<p>If I had to set my future in stone and could decide exactly how to do it, I would want to be able to get an undergrad in Economics at the best institution I can get into and graduate in management at Harvard after. Money and my SAT scores are the key issue here.</p>
<p>My parents both went to university in Israel for nearly free, served in the army. My whole family did the same and they are really pushing me to do that. I really resist that, mainly because studying in the US all my life I want to learn in English but it also has to do with the culture here and the connections I see myself forming.</p>
<p>I don't care much about size or geography. Though in state makes things very easy because of the hope scholarship here in Georgia and visiting is easier. I will be able to visit colleges in the north east but I do not think I will be able to visit the west.</p>
<p>Right now my top two on my list based on reputation is Berkeley (which many over here would never think of going as a super liberal school) and Emory. Berkeley for its economics and technology and business, the stuff I love. Emory for law which I'm somewhat less interested in but it is very prestigious, at least down here. anyways: Berkeley -> Emory -> GA Tech -> Rochester (30 k offered for tech) -> UGA.</p>
<p>I've always dreamed of going to an ivy league. I am an solid A average weighted, all AP/IB classes, IB programme diploma candidate, founder of several websites with +30,000 members, first place tech fair winner, not sure what colleges will think of those last 2 things but compared to those who i compare myself, i feel like thats my edge and my SAT are my weakness. I feel like my SAT have topped out at 1270 / 1930 (perfect score on my essay not that it means anything).</p>
<p>I appreciate any and all advice about universities, colleges, the process as a whole. Thank you.</p>
<p>One school that comes to mind is Claremont McKenna. They're known for their extremely strong Economics program. They value leadership like no other school, and I think that you being a founder of several websites will be a plus. Some people have even said that you can literally write your way into claremont mckenna with good essays, even though your stats may suffer(SATs in your case).
Claremont</a> McKenna College you should really check this school out.
A lot of it's students go on to some of the nation's top grad schools and law schools in the country. They also very good financial aid packages to students in need, and have established the NO LOAN policies, which basically means they wont give you student loans in their financial aid package, very few top schools do this, Claremont is one that does this. </p>
<p>BTW I don't see it happening at Berkeley with those stats. You're an out of state student, they'll expect more from you, that's on top of the fact that they will not find a need to offer you any form of financial aid, because the financial aid is reserved for California residents, since it is afterall a California state university.</p>
<p>In general top schools that have strong econ programs will be any Top Liberal Art College, ie Swarthmore, Amherst, Williams, Claremont McKenna, etc....Besides the ivies, some top universities that offer strong econ programs are Northwestern and University of Chicago.</p>
<p>I think that in terms of your SAT scores, you should honestly be trying to work on that this summer. try to get your math and verbal up. 10 real SATS helped me improve my score back when i was taking the sats by more than 100 points. you still have this whole entire summer. don't do yourself a disservice by not trying to raise your SAT scores up. You honestly only have 1 shot to apply to colleges out of high school, you might as well work your butt off NOW. go to your local library and check out that book.</p>
<p>heh thanks. I've already improved my scores by more than 100 which is sad for me to admit. I swear I work so hard you'd think, bah i wish these places recognized work ethic and i would have hoped berkeley would want someone random from georgia. The money thing makes sense though.</p>
<p>I'll keep working on my sat no use stopping now. thanks...</p>
<p>well berkeley's job is to educate california residents. its not a private institution so their need isn't to add diversity from other states</p>