They’d range into reaches, but Williams, Claremont McKenna, Middlebury, Wesleyan, Hamilton, Colgate and other ~top 20 schools from this analysis would be excellent for the study of economics: https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.uslacecon.html. For its resemblance to Brown from your list, you might consider Wesleyan in particular. You should also consider this analysis for additional ideas as well as for perspective on your current choices: https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.usecondept.html. Brandeis from this group might be good to research as a potential match school.
Have you considered USC? The Jazz Studies minor in Thornton is open to majors throughout the university. It seems like it would be a fantastic place to combine your interests. Plus, if you wanted to do work in the community with a Spanish-speaking population, LA would be a fantastic place to do that. (Northwestern is also strong in the music + academics category, although Bienen does not have a performance or jazz-specific minor open to non music majors. Peabody has a jazz program, and I believe Hopkins/Peabody is in between USC and Northwestern in terms of ease-of-access for nonmajors.)
I’m not sure USC could quite be called a match, but it’s at least a lower reach than your other reaches. I feel like it’s a match, given your profile and accomplishments, even though the admissions numbers oblige me to say low-reach.
Is your family income low enough to get OOS financial aid from UMichigan? If so, that could be a great target.
Honestly, for people with such high test scores and GPA and good extracurriculars, there is no such thing as a “target school.” I don’t know how affordable it is, but the University of Texas at Austin is a great school, with a good economics program and is probably the closest you can get to a target school. I don’t know what state you live in, but since it’s a state school the financial benefit is obviously better if you live in texas lol. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is surprisingly inexpensive and it close to a target school as well. They have a lot of specific majors that you might be interested in as well-- i think it’s worth checking out.
It seems evident that OP is in Arizona. It seems unlikely that either UT or UIUC would be affordable.
It’s true that it’s hard to find “matches” in this situation, because the matches are all, by definition, reaches. I suggested UMichigan as a match, because the stats are high but the acceptance rate is higher than at the super-reaches because of the size of the school. Plus,UMich meets full need for OOS students with family incomes under $90K and assets under $50K. If OP is in that category then it would be a solid match school IMHO, and it’s terrific for all his/her stated areas of interest.
Match/low-matches:
Reed is a great econ school that meets full need - quite different in vibe from OP’s other choices, though. Women’s colleges if OP is female. URochester is strong in econ and music and could be worth a look.
My gut says that OP will not have to fall back on safeties, but… you’ve gotta have 'em. The question is whether there are any private or OOS public safeties that would improve on the baseline of UofAZ or ASU Barrett. U of Utah Honors College (first year WUE discount + merit, with the option to get residency after the first year and qualify for in-state tuition and need-based aid) could be a safety if going out of state is a must. It’s a great school (in a great major-city location) but it’s debatable whether it’s an improvement over the AZ in-state options.
Try looking at USC. They offer a wide variety of merit scholarships as well as many scholarships specifically for minority applicants. Given your numbers, you’d have a great shot at a merit scholarship which is a great opportunity. Good econ department and tons of great amenities. Check it out
OP stated he is male.
OP congrats on the results you’ve achieved to date.
My thoughts are that with your stats and background, with URM status you will have great story to tell in the admissions process.
There are no guarantees in any of this so prepare for surprise if you target all of the elite schools.
I would say that you are competetive for every school in country. I would approach it as all others would despite your all star profile.
One or two safeties. Schools you can afford. You would enjoy. And are guaranteed. For your profile I would pay close attention to the afford and enjoy section the most. Examples of great schools in this pool. Think your state unis UA ASU .Then add schools like Alabama Fordham GW that offer oos merit in a big way and private colleges with merit and good aid.
Target and match are any school outside of the top 15 national research unis, top two UCs, cal tech and top five to 10 liberal arts colleges
But still considered elite. This doesn’t mean safety. They are elite schools.
These schools still are for me only a slightly greater than 1 in 4 chance and there’s a degree of more difficulty for many in this group. But as an example of the names I would have in your case would be Michigan usc emory unc uva Tulane wash u Notre Dame Georgetown wake Forrest Boston college Colgate William and Mary
It’s mostly the Uber elite public’s and very elite private in this group.
Cost is individual analysis school to school and based on your situation.
There are some in this target group/class that may even be considered a reach for you. Georgetown ND wash u are. examples.
I am just trying to sort it for you expectations wise. Any school can say yes or no and we aren’t really sure why.
Reaches. Are Ivy League. Although Dartmouth brown and Cornell may be the same as gtown wash u and Nd. MIT caltech Chicago UCLA and UCB oos duke are names in this group. Along with Pomona Williams Amherst bowdoin etc. But I think you would be very strong candidate to the top liberal arts schools. My d with stats similar to yours was accepted into bowdoin and she is not an URM. So that’s biasing my thoughts a bit.
What does “affordable” mean to your family?
Have you and your parents run the online net price calculators on any schools of interest, then discussed whether they are able and willing to cover the Expected Family Contribution?
Depending on your family income and assets, etc., you may be eligible for need-based aid at some of the so-called “full need” schools.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2017-09-21/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need
Even if you aren’t, you should be a good candidate for merit scholarships at most schools that offer them.
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
You may have a shot even at some of the most competitive merit scholarships available (such as the Duke Robertson Scholarship, or the smaller merit scholarships available at UChicago.) Check out what might be available at Vanderbilt, Rice, the University of Southern California, or the University of Miami.
@tk21769 is 100 percent correct. This post ^^^ is spot on for you OP.
Sorry, somehow my aging eyes missed the “M”
But I stand by the USC suggestion for a jazz musician with cross-disciplinary interests and a passion for urban economic development.
https://music.usc.edu/admission/minors/#jazz
https://priceschool.usc.edu/programs/
https://dornsife.usc.edu/econ/majors-and-minors/
could I consider usc a “match” school?
I think you will be a very competitive applicant. Assuming ASU is your safety? Maybe have another match school just in case as your list is reach heavy.
Schools in the statistical vicinity of USC would generally serve as matches for you: https://amp.businessinsider.com/the-610-smartest-colleges-in-america-2015-9.
Wellll… USC has a 13% acceptance rate. Which is pretty low to call it a match for anybody - but on the other hand it’s triple Stanford’s acceptance rate!
Gut-wise I honestly feel like it’s a match. The URM hook, the EC’s, the cross-disciplinary strength in areas that are particularly valued at USC - I have a hard time picturing you getting turned down.
If your skills as a jazz musician are such that you’d have a good shot as a music major, applying through the audition process would be another way to go. https://music.usc.edu/admission/appreqs/jazz/ If Thornton wants you, you’ll certainly get in, since you’re amply qualified academically. Once in, you could double-major (far more doable than in most conservatory-level programs) or downgrade the music major to a minor.
Does the 1480 PSAT make you a merit semifinalist? It should, in AZ, right? USC loves NMF.
The list is far too heavy on “ranking” schools and very little attention is given to affordability. Cost is your most important factor.
For the exception of ASU, virtually every school is going to either be a rejection or an acceptance to a school you can’t afford. For the private schools, run the net price calculators. If you’re going to end up taking out more than $30k in student loans for your degree, take it off your list if your parents can’t pay the difference. Don’t expect much or any financial aid for UCLA, Berkeley, or Michigan. Unless your parents can pay the OOS tuition and potentially pay for your cost of living, take those off your list too.
If it’s an out of state school or a private school, make sure you can pair it with a scholarship. I can already name 3 very good schools that will offer you a full tuition scholarship: Alabama, TCU, and Baylor. There’s also a good possibility that Arizona and ASU will give you the same if you apply for the scholarships.
PSAT: 1480
SAT: 1530 (730 W/EBR) (790 M)
GPA: 4.0 UW (Number one in my class entering senior year)
APs: World History, US History, US Government and Politics, Chemistry, Spanish Language, Psychology, Calculus BC, English Language and Composition, Statistics, English Literature, Spanish Literature, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Physics II
BUT
my scores are so far…
US - 5; English Lang- 5; Spanish - 5; Gov&Pol - 5; World - 4; Psych - 4; Micro - 3; Calc BC - 3; Chem - 2
My biggest question is DO THESE SCORES HURT MY CHANCES OF ADMISSION AT ELITE INSTITUTIONS?
ECs:
- Founder, President; Model UN club (9 - 12)–President all 4 years
- Member, then President; National Spanish Honors Society (10 - 12) President for one year
- Member; National Honors Society (11-12)
- Varsity baseball player (9 - 12), 1st team all region; captain for junior and senior year
- Pianist, Arizona State Univerisity jazz performance ensemble; auditioned, (9 - 12)
- Understudy with professor of jazz performance at ASU (7 - 12)
- Member; Ruhi Institute Study Circle
- Instructor; Ruhi Institute Children’s Class
- 150+ hour internship; Arizona State University professor of African American Studies
- 200+ hour internship; Baha’i Office of Public Affairs, Washington DC
- Founder, Director Jazz4People nonprofit; Merged my interests of urban economic development and jazz to form nonprofit Jazz4People; a program designed to bring jazz study and performance to inner-city youth; designed my own curriculum and is available for purchase on various educator platforms (10 - 12); 350+ hours
-100+ hour volunteer Tempe Community Action Agency
-Using Jazz4People and ASU internship, published research in undergraduate journal regarding correlation between musical expression and economic urban development.
Race/Ethnicity: Mexican
Sex: M
Religion: Baha’i
Intended major: Economics
Applying to:
UC Berkeley
Stanford
UCLA
U Mich
Harvard
Yale
Columbia
Brown
Princeton
U Chicago
PSAT: 1480
SAT: 1530 (730 W/EBR) (790 M)
GPA: 4.0 UW (Number one in my class entering senior year)
APs: World History, US History, US Government and Politics, Chemistry, Spanish Language, Psychology, Calculus BC, English Language and Composition, Statistics, English Literature, Spanish Literature, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Physics II
US - 5; English Lang- 5; Spanish - 5; Gov&Pol - 5; World - 4; Psych - 4; Micro - 3; Calc BC - 3; Chem - 2
ECs:
- Founder, President; Model UN club (9 - 12)–President all 4 years
- Member, then President; National Spanish Honors Society (10 - 12) President for one year
- Member; National Honors Society (11-12)
- Varsity baseball player (9 - 12), 1st team all region; captain for junior and senior year
- Pianist, Arizona State Univerisity jazz performance ensemble; auditioned, (9 - 12)
- Understudy with professor of jazz performance at ASU (7 - 12)
- Member; Ruhi Institute Study Circle
- Instructor; Ruhi Institute Children’s Class
- 150+ hour internship; Arizona State University professor of African American Studies
- 200+ hour internship; Baha’i Office of Public Affairs, Washington DC
- Founder, Director Jazz4People nonprofit; Merged my interests of urban economic development and jazz to form nonprofit Jazz4People; a program designed to bring jazz study and performance to inner-city youth; designed my own curriculum and is available for purchase on various educator platforms (10 - 12); 350+ hours
-100+ hour volunteer Tempe Community Action Agency
-Using Jazz4People and ASU internship, published research in undergraduate journal regarding correlation between musical expression and economic urban development.
Race/Ethnicity: Mexican
Sex: M
Religion: Baha’i
Intended major: Economics
Applying:
Harvard
Yale
Columbia
Brown
UPenn
Stanford
UC Berkeley
UCLA
Northwestern
UMich
Duke
Boston University
George Washington
Arizona State University
Do I stand a decent chance to get accepted to an Ivy or other highly selective university?
PSAT: 1480
SAT: 1530 (730 W/EBR) (790 M)
GPA: 4.0 UW (Number one in my class entering senior year)
APs: World History, US History, US Government and Politics, Chemistry, Spanish Language, Psychology, Calculus BC, English Language and Composition, Statistics, English Literature, Spanish Literature, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Physics II
US - 5; English Lang- 5; Spanish - 5; Gov&Pol - 5; World - 4; Psych - 4; Micro - 3; Calc BC - 3; Chem - 2
ECs:
- Founder, President; Model UN club (9 - 12)–President all 4 years
- Member, then President; National Spanish Honors Society (10 - 12) President for one year
- Member; National Honors Society (11-12)
- Varsity baseball player (9 - 12), 1st team all region; captain for junior and senior year
- Pianist, Arizona State Univerisity jazz performance ensemble; auditioned, (9 - 12)
- Understudy with professor of jazz performance at ASU (7 - 12)
- Member; Ruhi Institute Study Circle
- Instructor; Ruhi Institute Children’s Class
- 150+ hour internship; Arizona State University professor of African American Studies
- 200+ hour internship; Baha’i Office of Public Affairs, Washington DC
- Founder, Director Jazz4People nonprofit; Merged my interests of urban economic development and jazz to form nonprofit Jazz4People; a program designed to bring jazz study and performance to inner-city youth; designed my own curriculum and is available for purchase on various educator platforms (10 - 12); 350+ hours
-100+ hour volunteer Tempe Community Action Agency
-Using Jazz4People and ASU internship, published research in undergraduate journal regarding correlation between musical expression and economic urban development.
Race/Ethnicity: Mexican
Sex: M
Religion: Baha’i
Intended major: Economics
I have a list of around 7-8 reach schools I am planning on applying to (Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Stanford, UChicago, Northwestern, Duke).
Given my profile/resume, can you suggest some match schools for me, that are affordable and offer decent financial aid?
Your profile is very interesting. You’ve done a great job. Any school you listed could be a reach. Not easy anymore. Michigan had 10,000 on the wait list and many scores were better then what you posted but your overall picture is very interesting and that is a good thing. Definitely have some true safeties that you can live with and write an amazing essay. I hope you applied to some external scholarships like Gates etc.
You are a competitive applicant. Your stats and ECs are great. Your URM status will probably help your application. Write amazing essays and you could get accepted to any of these schools
could georgetown be considered a match school given my stats?