College Choices -- Which College am I a Worthy Candidate for?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am currently a Junior and have begun considering which colleges to apply to.
I attend an EXTREMELY competitive high school.</p>

<p>Gender: Female</p>

<p>GPA: 3.72</p>

<p>Rank: Unknown.</p>

<p>APs: I am taking two APs this year and am planning on taking one next year. (I believe my school offers about 15...)</p>

<p>Courses: I have already taken/have almost completed four years of science courses (one of which is AP Biology and will be taking another next year), three years of a foreign language (and will take it next year as an honors course), three years of history (and will take another next year), three years of math (and will take another next year), three years of english (one of which is an AP and I will also be taking AP English next year), one year of chorus, one year of working for my school newspaper, next year i will be working on my school yearbook staff, one year of child development (and next year I will be taking child psychology honors which also counts as a college course and for which I will receive credits.</p>

<p>SATs: I have yet to take the SATs (I'm taking them this weekend and next month!) but I expect/hope to get over a 2000 out of 2400.</p>

<p>Work/Volunteer Experience: The summer before my sophomore year, I completed 60 hours of community service by volunteering at my town library. Since October of my sophomore year, I have been working as a secretary/assistant/paralegal for a lawyer in my area and will be asking her to write me a college recommendation letter.</p>

<p>Major: I would like to double major in Psychology and Political Science. If not possible, then I would just like to major in Psychology. I would like to pursue a career as an attorney.</p>

<p>Other Information: I am a first generation student (I am an immigrant whose parents have not attended college in the United States).</p>

<p>P.S. - A college (that I have visited and) really like is Brandeis but I am worried that I will not be able to get in... Advice?</p>

<p>Please suggest colleges and explain why you would recommend them!</p>

<p>P.P.S - I would like a college that is more on the smaller side but am willing to go to a school with a large student body.</p>

<p>P.P.P.S - my mother is pushing for me to go to rutgers, new brunswick....</p>

<p>THANK YOU! :D</p>

2

<p>Since law school can be expensive, pay attention to net cost after expected non-loan financial aid.</p>

3

<p>It’s hard to assess admission chances without real SAT scores and class rank. Brandeis is excellent; your qualifications seem to put you in the ballpark, at least. Other schools ranked by US News in the 21-40 range, LACs and universities, should be realistic goals.</p>

<p>What state are you in? Have you estimated your Expected Family Contribution ($) yet? There are online calculators to help with that. How much is your family actually able and willing to contribute?</p>

4

<p>I am in New Jersey and I’m not sure about financial contribution…</p>

5

<p>Also, about 2-5 people from my school attend Brandeis each year and the number rises each year…</p>

6

<p>From the sounds of it you are not a first gen college student. That would be if your parents never attended a college (you said in the US). Second, talk to your parents about how much they can pay. Brandeis costs >$50K/year. They do offer some merit aid but I expect a 2000 SAT with a 3.72 GPA won’t get much if any. And they do not meet full financial need.</p>

7

<p>I understand that Brandeis is expensive.
Also, I visited Brandeis last month and they said that they have a new policy so they now will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need…
I’m not expecting to get a merit scholarship either…</p>

<p>Thank you for correcting my error regarding first generation.</p>

8

<p>Your ECs do not distinguish you in any way.
Library blah, blah work in law office blah, blah…
Doesn’t reflect any passion or personal interests like volunteer at the legal aid- free lawyer services, volunteer for a local political candidate, stuff like that…
You will be competing for spots with kids who have great ECs.</p>

9

<p>Okay, thank you for the advice…
I am also secretary of the Domestic Abuse Awareness club, a member of Tech Crew for two years and next year may be given an authoritative position, (participated in sports during my first two years), and used to work for my school newspaper and next year I will be on the yearbook staff…
It’s still not much but I think I forgot to mention some of these.</p>

10

<p>Can you recommend any colleges that may be looking at applicants with less ECs than Brandeis?</p>

11

<p>For safety schools with generally good aid, check out the book Colleges that Change Lives. All good, small schools which aren’t incredibly selective (besides possibly Reeds), and most of them are generous when it comes to aid, both need-based and merit-based.</p>

12

<p>Thank you, that is very helpful. :D</p>

13

<p>Depending on scores maybe American, Wisconsin, Suny Stony Brook, Clark (MA), Syracuse and Boston University. Best of luck!</p>

14

<p>Thank you. :smiley:
I’ll research those colleges…</p>

15

<p>Rutgers should be on your list as well. </p>

<p>It would be both a financial and an academic safety for you.</p>

16

<p>I think you should look at Mt Holyoke (MA) a women’s college.</p>

17

<p>

A great suggestion. The NJ/PA area is teeming with good colleges. A few the OP probably has the stats for:
[ul][<em>]Bryn Mawr (single-sex)
[</em>]Bucknell
[<em>]Dickinson
[</em>]Franklin & Marshall
[<em>]Gettysburg
[</em>]Juniata
[<em>]Lafayette
[</em>]Ursinus[/ul] </p>

<p>As someone noted earlier, whether you will receive merit aid at these will depend heavily on your SAT scores and class rank.</p>

<p>As a smaller alternative to Rutgers, you may want to consider TCNJ as well.</p>

18

<p>Thank you very much for all your recommendations.
Your advice is very helpful. :)</p>

<p>Is TCNJ hard to get into/accepted to?</p>

19

<p>Last year something less than 50% were accepted. The SATs are reasonably high.
<a href=“http://ir.intrasun.tcnj.edu/cds/CDS_2010_2011.pdf[/url]”>http://ir.intrasun.tcnj.edu/cds/CDS_2010_2011.pdf&lt;/a&gt; Look at section C.</p>