About Colleges in Michigan...?

Question

I'm a sophomore in highschool with a steady 3.6-3.8 GPA. I'm a year ahead in math and in spanish (which I've taken three years of already), and am in Honors Biology. In my junior and senior years, I intend on taking other honors and advanced classes, including debate, anthropology, Forensics, and Advanced Composition. I plan on going into forensics, specifically working with DNA in relation to crime. To be honest, I'm dead-set on it.

Money's beyond tight for us, and I have two colleges in mind (Albion and Ferris), but both are extremely expensive, and I'm afraid my GPA isn't enough to get enough of a scholarship.

What I'm asking, is should I get everything I can manage at Schoolcraft, and then try to transfer to one of these two schools after to save some money? Or would this be too much of a hassle and/or look bad, since I was going to such a cheap college for a while? Are there some other good colleges for forensics in MI that aren't so expensive?

Answer 1

I went to Ferris many yrs ago. (now live in L.A.) It's an xclnt school however I'm impressed that they're big in forensics. Hillsdale is also an xclnt school though not sure if they're forensic savvy. Schoolcraft is good - go there, work ur *** off at night and saaaaaaaaaave ur $$$. Once u leave Schoolcraft, go to the best school u can afford. Once u graduate from Ferris / Albion u'll be able to work anywhere in the country - so all ur $$ will come back to u 10-fold!!!
hope this helps -

Answer 2

I would apply to both schools, complete the FAFSA and then sit back and see what types of financial aid packages you're offered. Ferris or Albion might give you enough money in scholarships, grants and loans to allow you to attend full time (packages often include tuition, rent, living expenses and books). If they don't and you won't be able to afford the help with those costs, then start out at Schoolcraft.

If you decided to start out at a community college (and it will not reflect badly on you if you end up transferring to a four year school), look at Ferris and Abion's degree requirements for the degree you'll want to obtain eventually and then plan your community college courses accordingly.

For example. both schools will likely require some English, Math, Social Sciences and Communication courses. These are the types of courses you'll want to start out with at a community college. Your goal would be to take as many general/core requirements at community college with the intention of transferring them to whichever four year school you end up at. A little work and planning at the beginning can save you a lot of time and money in the end.

Good Luck!!

Answer 3

I would not give up on your dream schools yet. Use the community college as a back up plan if you have a lot in student loans because of the possibility of grad school. You have begun early on searching for scholarships which is great! Do not be so hard on yourself with your GPA, but you do need to keep it up there. I will include some free resources to locate money to attend college.

First, the college's financial aid office and website has a list of private scholarships offered from outside organizations and companies. Sometimes a college major's website will list scholarships, too.

Second, the public library has a book listing scholarships with some not even listed on the web.

Third, the high school guidance office has a list of local scholarships and state scholarships & grants for current high school students.

Fourth, fill out the FAFSA form after January 1 before the fall semester or quarter you begin on planning attending nursing school. It will qualify you for need based financial aid from the federal government and the school itself. It will come in the form of scholarships, Pell Grant, student loans, and the work study program.

Fifth, states do offer grant and scholarships for great grades. I recommend searching Google.com and Yahoo.com for them.

Finally, I recommend joining several free membership scholarship search websites. There are scholarships for a variety of things including ethnicity, clubs, hobbies, and even wearing duct tape to the high school prom. Most are updated on a regular basis. Most offer a customized search based on information entered onto a form on the website.

Good luck!