Hey, I applied to 9 schools. Was rejected to Stony Brook. But say I am accepted to all the other 8, which one of those would be the best? My current rankings are below but any feedback? Any changes I should make?
Syracuse was always my top choice because I love everything about Syracuse University from the campus and their athletics program which is probably the best athletic school in the Northeast thanks to the ACC. My only complaint with it is the weather.
Don't laugh at my second choice, which is East Carolina University. Look, ECU may not be academically as good as the other schools, but I have learned there is more to a college than academics. ECU is still a pretty good school and has really good sports fans (may not be the best school for athletics, but still all the games are fun because their fans show up no matter how bad the team is), a really nice campus, and really good weather. That part of NC is not too cold, and not too hot.
Binghamton is my 3rd choice. What I like about Binghamton is that their computer science program is one of the nation's best. Campus is nice, but what I don't like about Binghamton is that it is in the middle of no where.
Virginia Tech would be my 4th choice because of their computer science program and it is another ACC School. But like Binghamton, it is in the middle of no where. From pictures, VT's campus looks bland.
Buffalo is my 5th choice. Campus is nice, school is good, and athletics are OK.
UCONN would be my 6th choice. Really good school, really nice campus and in a really nice location compared to the other schools. But unlike VT or ECU, their Out of State Tuition is really high and their computer science program isn't highly known as much as their other majors.
UNC is my 7th choice. Probably the best academic school here (maybe U of R is better) and the best athletics. Their campus is amazing and would be able to find a job right down in the NC Research Triangle after. But I feel I wouldn't fit in there (wouldn't feel as smart as everyone there) and their Out Of State is the highest.
The school I want to go to the least is U of R. Look, they are probably the best academic school here and a nice campus, but other things like athletics, tuition is the highest, and again, wouldn't feel as smart.
If you get into UNC CH, I’d go there in a heartbeat. They meet need, even for OOS students. Beats everything, even UR, by miles. Then I’d probably go UConn, then Virginia Tech.
Oh, and here’s a way to easily narrow down your choices - wait to see where you actually get in. If you’re OOS for UNC, it’s statistically very unlikely to get in if you got rejected at Stony Brook.
Your last place school, the University of Rochester, has the highest SAT scores in your group, so by common online standards your preferences have different bases than those of many posters. In your case, since you have been denied by one of your moderately selective choices, it may be best to not think too much about a “most selective” school such as U of R until you have an acceptance in hand.
But more to the point, your first place school, Syracuse, seems to meet your stated criteria really well. You can decide to regard real snow in winter as either a plus for the school, or, if not that, something that won’t affect you greatly.
You have done a great job determining what you need and want in an undergrad environment. Moving on from Stony Brook to think about viable choices is very mature. As a native New Yorker working in North Carolina, I felt like an alien despite really trying hard to fit in. I’d pick any of the NY schools or UConn. Best of luck @jamesa123.
I agree with @“Erin’s Dad” , wait and see where you get in and then narrow it down. Wait and see where the money falls too.
AND just my 2 cents about NC schools - UNC is UNC, and it is hard to turn that one down. You may be asked to apply for the Honors College at ECU, which offers a great scholarship and a strong community of great students. My daughter is friends with students that turned down UNC, Duke and even Princeton to go to ECU.
“UNC is UNC, and it is hard to turn that one down” (#10)
UNC, which by SAT scores slots in as a top 95 school, is not a particular standout within the OP’s group by the metric of selectivity. Rochester, a school within the top 62, may be however.
I agree with those who suggest you wait to see which schools accept you, before wrestling with this decision. You have a good GPA and good scores, so clearly you are a good student. Your options may become clearer once you have all your acceptances in. Then, visit the schools again (if at all possible), weigh the finances and make your decision. Trust your gut. Things usually become clear.