Aaaah! I'm So Bad At Choosing Colleges!

<p>Hey people,</p>

<p>I have great extra-curricurs, a so-so 2080 score for SAT I and I'm applying to these universities (as a Canadian international):</p>

<p>Harvard
Stanford
Princeton
Yale
UPenn
USC
Rice
Georgetown</p>

<p>That means 8 universities and approx $500 in application costs. The problem is that I'm finding it impossible to cut down... should I? Is this a reasonable number? And also... are there any matches/safeties on this list? I've heard that UPenn and USC aren't quite as competitive as the others.</p>

<p>The thing is, I want to go to the US only if I get into a great school (otherwise i'd just stay in Canada). are there any other universities that i should add or cut off my list?</p>

<p>Help is greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Redwall</p>

<p>BTW: I'm going to be studying the arts and science. and cost is a big concern</p>

<p>I think you should look for more matches and safeties; your list is a bit on the unrealistic side.</p>

<p>Harvard
Stanford
Princeton
Yale
UPenn
Georgetown</p>

<p>...are all very hard to get into (lets not forget your international status). I would not expect much money either.</p>

<p>Are your ECs truly exceptional? National or international level honors? If not, the list is wholly unrealistic. You don't tell us class rank, but the 2080 is well below average for these schools, not to mentional for an international.</p>

<p>This list is loaded with reaches and very shy of matches/safeties (are there any?!). You need to do a little more homework. There are lots of wonderful American colleges that maybe you've never heard of. </p>

<p>You are unlikely to get merit money at any of them. (Although I know nothing about financial aid and internationals.)</p>

<p>What is your GPA? Course load?</p>

<p>I rank pretty high in my class and my ECs are excellent. I believe that my reference letters will be good as well. I'm taking the hardest courseload available at my school. How do I go about choosing some less competitive schools w/ Merit Aid? I was thinking of Univ. of Florida... are there any that offer big scholarships to internationals?</p>

<p>Should I go ahead and try to apply to these competitive schools anyway?</p>

<p>Thanx.</p>

<p>You should tell what are these "excellent" EC and be a little more specific than "I ranked pretty high in my class." Cuz almost all of your choices are extremely hard to get into... You can apply to any schools you want to but we cant really chance you if you dont give us enough info.</p>

<p>look at Umich, which is my number 1... pretty good college :p</p>

<p>hope i help</p>

<p>Chicago, Emory, Vanderbilt might be worth looking into as excellent schools that are easier to get into than most on your list and are much smaller than the best Canadian schools. Also, who told you USC was "great"? Does anybody out there think it's better than Toronto, McGill, or Queens?</p>

<p>You might want to consider New York University, Boston University, Colgate, Syracuse University, the UC's, Tufts, Amherst, Pomona, George Washington University, Emory, and Drexel. Some aren't exactly prestigious, but they do offer great programs and you are more likely to be accepted than some of the others on your list. </p>

<p>You should have about two reaches, three matches, and two safeties (my personal opinion). To research information regarding the schools check out princetonreview.com or collegeboard.com</p>

<p>as a fellow canadian i must say i have seen few canadians who have what top us schools consider exceptional ECs> unless you went to UCC your rank needs to be very close to ONE to be competitive and most of these schools> Are you being realkistic?</p>

<p>From your other posts, I'd say you have little chance at your first 5 schools. USC isn't a great school, so decide if that's woth they money because that's your best chance.</p>

<p>Don't apply to University of Florida when there's McGill and University of Toronto in Canada.</p>

<p>^Unless you like your weather a little warmer.</p>