Another Request for College Suggestions /Insights

[Anonymous]

I’m the first across extended and immediate family to attend/graduate, so resources for this student(niece) is extremely limited and she has turned to me for help.

I think she’d do great at an HBCU, but the price tag of them took my breath away.

15yo
Family income: > $30000
Student GPA: 3.4 (enrolled in IB and honors)
From Rural Suburb in Fl
Participated in (Arts Magnet pretty much from K-now) school choir, dance, theatre
Loves to play the keyboard as her hobby
SAT/ACT Unknown as of right now
Prospective Major: Theatre (I’m trying to be supportive, but I’m terrified this is a bad idea)

We’ve discussed bright futures, and in state programs but that’s all I really know.

I’m be willing to help her with living expenses.
My only child is tuition exempt, and is choosing education as a major so it isn’t as hard as this.

[Anonymous]

I’d really request looking into Questbridge. And encourage her to really get that GPA up as much as possible in the next two years.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean to say family income is less than $30k? Because if it is above, that’s not very helpful guidance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d really request looking into Questbridge. And encourage her to really get that GPA up as much as possible in the next two years.

She should also read up on the Posse Foundation scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean to say family income is less than $30k? Because if it is above, that’s not very helpful guidance.

Less then! Oh geeze.

[Anonymous]

Come back when she's taken the SAT/ACT

Nothing matters till then

[Anonymous]

Muhlenberg
Ithaca College

Look for schools with high endowments and meets nearly full need.

Less competitive NESCAC, Colgate, Bucknell.

Agree look into Questbridge.

[Anonymous]

I would also read this. Written by a low-income student from Miami who attended Amherst.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/10/magazine/college-inequality.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Muhlenberg
Ithaca College

Look for schools with high endowments and meets nearly full need.

Less competitive NESCAC, Colgate, Bucknell.

Agree look into Questbridge.

I would highly doubt a 3.4 GPA will get her into Colgate and Bucknell... am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Muhlenberg
Ithaca College

Look for schools with high endowments and meets nearly full need.

Less competitive NESCAC, Colgate, Bucknell.

Agree look into Questbridge.

I would highly doubt a 3.4 GPA will get her into Colgate and Bucknell... am I missing something?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would also read this. Written by a low-income student from Miami who attended Amherst.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/10/magazine/college-inequality.html

Interesting read, as mentioned I would be prepared to cover her living expenses including travel.

She’s a child of 5, on a $28000 salary, I hope her siblings will follow suit if I’m able to bridge the financial gaps.
But I understand sometimes it takes a lot more than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Muhlenberg
Ithaca College

Look for schools with high endowments and meets nearly full need.

Less competitive NESCAC, Colgate, Bucknell.

Agree look into Questbridge.

Thank you we’ve been pouring ourselves over colleges that meet full need, narrowing them down (as much as we can right now) , and then SAT/ACT as soon as we get them.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn’t bright futures cover tuition (if meeting the requirements?), and financial aid cover the rest? That may give her quite a bit of options to seriously explore in FL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Muhlenberg
Ithaca College

Look for schools with high endowments and meets nearly full need.

Less competitive NESCAC, Colgate, Bucknell.

Agree look into Questbridge.

Thank you we’ve been pouring ourselves over colleges that meet full need, narrowing them down (as much as we can right now) , and then SAT/ACT as soon as we get them.

Then you are on the right track. If you have the time, learn to read a common data set, particularly the financial aid portion. You may find the details there more insightful than the simple lists.

And good luck to you. Student is lucky to have family like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would also read this. Written by a low-income student from Miami who attended Amherst.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/10/magazine/college-inequality.html

This article is devastating, but so important.

The first thing I thought of, honestly, was that scholarships for low-income students need to include travel expenses to go to/from home during breaks. Clearly that isn’t nearly enough, but it’s so sad to think of this man scrounging around for food at such a rich school.