I can't afford IIT full tuition. Scholarships!
August 8, 2011 8:39 PM Subscribe
IIT Chicago filter: 27 ACT and ~3.5 gpa. Chances of getting in? Scholarships? Should I retake my ACT? Questions...
I'm 17, just about to start my Senior year of highschool. I want to go to IIT for Mechanical Engineering. What sucks is the cost of going is pretty fucking expensive. According to college board, its a lot.
I don't look that great on paper. But I've done a lot outside of school, here is a synopsis:
I took piano classes for 8 years. Then i also took composition classes for a year. I've gotten into music production and I'm taking it very seriously, same with DJing, that's the main reason I want to go to Chicago. The ultimate goal is stardom, but...need a backup plan. :)
The biggest thing about me though is robotics. Since 6th grade, ive been going through the FIRST organization and all their robotics competitions. I did FLL for 3 years, Vex for 3 years, and I'm going to do FRC this year for a total of 3 years. For those that don't know what FIRST is, its a pretty well known robotics competition. Lots of colleges recognize FRC and give out scholarships for the program. I've heard from people that colleges want to see that you have a passion for what you do. I can really show that with the whole robotics program. I can get $6000 a year through IIT. Not bad. :) But they only give out 25 a year...
I also have been working at a computer store 3 days a week for almost 2 years where i fix computer with various problems. I could write about that too in an application.
I've done volunteer work, I volunteered at a my cities river clean up, I've volunteered at several robotics regionals, and I also volunteered at a summer camp for kids 1-4th grade. 4 camps in total, each camp is 3 days with a morning and afternoon session with different kids.
My mom really bitched at me tonight how I'm lazy and I'm going to community, or I'm going to be like $150,000 in debt because I didn't get any scholarships. My opinion, I think my resume is...ok?, my GPA is kind of weird. Its around a 3.4 unweighted, but I took a lot of honors classes. My school is in a weird transitional phase, my official GPA doesn't weight classes that I took before Junior year, but starts giving me a weighted score for ones that I took after Junior year, but also, they have an "unofficial" GPA where they wen't back and gave weight to honors classes that I took. I have a 3.7 with that one. I got 2 Cs so far, one in Trig, and one in Calc. I took calc during the build season with robotics, which is every day for 3 hours and all day on weekends, and I also worked for 3 hours 3 days a week during tha period. Thats what killed my calc grade. :/ IIT says the rigour of my high-school classes is a "very important Admission Factor" right up there with my GPA. So hopefully the admission office pities me or something.
I talked to someone that got a full ride to IIT and he said that the best thing I can do is apply early to the school, because the scholarship money is first come first serve.
So please, help me and share with me what I should do, think IIT will give me some cash, let alone accept me? I wan't to go into mechanical engineering. Are there other colleges in Chicago that offer that Major that you can recommend?
Phew...lots of writing. Hopefully someone has the patience to help me. Thanks! :D
I'm 17, just about to start my Senior year of highschool. I want to go to IIT for Mechanical Engineering. What sucks is the cost of going is pretty fucking expensive. According to college board, its a lot.
I don't look that great on paper. But I've done a lot outside of school, here is a synopsis:
I took piano classes for 8 years. Then i also took composition classes for a year. I've gotten into music production and I'm taking it very seriously, same with DJing, that's the main reason I want to go to Chicago. The ultimate goal is stardom, but...need a backup plan. :)
The biggest thing about me though is robotics. Since 6th grade, ive been going through the FIRST organization and all their robotics competitions. I did FLL for 3 years, Vex for 3 years, and I'm going to do FRC this year for a total of 3 years. For those that don't know what FIRST is, its a pretty well known robotics competition. Lots of colleges recognize FRC and give out scholarships for the program. I've heard from people that colleges want to see that you have a passion for what you do. I can really show that with the whole robotics program. I can get $6000 a year through IIT. Not bad. :) But they only give out 25 a year...
I also have been working at a computer store 3 days a week for almost 2 years where i fix computer with various problems. I could write about that too in an application.
I've done volunteer work, I volunteered at a my cities river clean up, I've volunteered at several robotics regionals, and I also volunteered at a summer camp for kids 1-4th grade. 4 camps in total, each camp is 3 days with a morning and afternoon session with different kids.
My mom really bitched at me tonight how I'm lazy and I'm going to community, or I'm going to be like $150,000 in debt because I didn't get any scholarships. My opinion, I think my resume is...ok?, my GPA is kind of weird. Its around a 3.4 unweighted, but I took a lot of honors classes. My school is in a weird transitional phase, my official GPA doesn't weight classes that I took before Junior year, but starts giving me a weighted score for ones that I took after Junior year, but also, they have an "unofficial" GPA where they wen't back and gave weight to honors classes that I took. I have a 3.7 with that one. I got 2 Cs so far, one in Trig, and one in Calc. I took calc during the build season with robotics, which is every day for 3 hours and all day on weekends, and I also worked for 3 hours 3 days a week during tha period. Thats what killed my calc grade. :/ IIT says the rigour of my high-school classes is a "very important Admission Factor" right up there with my GPA. So hopefully the admission office pities me or something.
I talked to someone that got a full ride to IIT and he said that the best thing I can do is apply early to the school, because the scholarship money is first come first serve.
So please, help me and share with me what I should do, think IIT will give me some cash, let alone accept me? I wan't to go into mechanical engineering. Are there other colleges in Chicago that offer that Major that you can recommend?
Phew...lots of writing. Hopefully someone has the patience to help me. Thanks! :D
Can you retake Calc and Trig somehow? Your math grades may need to be higher to be competitive.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 9:03 PM on August 8, 2011
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 9:03 PM on August 8, 2011
Well, you probably want to talk to your high school counselors, but...
A 27 ACT and a 3.5 GPA is fine - not GREAT, but fine. However, if you want to do engineering, your poor grades in advanced math don't bode well for your future math performance.
But here's what you do:
- Apply to IIT. Work really really hard on your personal statement and focus in on how IIT is your perfect school. Get recommendation letters from people that know your dedication to robotics. If you have the money, get a college coach to help you with your application.
- But apply to other schools too! Apply to all of your in-state schools that have mechanical engineering programs and especially the ones that have affiliations with your robotics organization.
No need to get stressed out about what schools you can and can't get into. With your ACT and GPA, you have a decent shot at many schools, so it is worth applying to as many as possible so that you have choices come spring of next year.
In the meantime:
- Consider a college coach/advisor if you can afford it. I hate that these things exist, but a lot of kids use them nowadays and it will help you overall.
- Really work on your personal statement.
- If you can re-study and re-take the ACT (or the SAT) and do better, that will help you a bit. If a few weeks of studying could add 3 points to your ACT score and potentially help with your overall package, that'd be good.
- Take an SAT II or AP math test or 3. That would "prove" to the schools that your poor math grades were a fluke, so to speak.
posted by k8t at 9:03 PM on August 8, 2011
A 27 ACT and a 3.5 GPA is fine - not GREAT, but fine. However, if you want to do engineering, your poor grades in advanced math don't bode well for your future math performance.
But here's what you do:
- Apply to IIT. Work really really hard on your personal statement and focus in on how IIT is your perfect school. Get recommendation letters from people that know your dedication to robotics. If you have the money, get a college coach to help you with your application.
- But apply to other schools too! Apply to all of your in-state schools that have mechanical engineering programs and especially the ones that have affiliations with your robotics organization.
No need to get stressed out about what schools you can and can't get into. With your ACT and GPA, you have a decent shot at many schools, so it is worth applying to as many as possible so that you have choices come spring of next year.
In the meantime:
- Consider a college coach/advisor if you can afford it. I hate that these things exist, but a lot of kids use them nowadays and it will help you overall.
- Really work on your personal statement.
- If you can re-study and re-take the ACT (or the SAT) and do better, that will help you a bit. If a few weeks of studying could add 3 points to your ACT score and potentially help with your overall package, that'd be good.
- Take an SAT II or AP math test or 3. That would "prove" to the schools that your poor math grades were a fluke, so to speak.
posted by k8t at 9:03 PM on August 8, 2011
IIT Chicago filter: 27 ACT and ~3.5 gpa. Chances of getting in?
This is all a better question for your college counselers. But what don't you look at the raw numbers, here: the middle 50% of first year students have a 25-31 on their ACTs. So your ACT score is dead average. 64% of applicants are admitted. This sounds to me like you have a pretty good chance of getting in.
Depending on what your financial need is, you will get a substantial amount of financial aid. These days, you will likely graduate with an average of $25,000 in debt. That's not IIT-specific, it's just what the average for many people is. If you look up the stats on the same web site you pointed to, 335 out of 370 aid applicants received some kind of aid, and 85 had their "full need met."
It sounds like you don't really understand how a lot of this works: the idea is that you apply for financial aid. Very few people pay the "full sticker price" of tuition and take out $150,000 in loans. Instead, you apply for financial aid, the school looks at your parents' income, and your family ends up paying "what they can," the school gives you need based scholarships to cover the bulk of things, and then you take out a moderate amount of loans (which shouldn't be more than $25,000 for a private institution).
But also consider UIUC and U-I Chicago, which are public institutions and have lower tuition costs, assuming you live in Illinois.
posted by deanc at 9:05 PM on August 8, 2011
This is all a better question for your college counselers. But what don't you look at the raw numbers, here: the middle 50% of first year students have a 25-31 on their ACTs. So your ACT score is dead average. 64% of applicants are admitted. This sounds to me like you have a pretty good chance of getting in.
Depending on what your financial need is, you will get a substantial amount of financial aid. These days, you will likely graduate with an average of $25,000 in debt. That's not IIT-specific, it's just what the average for many people is. If you look up the stats on the same web site you pointed to, 335 out of 370 aid applicants received some kind of aid, and 85 had their "full need met."
It sounds like you don't really understand how a lot of this works: the idea is that you apply for financial aid. Very few people pay the "full sticker price" of tuition and take out $150,000 in loans. Instead, you apply for financial aid, the school looks at your parents' income, and your family ends up paying "what they can," the school gives you need based scholarships to cover the bulk of things, and then you take out a moderate amount of loans (which shouldn't be more than $25,000 for a private institution).
But also consider UIUC and U-I Chicago, which are public institutions and have lower tuition costs, assuming you live in Illinois.
posted by deanc at 9:05 PM on August 8, 2011
PS, you don't know what sort of financial aid that you'll be eligible for yet. In January after your parents do their taxes, fill out a FAFSA, have it sent to all the schools that you applied for, and see what sort of financial aid packages they'll offer you.
6 figures of debt for undergraduate is almost NEVER worth it. Is an IIT degree really worth so much more than University of Illinois or whatever?
posted by k8t at 9:06 PM on August 8, 2011
6 figures of debt for undergraduate is almost NEVER worth it. Is an IIT degree really worth so much more than University of Illinois or whatever?
posted by k8t at 9:06 PM on August 8, 2011
In my experience, raising ACT and SAT scores is incredibly easy - literally three short practice sections raised my reading SAT from 680 to 800 (all I really needed was confidence in my gut). You don't need a fancy tutor - jus the official(!) book with real test questions, and do the practice tests and go over what went wrong with your wrong answers. Some of the kaplan-type books also have good guides to answering the questions, but nothing parallels the practice tests of the official books. You can get several of those books on amazon for the price of one testing fee - do it. Have an exemplary score - it's not nearly as hard as you think. I think most students settle for a score far below what they are capable of.
Also, take both the SAT and ACT. I know, regionally, it's more 'normal' to take one or the other, but any school worth its salt (including IIT) will let you submit either, and if you do better on one than the either (which most people do), then the school never even has to see the other.
I'm currently in my first quarter of college ever, so I'm not an authority of debt and the future, but to be honest, I aced college admissions. I got into every school I applied to, including my #1 choice by far, and there wasn't really a school I didn't have a shot at. And I was not an amazing high school student, nor did I have an amazing hook.
Write a great essay. Put together an amazing application. Get an amazing test score. None of those things are out of your reach. And apply to every single scholarship you can find - start at fastweb, but also google around for local ones. Your college decision does not have to be made now - wait until May for that. All you need to do now is get all the cards on the table: see who will admit you and who will give you money, and then go from there.
posted by R a c h e l at 11:16 PM on August 8, 2011
Also, take both the SAT and ACT. I know, regionally, it's more 'normal' to take one or the other, but any school worth its salt (including IIT) will let you submit either, and if you do better on one than the either (which most people do), then the school never even has to see the other.
I'm currently in my first quarter of college ever, so I'm not an authority of debt and the future, but to be honest, I aced college admissions. I got into every school I applied to, including my #1 choice by far, and there wasn't really a school I didn't have a shot at. And I was not an amazing high school student, nor did I have an amazing hook.
Write a great essay. Put together an amazing application. Get an amazing test score. None of those things are out of your reach. And apply to every single scholarship you can find - start at fastweb, but also google around for local ones. Your college decision does not have to be made now - wait until May for that. All you need to do now is get all the cards on the table: see who will admit you and who will give you money, and then go from there.
posted by R a c h e l at 11:16 PM on August 8, 2011
*on debt and the future.
Nor am I an authority on spellcheck, or grammar.
posted by R a c h e l at 11:16 PM on August 8, 2011
Nor am I an authority on spellcheck, or grammar.
posted by R a c h e l at 11:16 PM on August 8, 2011
Is your mom helping you out with the college-application process? It sounds like she has a lot of criticism to give on the subject in general. It's understandable that you might not know everything about college, scholarships and loans, but if she is so critical on the subject, maybe she should at least help you research, and by research, I mean actually looking up scholarships, or learning more about the FAFSA, or knowing which schools are both great and cheap. I'm sorry, but if all a parent does is tell you what school you should be going to, or what subject you should be majoring in, without any sufficient research or statistic, then that's not research.
At the same time, you should be letting your mom know when you need help. College isn't a process you should be doing all by yourself, but if you don't say anything to anyone, no one is going to help.
Why don't you talk to your mom about what you wrote down here. Tell her that you need help, that you don't know much about financing your college tuition and you don't know too much about qualifications for getting accepted. When you bring up numbers like $150k without an idea on how to finance it, it probably freaked your mom out because that's a lot of debt for any young adult to carry. I'm not saying it's your fault, and your mom definitely could have handled the situation better, but you both need to be open with each other and understand that neither of you probably know what's going on. When you're open with your parents, it really helps down the road because you are less likely to make assumptions on how much your parents will be chipping in for college (if at all).
Ask your mom how much of the tuition she reasonably expects to be paid in scholarships. How much of it in loans? Grants? Both of you probably need to look at scholarships together to get an idea of how many you will need to pay for tuition.
posted by nikkorizz at 10:24 AM on August 9, 2011
At the same time, you should be letting your mom know when you need help. College isn't a process you should be doing all by yourself, but if you don't say anything to anyone, no one is going to help.
Why don't you talk to your mom about what you wrote down here. Tell her that you need help, that you don't know much about financing your college tuition and you don't know too much about qualifications for getting accepted. When you bring up numbers like $150k without an idea on how to finance it, it probably freaked your mom out because that's a lot of debt for any young adult to carry. I'm not saying it's your fault, and your mom definitely could have handled the situation better, but you both need to be open with each other and understand that neither of you probably know what's going on. When you're open with your parents, it really helps down the road because you are less likely to make assumptions on how much your parents will be chipping in for college (if at all).
Ask your mom how much of the tuition she reasonably expects to be paid in scholarships. How much of it in loans? Grants? Both of you probably need to look at scholarships together to get an idea of how many you will need to pay for tuition.
posted by nikkorizz at 10:24 AM on August 9, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
You should be applying to a variety of schools anyways, from "safety" to "reach" even if you really really want to go to IIT, because college admissions are a crap shoot even with great grades... and a prospective mechanical engineer with a C in high school calc is a tough sell. Did you take the AP Calc exam? If you did really well on that, that might help balance your grade.
posted by Jahaza at 8:58 PM on August 8, 2011