<p>IMHO, you need to select more safeties and matches. Given your GPA, rank and course schedule you would not be very competetive at the universities you listed. Your SAT scores are very good considering the other academic criteria, but for some adcoms this mignt come off as a sign of a slacker attitude.</p>
<p>I hope I do not seem too harsh in my evaluation and wish you all the best. BTW, I was an environmental engineering grad(called us sanitary engineers back then. It is an interesting field combining applied physics, chemistry and biology in many processes.</p>
<p>I couldn't disagree with originaloog more. We must be reading different things into your resume, but I think you are a perfectly fine candidate for all of the schools you listed, and you have plenty of matches and safeties given your criteria. Columbia, Swarthmore, etc. are reaches, sure, and you won't get into all of them, but even without an SAT improvement you should get serious consideration everywhere. Top-10ish class rank, most rigorous curriculum, reputable school, focused, personal ECs -- all of that is supergood. I don't know where he sees "slacker attitude"; I don't.</p>
<p>On substance: I don't pretend to know much about this field at all, and every college in the world is trying to promote itself for it. I have a nephew who is a senior at Hamilton and is doing a custom "College Scholar" major splitting off from environmental studies. He has loved his time there, and has gotten tons of opportunities, financing for research, and great advising. He really could not have had a better experience. His curriculum has been weighted more towards the politics, philosophy, and economics of environmentalism than the science and engineering, although has has done some of everything.</p>
<p>Cornell has a big, established program, and all the resources of a world-class university. It's also a little less of a crapshoot for admissions than places like Columbia or Swarthmore.</p>
<p>I actually agree with originaloog, you have a great background, but I think some are too high and you don't have enough matches. Look at Columbia only 1600 kids got in with over 19K applicants. Swarthmore has a 17% acceptance rate.</p>
<p>I see where he says slacker b/c the SAT is higher and the OP admits no AP/IB, but is only the top 25% in their class.
The GPA is great, but the rank isn't. This can all be explained away if the gc report reflects the school as very comp.
I would try for Duke or UNC CH, both are great colleges</p>
<p>UIUC, Michigan, maybe Emory are matches, Scripps probably a safety, plus Arizona. Columbia and Swarthmore are the biggest reaches on the list, so they aren't emblematic of anything.</p>
<p>On the LAC front, maybe look at Reed and Oberlin, too.</p>
<p>I think you have a good list as long as you would be happy to attend your safety, you apply early (by the priority deadline) to the state rolling admissions schools, and you realize that Swarthmore is a reach for even the top students. Also check out Green Mountain College, though it is small and has no engineering -- the focus of the school is on environmentalism.</p>
<p>Environmental science is offered at most liberal arts colleges, but environmental engineering is a different, more specific degree (and offers better employment prospects.) You've done a good job finding several places that offer both degrees.</p>
<p>Don't worry too much about this yet, you have plenty of time. Consider taking the ACT.</p>
<p>-well I don't have a "slacker attitude"--If they looked at my transcript they would realize that I got straight A's through sophomore and (now junior year)
-I gave 12/50 as "worst possible rank"
-just because you don't have AP's or IB doesn't mean your school doesn't teach you anything (think competitive private school here!)
- My safeties are ASU, U of A, RPI (I already have a "guaranteed acceptance and a full tuition scholarship at all of them" <-- and a stipend at U of A and ASU)
-Matches: UIUC, U of Michigan
my main problem is reaches...I don't really like any of the reach schools that people suggested to me besides Cornell...</p>
<p>I think RPI would be a great school for you. Have you visited there? It is an excellent choice.</p>
<p>Whenever a student says the word "environmental" I want to suggest the Eco League colleges. Not reaches. Interesting schools, though. You'd certainly get merit aid, too. Check them out and see if any of them appeal to you. The</a> Eco League | Consortium of Environmental Colleges</p>
<p>
[quote]
The Environmental and Technology Studies program brings faculty and students together from a broad range of academic departments and backgrounds to address the scientific, economic, ethical, social, political, historical and aesthetic dimensions of the environment. This truly integrated, multidisciplinary commitment emphasizes not only critical thinking, but also hands-on laboratory and field research reaching across all divisions of the College. It values and facilitates opportunities for research projects, internships and other work experiences, and off-campus studies
<p>yeah, like I said, RPI is pretty much a safety school because I have a guaranteed acceptance and a merit scholarship there...I visited there too...it was really, really nice...</p>
<p>Columbia is hardest to get into. It has only 1600 freshmen seats and large part of that went to in-state long island alum kids. That makes the remaining pool so small and competitive. There's no hope for expanding the school either unlike Yale. NYC is so compact there literally isnt any room.</p>