<p>Even though I've reached junior year, where people expect you to actually start figuring out this mess we call college admissions, I'm still feeling so lost.</p>
<p>A bit of info on me...</p>
<p>-4.0 GPA, 4.8 weighted
-Took 3 honors courses freshman year, 3 honors and AP chem sophomore year, and currently 2 honors, APUSH, and APES junior year
-5 on AP Chem Exam, 780 SAT Chem subject test, 193 sophomore year PSAT</p>
<p>-Varsity cross country runner, JV Spring track
-Student Council, Principal's Advisory Council, Student Curriculum Advisory Council, Spanish Club Executive Council, Human Rights Club, Mock Trial in past, Forensics (first year)
-Senior Girl Scout, have earned Gold Award for hosting a middle school Pi Day
-Summer camp counselor
-play guitar at my church
-a lot of random volunteer work (just for fun!)
-school newspaper editor</p>
<p>I live in the western PA region and would like to stay relatively close to home. A college in PA would be great if it suits my needs, but generally the Northeast and mid-Atlantic region is my aim, not venturing further west than Chicago.</p>
<p>Thus far, I hope to major in chemistry and minor in journalism or English, so it is really important to me that these academic programs, primarily those for chemistry, are strong. Academics are probably the most important thing for me. Also, I'm NOT a fan of the typical college party scheme. In other words, I'm a stone-cold sober who would like a lot of alternative activities on or around campus.</p>
<p>Given these credentials and somewhat vague wants for a school, what sort of places should I even be looking into? Are places like UPenn, Northwestern, and even UChicago way out of reach? What are some strong schools in my given region that aren't quite so exclusive. I just took a practice SAT practice test, for which I didn't prep much apart from the PSAT and earlier, and got 690 CR and math and 76 writing MC. These scores freaked me out a little after visiting UPenn. At what level do you think I am? I just want to be realistic.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>