<p>Hello all, I've read on this forum several times in the past and, deciding that I could not get all of the answers without interacting, am now posting here. I'm a Junior in high school and getting ready to select my applications.</p>
<p>So, here we go on a quick stats run-down:</p>
<p>I go to one of the most competitive public high schools in Texas, and because I'm a private person, I shall not name it, but as an example take how I have a 3.5 GPA(that's adjusted for the 4 point scale) and am ranked around the 20th percentile.</p>
<p>I haven't taken the new SAT yet(meaning I didn't take the March administration of the test), but I'm by and large an excellent writer, and I feel that I might do far better on it than I did on the regular SAT.</p>
<p>So, the regular, good old SAT score for me was 1330. Not bad, I suppose. I'm a realist and know that many people would love to just get above 1300, so I'm not going to spout tripe like "Oh, dahhhling, I do deplore that poor score of mine!".</p>
<p>ECs include playing on the golf team for what will be all four years of high school, being on Student Council since sophomore year(and active, at that), being in National Honors Society, starting up and being the president of a(don't flame, not a political thread) Conservative Political Club(and shockingly, there was not already one... this is a relatively liberal school, considering I'm in Texas), being recognized as the "best overall student" my freshman year, going to the National Youth Leadership Forum on Technology last summer, and then this summer, and then also this summer I'm going to a People to People event in California, as well as last fall, helping campaign for a local running congressman. I'm going to get his recommendation because now, of course, I personally know the man.</p>
<p>Hm... further... I'm very politically savvy, not to mention always learning and always interested. I have been given the opportunity to intern for(though I will not be able to) several US congressmen in the area, and have had extended to me the possibility of interning for the Attorney General. Of course, I'd take these opportunities in a second, but I'm already committed to the already-stated things this summer, and thus, will wait until my pre-college summer to engage myself in that way.</p>
<p>My major will be either political science or finance.</p>
<p>Now. All of these things stated, I'm a bit worried as all who apply to college are. In my case, because I've had to lower my expectations greatly since my middle-school years. Indeed, I once dreamed of going to Stanford, MIT, or the like(of course, this was back when I envisioned myself as a programmer majoring in computer science... that never quite worked out, heh). </p>
<p>I can automatically get into A&M with a 1300 SAT score and my under-25th percentile rank; I've visited the campus and it is lovely, the social environment is also very dynamic and friendly. So, all in all, I'd love to go to A&M. It's also a cheap education.</p>
<p>Now... further... I'd like to try my hand at some more recognizable schools. Though A&M for me would be a stepping stone to graduate school anyway(which I plan on attending), I might as well think about starting out at a "prestigious university" for my undergraduate education.</p>
<p>Therefore I've been thinking, with my very mediocre rank and relatively 'okay' SAT score.... where might I have a chance?</p>
<p>You have no chance if you don't apply. Therefore, with the knowledge of knowing that I'm already admitted into a school with great resources, professors, and undergraduate programs, I'm going to "reach" about 8 or 9 times, if you catch my drift.</p>
<p>How about.... NYU? Yes, I know, a conservative at NYU? My logic is that as a finance major, you could not have a better chance for (school year) internships, as well as the fact that I'd be right next to Washington, D.C.(or, closer anyway) when I wanted to intern regularly in the summer for politicians.</p>
<p>How about.... U of Virginia? With 80 percent of their admitted being from in state, they might want some out of staters, no?</p>
<p>How about Vanderbilt? Emory? </p>
<p>One that I'd love to attend if I decided on political science is Washington and Lee in Lexington, Virginia. What about chances there?</p>
<p>Georgetown?</p>
<p>I keep getting material from Tulane, in New Orleans of course. I don't know if that's even a good school, is it? I figure I could get in there.</p>
<p>Also, I'd like suggestions from people I'm not one of these wacky "GOTTA GET INTO AN IVY! GOTTA GET INTO A RANKED SCHOOL!" types, I don't despise that type of academic individual but it's not my cup of tea.</p>
<p>I am not a slacker, but a hard worker, when it comes to actual work, or actual intellectual fodder. My downfall in high school has been repetitive work and memorized work, which of course falls out of memory after the test. As said I'm a good writer. All in all, I'm an intelligent, somewhat "out there" type who is sociable but not well able to do repetitive work. I want to go to a school where I will have a social environment, can live a "normal college existance", yet still get a great education.</p>
<p>When I am engaged I shine. Which is why I know I shall do far better in college than I did in high school, especially if I go to a lower-ranked university like A&M.</p>
<p>Thanks for any input!</p>