<p>Last college app went out tonight. I realize my list is kind of crazy, but each school did or does interest me for a reason different than the other. Any thoughts on what I'm looking at as far as acceptance/aid etc? I'm planning on starting the scholarship portion of the process and hope to put this away with just a few thoughts as to how it might play out.</p>
<p>Any opinions at all will be helpful. I'm just trying to be realistic about everything, so any opinions will be helpful. When applying I tried to take selectivity into account as well as location and financial aid. I didn't have a lot of help with the process (except for a little from my guidance counselor), so just doing a post mortem. Then I plan to look everything over again and PUT IT AWAY and not think about it until March! Thanks for any input.</p>
<p>I'm an independent student in legal guardianship, my essay was about my father's sickness and death during high school (bio mom never knew) but it's not morbid, it's about how his positive influence will be with me forever. </p>
<p>I have taken a lot of Honors and AP courses and have a 3.6 average with all A's in Senior Year so far (including AP Eng Lit and Pre Calc honors), good recs, some activities (not as many as I would like due to my father's illness I had to be home right after school but a mix of academic [school newspaper], sports [track] and arts). </p>
<p>I go to a very competitive high school in NY and am in the top 30 percent. </p>
<p>SAT I scores are 680 (cr) 650 (w) 610 (m) 770 Sat II Lit 630 SAT II Math 2 </p>
<p>My schools in MA:</p>
<p>Boston University
Boston College
Northeastern
Smith
Mount Holyoke
UMass Amherst </p>
<p>Re your other post about possible legacy consideration: consider calling the legacy school- speak with an actual admissions rep (not necessarily the phone answerer; maybe you can get to the rep for your home state) and pose your question. Under your circumstances, even if they can’t qualify you, a note may get into the file. Or, they may let you send an email that gets included. Ordinarily, one needs a close family relationship- but you seem like an on-the-ball kid and it’s worth a shot. In your case, I think your essay will probably come off well.
I think you picked a nice list and that you have good shots at all.
Good luck.</p>
<p>It looks like the two factors driving your choices are location and selectivity. In other respects it looks like a Frankenstein list. You’ve stuck together a cluster of selective women’s colleges (the head) with a bunch of moderately selective, mid-sized private universities (the body) and some public universities (the legs) in 3 neighboring states.</p>
<p>I assume the most selective schools (the women’s colleges) represent what you want most. If so, why not choose some match and safety schools with similar characteristics? Examples: SUNY Geneseo and St. Mary’s College of MD.</p>
<p>I have no idea why you applied to Penn State and UMass. You won’t get any FA from Penn State and even if you get some merit aid for tuition from UMass most of their COA are fees for which you won’t get any FA. Geneseo might be a match (with Bing) and Stony Brook and Albany are probable safeties.</p>
<p>First, please let me offer my condolences for the loss of your beloved father. </p>
<p>Your GC should have told you not to apply to OOS schools like Penn St and UMass. Those schools won’t give their limited aid to an OOS to cover the high OOS costs.</p>
<p>Mt Holyoke is generous and I hope it works out for you. I think your best bets (especially financially) are the SUNYs, Mt Holyoke, Barnard, and BC ( a reach, but may respond very well to your situation and essay).</p>