<p>My girlfriend and I really want to go to the same college together, but her GPA and class rank are lower than mine. I didn't post here to have people berate me about how it's "stupid to have that as a factor when selecting a college." I'm posting this asking 1) how likely is it that my girlfriend can get into the schools listed below, and 2) what are colleges that we could both get into or pairs of colleges that are very close/in the same town and would challenge me? I want to double major in math and either chemistry or physics, at least ATM lol. she's completely undecided, but probably not an English or business major. If i wasn't set on going to the same college as her I would probably be applying to:
Northwestern
U of C
UC Berkeley
UIUC
University of Michigan
Caltech
UW-Madison
University of Washington-St. Louis,
and maybe a couple east coast Ivy's (Yes, I know-the shotgun approach). For personal reasons I want to go to college with her, so if anyone could offer advice as to colleges that would fit the above criteria or a pair of colleges that are really close so we could see each other a lot, I would appreciate it IMMENSELY. thanks! (And sorry for the long post)</p>
<p>My stats: ~5.75 GPA (6 point weighted scale, all A's for 3 years), weighted rank 1/573, 34-35 ACT, most rigorous course load possible (all 3 AP sciences completed by graduation), 2 years Foreign Language. no volunteerism beyond 10 hrs. for NHS.</p>
<p>Girlfriend's stats: ~4.75 GPA (6 pt. scale), at the bottom of the top 25% (weighted), 30-31 ACT, rigorous course load (all honors/AP, but grades aren't consistent-hence 4.75 weighted), AP spanish, bio, chem, and maybe calc by graduation. LOTS of volunteering/service club hours.</p>
<p>Honestly, just pick a common city, don’t try for the same school, you will most probably come to regret it. You can do this in any major city and live together off campus if you want.</p>
<p>Are your/her ACT scores predicted or actual? What’s your/her unweighted GPA (less important for you, since you’re val)?</p>
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<p>A lot of schools require freshmen to live on campus. Nonetheless, schools in the same vicinity are a good idea if you guys are serious (which you obviously are). What state are you guys from? Some state flagships will accept kids with rigorous courseloads and less-than-stellar GPAs and still be a great option for you (I live in NC, though, so I may be biased–not everyone is lucky enough to have a “good” flagship). </p>
<p>Where is she interested? Boston may be a good place to start, since there are so many schools there.</p>
<p>glassesarechic - Actual-I got a 34 and she got a 30, but we retook it in school and we haven’t got the scores back yet. we live in IL, so UIUC would be the state college we’d go to. A lot of people go there from our school…if anyone has a good guess as to what my girlfriend’s chances would for getting in there that’d be great. and thanks to everyone for the east coast suggestions, i’ll have to look into those schools more. if anyone knows of other good combos I’d really appreciate it too.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad - both of our families are upper-average income i guess, so cost would be an issue, but more or less a workable one. And no, only got a 207 lol, not my best, semifinalist still but no juicy scholarships.</p>
<p>I agree, look at Boston and New York City, as well as have her look at some of the less selective colleges in the Chicago area if Northwestern and U of C are high on your list. You could probably do the same in other places, but I’m just more familiar with Chicago colleges.</p>
<p>Also, University of Washington is in Seattle. Washington University in in St. Louis</p>
<p>Barnard is very selective. Your girlfriend shouldn’t hope on it if she is in the middle of the pack in terms of grades and such. I know quite a few girls who couldn’t get into it last year.</p>
<p>How about the Claremont Colleges - Harvey Mudd for you and Pitzer for your girlfriend since she seems to be interested in volunteering (social justice work?)</p>
<p>Boston is absolutely the way to go for this. There are almost an infinite number of combinations, such as:</p>
<p>You: Brandeis, Tufts, BC or Olin (reach for anybody: MIT/Harvard)
Her: BU or Northeastern</p>
<p>FYI: Off topic, but you should really get another year of foreign language under your belt. Many of the upper-end schools you are considering would really like to see more than two years.</p>
<p>Wait. You made NMSF? If so you just need to fill out the paperwork and have an excellent chance of making finalist. As a finalist you could go to an excellent college for free that your girlfriend could also be accepted to.</p>
<p>Has anyone asked her parents if they want to spend $50K plus/yr for the level of school she’s likely to get into? You can get some merit aid but she’s unlikely to and many parents would insist on in state in her category.</p>
<p>For WUSTL, a school she could probably get into would be Saint Louis University. Decent school, not outstanding, but not that far from WUSTL (3-4 miles, maybe 4-5).</p>
<p>You could also look at some of the top Honors Colleges within the state schools. Three that have excellent reputations are Schreyer’s at Penn State (stats of students in Schreyer’s are right there with some Ivy schools), Barrett at Arizona State, and Barksdale at University of Mississippi. I believe Alabama’s is rising in reputation, and some say Georgia also. But I know the three I mentioned first are well established as top programs. I would think she would get into the “regular” school, although OOS is always tough to know, so I would apply to all three. It is probably the most ideal way for you to go to the “same” school yet for you to be with kids more at your level and in classes that are more challenging.</p>
<p>Redroses - your point is valid but we have to assume from the OP’s info that she can go wherever she gets in. If we start assuming things not in evidence there are dozens of factors that could be asked. Although I do agree finances is in a category by itself, usually.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad - ahhh crap lol my bad. i get the names mixed up…i got the commended thing. i must be unconsciously mad about my score lol.</p>
<p>Redroses - maybe, but her grades aren’t really her fault, I know that probably sounds really lame but that’s what it is and I’m not going to go into much detail lol, so she wouldn’t NOT benefit from it. But i know what you mean, and i wouldn’t want to do that to her either. </p>
<p>does anyone know if she’d be able to get into UIUC?</p>
<p>fallingchemist - thanks for the advice, i was interested in honors colleges too but i didn’t know where to start. and sorry for the cluelessness, but OOS=?</p>
<p>Both in Madison, WI. I think Edgewood is around $30,000 per year for tuition plus room and board. She would most likely be eligible for their top scholarship of $9,000 per year based on her stats.</p>