College Advice: A Junior Getting Ready For Post-High School

College Search & Selection
1

Hey,

This doesn’t seem to describe me fully, but I have put below some basic information about me. I am starting to really think about where I want to go to college. Tell me what you think about my potential schools and if you know any others I should look at. I’ll answer any questions!

Profile:

GPA: 4.0
Class Rank: 1/156
ACT: 35
PSAT: 1420

Clubs / Extra-curriculars: Student Council (Regional President), FFA (Chapter Vice-President, District Vice-President), 4-H (President), Youth Leadership Team (Reporter), National Honor Society, Knowledge Bowl (President), Debate (Co-President),

Courses: AP US History, AP Physics, AP English 11, Trig-Prob-Stats, Human Anatomy/Physiology, Honors Biology, Chemistry, soon taking Pre-Calc and Calc 1

Awards: US Senate Youth Program Delegate and Scholarship Recipient, National Top 30 MATH-CON Finalist, State Geography Bee Champion, FFA State Creed Speaking Champion, FFA State Prepared Public Speaking Champion, Second Place in FFA State Job Interview Contest, Knowledge Bowl Regional Champion, Prudential Spirit of Community Award Delegate, multiple debate tournaments

Service: well over 150 hours, started community recycling programs, founded “Teens Teach Technology” program at multiple local senior centers, led ag education programs across the state

Additional Information:
-I go to a small South Dakota rural school, and I have taken the highest courses possible.
-I come from a rural/agricultural background.
-Thinking of going into Economics and/or STEM
-I’ve got experience in finance and journalism from summer jobs, etc.
-I have good references and essay writing skills.

Schools I am looking at: Georgetown, Cal Tech, Harvey Mudd, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Washington U at SL.

Thanks everyone!

2

Have you talked to your parents about what they will contribute and run net price calculators on various colleges of interest?

Also, if you want to go into economics or any STEM major, take the highest math you can. For any STEM major, try to include physics as well as biology and chemistry.

Some of the colleges want SAT subject tests (look up their admissions web sites). If you will be completing any of the related courses this year, the end of this school year is probably the best time to take the associated SAT subject tests.

3

I will being taking the highest available STEM classes at my school and will take the SAT soon.

4

The SAT subject tests are distinct from the main SAT.

5

@AcademicsFan, as @ucbalumnus notes, the first step in assembling a list is to make sure you are covered financially.

I think you will be a person of interest to all of the schools on your list. There are no guarantees, of course, when you’re looking at super selectives like Stanford, Harvard, MIT. You need to assemble a balanced list of reach/match/safety, maybe add one or two true safeties.

You also need to consider how important the E(ngineering) in STEM is to you, as some of the colleges on your list don’t offer undergraduate engineering degrees.

Georgetown seems out of place on your list. I might suggest that you look at Williams which is a small school like Mudd, with excellent STM (no E) and excellent social sciences like economics

6

You look like a great applicant. I agree with the above posts. Definitely take SAT subject tests; scores about 700 will help you get into those schools you listed.

Also, STEM is very vague. I agree with the comment about reevaluating the E part of STEM. You don’t seem like a science or math person based on your description, but I could be dead wrong. Just saying “I want to go into STEM” is super vague and not conductive to a career in the field. Do you have any STEM specific awards or extracurriculars, besides the Tech thing?

Anyways, great EC’s (FFA district VP is a huge deal, from my understanding).

7

Look into Cornell. CALS will waive your application fee because you’re an FFA member. DM me if you need the details on how to get your fee waived.