I am stunned so many people believe the OP is a teenager. Do you all know any teenagers?

Someone upthread mentioned TCU and, based on this chart, it looks like you’d have a great chance of getting a good chunk of merit. Comb through this list and see what else is worth pursuing.
https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/merit-aid/

I'd look for NE OOS flagships for a full ride:
U-Vermont
U-Mass Amherst
U-NH
U-Maine

Many of them are throwing around money to get high achieving students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the eyeroll for "southern schools?"

I was just going to post this same question. Op, please explain.

I want to work in the Northeast after grad + South is way too red

Figured it was a not to their liberal parents who did not bother to save for college (=selfish) and expect others (in the form of institutional scholarships) to pay the way.

Good luck to you, student. You were dealt this hand. Community college, transfer, and a job may be the path to your success.

OP, I have a story to give you hope. The most intelligent person I went to high school with went to our state school on a full ride. He did very well there and got a significant scholarship to every good law school, which is rare. He went on to have the most prestigious career in the law of anyone in my age range, not in terms of money but prestige. If money were his motivator, he would be an equity partner at a big appellate firm. The rest of his cohorts, many of us born with silver spoons, have done okay, but he's the most successful. He always was. His family's lack of funds didn't change his trajectory.

Can you work and go to a community college and then transfer after 2 years? Sorry your parents can't help out. that sucks.

Cornell ROTC and med school - lots of success stories!!!
Google!

Anonymous wrote:ED to william & mary. Or do rotc, if you can get into MIT you must be a science person, and typically you wont see combat in the military coming from a school like that. Also, if you can get into MIT, you can get into a place like Olin or RIT with merit.

Same with Cornell and ROTC

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever you do begin with the end in mind. Can you get any job shadowing or intern experiences? Any work connections from a friend of a friend? A school helps give you a network for jobs prestige won't pay your bills unless it gets you a better job.

I plan to major in pre-med, pysch, or neuro so I'm shadowing a few doctors this summer

0 work connections that are in any way related to what I want to do

If you're going to go to med school there's no reason to avoid Southern schools because of where you want to work eventually - there's a whole match situation that is out of your hands anyway. Go to the school that gives you the most merit aid and bust your hump to be the top student in your major. Focus on your GPA and you'll stand out when you apply for med school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if your parents will pay in state, then I’d go to UVA or W&M. If they pay for nothing, go wherever you can get a full ride. Med school loans are huge. Future you will be happy that current you went to undergrad debt-free.

If your parents saved zero, then I’m sorry that happened to you. Costs today really aren’t the same as when your parents went through. You’ll do better by your kids.

They won't even pay in-state. Any time I ask to confirm that there is literally nothing saved for me or my siblings I'm always told that they didn't save anything so I'll have to rely on scholarships, pay my own way, or take out loans.

.

DO NOT TAKE OUT $200k in loans. Swallow your pride, do CC then switch.

do you have any siblings? did they pay for them?
Talk to your counselor as well. You are a smart kid and you should not give up on your education. I'm so proud of you.

Any of the Virginia schools would give you some scholarship? no? would they let you stay home while you go to GMU to cut costs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the eyeroll for "southern schools?"

I was just going to post this same question. Op, please explain.

Dp. Everyone has preferences. Would you question a person from the South not wanting to go to school in the northetn states?

But his choices are limited by cost and he could get a free ride at Alabama. He should at least visit, but he’s really focused on feeling sorry for himself right now. When we were house hunting, I really wanted a large, remodeled pre-war SFH. We couldn’t afford it, so we bought something else. That’s life.

There is no reason to go into debt for a pre-med degree.

If you are going to be covering the costs by yourself, I highly recommend doing the two-year community college and transferring to William and Mary after. My niece did this in a different state, and it saved her a ton of money.

I will also add, though, the costs of in-state VA schools vary GREATLY. One of my DC goes to the University of Mary Washington, and her costs with scholarship (they are generous) are around $25k a year. William and Mary in-state is $45K a year.

If you are looking for schools with merit aid, my DC had the best luck with Xavier University in Cincinnati. Good luck to you!

Apply UMd for a shot at Banneker/Key

Look at the Catholic schools - My son, with average stats but a sport, was offered lots and lots of financial aid.