<p>hey guys, i have a tentative list of schools i'm applying to, i am a senior this year.</p>
<p>i'll give you my facts if you could let me know which schools are safety, target and reach.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.5 unweighted/4.1 weighted
Rank: 42/471 (top 10%)
Race: Hispanic
Income: Low Income
First Generation
National Honors Society Member
I've volunteered extensively at local schools (about 270 hours worth) and interned with a political campaign office (57 hours)
ACT Score: 27 (retaking in a week)
AP Human: 4
AP Enviro: 4
AP World: 5
AP Euro: 3
AP Chem: 3
AP USH: 4
AP Psych: 4
AP English Language: 5</p>
<p>Schools I'm applying to:</p>
<p>Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, New College of Florida, Bard College, Reed College, New York University, Kenyon College, Carleton College, University of Virginia, Columbia University, Brown University, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Vassar College, Tulane University, University of Southern California, Oberlin College, Macalester College, Grinnell College.</p>
<p>You need to narrow that list down! 12 schools should be plenty-and 10 would be just fine. It would also help us if we knew why you had picked some of the schools on there-some are huge state schools, some are midsized urban privates, some are small rural LACs-what criteria are you using to choose these places?</p>
<p>I love LACs because of their size and intimate settings, but they also are strongly focused in writing. I plan on majoring in English, and that’s why UMich is on there. The four Florida schools are on there because I live in Florida and I need options within the state in case I decide to stay.</p>
<p>I would narrow your list to perhaps one or two of the Florida state schools (as safeties), and maybe add Eckard College, a safety LAC in St. Petersburg. Then hit the midwestern LACs (Grinnell, Oberlin, Macalester, Kenyon, Carleton), add Brown (LAC-like and similar vibe, but a reach), Vassar (a match) and Swarthmore (reach). Add U Chicago as an intellectual high reach. If you really want a LAC, with the small classes, personal attention and extensive writing, there’s no reason to apply to UMich, UVA, NYU, USC, Columbia and Northwestern.</p>
<p>Vassar is really more of a reach. And UVA at least has the advantage of meeting need. UMich will give you nothing being OOS, NYU would be similar. If you are low income have you considered Denison and Questbridge?</p>
<p>I’m doing QuestBridge and I’ve ranked Columbia Brown UChicago UVA Vassar Northwestern. But I really don’t expect to qualify as a finalist, however, I’ll still apply to those schools through QuestBridge for Regular Decision. I’m very much considering ED to Reed, but I’m not sure whether or not that’s a match or a reach.</p>
<p>Also, I’m in more ECs just didn’t think they were worth noting: Beta Honors Member, French Honors Society Historian and Webmaster, Forensics Debate Individual Event Captain and Historian (also, I’m male, so all girls schools are out of the question hahaha)</p>
<p>Reed is a somewhat unusual place—quirky, intellectual etc.—from what I’ve heard, so don’t do ED unless you’re really sure. Kenyon seems like a good idea. If you get rid of some of the bigger places, as someone suggested, you could add a few liberal arts colleges in the NE. Places like Colby, Trinity, Conn. College, Hamilton. Amherst and Middlebury—possible reaches. There are lots of threads on X liberal arts college vs. Y Liberal arts college, so that might help you narrow down.</p>
<p>As Always, good advice from erinsdad. Keep your eye on the aid ball. Michigan and NYU will not meet a low income need. You may want to stick to schools that meet 100% of need except for in state schools.</p>
<p>I agree with Hitch re Reed, and don’t apply ED to Reed without visiting overnight; most come away feeling strongly one way or the other. Solely on your stats, I’d guess that Reed is a reach, but stats are only 20% of admission criteria; you never know.</p>