<p>Hi everyone, If I could have some suggestions of what colleges would be a good fit based on my info below I'd appreciate it. I am a current JUNIOR.</p>
<p>I have serious interest in Davidson and Colgate and I understand it would probably be a reach school.</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0 weighted
Class rank: top 20%
2AP
3 Honors classes
ACT: 28
Distinguished Honor Roll, Honor Roll</p>
<p>Clubs: Key Club, Spanish Club ( School got rid of Key Club 2013)</p>
<p>Work: YMCA swim instructor</p>
<p>All conference first team selection for Swimming
Photography featured in art show
2nd place in poetry competition
3 varsity letters</p>
<p>Volunteer Work: Working at a special needs horse barn and assisting in riding lessons with them.</p>
<p>Leadership: I am an assistant coach on my summer swim team.</p>
<p>Your chances would go up if you can study and raise your test scores.</p>
<p>Davidson’s 50% range for the ACT is 29-32. So getting up to a 31 or higher would increase your chances there. Remember that while they let people in with scores on the low end, often they have a hook (athlete, legacy, URM, special talent of some kind, etc.)</p>
<p>Colgate’s 50% range is 30-32, I’d shoot for a 32 to have a solid chance there.</p>
<p>If you want more suggestions, it would help if you provide some more information:
What are your cost constraints (and have you run the net price calculators with your parents for Davidson & Colgate yet)?
Do you have geographic limitations?
What is your planned major, and do you have any plans post-undergrad yet for continuing on to some kind of graduate or professional school?
What is your unweighted GPA?</p>
<p>I assume you prefer smaller schools based on your preference for Colgate & Davidson.</p>
<p>I am from Pennsylvania
I go to a public school, so nothing overly prestigious but it is a very nice school.
I do prefer smaller schools intparent. I want more of a community atmosphere rather than 30,000+ people on one campus.
I do not have any cost restraints. I was assured by my parents they would take care of cost if i found a place I was genuinely interested in.
GPA: My school only does weighted and they don’'t offer the unweighted option. (No Clue Why)
I plan to major in Biology. I want to become a veterinarian so that is the first step to Vet School.</p>
<p>People in my family have attended Colgate, Ivy Leagues, etc but I didn’t think of it is that much of a factor.</p>
<p>You might change your mind about your major, but if you stick with pre-vet you and your parents will want to enter vet school with as little debt as possible. It would be really great if you could enter vet school with some parental funds left over. Your GPA and ACT aren’t going to rock anybody’s world, so merit seems iffy at best unless you’re a URM. Davidson and Colgate are reaches for you right now. I suggest you begin looking for safeties and matches at state schools like Temple 31K, West Chester 22K (good animal lab), and Shippensburg 24K (safety). Penn State University Park 32K is a match. These state schools are going to be less expensive than most in-state LACs. When you look outside the state schools, look at Allegheny College 52K and maybe Dickinson 60K, where you’d be a match and where they give good FA. </p>
<p>Then run the “net price calculators” at some of these schools. You’ll need your parents help to do this. They might balk at doing this, but it’s in their best interest to learn just how much any of these schools is likely to cost before they say they’ll pay for any school. Remember, you want their help now and when you go to vet school, so frugal is the byword. You must know for sure before you create an application list that you and your parents can afford for you to go to any one of those schools (and still have a little left over for vet school [-O<). </p>
<p>I know there’s a good chance that I’m throwing cold water on some parts of your dream, but I’ve just been through this process with my D. I have some idea what I’m talking about. Other people on CC will also be able to help. One more thing: there’s no reason not to look outside of PA, but the OOS state schools will almost certainly be more expensive than the PA state schools. In general, the less expensive LACs (and state schools) are in the deeper South.</p>
<p>You might look at St. Mary’s College of Maryland as an option, too. You would be OOS, so about $35K/year. But it is a good size and in an almost summer-camp-like location on the St. Mary’s River. Quite rural, but looks down on the river. It is the public honors college for Maryland.</p>
<p>Guilford would probably be a low match for you, and sounds like a good fit, considering your attraction to Davidson. Look into all the “Colleges That Change Lives.” There might be more that would be appropriate for you. Earlham and Eckerd come to mind immediately. If your test scores rise, you might be able to cast your sights to more current “reach” schools. </p>