<p>Hi! I’m a rising senior in high school who wants to double major in Political Science and History and would love to go to either W&M or a major school in DC. Problem is, I have a 3.4 GPA and not a lot of money. I did horribly my freshman year and my mom lost her job while my sister, who still lives with us, had a baby AND my mom had to worry about paying for my private school. In the end, I only pulled a 2.6 and failed math. I was taking Honors courses and lost them all as a result.</p>
<p>Now, I can say that I’ve maintained a 3.7 since then (3.6 Soph. and 3.8 Jr.). I took mainly honors classes this year and I’m taking 4 APs with 2 Honors courses this year. I have a 1700 composite SAT (not the greatest but I’m working on it.) I want to take the ACT and at least get a 30.</p>
<p>Will schools like this still bother considering me? I have a couple hooks on my side. I’m African-American (Howard isn’t one of my options, though) and my great-grandmother is Hispanic, both of my parents immigrated before I was born, I’m 1st gen., and my mom is a single mother.</p>
<p>Also, what are some other schools that I should check out? Thank you!</p>
<p>I would be sure to explain your situation either in your essay or in the space on the application for additional information. In the DC area I would look into Goucher, Catholic U, American U, Towson State (too far?) ,and maybe Loyola MD. And the University of the District of Columbia is a public university in DC (don’t know much about it but worth looking into). I don’t think W&M, GW, Georgetown, will be in the cards unless your boards go up. Good luck.</p>
<p>Also, if you are living in the DC metro area and are willing to attend school elsewhere, take a look at the Posse Foundation, which offers full scholarships to excellent LACs like Grinnell, Bucknell, Sawanee and Lafayette. [The</a> Posse Foundation](<a href=“http://www.possefoundation.org/]The”>http://www.possefoundation.org/)</p>
<p>Stay away from UDC, very low graduation rate. Check out George Mason and Mary Washington. You might also look into Salsibury (near the beach not DC).</p>
<p>@happy1 I’ll look more into the schools that you gave me. Should I still put W&M, GW, and Georgetown in my reaches just in case?</p>
<p>@ M’s Mom I know someone who plays field hockey at Richmond! I don’t know why I didn’t think of them before. Do you know where I could info. like what you gave me on other school’s websites? Should I just search ‘common data set’?</p>
<p>@ Mom24boys Thanks! I’ve actually never heard of Mary Washington. I’ll check them out! Salisbury is a pretty common school for people in my county to go to. :)</p>
<p>Yup: Google the name of the school+“common data set” and then check out the numbers for the most recent year available. Usually the 2010-2011 is available for most schools.</p>
<p>So far WM, American, Loyola, Goucher and Richmond are on my list. If I widen my geographic ares are they other schools I can check out. I still want a place with a strong history and maybe a DC semester.</p>
<p>UDC is what it is. It’s purpose and it’s mission is to be an open enrollment school serving a historically underserved population. Yes, it accepts students with very low academic skills, who need years of remedial classes before they begin working on credits. Yes, many of it’s students are working full time, and parenting their kids or grandchildren. The reality is that these thing impact test scores and 4 year graduation rates. How can they not? </p>
<p>But it’s got some incredibly hard working teachers and some incredibly hard working students. The school has also made some tough decisions to allocate resources to programs that it’s students need, but also to programs that benefit the city. Would I choose UDC for a student looking to study physics? No, probably not. But, they turn out better trained teachers than many “prestigious” schools, and can take someone with a 4th grade reading level and a talent with children and turn them into a college graduate with both the academic skills and the content knowledge to take on a classroom of their own. Similarly, if you’re hoping to work for some famous law firm doing corporate law, scratch them off your list, but if your passion is working with the poor and indigent and tackling social justice issues, you should check them out.</p>
<p>UDC doesn’t sound like a good fit for the OP, but it’s not a bad school, it’s a school built to serve a certain purpose, one this city desperately needs.</p>
<p>OP, VA does have some great schools, but I’d be careful about choosing an OOS public over an instate one. I’d look hard at Towson, Salisbury and UMBC. If you’re thinking that WM is a good fit, I’d look at St. Mary’s. </p>
<p>I’d also look at Catholic. I know a number of people who have gotten good aid there.</p>
<p>Thank you @CuriousJane! UMBC was a school that I was looking at as well. I’m a little nervous about the religious aspect at Catholic though since its something that they make sure they tell you first thing.</p>
<p>Some of the most amazing financial aid packages for students with profiles like yours come from the women’s colleges like Mt. Holyoke. There has been a big effort at Mt. Holyoke to recruit a diverse student population, and it would be worth exploring.</p>
<p>Thank you! I’ll check out those schools.
Women’s colleges always seem so intimidating to me though even though they do tend to have more tradition which I like. Does anyone have experience with them?</p>
<p>And please don’t hesitate to contact W&M’s Admission office for advice. They are truly the experts and will have the best information to guide you to W&M’s brick paths :)</p>
<p>Thank you! Unfortunately, I don’t live in VA so going to a CC there might be a little difficult. Either way, I’ll definitely try to visit with admissions and explore my options.</p>