Advice on college choices

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Liberal Art Colleges
1. Bowdoin College
2. Kenyon College
3. Haverford College
4. Macalester College
5. Amherst College
6. Claremont McKenna College</p>

<p>National Universities
1. University of Michigan
2. Brown University
3. Dartmouth College
4. Stanford University
5. University of Chicago
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. Vanderbilt University
8. Wake Forest University
9. University of Wisconsin - Madison</p>

<p>My preliminary list for my forthcoming college applications. Obviously I'll need to remove some colleges, so I can reach an optimal size of 10 colleges. Now I don't know if I have the perfect stats for all these colleges because I know how selective they are, but since I already have a place at a prestigious British university, I see no point in trying for a safety school. My main criteria is a generally down-to-earth student body, friendly and accessible professors and a strong economics department. If anyone has any more recommendations, I would appreciate it. Also, if you have any advice regarding the colleges I've selected (i.e. if its a far far reach) I would also like to hear it. </p>

<p>My stats are:
SAT I: 1380/1600
Maths 1: 710
Chemistry: 770
Maths 2: Taking it next month</p>

<p>Class rank: 1/100
GPA: 100/100 (international student - don't know how the GPA scale works)
A Levels: Maths, Government & Politics, Chemistry, Accounting, Greek all with grade A</p>

<p>ECs:
Model UN
Military service
Martial arts</p>

2

<p>Is English your first language? How does the SAT break out? Do you need aid</p>

<p>Unless your score reflects issues with the English language you have mostly major reaches.</p>

3

<p>Have you considered doing an online college search/matching service to fine tune your list? myUsearch.com and petersons.com offer services so you can put in your scores and your preferences to get a list of colleges that meet your needs.</p>

4

<p>You sound like a strong candidate for any of these schools. Is there any geographical region you would prefer? Why are you considering an American university if you already have a place at a strong British one? Is cost a factor?</p>

5

<p>Enditcott, I’m afraid I agree with hmom5. This is a list of mostly reaches. Unless this applicant is a URM or has a hook, the test scores are not going to be attractive to Haverford, Amherst, Stanford, Dartmouth, Chicago, UPenn or Brown. Of course, if OP is only looking for reaches, then he/she should pick whichever look interesting and apply-knowing that the chances are very slight indeed.</p>

6

<p>How large do your want your school to be? What kind of social life do you want? How urban?</p>

7

<p>My suggestion is to visit [College</a> Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/]College”>College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics).</p>

<p>Look up your individual schools and check under the admissions tab of each to see how your statistics match up. My personal opinion is somewhere between Endicott’s and hmom5’s. Your statistics are strong and your international background will be an attractive “hook” for a number (if not all) schools.</p>

<p>As for assessments of the student body and professors, you’re probably better off asking in the individual college forums.</p>

<p>I know very little about the individual LACs, my opinion of the National Universities:</p>

<p>Y=Yes
M=Maybe
N=No</p>

<ol>
<li>University of Michigan Y</li>
<li>Brown University M -> N</li>
<li>Dartmouth College M </li>
<li>Stanford University N</li>
<li>University of Chicago M</li>
<li>University of Pennsylvania M -> N</li>
<li>Vanderbilt University Y -> M</li>
<li>Wake Forest University Y</li>
<li>University of Wisconsin - Madison Y</li>
</ol>

<p>This, and any other answer you get, is pure speculation on our parts.</p>

8

<p>You can get a lot of information, including student quotes on Campus Life, Student Body, and Academics from PrincetonReview.com. Check it out, but take the ratings with a grain of salt.</p>

9

<p>English is not my first language. My SAT score is broken up like this: 730 Maths, 650 CR. I’m considering an American university because of the much more open curriculum in the US and the better assessment offered by US unis on the courses taken. I used the ‘Best Fit’ college search offered on Princetonreview.com and there were a lot of good schools on there, but none of the schools I dreamed about going in the US. Perhaps they may be a far reach, so I might throw in more realistic reaches. I know of the selectivity of these schools but I just don’t want to end up being accepted in a US college that will offer a sub-par economics degree. </p>

<p>Is Cal Poly any good in economics?</p>