<p>Hi, I'm currently a junior and I was just wondering, with college apps coming quickly around the corner, what schools I should be considering. I have a few schools in mind, but my GC isn't too much of a help (she's kind of in la la land half the time so I don't get too much assistance) and I was wondering if I could find some assistance here. </p>
<p>I'm a California resident and I'm currently ranked number 1 in my class of about 600+. My GPA is 4.85 W and 4.0 UW and my SAT was a 2210 (Math: 740 CR: 760 Writing: 710). A very brief listing of my ECs include Varsity Tennis Capitain (next year), president of Key Club (also next year, and I've organized several events), city-organized volunteer program that is active all year, and I've held the same summer job for the past 3 years. Other not-so important things are NHS and California Scholarship Federation. I've also received some school awards for acedemics. </p>
<p>I'd love to get into some of the top UC's, but I would also like to go out of state. I've been looking at some colleges (like maybe Boston College), but I have no idea if I stand a chance. I would really appreciate if you could give me some feedback and maybe make some suggestions as to where I'd fit. Please be brutally honest. I want to find a school that I'm a good match for and not waste my time looking at schools way out of my reach. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>I'd say that you're a shoe in for UCLA and Cal - no worries there. You should definitely try out some of the lower end Ivies as you have a good shot.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. Which ivies are lower end? Penn, Columbia? I'm really sorry if these are stupid questions, but I'm diving into the college game completely blind. I would absolutely love to go to a higher end school, but I've been reading some of the stats on here and they're intimidating, especially some people's ECs. That's not going to stop me from applying since college admissions can be crazy but it is a little disheartening.</p>
<p>lol CC used to intimidate me a lot too. And after a while, you see 2300+ SAT and 4.5 gpa as the norm. But just know that CC members are possibly the best group of students in the world, so comparing yourself to some of the extraordinary people in this site does not actually reflect reality. You do have good chances at higher end schools (ivies, top lacs, and other ivy level schools), just make sure you can make yourself stand out with essays, interviews, etc..</p>
<p>There is no such thing as a "lower ivy," they all have their own merits and appeal to different types of students/personalities. Harvard, Yale and Princeton are generally more selective than the rest: Penn, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth and Cornell. However, because the admissions process is so subjective, several students may be accepted into the former but not the latter schools.
Given your profile, you should definitely consider applying to some of these schools after researching as to which fit you the best.</p>
<p>I think you'll do well, don't worry! I see you having a shot in the schools after HYPS: Dartmouth, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Amherst, Williams, etc. I think you'll do extremely well in schools right below these in selectivity: the Chicago, WUSTL, Rice range. I think the Emory and Vanderbilt range is very likely.</p>
<p>UCLA/Cal: Match (Not safety. They're never safeties.)
Boston College: Match
Penn (CAS, not Business School): Low reach/high match
Columbia: Reach
Cornell: Reach
Harvard: High reach
Yale: High reach
Princeton: High reach</p>
<p>Berkeley and UCLA are not safeties for you. (They really aren't safeties for anyone.) Your GPA and SAT are strong. What are your awards? SAT IIs?</p>
<p>Berkeley: high match (~60%)
UCLA: match
BC: match - safe match</p>
<p>^^^I know Cal and UCLA aren't safeties considering the loads of qualified students who apply and, while UCLA is a great school, it's really close to home and I'm looking to get a couple hours away at LEAST. Oh I'm taking my SAT IIs (Biology, U.S. History and Math 2) and ACT in June. The awards are school department awards and one student from each grade gets one for each subject. I've gotten history, science and math ones. I've also received some awards for tennis on my team and within my league. I'm also really involved in Key Club at my school (I've been an officer for the past 2 years) and I've organized some fairly large fundraisers and volunteer events. Sorry I didn't elaborate earlier; I just didn't want to bother everyone with reading through boring stats.</p>
<p>Anyway, thanks so much for all the responses and advice! I really appreciate it.</p>