Assistance Needed in Decision-Making

College Search & Selection
21

<p>Let’s say I scrap MIT and look at say Yale. I’m really thinking about their single-choice early action. Given what I have, what do I need to do to have a more competitive Yale app. In addition to what I’ve told you, I have a lot of clerical volunteer hrs. w/ the HS guidance dept. I hate to play the “race card,” but I’m black. People tell me that makes it easier, others say no difference. Enlighten me, s’il vous plait.</p>

<p>silk nik - I am listening to what you’ve told me. I’m just brainstorming at this point in time, trying to consider everything available.</p>

<p>Help me out here… I’ve been reading everything…</p>

22

<p>if you want one more school, you should pick Cornell since you have already said that it is your “personal favorite”</p>

23

<p>DBF, you need to be more realistic about your chances and not fixate so much on prestige. Reflect a little more on your interests and goals, then do more homework to identify schools that offer the best “fit” and a realistic shot at admissions, not just the biggest name.</p>

<p>First, drop MIT. The median Math SAT scores of MIT students, their 25th percentile to 75th percentile scores, range from 720 to 800. For typical MIT (or CalTech) students, the SAT Math is actually a very easy test. So a perfect score, or a score based on one or 2 careless errors, would understate their math proficiency. These kids live, breathe, sweat math and science. Even if you were accepted, is that the environment you really want for yourself?</p>

<p>The very most selective schools (such as HYPS) are not just looking for membership or even officer positions in a bunch of clubs. For a realistic idea of what it can take, especially if you are below their medians for scores + grades, read this:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html?highlight=extracurricular[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html?highlight=extracurricular&lt;/a&gt;
(post #3 by Northstarmom)</p>

<p>Don’t be discouraged, though. There are many excellent, selective schools out there that are not glutted with applications from kids with nearly perfect grades, nearly perfect SATs and amazing ECs. If you are seeking a legal/international business/political career, and you are attracted to urban universities (a bunch of those are on your list), consider some schools in the Washington, DC area. Check out Georgetown as a reach, or American University and George Washington as match schools. Tufts University (Boston area) is another good one that is not on your list. A good southern school that matches your SAT score range is Wake Forest.</p>

<p>And re-think the University of Chicago. You may have a reasonable shot at admission, but you have not indicated anything that suggests it would be a great fit. It’s an excellent school but has a very self-consciously intellectual atmosphere, heavy reading loads, lots of course requirements. If you’re a “people person” looking for interesting internship experiences beyond the classroom, some of the DC or Boston-area schools might suit you better. Or possibly Northwestern, if you really want a prestigious, highly selective school in the Chicago area (one with a little stronger pre-professional focus.)</p>

24

<p>[Florida</a> State](<a href=“http://fsu.edu/]Florida”>http://fsu.edu/) should be your remaining choice.</p>

<p>The reason is that you may qualify for [this</a> program](<a href=“http://www.fsu.edu/students/prospective/undergraduate/honors/medlegalschol.html]this”>http://www.fsu.edu/students/prospective/undergraduate/honors/medlegalschol.html), which if you successfully complete it could enable you to have sufficient funds for a PhD at one of the other schools, which would be well received in the areas you stated. FSU has the best in-state [political</a> science](<a href=“http://polisci.fsu.edu/]political”>http://polisci.fsu.edu/) program which would set you up superbly for law school in three years. </p>

<p>Less time, less money, great education; PhD at your dream school.

</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

25

<p>

I really think you should approach this differently. Yes being a URM helps, but so many people overestimate this factor. If a college doesn’t see something in you, then they will not accept you, regardless of your race. If you go and look at the results threads from this year, some African Americans with their scores in the 2300s got rejected from HYP. Don’t overestimate the effect of AA in college admissions…Just do YOUR best.</p>

26

<p>If you are looking for a political career (in your home state), your local state university really is the best place to go. (You can go to law school at HYS if you can get in.) But if you look at the political structure in most states (perhaps outside some of New England), you’ll find heavy representation of graduates of state colleges and universities in state legislatures, among governors and judges, and among senators and congresspeople.</p>

<p>The flip side, however, is that if you raise your SATs 50 points or so on each, you will rank in the top 100-150 African American males (did I read that right?) in the country, and you’ve got at least a 50-50 shot everywhere.</p>

27

<p>The reason I said UCF instead of Florida State for the safety is because he’s a Gators fan.</p>