Chances for an Uninformed Highschooler

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Well, I really have no idea about what I should be looking at in terms of colleges and I’d like to fix that. I hope that y’all can recommend a few colleges for me to look at that I’d have a good chance of getting in to.

Here are quick introductory(sorry if it’s bad I’m not exactly good at this):
I’m a girl that is a sophomore in high school. My passion is drawing and programming, I enjoy designing applications and webpages and have throughout the last two years. I really enjoy writing short stories, discussing books with friends, and hanging out with friends. I am home schooled in Wyoming, so the opportunities for me to expand academically have been very scarce, and I hope to change that by going to a college that can provide me with opportunities and challenge me. Here’s my academic profile.

Dual Enrollment: 10 classes: English Composition I and II, Psychology, Sociology, Algebra(incl. trigonometry), World History, Calculus 2/BC, Oral Communications(Speech), and a Visual Basic class(part of a technical plan and the teacher only had a bachelors so I have no idea if it will transfer, only did it because I love it.)

GPA in college: 4.0
GPA outside of college: 4.0
Weighted GPA(all classes besides college are on a 4.0 scale and college is on 5.0): 4.4

ACT: 31.0(ONE SCIENCE QUESTION FROM 32 UGH) (33 English, 33 Math, 30 Science, and 28 Reading) I plan to raise this because its abysmal but I’m not sure about when to start.
SAT: Haven’t taken it(210 on PSAT this year)

Subjective stuff(I’m not sure if this is relevant but everyone seems to post it)
Worked at the local food bank for a few hours a week, I’ve logged just over 200 hours but I’m sure I’ve spent more.
Worked at the local after school program to help kids struggling with math and science
Youth group leader
Lawn chair club
Helped coach my younger brother’s basketball team for the past 5 years
Refereed soccer last year(level 10 USSF)
Worked repairing computers on a somewhat consistent basis since I was 10
EdX/Coursera/Udemy Courses(only listing the ones with certificates): The Science of Happiness(Simple neuroscience), ChinaX, ChinaX Part 2(both history), Introduction to Linux(Computer science), U.Lab: Transforming Business, Society, and Self(Leadership), Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe(Astrophysics), Exoplanets(Astrophysics), The Violent Universe(Astrophysics), and Networks, Crowds and Markets(Computer Science).

Honors/Awards/Recognition Stuff:
Phi Theta Kappa
Mu Eta Sigma
National Home school Honor Society
Academic All-Star for my college(one per college)
a few other home school specific honors

Random Facts:
I’m from Wyoming
I really love literature and design
Our income is just at $140,000 per year

The schools that I am am looking at include Brown, Vassar, UCB, OSU, WashU, JHU, and Purdue.
What other schools should I be looking at?

2

Honestly, with your stats, and the potential to improve over the next two years, you will be able to get into 85% of the schools in the country, no question, and you will be competitive for the other 15% . Keep up the ECs, and just try to show leadership in as many activities as you can (the subjective stuff is relevant, by the way). You’re a sophomore, so you have time. Visit some schools, just to get a sense of what you like in terms of big/small, public/private, etc. You will be fine!

3

Thanks @jamesjunkers‌! I’m really just trying to get a feel for where to start. My family looks well off but we really cant afford to travel to all the schools I might like. Any suggestions on what I might like? I know its hard to say what someone else might like but I really dont know what I want myself.

4

Don’t worry about travelling far. Look at local schools, just to get a sense. Even if you have no interest in attending, try to visit a city school, a rural school, a big school, a small school, etc. just to see what you like.

5

jamesjunkers is right - look at a variety of types of schools to see what type feels right first - especially since you might be home schooled - the vibe will be very different
Then you are going to need to make at least one big trip and visit a bunch of schools
Your Wyoming background will likely help with LACs in the east like Vassar - and it will seem like a totally different place than where you are
check out some NESCAC schools and Patriot league schools web sites to see if they interest you too

6

Honestly, it looks like you have a fair shot at the majority of colleges. Top schools like Stanford and Harvard and all that are a crapshoot for anybody; it’s difficult to predict accurately. But with your scores and ECs it really does seem like you have a fair chance at most places. Especially considering you’re only a sophomore, it looks like you’ve got even more time to fill up your application.

Good luck to you!