full price - W Carolina, Elizabeth City State, UNC Pembroke, and Fayetteville State. Marshall U should be similar with merit - a mid size public in WV that’s a good name (the W&M size public in WV).

ON your list, I imagine you’d have potential at each school if you’re from a rural area. I’m wondering if you might do better with smaller and both Mary Washington and Christopher Newport are excellent - and on top of that, CNU is a beautiful campus. I’d love to walk that each day.

They are less expensive so you might add them.

I don’t know your family income but if it’s very low (say $75K or less), you might add Berea.

So I’d drop a few and refine the list a tad - given your budget issues, however restrictive it is.

If all else fails budget wise, there’s nothing wrong with a community college for two years to save money.

Best of luck.

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You’ll have a better idea of more schools to potentially target with official ACT or SAT scores: e.g. 1200+ or 1300+ or 1400+ or 1500+.

If you don’t plan to take either, then are you applying only to test-optional schools?

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If your budget is below $60,000 a year, remove Rutgers and Penn state.

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Be careful of the difference between “criminology” and “criminal justice” as college majors. Criminology is usually a more research focused liberal arts major, or a subarea of sociology (sociology of crime). Criminal justice is usually a pre-professionally focused major for those aiming to go into domestic law enforcement and related areas.