What am I not learning about college admission from my lower income school?

[Anonymous]

It's all about the money. Schools offer wildly different financial aid. A lower-income student needs to apply to the usual range of schools (reach, match, safety), but they all need to be schools that offer generous need based aid. Do some research, use the calculators on college website, don't get too attached until you see the fin aid package. Do your FAFSA and CSS profile early. Show interest in the school by interviewing (and really try to visit if possible). See if the colleges have fly out programs for minority or low income students, if they do, apply. Small school are more likely to give great financial aid to students who seem very interested. If you don't get enough money, CC and then transfer is a good backup plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most elite schools (e.g. Harvard, Princeton, Stanford) are actively looking for first generation college students and low income students. First generation may be as much of a tipping factor as legacy for a highly-qualified student. And for a family whose household income is 60K or less, if a student is admitted, room & board as well as tuition will be free. No loans to pay off after school.

So the biggest message for super-bright/highly accomplished low-income or first-generation kids is THESE SCHOOLS WANT YOU if you can prove you're capable of doing the work. It's not a matter of easing into college with a state school because your parents never went to college. Or looking for the cheapest option because that's all you can afford. Aim for the top if you're smart. Don't aim only for the top -- everybody has to hedge his/her bets. But it's a weird system right now where the previously most exclusive schools may actually be more accessible/welcoming to some low income schools than public schools (or private schools one or two tiers down).

This is a big deal at the elite schools. The Times has a long story about first generation students at the Ivies for this Sunday's print edition. [url]http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/education/edlife/first-generation-students-unite.html?
[/url] At the same time, the smartest student at a low-income high school is going to be facing some serious class and culture shock in addition to some really heightened expectations in the classroom.

Yes. Heighted expectations in the classroom is one of the reasons I recommended summer programs. And the university-based programs might help a little with class and culture shock. Or you just dig in and focus on your schoolwork and meet the other kids who care more about that stuff than money and vacations. BTDT and it worked for me. Also, these universities (and others) will have programs designed to support the students they admit. Raise concerns, seek help, etc. but don't just rule yourself out by not applying if you're interested and able.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's all about the money. Schools offer wildly different financial aid. A lower-income student needs to apply to the usual range of schools (reach, match, safety), but they all need to be schools that offer generous need based aid. Do some research, use the calculators on college website, don't get too attached until you see the fin aid package. Do your FAFSA and CSS profile early. Show interest in the school by interviewing (and really try to visit if possible). See if the colleges have fly out programs for minority or low income students, if they do, apply. Small school are more likely to give great financial aid to students who seem very interested. If you don't get enough money, CC and then transfer is a good backup plan.

Money's a big deal, but setting your kid up first to have a chance at admission and secondly to succeed if admitted matters as well. And you may not be able to count on your DC's high school to do that for you in that way that people at private and affluent public schools can. (And even they don't.)

If they're available/appropriate, you might consider some community college courses now -- as a step toward college readiness at a better school after graduation from HS. Again, BTDT.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all so much, this is super helpful!

[Anonymous]

For a student with academic and leadership potential, look into the Posse Foundation, which gives scholarships and provides pre-collegiate training, support during college and career preparation/support to scholarship recipients from urban schools (including DC metro area). Groups of a dozen or so students are trained together and attend the college together, forming a "posse." The DC Posse Foundation has partnerships with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sewanee, Bucknell, Lafayette, Rochester, and Grinnell.

https://www.possefoundation.org/about-posse/program-components/recruitment/nomination-process