<p>So, I'm going to be a senior in high school this next school year and I'm having problems finding schools that I'm pretty sure I can get in to but are still good schools. My three colleges I'm applying to so far are Harvard, Stanford and Cornell. I want three more schools that I have a very good chance of being accepted to. I've done tons of college searches and I just can't find any that get my attention. I definitely want to apply to only private colleges and nothing like an all girls college. I'll give you a run down of my academic record. Any help or input would be greatly appreciated.
I have a 4.7 weighted GPA and it's climbing. I've taken all AP and honor courses. I'm ranked 5th out of 739 students in my graduating class. I'm just waiting on my ACT and SAT scores as of right now. I'm an intern at a pediatrics office this summer and have been in numerous clubs and have volunteered my fair share. I only tell you this as to give you all a better idea of what colleges I would most likely be accepted to. I know there are other factors such as essays, but a practical college can still be determined. It would be great if you guys could mention some good schools I may not have looked into yet. Thanks!</p>
<p>What’s a “practical college” ? Do you mean a match or a safety, since the three you list are reaches for anyone? Without knowing what field you may want to study, what part of the country you want to be in, whether you want an urban, rural or suburban school, what size school suits you, the extent to which you may need financial aid or merit aid, etc., no one can begin to help you. Your scores will also be needed.</p>
<p>I guess it would be called a safety. I’m not familiar with those terms. Those colleges aren’t really reaches for everyone. If you are getting all F’s, it isn’t practical to apply to Harvard, but if you have the best possible grades, are taking the most rigorous classes, and have a good range of dedicated activities, you are much closer to the possibility of getting accepted. I don’t care about the location as of now. I was just asking for schools that others may be interested in so that I may be aware of them. I didn’t mention financial aid or any other factors because that is not my concern as of now. I haven’t received my ACT or SAT scores yet, as I have mentioned. Those are a factor in admission but not the ONLY factor. I was simply asking for schools that a student like myself has a high chance of getting into.</p>
<p>(1) Harvard and Stanford are, most certainly, reaches for ANY student. Cornell is also a reach for the vast majority of students. </p>
<p>(2) While SAT or ACT scores are not the only factor in admissions, a large emphasis is placed on them; if you do not score well (i.e. suppose you score a 1,900), it makes admission to the schools you’ve listed very unlikely – so, yes, in fact, those scores are important and without them no one can make any accurate recommendations.</p>
<p>I am aware they are important, but I can still take recommendations for schools, can’t I? Obviously, if you score low you won’t get in, but I am very aware of my capabilities based on the rigorous courses I have taken and can predict my score fairly accurately . It won’t be a low one. If I don’t have the scores as of now, I can’t provide them. I just simply wanted to hear what schools others are interested in. That is all. If you cannot provide any input on the schools, then so be it.</p>
<p>What do you want to study? What part of the country? There is no way you will get suggestions without a few more specifics. There are thousands of colleges in the US. What is your state flagship - probably would be a safety.</p>
<p>Either engineering, pre-med, or chemistry. I’m open to any part of the country–except Nevada. There’s no way I’m staying here.</p>
<p>You seem to know everything already so no CC’ers will be able to advise you.</p>
<p>Negative comments really aren’t needed. Thanks though.</p>
<p>Supamik. With your continuously expressed arrogance, I think it is safe to say no one else is going to bother to provide any further constructive advice. And ya know, given your unrelenting hostility to everyone who has offered assistance, negative comments --needed or not – are all you will probably get. Thanks though.</p>
<p>I wasn’t being arrogant. Quite the contrary. I don’t need people telling me the obvious, nor dismissing my college choices. I’m very aware the schools I chose are very difficult to get into, but I, unlike most people who have responded, am an optimist. I am also a realist, which is why I asked for SUGGESTIONS, though very few who have responded have been able to assist me. It really wasn’t a difficult request, and I don’t need your hostility either. Please, everyone, feel free to not reply to this thread.</p>
<p>I wrote the following earlier today - before the OP had received any responses - but thought better of it and decided not to post it. I am now realizing that perhaps I should have, so here it is:</p>
<p>You’ve done “tons of college searches” and can’t find anything that interests you. You’ve given us almost zero information about yourself (your location, your interests, what kind of campus social scene you’re looking for), and want us to pick schools for you. The one and only thing we know about you - from your three top choice schools - is that prestige matters.</p>
<p>With that information, I’d make one suggestion only: stick with the three schools you already have and just make sure there’s a fast food restaurant near where you live so you have a backup plan for next year.</p>
<p>While you’re waiting for other CC’ers to chime in with their favorite schools, you might want to take a look at this thread: [“You’re</a> Not Special”](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1350588-high-school-teacher-tells-graduating-students-you-re-not-special.html]"You’re”>High school teacher tells graduating students: youre not special - Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums). Follow the link to the news article, and then follow the link there to get you to the video of the commencement speech. It might give you some perspective.</p>
<p>Since I feel like it, I’m going to waste my words on you.
What everyone is trying to tell you, is that you are trying to say that Harvard, Stanford, and Cornell are reaches for EVERYONE. There are people who have 2400’s on their SAT’s, have 10 SAT Subject Tests with 800’s on them all, and did every club possible, did every internship possible and did 5000+ hours of CS and DID NOT GET INTO THOSE SCHOOLS. You’re trying to make it sound like you are a shoo-in, and quite frankly you’re not.
Secondly, you didn’t give enough information for anyone to tell you about colleges. What are your subject tests, which AP’s did you take, are you merit based or need based scholarship? So what you really need to do, is get off your high horse and realize that your post and this thread are post essentially pointless.</p>
<p>If that isn’t arrogance, I don’t know what is.</p>
<p>If you’re talking about ME, I never said I wasn’t arrogant. (:</p>
<p>I don’t think supamik is being arrogent: He or she has identified 3 reaches - the same three that another 32,000+ applicants identified this year. Not a problem. Now he or she wants to know what else would be worth considering. </p>
<p>I think the answer is that we need more information: If engineering is on the table, that rules out most LACs. Most good schools will have decent chemistry dept. and provide good prep for pre-meds (which isn’t a major, as you probably know). I realize geography doesn’t matter - you just want to be away from home and you don’t have test scores yet. Can you tell us more about your preferred learning environment?</p>
<p>1) urban/suburban/small college town?
2) financial aid needs
3) other preferences - weather, ECs, culture or vibe, etc…(how conservative/liberal? religious? single sex? jock, intellectual, artsy, granola, quirky, preppy - what feels right?)
4) size of school - Is 4,000 too small? Is 40,000 to big?</p>
<p>The more info you give us, the better the suggestions will be.</p>
<p>Based on the limited information supamilk has provided, I’ll toss out these suggestions (listed from more to less selective):
Johns Hopkins
Carnegie Mellon
University of Rochester
Case Western</p>
<p>JHU (like Cornell) is less selective than Harvard or Stanford, but still very selective. Here are the CR-M-W scores and class rank of a few students who have been rejected/waitlisted within the past few years (according to the CC Stats Profile):
780/740/800, top 5% (rejected)
730/760/790, top 5% (rejected)
700/800/750, top 5% (waitlisted)
720/800/770, top 5% (waitlisted)</p>
<p>Some of the Harvard rejected/waitlisted applicants in the past 3 years looked like this (again, according to the CC Stats Profile):
800/800/800, top 5%, 4.0 GPA (rejected)
800/790/800, top 5%, 4.0 GPA (rejected)
800/800/710, top 5%, 4.0 GPA (rejected)
730/800/750, top 5%, 4.0 GPA (rejected)
700/800/760, top 5%, 4.7 GPA (rejected)
800/780/760, top 5%, 4.0 GPA (rejected)
800/800/790, top 5%, 3.99 GPA (rejected)
740/780/800, top 5%, 4.0 GPA (rejected)
800/750/800, top 5%, 4.0 GPA (waitlisted)
800/760/800, top 5%, 4.17 GPA (waitlisted)
790/800/770, top 5%, 4.0 GPA (waitlisted)
800/770/800, top 5%, 4.0 GPA (waitlisted)</p>
<p>Thank you both. @M’s mom: As for the setting, I’m open to any, except for a large city. As of now, I’m not looking at financial aid as a factor. I’d like to go to a university which has much diversity. I definitely want it to be co-ed. School size–no more than about 16,000.
@tk Thank you for the suggestions. I will look into those schools.</p>
<hr>
<p>I wasn’t even going to bother with the thread anymore, but then I saw these posts. Let me just say, I am aware that these schools are selective and that even people with perfect (or so it seems) statistics do not get in. We do not know, though, if their essays showed the applicant’s voice well enough. We also aren’t aware of their EC’s, since I have read so many statements from the presidents of schools saying it is not all about academics. They want to see you lead a normal life outside of school. I never said I KNEW I could get into those schools. They are my DREAM schools. They are called that for a reason, but I am determined to remain optimistic. I appreciate everyones help and input.</p>
<p>You’ve asked for help identifying safety schools. A safety school is one which you know based on GPA, scores, and your financial resources/guaranteed merit you will be accepted and can pay. What we are telling you, and you are refusing to accept, is we cannot suggest safety schools without A) scores and B) how much your family can pay. It’s really that simple. </p>
<p>Another way to refer to the three schools you have identified already is ‘lottery’ schools. Having an impressive application will just get you a ticket to the lottery to be selected. There are thousands of equally impressive students just as deserving. After that, it’s anyone’s guess.</p>
<p>A few other possibilities to check out (again, from more to less selective):
Harvey Mudd College
Northwestern
Rice University
Tufts
University of Southern California
Vanderbilt</p>
<p>These are all very selective, but not complete crap shoots like Harvard or Stanford. They are more in line with Cornell. They all have engineering programs. </p>
<p>Many state universities have strong engineering programs. They also are less selective and less expensive than the above private schools. The University of Wisconsin seems to have strong engineering and a nice college town atmosphere.</p>
<p>Harvard, by the way, only offers general engineering (BS in “engineering science”). It does not have ABET-accredited programs in engineering specialties (chemical, civil, electrical, etc.) I believe all the other schools I’ve suggested do (other than Harvey Mudd).</p>