College list advice?

<p>Do you have access to your school profile? Even for schools that don’t rank, you can figure out. Top 1% GPA, top 2%GPA, etc…</p>

<p>My naviance doesn’t appear to have that, but the data for Williams is strange. Most of the people with GPA/SAT’s lower than mine got accepted, but most of the people with GPA/SAt’s higher than mine got rejected. Williams seems dangerous.</p>

<p>Grinnell is a great school for premed. First it is one of the few remaining schools that meets full need and is incredibly generous with it’s financial aid. As a premed graduate (starting at Georgetown Medical School next year) I can say that they do a very good job preparing and getting students into medical school. The school is small ~1700, but it allowed me to be able to do 2 varsity sports and be involved in music as well. The weather in Iowa is cold and it is a small rural town, however, with a $1.2 billion endowment (I believe the largest endowment per student) the facilities are incredible and they bring in amazing performers and speakers to campus. Finally, as there are no graduate students and small class sizes, it is very easy to get to know your profs. This translates into great LORs and summer research opportunities even as a freshman (Grinnell is #7 on the list of all schools where students go on to get PhDs). PM if you have any other questions for me.</p>

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<p>That pattern is consistent with their holistic approach to admissions. They are “crafting a class” (trying to fill their needs for soccer goalies, tuba players, newspaper editors, etc.) So above a certain level, they don’t rely completely on GPA and SAT numbers in admissions. They want excellent students who also bring other things to the table. Of course, you’re looking at a small sample; there might be other factors involved (such as legacy status, or ED vs. RD).</p>

<p>Thanks for your input, guys! However, can you please give me some suggestions for LAC’s. I will look at both Grinnell and Williams. I’m pretty sure I’m applying to Williams, but Grinnell’s rural environment does not appeal to me (not that it isn’t a fantastic school).</p>

<p>Bumpity bump bump</p>

<p>Urban LACs: Vassar, Macalester, Reed</p>

<p>Lots of suburban LACs: Swarthmore, Haverford, Pomona to name just a few</p>

<p>I’d move Reed to suburban; it’s a 20-min bus ride to downtown Portland, and is surrounded (three sides) by suburban housing.</p>

<p>What about regular universities?</p>

<p>You took AP Calculus your first year of high school? And Calculus of Several Variables and Linear Algebra as a sophomore? Wow. </p>

<p>After reading this board, I can’t believe how awful my high school was. No AP courses, and the highest level of math available to seniors was Pre-Calculus.</p>