College Confidential makes me insecure.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>As a senior who's only just discovered College Confidential a few months ago, I feel very behind the game. And the more time I spend on this site, the more inadequate I feel. </p>

<p>I was already aware of being a below average applicant, but I suppose I just had no idea of how below average. My GPA and extracurriculars really worry me. </p>

<p>So I would like to enlist some help in finding colleges that I could realistically apply to. If you could please suggest reaches, matches, and safeties, I'd greatly appreciate it.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.2 (W), 3.3 (UW)
ACT: 31
SAT Subject Scores: U.S. History (730) Biology (690) Waiting on Math II and Lit scores.
APs: AP Euro (4), AP Bio (3), AP Psych (5), AP Lang (4) AP U.S. (5)
Rank: My HS doesn't rank, but I'm somewhere in the lower end of the top ten percent.
Extracurriculars: Two year Service Club Secretary, Yearbook Writing Editor, one year frosh tennis, one year cheerleading
Senior Schedule: AP Lit, AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Art History, AP World, AP Calculus, and Yearbook
Asian female from Southern California</p>

<p>I've also applied for the Questbridge National College Match, and will find out if I am a finalist on Friday. </p>

<p>To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, Reed College is currently my high reach school. And University of Chicago is my "unattainable-apply-just-because" school. </p>

<p>I'm not into the Greek scene, have no preference for location, and would choose private schools over public schools. I'm not a big fan of the UCs.</p>

<p>If you could kindly offer your opinion, I'd be forever grateful.</p>

<p>Thank you, and have a nice day.</p>

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<p>what do you think are your reaches?</p>

<p>Have you considered Whitman College in WA?</p>

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<p>You? A below-average student? Wow you’ve really been deluded by CC. Relax, I have no suggestions for you but just reassurance. You’ll do fine.</p>

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<p>Honestly, I try to avoid the Ivy acceptances thread, merely because they make me feel so bad. With your numbers, you’re definitely above average (at least), and you could probably aim for some pretty decent schools. How about Pomona and Claremont McKenna? Top LACs in California, very very strong programs overall. Private as well, with a very low faculty:student ratio.</p>

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<p>You seem like a solid B+ student with lots of great options. Apply to at least 7 schools if you are looking only at private, selective schools. You’ll get in to at least a few for sure.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Ignore</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>Oxy is also nice.</p>

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<p>*GPA: 4.2 (W), 3.3 (UW)
ACT: 31
SAT Subject Scores: U.S. History (730) Biology (690) Waiting on Math II and Lit scores.
APs: AP Euro (4), AP Bio (3), AP Psych (5), AP Lang (4) AP U.S. (5)
Rank: My HS doesn’t rank, but I’m somewhere in the lower end of the top ten percent.</p>

<p>Asian female from Southern California</p>

<p>I’ve also applied for the Questbridge National College Match, and will find out if I am a finalist on Friday.</p>

<p>I’m not into the Greek scene, have no preference for location, and would choose private schools over public schools. I’m not a big fan of the UCs.
*</p>

<p>I suspect with a 3.3 UW, you may not be in the top 10%.</p>

<p>Since you’re applying for QB, then that is a possibility, but even getting accepted into the program doesn’t guarantee anything.</p>

<p>Since you’re doing QB, do you know what your EFC is? </p>

<p>I know that you’re not into the UCs, but they may end up being your most affordable choice if your income is low. The UCs do a good job meeting need - but ONLY for low income students. </p>

<p>You need to apply to a few UCs. They’re all very different, so there should be a couple that would be a fine fit for you. Try UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, or UC Merced (for a quiet slow paced school in a beautiful setting). UC Riverside is an “up and coming” UC.</p>

<p>Actually, I think UC Merced might be good for you. It’s small - 3200 students - so it would be like going to a private school! Everything is new, so nothing worn down and in need of refurbishing.</p>

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<p>whoa! Mom! Are you underselling this kid? QB is a wonderful financial aid source for kids with financial constraints. But I think someone with a 4.2 qpa and a 31 act can do very well in many private colleges. I would recommend this female asian look strongly at Santa Clara University, Pepperdine, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco and Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles.</p>

<p>I dont think Reed is a reach. Its a very high match. UChicago is also known to take kids like this. But being Asian, there is an Asian expectation, I call it…and its somewhat unfair…so its best to stay away from the elite uber prestigious schools. Instead focus on MATCH schools like I have mentioned. </p>

<p>In the Northwest I would focus on Whitman, Gonzaga, Seattle University, University of Puget Sound, Willamette, University of Portland. </p>

<p>Midwest I would strongly recommend Saint Louis University, Marquette, Creighton, Lawrence University (a gem of a school in Wisconsin!), Loyola Chicago. </p>

<p>Good luck to the OP.</p>

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<p>i wouldn’t listen to one of the previous poster’s suggestions. don’t waste your time applying to pomona or cmc. i was rejected from both with much higher stats than you and it was the same story with many of my friends. my friends who did get accepted generally had around a 2200 SAT and 3.9+ UW GPA. my sister is a pomona alum but she had a 1600 SAT back when that was the max score.</p>

<p>however, your grades are ok and you do have a good shot at a lot of other schools, just not the most selective ones.</p>

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<p>Ghostbuster, Mom2CK is trying to be reasonable and not overly optimistic. Reed is a reach (though the application essay will be very important) as is Chicago. Since the OP has financial need it makes sense for her to consider a UC for FA. I do like some of the other schools you mentioned.</p>

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<p>Ghost…</p>

<p>I’m concerned about the unweighted GPA.</p>

<p>Yes, Santa Clara will give some merit…Not a lot for an ACT 31. My niece got some merit for that score with a better GPA. Nephew with an ACT 33 got half tuition. However, that still leaves a big chunk and Santa Clara does not meet need.</p>

<p>Yes, QB is a great option IF IT WORKS OUT for her. At this point, we don’t know.</p>

<p>Because of financial constraints, the student needs to apply to some UCs…especially ones like UC Merced which will take her, will meet need for low income only, AND is small so like a private…which she wants.</p>

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<p>I know UC Merced has a nice new campus. I heard CS/Math faculty there has some very accomplished young members.</p>

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<p>^^ Mom2CK is right. You should apply to UC, just in case. You don’t want to end up going to CC, do you. Apply 4 UCs and 5 privates :)</p>

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<p>I think LMU is likely to give some money with those stats, and it’s a very fine school. Definitely consider Occidental and Pitzer, too. Both great schools, and your stats are pretty solid for them.</p>

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<p>p.s. You should NOT feel insecure. You are obviously a bright and hard-working person. This forum is skewed toward the overachievers.</p>

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<p>“I’m concerned about the unweighted GPA.”</p>

<p>Schools are said to prefer a B in an AP class over an A in regular or honors (best, of course, is an A in an AP class!). Reed’s average WGPA for the last entering class was 3.9 ([Reed</a> College 2010-11 Common Data Set SecC](<a href=“http://web.reed.edu/ir/cds/cds1011/cdssecc201011.html]Reed”>Reed College 2010-11 Common Data Set SecC - Institutional Research - Reed College) section C12), so the OP’s 4.2 should be viable. ACT 31 is a bit low for comfort, and submitting SAT would be better. But GPA + test scores + rank still are only 20% of Reed admission criteria.</p>

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<p>Wow, first of all, I would like to say thank you very much for all the feedback. I really appreciate it. Although College Confidential has its downfalls, the helpfulness of everyone on the forum far outweighs any cons. </p>

<p>@mom2collegekids
Thank you for your advice about the UCs. I do believe it is wise for me to apply to at least one or two UCs, especially considering I’m ELC eligible.
My EFC is $0. And I’ve always been under the impression that private schools are often more generous with financial aid than public schools. Have I been woefully misinformed?</p>

<p>@ghostbuster
Thank you very much for your school suggestions. I’ve never heard of Lawrence University, but after taking a quick look at their website, I think I want to dig deeper. </p>

<p>@josebiwasabi
Yes, I have looked at Pomona, because my mom has been lobbying for me to go close to home, and because they offer great financial aid. For the same reasons you mentioned, I have decided that if I did apply, it would certainly be a reach school. If I do become a Questbridge Finalist, I might have my application forwarded there during the Regular Decision round.</p>

<p>@vossron
That’s what I’m most concerned about- that I don’t have A’s. Thank you so much for your continuous help.</p>

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<p>so you have elc and not statewide? you’ll probably end up in ucsd although i don’t know exactly how rigorous your schedule is</p>

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<p>Do you know what you want to major in yet? Also, do you want to stay in-state, go out-of-state, or just U chicago for OOS? The major could definitely help when you’re looking into programs you’re interested in. Plus, you sound like a great student, don’t let college confidential get you down!</p>