u/No-Musician-6082

Hi everyone! I'm starting to build my college list and would really appreciate some advice on my college application and essays.

Here are my stats (they are not great):

* 3.348 unweighted GPA
* 22 ACT (will be retaking soon and taking the SAT soon aswell)
* Took several AP classes in high school and now attend a local private college full-time through dual enrollment (PSEO), taking all college courses.

My extracurriculars are probably the strongest part of my application:

* Captain of a highly competitive Congressional Debate team for the past two years. Qualified for and competed at the National Speech & Debate Tournament.
* Varsity US and International Extemporaneous Speaking
* 2x HOSA ILC qualifier
* Selected as a delegate to the Minnesota Youth Institute after conducting independent research on food insecurity in Somalia. Presented my research through the Borlaug Foundation and the University of Minnesota, defended it before researchers, and was chosen to represent my state at the Global Youth Institute.
* Marketing intern for a congressional campaign during the 2024 election cycle, helping with outreach, communications, and events.
* Current marketing intern for a nonprofit's government relations committee where I create voter education content, organize community outreach, emcee networking events with state legislators, and started/ran voter registration booths.
* Academic tutor at a learning center.
* Hospital volunteer in Guest Services and the Birth Center.
* Volunteer teaching assistant at a weekend language school.

I plan to major in Public Health (or something closely related) and eventually want to work in healthcare research/epidemiology.

One complication is that my family situation has changed recently. We were previously an upper-middle-income household, but my dad recently lost his job. Right now our financial situation is pretty uncertain, so affordability is going to be a huge factor in where I apply.

Given my profile, what colleges in the U.S. should I be looking at that are known for:

* Strong need-based financial aid and/or generous merit scholarships
* Good Public Health or related programs
* Holistic admissions that value leadership, research, and community service

I'm open to schools anywhere in the country. I'd also appreciate hearing from anyone who had similar stats but strong extracurriculars and was able to receive significant financial aid.

Thanks in advance!

Hello, I am a rising highschool senior currenlty working on college applications. I was recently selected through my state's youth institute to attend the Global Youth Institute hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation this fall. The program is essentially, students submit a research paper on global food security, present it, interview, and then a limited number are selected from each state to attend the Global Youth Institute. As part of the program, I'll spend about a week in Des Moines with my expenses covered, attend the World Food Prize events, and have the opportunity to meet researchers, policymakers, and leaders working in agriculture, food security, and international development.

I was wondering how this opportunity is generally viewed by colleges, scholarship committees, or people familiar with agricultural/public health research. Is it considered a prestigious or selective program, or more of a solid extracurricular experience?

I'm genuinely curious because I hadn't heard of it before applying, and most information I can find is from the program itself. If anyone has participated or knows how it's regarded, I'd appreciate your perspective.