<p>I've posted before on my somewhat difficult search for a college. I've done a lot of thinking, and I've finally decided to apply to Brown (early decision). I know the odds are very, very slim for me, but I realized that I'd regret it if I didn't at least try for my little dream. A lot of things about it appeal to me, including the location, the size, the prestigious reputation, the interesting student body, and the intellectual curiosity. However, I definitely need to have some other colleges in mind, because I know it'll be tough for me to get in. And here's where I'm stuck. I'm not sure what out there would be another reach, what I'd have a good chance of getting in to, and what would be a safety. </p>
<p>First of all, I once read that you should have two reaches, four "matches", and two safeties. Do you agree with that?</p>
<p>And what would be good matches and safeties for someone who likes what I like about Brown? Not just any old random place, but one that I could be happy at if I didn't get in to any of my other choices.</p>
<p>I'm going to be doing some visiting soon, including in New England. Because of things like finances, it will be difficult for me to visit anything away from the East Coast, but don't hesitate in suggesting something far away. I'm very open to being far from home (Virginia). Thanks!</p>
<p>Here is the information I posted about myself in an older post:</p>
<p>"I live in a poor, rural area of Virginia where few people go to college. Only about a fifth of the students at my high school took the SAT, and the average is below 500 for each section.
Here are the facts:
I've taken the SAT twice and my combined score is: 700 on Math, 800 on Verbal, 710 on Writing (and a 12 on the essay on one SAT) for a 1500, or 2210 with writing.
I honestly don't know what my GPA is (I know, I know <em>slaps forehead</em>) but I'm guessing its around a 4.0?
I've taken three AP courses: Environmental Science, Statistics, and US History, and am taking three more this next year: English, Government, and Calculus.
Writing essays is one of my strengths.
My extracurriculars are weak. I'm a member of about 4 clubs, the only leadership position is Treasurer of the school literary magazine. I didn't have a whole lot of opportunities here to do some of the amazing things some applicants to colleges have done, like write books and be published in science journals.
I'm a white male.
I've taken all the AP classes available to me, and I've taken the highest level of everything else.
I've taken four years of French and did an independent study of Spanish last year, moving at roughly double the pace of the class. I'm continuing that this year, so it will probably end up the equivalent of three to four years of Spanish.
I'm probably ranked second in my class."</p>
<p>I don't have any super strong interests and no idea about majors, but I like things like history, writing, reading, environmental studies, geography, current events, and art. I definitely am not into science and math.</p>
<p>University of Rochester has some similarities to Brown. Located in a moderate city (though not dead center urban), similar in size, and they have an "open curriculum" not unlike brown's. It's easier to get into...perhaps a "match." Problem is it's strengths might be different from Brown's.</p>
<p>You might want to consider some Liberal Arts colleges as well. For example, Amherst College has an open curriculum, and is located in Mass. near four other colleges (Smith, Mt Holyoke, U Mass & Hampshire) so it has the atmosphere of a larger college. It would also be considered a reach I think.</p>
<p>If you want to live on the west coast, check out the Claremont colleges.</p>
<p>Regarding your question of how many schools, you might want to expand to 3 or 4 matches, reaches and safties for a total of 9 to 12 applications.</p>
<p>the 2-2-2 rule is outdated by at least ten years. I would have a couple tough reaches (Brown and Dartmouth), a couple reasonable reaches (such as Pomona or Northwestern), a couple high matches (Wesleyan, etc), a couple matches (Vassar, Emory), a safe match, and one safety.</p>
<p>tufts is regarded very similar to brown. it's not right in boston, hence giving it the more providence feel. it also has very strong history, poli sci, english, foreign lang departments.</p>
<p>You should definitely swing by Wesleyan on your trip to Brown: similar eclectic architecture, similar progressive feel among student body, short distance from a range of good restaurants and bars, similar "townie" mix of ethnic whites, Asians and blacks. For certain departments (film, astronomy, music, life sciences) I would actually choose it over Brown.</p>
<p>my daughter applied to Brown. She also applied to: Oberlin, Carleton, Vassar, Macalester. Whether these other schools would work well enough for you, I can't say.</p>
<p>Brown was at the top of my D's list for quite awhile but in the end she favored Wesleyan (admitted ED) -- and, yes, she's currently thinking of a film/English double. Other schools she would have applied to: Carleton (third choice), Pomona, Vassar (not too crazy about Poughkeepsie, though), Oberlin, Reed, Occidental.</p>
<p>Assuming you are flexible as far as size is concerned:</p>
<p>Alongside Brown, other reaches would be Swarthmore, Wesleyan, Vassar and Northwestern. Matches may be Bard, U of Rochester, NYU and Oberlin. For safeties, Eugene Lang, Cornell College (in Iowa), Marlboro, Furman.</p>
<p>I would choose Wesleyan over Brown for almost every department. Definitely worth a look.</p>
<p>Also you may want to give more consideration to Yale and Harvard (reaches, yes, but unsurpassed in overall quality) Cornell, Dartmouth, UPenn (also tough), as well as WUSTL, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, University of Rochester and of course, other area LACs such as Bates, Bowdoin, Vassar, Connecticut College, Bard, Trinity, Hamilton, Union, Wheaton, Middlebury, Wellesley, Smith, Haverford, or beyond (Carleton, Grinnell, Kenyon, Macalester, Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Oberlin and Davidson are a few good ones outside that region!)</p>
<p>i would second most of the schools listed here. brown was my first choice (though I didn't get in), and some other schools i'd suggest would be wesleyan, oberlin, tufts, vassar, macalester, clark, university of rochester, and carleton.</p>
<p>i'm surprised no one has mentioned william & mary...
it is an excellent match school as well as financial safety given that you are a virginia resident...</p>
<p>for that matter, you should also apply to u. virginia... even if you think you may want to head out of state... for any top student in virginia, uva should be on the list by default... it is a phenomenal undergrad focused major research university with a great price tag for in-state students... it should at least be an option</p>