<p>I will be a senior this fall so as you would expect I am working on my list of schools. I currently have 3 schools I have toured and will most likely apply to. Past that though, I'm not really sure so if anyone would like to give suggestions for schools to look into/tour, that would be great.</p>
<p>3.88 gpa (unwheighted) Taking a moderately challenging course load.
AP Bio-5
AP AB Calc-5
Will take AP Chem next year. I also took the world history AP test but that was coming off an honors course (not AP) so that didn't go so well and I got a 3.
35 ACT.</p>
<p>Co-captain for cross country, nordic skiing and track. Been doing all since middle school.
Really want to continue running in college-would be able to do D3 and most D2.
I would like to go to a school with 2000-8000 students.
Not in the middle of a big city. I like outdoorsy stuff.
Interested in science, also considering engineering. Liked Bio didn't really like Chem.
Preferably 3 hours drive but 1-7 would be ok (live in twin cities, MN).
I would also like to apply to a few schools out of the midwest (preferably in Washington or Oregon-I like rain) but I would only actually go there if they gave me good scholarships so it would offset some the travel costs compared to going closer.</p>
<p>The three schools I will probably apply to:
U of Minnesota-Morris (public LAC)
Mostly liked it except it is in cornfield land. Liked the cross country coaches, food was ok but not many options.
Michigan Tech
I don't hate winter but not sure if I really want their winter. Liked the surrounding area and option of engineering. Felt like I would could fit in with the students. Didn't like the buildings or food much.
St. Olaf
Really nice science building, good food, nice school overall. Not sure if I would fit in well or not. Kinda close (1 hour drive).</p>
<p>So if that gave you any ideas or if you have any advice let me know.</p>
<p>Your ACT would grab attention at a lot of colleges outside of Minnesota and Michigan. Have you any interest in looking past these states and these rather modest institutions? Oh, now I see we can also look at Oregon and Washington schools.</p>
<p>Have you run the net price calculators at any of the schools to determine affordability for your family? what do your parents say they can contribute to your education each year? </p>
<p>I think you would be a person of interest to many colleges and that you could expand your list to include some reaches. Your grades and scores demonstrate that you could handle the work at more academically rigorous schools, but that may not be the environment you’re looking for. </p>
<p>First some questions
What’s your financial situation? Private colleges can cost around $250,000. Can you afford that? Do you need financial aid? Does your family qualify for enough need based aid?</p>
<p>How set are you on engineering? This is a decision that needs to be made up front as in most cases you would be applying directly to the engineering school–or not. </p>
<p>Have you started contacting track coaches? They can open a lot of doors for you. </p>
<p>Do you have any other major extracurriculars? </p>
<p>In the Midwest you could look at Kenyon and Grinnell. Possibly Carleton. There are quite a few small liberal arts colleges in the Northeast with sporty-outdoorsy environments. If you would consider going farther look at Bowdoin, Hamilton, Middlebury, Williams. These are mostly reaches so you’d have think about how far you want to go outside your comfort zone–not judy geographically but also academically. </p>
<p>Of course you like rain. You’re a mudder. I cannot advise you about the strengths of the cross-country programs.</p>
<p>Reed College in Portland would be a match. Great, small LAC with strengths in math, science, philosophy, and other departments. Willamette and Whitman are in Reed’s neighborhood. Beloit, Carleton, Grinnell, and Lawrence would suit. </p>
<p>But let’s also look at engineering schools. UMich, Michigan State, Western Michigan, Marquette, UWisconsin, UMN-TC, UWashington, Washington State, Gonzaga, Seattle U, Oregon State, and Portland State would like to read your resumeé. </p>
<p>@jkeil
I would definitely consider colleges outside of the Midwest. I know it would give lots more options. Probably wouldn’t get to come home much but if I found a school I really liked…
We have run net price calculators for a couple schools.For example the one for St. Olaf for example said about $13,000/year which they said we could do but I might have to take our a few student loans or something like that.
I’ll look into Reed+the other LACs.
I’m not sure I could do big schools like that. I live right by UMN-TC and so though I haven’t toured I’ve been on campus lots. I actually like the St.Paul campus a bit but it’s practically in my backyard so not going there. Also bag schools=D1 athletics.</p>
<p>@momrath
Yeah, I’m looking for a couple reach schools. I’d like to end up somewhere in the middle of being among geniuses and feeling stupid and being among unmotivated people.
I don’t know a ton about financial aid and stuff yet but see above I guess.
The engineering thing. I’m not set on it but I think it might be something I would enjoy. I will try to learn more about whether it is something I want to do. I know it is a harder one to switch in/out of. I guess something I learned last week at a camp is you can do a physics major then go to grad school for engineering. But then I haven’t taken physics yet (I have it this year) so I don’t even know how much I like that… I dont know. It makes it hard choosing colleges when you don’t really know what you want to do… I have a couple people I know who are in engineering that I’m planning on asking about it.
I have contacted coaches by doing recruit questionnaires for a few schools I’m more interested in but not much for ones I’m not as sure on. I’ve been thinking about doing more… is should work on that this week.
I’m not really in any clubs. Idk but I don’t want to do things just to impress colleges if I don’t really enjoy doing them and clubs aren’t really my thing. I do youth group, volunteering and mission trips with my church and am in choir both at school and church. I’m also in urban 4-H but that time commitment is very low. I like to paint and sew but that’s not really an extracurricular. I’m kinda introverted so I need time just being alone.
Yeah I would also consider northeast schools. One of my friends just toured Kenyon so I can ask about that. Carlton would be an easy tour cause it’s close.</p>
<p>You should go check out Carleton (be sure you spell it correctly if you apply). You have the stats to get in, and I am sure their nordic team would love to have you! It is stronger academically than St. Olaf. What about Bowdoin in Maine? Very outdoorsy vibe. A little smaller than you listed, but so is St. Olaf. I can see Michigan Tech being a fit for you as well – one of D2’s friends (we are also from the Twin Cities) goes there and really likes it. </p>
<p>You would get in-state tuition at U of Wisconsin-Madison. Bigger than you suggested above, but a good price and stronger academically overall than U of MN-TC.</p>
<p>At this point you’re just exploring options, so it’s good to look in several directions. Don’t underestimate yourself Your grades and scores are very good. I’m sure you’d do fine at an academically rigorous LAC. The key is to find ones that are a good fit culturally, where you would fit in.</p>
<p>The ones I mentioned sound to me as if they’d be good fits for you. Do some research. Ask your parents to run a few net price calculators to see how the finances work.</p>
<p>I’d say that you have quite a few interests that could be expanded to be a #2 extracurricular.
Pick one that you like and devote some energy to it</p>
<p>If you are female you should look at Smith & Mt. Holyoke. Smith also has engineering.</p>
<p>I’m having computer issues today. Definitely ask more questions about engineering, but at the same time, don’t worry about not having a clear career path at this point in your life. Many students change their majors again and again over the course of four years. </p>
<p>Rice University in Texas may be a good reach for you. It’s a smaller research university, kind of “nerdy” and no greek life. They offer plenty of engineering options, but I’m not sure if you apply to the University or apply to the Engineering college. You definitely have a good shot there with your stats, but still a reach. </p>
<p>You say you don’t want to be in a big city, but you don’t like UM-Morris because it’s in cornfield land? Keep in mind there are plenty of outdoorsy activities in cities, especially in the Northwestern area.</p>
<p>OP… you have more potentials of landing more great schools than you think.
Since you are from the Midwest but open to Out of state schools, the following schools might be a good place for you, however, I encourage you to take the SAT 1 and Subject test just for some of the schools that I am going to add to your list, ie if you are interested in them.
Brown and Princeton (Does not hurt to apply to one IVY with closest fit).
Williams
Amherst
Carleton
Hamilton
Vassar
Grinnell
Bowdoin
Middlebury
Kenyon
Oberlin
Reed
Macalester ( a bit worried about the location - its becoming more influenced by the city life)</p>
<p>For Publics;
Definitely U of Minnesota-Morris (always best on my list despite location), and you will like ly be accepted with full ride and that should be the only public you apply to in this case.</p>
<p>I think you should take a look at the above schools and hopeful hep you narrow down your list.</p>
<pre><code>Avoid - St. Olaf, Luther etc…just because of their award policies and the sustainability of these schools in regard to quality education and value… they seem not to give enough financial awards to students which can be understandable because they can only give what they they…but these schools for the past years have been admitting more students than they can accommodate and groom. Even Gustavus will be a much better choice than than these two.
</code></pre>
<p>And yes, you can major in Maths, Physics or Computer science and still get accepted to Engineering grad schools. If you decide to be a comp science major, take all the calculus series, linear algebra, statistics and two or more higher level math classes. In all, when you start college, you can always check the grad school that you will be interested in to see their maths requirement for engineering applicants.</p>
<p>I have no idea what this means… I lived in the Mac neighborhood for years, and still probably go there a couple of times a month. It is not “becoming more influenced by the city life” in any way I could detect vs. what it was 10-15 years ago. It is still in once of the nicest possibly urban neighborhoods for a college in the US. You say the most ridiculous things in your posts sometimes…</p>
<p>And no idea where the comment that St. Olaf has “admitted more students than they can accommodate and groom” could possibly mean. Do you mean that their yield was higher than expected? That is usually the sign of a school on the rise, not in decline. Gustavus is NOT a better choice than St. Olaf in any way for the OP. And Luther and Gustavus are both well below the OP’s stats, don’t know that he/she would be happy academically at either of them anyway.</p>
<p>@intparent Hahaha whoops. I think I will remember now though. @momrath I do tend to underestimate myself. I was looking smaller before cause my first act wasn’t so good. I guess I figured it out second time around. I am female so I’ll look those up too. Beginning to get quite the list here @ctesi Sorry, I don’t think I could do Texas. I kinda hate hot weather. And I complained about cornfields because I like forests. @coco2018 Pretty sure I wouldn’t want to go to an ivy if I did happen to get accepted. Don’t think that would be the right fit for me. @intparent Haha also kinda confused about the Macalester thing. I live nearish there so haven’t looked at it (or any other twin cities schools) cause it’s too close.</p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone! Wow wasn’t expecting this many replies. I’ve done college search engines but feel they only tell the stats part. Nice to get another viewpoint (not sure that’s the right word, but you get the idea).</p>
<p>Oh and someone mentioned SAT. How important would it be that I do it. I would kinda love to be done with standardized testing. I also did far better on PLAN than PSAT so I don’t know how well I would do.</p>
<p>I think you will find when you look deeper into the academically rigorous LACs that the students are not any smarter than you are. Most of them are nice kids from suburbs and small towns, just like you. The atmosphere is for the most part nurturing and collaborative.</p>
<p>I hope you will be able to do some visiting over the next few months. That would help you get a better feel for the different personalities. All of those I mentioned are sporty/outdoorsy, middle road politically (except Smith) and good for sciences. If you like forests and mountains, you will like New England.</p>
<p>I believe these schools will be interested in you, but it’s up to you to show interest in them. This is important at LACs. Visiting is the best way to do this, as is contacting the coaches. In some circumstances, the colleges will pay for you to visit.</p>
<p>I don’t think it would be necessary to take the SAT I, but you should plan on taking 2 SAT IIs.</p>
<p>You should also check to see if you qualify for QuestBridge. This is a terrific organization that connects high achieving lower income kids with top colleges.</p>
<p>Both Carleton and St. Olaf are very good LACs that will appreciate your contribution to their campus communities. For Financial aid, you can always expect some student loans except in a few no-loan schools. I think Carleton probably will be giving more grant money in FA than St. Olaf for students of your EFC. (<a href=“https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/sfs/prospective/aid_chart/”>https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/sfs/prospective/aid_chart/</a>) However, St. Olaf can be generous in FA to the students highly valued. Recruited athletes (in selective LACs) are often urged by the coaches to apply ED. Many of the schools have ED I and ED II. I suggest you look into Bowdoin, Carleton, Whitman. If you do not like the cornfield around UM Morris, Grinnell’s location may not be very appealing to you. But I think Grinnell’s sciences are great and its science facilities are better than St. Olaf’s. </p>
<p>I too do know the area very well, and that is my opinion.
Macalester is in the city and no need to underplay the city’s influence on the school compared to a more quiet location like where Carleton and St, Olaf is located.
Yes St. Olaf is pretty much over accommodating than it was designed for. When students complain of having less research opportunities due to competition on campus. 3 biology and chemistry summer research opportunities for a department with 100 applicants is quite an issue if you ask me.
OP should start visiting these schools as they are not that far. Minnesota is only that big.</p>
<p>I mentioned SAT Yes it is important if you are applying to more competitive schools like most of the ones I listed.
Not only the Ivy’s which you said you are not interested, but other competitive schools. The Midwest is okay with ACT, but ones you start looking out of the Midwest, SAT becomes important especially the subject test, since some schools will replace your ACT with SAT 1.
Even in Minnesota, the caliber of students applying to Carleton will most likely have their SAT 1 and SAT SUBJECT test when they apply.
In summary, if you want your application to be more competitive, take the SAT SUBJECT TEST, and SAT 1 as well if you have the time.
In all, visit these schools, you will have most of your questions and concerns resolved during these visits.</p>
<p>My understanding is that if you’ve submitted the ACT there is no requirement to submit the SAT I. In some instances you may need additional SAT IIs, though. It depends on the school. </p>
<p>I’m aware that east coast schools used to favor the SAT over the ACT, but I believe that they now leave the choice up to the applicant. </p>
<p>The OP has an excellent ACT score. I don’t think she should risk doing less well on the SAT I. </p>
<p>Wow, coco is full of BS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE SAT I! Your 35 on the ACT is more than adequate for any school in the country. You SHOULD study for and take a couple of SAT II tests this fall, it will open up opportunities for you. No school in the country requires or prefers the SAT, a 35 on the ACT is perfectly acceptable anyplace. Do not waste one second on this lousy advice.</p>
You have the stats to get in, and I am sure their nordic team would love to have you! It is stronger academically than St. Olaf. What about Bowdoin in Maine? Very outdoorsy vibe. A little smaller than you listed, but so is St. Olaf. I can see Michigan Tech being a fit for you as well – one of D2’s friends (we are also from the Twin Cities) goes there and really likes it. </p>