Am I shooting too high?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi, I’m a worried senior like most of you guys and for the past week or so I’ve been a little concerned that I’m not applying to low enough schools for myself?
I have a 34 ACT and 3.54 UW / 3.89 W GPA. I’ve taken honors classes for the most part and go to a well respected public school in MA so my GPA should be considered a little higher than it is maybe? I’m really looking at only small LACs mostly out of New England. I’m looking for strong anthropology/history depts or maybe creative writing. Anyway, I only have a few days to really solidify my list so please please let me know if you have any suggestions to help me.
So far
ED-
Reed College
RD-
Lewis & Clark
Oberlin
Wesleyan
Pitzer
Bates
University of Puget Sound

Thanks you c:

2

Can your family afford those private colleges? I think you’re in at L&C and Puget. My D loved her time at L&C.

3

For creating writing, these online articles can be useful:

“The 10 Best American Colleges for Writers” / USA Today

“The 10 Best Colleges for Creative Writers” / The Freelancer

“The 25 Most Literary Colleges in America” / Flavowire

Regarding anthropology, colleges with dedicated anthropology departments, as generality, tend to be stronger in the field than those schools at which anthropology and sociology are combined. The very strongest anthropology departments offer all four major sub-disciplines: cultural and social, linguistic and biological anthropology and archaeology. Look for tracks or courses in these areas, depending on your interests.

Your list of colleges, as it is now, seems well-considered, with, for the most part, only good and excellent choices for your interests.

4

If you want schools to add, then consider Beloit, Grinnell and Hamilton.

5

Grinnell is a good suggestion. Kenyon is an excellent school. Colorado college might also fit.

6

Kenyon is supposed to be terrific for writers, great suggestion. College of the South/Sewanee also enjoys a great reputation for writing.

You have a decent shot at Reed ED, so hopefully you will hear soon and the search will be over!

7

Thanks guys. I’ve looked around at Grinnell and Kenyon as well, but to completely I really have no desire to go to the midwest (I know Oberlin’s in OH, but that application’s really to appease my mom- she went there). I know it’s kind of dumb to base colleges off of their states, but I’m a bit obsessive that way.

8

That looks like a great list. Unless you have some sort of unfortunate disciplinary action on your record or something, I agree with @“Erin’s Dad” that you’re pretty much a lock for L&C and UPS (way out of region, way above their 75% ACT score mark), so I think you’re solid on likely admits. Might be worth showing them a bit of love, if you haven’t already – maybe fill out their forms requesting info, or set up a local interview if you haven’t visited. If you like the Pacific Northwest and want to add one more likely school, you could take a look at Willamette, too. But I also agree with @ColdinMinny that you have a very solid shot at Reed ED, so good luck!

It sounds like you’re not keen to stay in New England, but a school one often sees mentioned in the same breath as those you’ve listed is Vassar. Obviously not a safety, but just something to consider. Judging by the thoughtfulness that has clearly gone into the rest of your selections, you probably already have.

9

Holy Cross, Colby.

10

Reaches:
-Bucknell University
-Claremont McKenna College
-College of William & Mary
-Cornell University
-Davidson College
-Duke University
-Emory University
-Pomona College
-Rice University
-Stanford University

Matches:
-American University
-Baylor University
-Bryn Mawr College (If you’re female)
-Case Western Reserve University
-Chapman University
-Pepperdine University
-Santa Clara University
-Scripps College
-Southern Methodist University
-Willamette University

Safeties:
-Agnes Scott College
-Beloit College
-Biola University
-Dominican University of California
-Mills College
-Saint Mary’s College of California
-Westmont College
-Whittier College

11

Thanks for all those colleges! Unfortunately, I have my own pr specific criteria so I’ve ruled out a lot of colleges, but still I appreciate the effort.

12

In terms of your college list I see way too big of a gap between the bulk of your schools and your one safety. I’d try to add a school or two that are more of a match/likely. I am mostly familiar with east coast LACs and don’t know your specific criteria (ex. Grinnell and Kenyon were initial thoughts) so will leave it to your to find some other choices.

13

Your in at Lewis and Clark and my guess your definitely in at Reed.

14

Not definitely in at Reed. The stats only count for 20% of admission per a former poster who knew Reed well. My D1 had better stats and was waitlisted.

15

You should get over your “state obsession”. Most students spend almost all their time on campus anyway, so don’t be a “state snob”. Oberlin actually seems like a very good fit with the rest of your list, and you should seriously consider it if you get in.

16

“The stats only count for 20% of admission per a former poster who knew Reed well” (12)

That perspective was based on a Reed Magazine article that reported that “grades, class rank and standardized tests” account for 20% in admissions, but also that course rigour is weighted at another 20%. By measurable academic factors, I’d say stats, as roughly defined, would account for 40% of admissions under this scenario. However, the 20% figure is often repeated in the Reed forum.

17

Puget Sound is your safety?
Is it a financial safety as well as an admission safety?
(Have you run the online net price calculators and discussed the estimates with your family?)