Am I looking at the right schools?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My Major Dilemma: I qualify for little to no financial aid and can only manage a bill of about $10,000 a year for tuition, room, and board. I plan on attending graduate school so taking out huge loans is not a good idea.</p>

<p>I'm considering a variety of majors including math, physics, and some type of engineering (aerospace is looking quite appealing). I'd also like to at least minor in a more humanities-oriented field like philosophy, German studies, or Asian studies.</p>

<p>I'm not quite sure if I'm applying to enough schools, so college suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>My list:</p>

<p>Schools I'm applying to just in case a miracle occurs:</p>

<p>Stanford
Washington University in St. Louis</p>

<p>Reach:</p>

<p>Vanderbilt
Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>Match:</p>

<p>Case Western
Boston University</p>

<p>Safety:</p>

<p>University of Tennessee: Knoxville
I could use a few more safeties.</p>

<p>My Stats:
Academic GPA: 4.0 uw
Rank: 1/22
SAT I: 800/800/780
SAT II's: Math IIC 800 - waiting to the last minute to take Physics and German w/Listening = bad idea
AP: Physics C - 2 5's</p>

<p>I take the majority of my classes at my local university and with EPGY, so that's why I'm short on AP credit compared to most people here.</p>

<p>This year's courses:
University of Tennessee: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Two semesters of U.S. History, Optics and Modern Physics, and another to be determined physics course
EPGY: Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Real Analysis, and Partial Diffy Q's, IF my parents agree to the bill. I like math and this will be the first year I can take the courses I want to (hopefully)...
There's also the possibility that I'll self-study AP Chemistry, but I don't know if I'll have the time or energy.</p>

<p>The garden-variety ECs:
Varsity soccer player
Peer tutor
Classical pianist
Working on a math project with a professor at UT
Attended Interlochen Arts Camp
Attended Governor's School for the Sciences</p>

2

<p>You've got a very good list and don't really need to add any schools, unless you aren't happy with your safety. If you really like the school and you can afford it, you only need one safety.</p>

<p>I would only add schools that: (1) you really, really like, or (2) have good opportunities for merit aid.</p>

3

<p>This is just my take on it, but I would say you have a very good shot at Wash U St. Louis. Stanford is a reach for everyone, although it won't take a miracle for you to get in there considering your rank, sat's, and your variety in EC's. I also don't think Vanderbilt is a reach for you, I'd move into at least the match category.</p>

4

<p>i think you have a pretty good chance at some of those schools. nice SAT's!
These "miracles" aren't too unrealistic.</p>

5

<p>If you need financial aid, then I think Wash U St. Louis will provide quite a bit. They like getting applicants with your sat's and class rank, as they are trying to bolster their reputation (which means higher averages and such; the "numbers game" so to speak). Ivy's are need blind, so they won't give any aid except for what you demonstrate (they are prohibited from merit scholarships). Your best shot for merit aid (for which you are definitely qualified) would be to apply to excellent schools that aren't Ivy's.</p>

6

<p>Have you considered MIT, U Michigan, U Illinois, Cal Tech, Georgia Tech? Cornell is strong in Asian Studies and there is a mechanical/aerospace major for undergrads.</p>

7

<p>dude you have good chances at all of those schools. good luck</p>

8

<p>USC can give out large merit aid, loves its grads to have minors in non related fields, and offers most if not all of the programs you mentioned. It's worth checking out, i'd say.</p>

9

<p>Great job. Lola are you female? I've got to tell you that my D has the same wonderful profile you do -except you slaughtered the SAT. Just killed it. I think that changes things. You would be a strong candidate at Cal Tech for a generous scholarship and by your profile as given, that is probably where you need to be.Two more schools to add-Tulane at the match, and U Miami at the safety. Both may be very generous, with full tuition scholarships a real possibility. Again, outstanding work, whatever gender you are.</p>

10

<p>I think there is WAY too big a gap between Stanford and WUSTL. Stanford is never a sure bet, and you could easily end up at WUSTL, which is a great school, but you can do better unless they give you merit aid. I recommend adding Duke, Penn, Princeton, Northwestern, Cornell, Michigan, and Rice. </p>

<p>As is:</p>

<p>REACH
Stanford</p>

<p>Match:
Washington University in St. Louis</p>

<p>Safe/ Match:
Vanderbilt
Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>Absolute Safety (I know kids with 1200s and 3.4s who get in all the time):
Case Western
Boston University</p>

<p>Why apply unless for full merit aid:
University of Tennessee: Knoxville</p>

<p>You could NOT use a few more safeties. Your risk is at the top end, not the bottom. As is, if Stanford rejects you and wUSTL doesnt give you a scholarship you could end up at a school much worse than you can get into. Places like Princeton are reasonable for you and places like Duke are strong bets. I think you need to re-think the list a lot. I have seen countless lists like yours, and it usually ends up with the person going to a far worse school than they are capable of.</p>

11

<p>I think that you should also add Smith to your list.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Engin/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Engin/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Picker engineering students have a unique opportunity to pursue graduate studies. In order to encourage our students to pursue high-level careers in engineering, a number of leading graduate programs have signed articulation agreements with Smith. Students who maintain an overall GPA of 3.5 and a GPA of 3.5 within the major are automatically admitted to graduate study in an engineering discipline at Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University, Tufts University, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Michigan. A similar agreement is being negotiated with Princeton University. Smith is the only undergraduate engineering program in the nation to have attained this distinction.</p>

<p>You would most likely be eligible for The Jean Picker Fellowships for the Study of Engineering: Students who have identified themselves as prospective engineering majors are also considered for the Jean Picker Fellowships for the Study of Engineering. These $10,000 awards go to several highly qualified first-year domestic and international students. In addition, Picker Fellows receive a $2,000 stipend for a research project or internship. Picker Fellows are selected on the basis of academic merit and personal achievements.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.smith.edu/finaid/scholgrnt.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.smith.edu/finaid/scholgrnt.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

12

<p>WashU gives a lot of financial aid.</p>

13

<p>I agree with sybbie, curmudgeon & slipper. You have an EXCELLENT list but you can add a few like CalTech, Duke, Smith.</p>

<p>Add 3-4 high matches/ low reaches that also have merit aid possibilities.</p>

14

<p>I agree with much that's been said. Your SATs and GPA really put Vanderbilt, CMU and even Wash U into the match category but that of course doesn't mean you will get accepted for sure; it just means that your stats "match" those of the average accepted kid. In your case they put you into the top 25% of accepted kids, but still doesn't guarantee acceptance - the vagaries are just too unpredictable. You will stand a decent chance at the ivies as well but may not receive much in tuition aid. If finances are a concern I would apply to several other schools just below Ivy selectivity as you will be much more likely to receive merit-based aid: Brandeis is one example. I also think you should consider Tulane. They are pretty generous with their merit scholarshps and I agree with curmudgeon that you may even receive full tuition there. They are strong in the sciences, and they also have an honors program that you might find attractive. But you need to do the research to see if such schools are a match for you interms of culture, personality, campus environment and size.</p>

15

<p>If you're family is actually in need, focus on adding Ivies, they love to give out financial aid. If your family ISN'T in need, you need to focus on the top merit aid giving schools, which are Rice, Johns Hopkins, UNC-CH, Emory, and WUSTL.</p>

16

<p>slipper, there is that giant group of families that do have need, it's just not calculated as such by the bean counters. </p>

<p>It's naive (and almost insulting) to suggest that if someone "is actually in need" the Ivy's will be generous. The truth is that for a very large segment of our population the Ivy's, and other selective need only schools ,are not and can not be considered affordable by the formulas currently in use at those schools. Don't be naive enough to think that those who don't qualify for need based aid can afford $200K for UG, I don't care how long you stretch it out on a parent loan and for some families , even parent loans are not an option due to the age,debt, and retirement situation of the parents.</p>

<p>The truth is that if you meet their cubbyhole for need based aid they can be generous. AGI of $40k off nothing but W-2 earnings , no assets. Welcome to Harvard. If you don't they are not. Ranchers, California homeowners, small business owners, service business owners, and many many others are sucked into the supposed generosity only to find out that the schools calculate their EFC at 50% or more of their after tax income. No joke it happens to folks making around the $75-$100k mark all the time, because of the assets the selective colleges choose to consider.</p>

<p>Merit aid for the type of students we are talking about on this site most times is nothing more than competitive need based aid.JMO, I could be wrong.</p>

17

<p>curmudgeon: I am female.</p>

<p>The main issue for me is not getting accepted, but getting accepted and being able to afford the school. Mine is a typical small business owning family with an income of about $100k.</p>

<p>Updated list:</p>

<p>Just a school I really like:
Stanford</p>

<p>Reach:
Johns Hopkins
WUSTL
Vanderbilt
Carnegie Mellon
Smith</p>

<p>Reach/Match:
Tulane
Boston University
Case Western
USC</p>

<p>Safety:
UTK
UMiami</p>

<p>Thanks for the input everybody.</p>

18

<p>Gee lola , I was three for three! I didn't go three for three in little league.;) (Female, $100k,small business owner's kid). Great list .Great schools. Smart girl. Now make it work by making them all think you love them the best. I see you having a very happy spring. Good luck.</p>

19

<p>lola-cho</p>

<p>I think your list is perfect. Why would anyone suggesting ivies which are entirely need based, where you have clearly stated you won't get financial aid? ( I doubt if you'll qualify for need based with 100k but with costs so high who knows...but I don't think it would be enough).</p>

<p>You have reach schools, which are more like match schools, that give merit scholarships.</p>

20

<p>You probably will be offered a full tuition scholarship at Case. You also have a reasonable shot at a substantial merit scholarship at Rice, which is superb for undergraduate education.</p>