<p>Well, it's October, and I'm feeling very nervous about the whole process and thought I would turn to CC as you guys have always been helpful in the past.</p>
<p>Basically, my entire college search has been self-directed. Aside from bits of advice and anecdotes from random people, my parents have not been involved at all, and as such I thought I had determined what I wanted and where I wanted to go, but in the end ended up with no criteria and a really long list of places to apply. People from last year's graduating class, many of whom are now at elite private schools, are encouraging me to apply to places like Penn, Northwestern, and other top schools that I don't think I have a good chance of getting into (3.8 GPA, top 3%, 33 ACT, so from an objective standpoint I'm in the lower half or quartile of these colleges). </p>
<p>Acceptance rates under 20% or even 30% give me the jitters, but at the same time I feel like I'm aiming too low. My list consists of mostly match liberal arts colleges, many of which I feel like would be good fits for me, but I have no reason for not wanting to attend these other schools. I'm totally undecided as far as a major goes, and I don't want to end up selling myself short by not applying to schools that I may get into. I took off a few reaches (Pomona and Bowdoin, namely) because I think I will be rejected, but I applied to Georgetown and will apply to Rice and USC because I think they are pretty good fits for me. I'm pretty much all over the board, and the weeks are flying by. I'm a mess. </p>
<p>Advice, please? Maybe I'm overthinking it... Sorry if I'm being confusing as to what sort of guidance I need, but I feel totally lost.</p>
<p>Academically, you seem competitive at most schools. If you can write good essays, have exceptional EC’s, or come from a URM, you have very good chances. While you have to keep some safeties, you really ought to apply to at least one reach school. The worst that can happen is that you can be rejected. Even if the college doesn’t ask you to, try to answer why you want to go to the college. If you feel like a college with 100% acceptance rates is the best fit, go to it. However, don’t limit yourself simply due to acceptance rates.</p>
<p>What are the criteria you look for in schools? Do you want to be in an urban/suburban/rural environment? Do you have financial constraints? Any region of the country you’d prefer? Size preference? With your GPA and ACTs you’ve got a chance at all but the tippy tippy top schools. We can’t recommend schools without knowing what you prefer. </p>
<p>The student who’d be very happy at Reed College would probably be miserable at Washington and Lee University. Both are excellent schools, but they’re excellent for different types of students.</p>
<p>What is your financial situation? Do you expect to get need based financial aid? Or do you need merit aid? What are your post-undergrad and major plans? That info makes a difference in what advice you will get out here.</p>
<p>If you need merit money OR want to keep your costs down to reduce debt or so you can more easily afford grad school, your list will look different than if money is not an issue OR you are certain of a major that will pay well on graduation.</p>
<p>I think your academics look good for all but the tippy-top schools if you can write good essays as well. But don’t get sucked into a school based on the brand name (it sounds like that may be happening at the urging of some of your friends). Decide what YOU want & need in terms of size, strength of majors, location, cost, etc. Really, do not let your friends influence you on this.</p>
<p>Stop, just STOP worrying about where your friends think you should apply. This is about YOU, not anyone else – not your friends, not your guidance counselor, not your parents. What’s your favorite subject? What profession can you see yourself preparing for? How large is your high school, and how do you feel about that size? Do you crave more opportunities than you have there (do you want a bigger college) or do you want a more intimate environment (a smaller college) or is what you have just right? How do you feel about sports, about sororities/fraternities/partying – do you look forward to a more exciting social scene than high school’s, or have you been oppressed by the jocks and partiers enough and just want to feel safe to be your nerdy self? What are your favorite things to do outside of class, and how important to you is the chance to continue doing those things – or to try something new? Think about the kind of environment and the kinds of opportunities and activities that would get you out of bed in the morning. Whatever they are, there are a few schools that offer them. </p>
<p>It’s understandable that that all this choice would be overwhelming, but it needn’t be paralyzing: worst case scenario, you find a school that fits all your needs “on paper” (iow, it answers all the above questions about your preferences in a positive way), you apply, you get accepted, visit or talk to other students there, decide it’s not your cup of tea, and go somewhere else. Getting rejected, btw, is NOT the worst case scenario: “no” is not fatal. </p>
<p>you have good stats - don’t put yourself down. Also, stop worrying about name brand. Every school you have mentioned would be a great school to go to. Start focusing on where you would be happy for four years (and stop caring what everyone else thinks). If you can find schools that you would be happy at, then your list will be perfect.</p>
<p>So I might have a shot at Carleton (and other schools of that caliber)? I’m still worried about having to write all those supplement essays. How good/specific do my reasons for Why ______? have to be?!</p>
<p>Schools want to know that you really researched what they have to offer and who they are and can see yourself there. What you are supposed to be doing in this essay is telling them why you are a good fit for them. The better the essay, the better your chances, obviously.</p>
<p>Just a reminder: You will probably never see most of your high school classmates ever again. By the time you finish college, you will be in touch with at most a handful of them. So who cares what they think? In September, you will be surrounded by people who, like you, chose the school you are at, and are happy to be there. No, it won’t necessarily be everyone’s (including your) first choice - but by then, almost everyone will be excited to be starting a new adventure and you will be too. So don’t let a bunch of high school students you probably won’t see again mess with your head about what the right school is for you. That doesn’t mean you can’t do a reach or two - but remember that sometimes the best fit just might be a school where you are a match.</p>
<p>Is your list of colleges with supplemental apps so long that it seems like a mountain of work?
If so, prioritize the list - get all the safeties and matches done FIRST. Make a table of supplemental essay questions. If you look at all of them on one sheet you will see some that are identical or close to it. This will save you time if you can reuse contents and just tweak the contents. That mostly applies to questions about YOU or your intended majors.
Obviously you need to be specific in answers about why you are applying to any individual college.
As my son went through his set of colleges he ended up dropping a few off the bottom of the list. He decided they weren’t worth it and that he wouldn’t choose them over his EA acceptance he already had.</p>