<p>I'm the kind of person who makes random large changes in what I like... so my schools represents a wide range of school genres that I have liked at one time or another, that I am afraid I might revert to later. I just want to keep my options open.</p>
<p>My favorite school right now is Northeastern. It has strong potential for merit aid (maybe a full ride) and I've stayed on the campus and I love it... and of course I love Boston.</p>
<p>So here are the categories I've come up with:</p>
<p>Boston Schools:
Northeastern
Boston University
Tufts</p>
<p>Florida Schools: (in state)
UF
Miami
UCF</p>
<p>Ivy League Schools:
Brown
Princeton</p>
<p>"Southern" Private school:
Going between Vanderbilt and Wake Forest... maybe Duke?</p>
<p>Wildcards:
Amherst
Vassar</p>
<p>Briefly, my stats are, 2200ish SAT, 4.3 weighted 3.8 uw GPA, 3 700+ SAT IIs, IB diploma canidate, and I'll be National Merit SF at least. I'm a very proficient electric bassist (I play in 5 ensembles) and I'm a decent lacrosse player (varsity). Music is my main thing, but lacrosse is pretty time consuming to. I plan on majoring in Journalism.</p>
<p>Anyway. What I'm interested in are more Southern private schools, more Boston Schools, and maybe a wildcard or two. </p>
<p>I want to slim down my list some, but I want to explore more options to make sure I'm not eliminating the wrong school.</p>
<p>Haha, I like UCF for a reason. I'd get more than a full tution. My parents would let me live in my own apartment and I'd get a new car (sportyyyy). I'd also be able to live with my best friend.</p>
<p>I know it's not the best academic option... but it's a tempting option never-the-less.</p>
<p>I visited Boston College, and I think it would be a great school, as long as the catholicism isn't too prevalent. </p>
<p>I hated Wesleyan for some reason. The campus was atrocius, and the architecture was dismal. </p>
<p>I love Vermont, and I've heard a lot about Middlebury, so I'll definitely try to look more into that.</p>
<p>And I haven't looked into Emory since I was back on my "I have to play lacrosse in college" stint, so I'll look at that again too.</p>
<p>Given your credentials (3.8 unweighed GPA, 2200 SAT, close to perfect SATIIs etc...), I think you have way too many safeties and not nearly enough matches and reaches. Forget about UCF (weak) and Miami (private). </p>
<p>Why aren't you looking into Northwestern, arguably the best university for Journalism. You should also check out Michigan-Ann Arbor. You may also want to check out UNC-Chapel Hill and Syracuse.</p>
<p>For Southern schools, maybe consider UNC-Chapel Hill, UVA, Emory, UGA, UT-Austin, and Rice. Why should they be private? UNC and UVA offer at least as good an education as Vandy and Wake, if not better. And UT-Austin has arguably the most school spirit and best undergraduate experience in the nation.</p>
<p>If you like Brown, Princeton, and Amherst I cannot imagine why you wouldn't have Dartmouth - its the perfect mix of all of these. The LAC feel, incredible community/ alumni network, great active social life, beautiful campus, etc. </p>
<p>Another "wildcard" to consider might be Duke, a good match to consider would be Emory.</p>
<p>Well, I have a lot of safeties because I need all the aid I can get. My dad said he'll find a way to pay for where I get into, but he doesn't want to pay more than he has to. </p>
<p>I know our FASFA is going to be screwed up, our income is going to be up 100k over normal because we sold a rental house and our boat this year. I wish they'd look at more than one year for FASFA... Crap.</p>
<p>I'm visiting Chicago for other reasons over the summer, but I'll definitely check out Northwestern. I like Boston because it is a clean city, and I dislike NYC because it isn't. Hopefully Chicago will be nice. And of course, having the best program in the nation isn't bad either.</p>
<p>I'll look into UNC-Chapel Hill and UVA. I love North Carolina, and UVA's campus looks amazing.</p>
<p>Haha, I like Dartmouth too, just forgot to list it. Thanks :).</p>
<p>Yeah, even if I do get into the ives, I'm worried about aid. </p>
<p>I envy your stats, but no offense, but it'd be a helluva big waste to go to NEU or UCF with a 3.8 2200 I'm sure some better schools will for sure give you aid. BTW, what did you think of BU?</p>
<p>Ah BU. I should smack myself. I spent 10 days in boston in a SAT prep/college visiting program, but on the day everyone else went to BU I went to... Holy Cross. I'm an idiot. Haha. But I took the subway through BU (above the ground) and it looked very nice. The website makes me think that the academics are very good... and I just love Boston, so it would be a great school if you love Boston. It's just a very long campus... 3 subway stops haha.</p>
<p>I am not sure you would like BU if you like Pton, Dartmouth, Brown, and Amherst. Plus (no offense to BU) I think you can do much better. I would also check out UNC-CH and Emory (you'll get in). You might like WUSTL or Northwestern if you are willing to look at the midwest.</p>
<p>Definitely agree with Northwestern for journalism. I doubt you can even major in journalism at Amherst, Vassar, Princeton, Brown; but certainly could go into it after from there by majoring in English, philosophy, history, poly sci instead.</p>
<p>You might get a full ride at NE and a half ride at BU although your stats just put you in the top 25%. Check out the BU Honors Program or UNIVERSITY PROFESSors Program stats if you want more challenge, an urban campus, and love Boston. What about D.C. schools?</p>