College List for a Rising Junior

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi! You know my grade, but what is more important perhaps is my location. I'm from a town in the Panhandle of Texas that has just over 4,000 people. I'm currently evaluating a tentative college list I have as I prepare for the year before the big year. I'll post my current standing and junior/senior schedules to help form an idea in your reader's mind. It my help to know that my prospective majors may be Music and Chemistry with minors in Theater and Classics. Those, however, are subject to change as I change. I plan on attending graduate school and then medical school. I'm certain that finances are not a big concern, but let's just establish this now that private schools that do not meet at least 50% of demonstrated need are not good. If you would please input your suggestions or thoughts as to the list I would appreciate it (my main concern is trimming it down)!</p>

<p>Statistics:
Rank-1/93
GPA-4.0 UW and 4.65/5.0W (state-required classes combined with unweighted classes without an alternative drag your GPA down at my high school during 9th and 10th grade)
SAT-2050 Freshman Year <a href="Taking%20again%20this%20spring,%20aiming%20for%20a%202250">670 M, 680 CR, 720 W</a>
Freshman Grade Average-99/100
Sophomore Grade Average-100/100</p>

<p>Junior Schedule:
AP Spanish 4
AP English Literature and Composition (Eng. 3)
AP Chemistry
Varsity Choir
Pre-Calculus
Physics
Dual Credit U.S. History
Intro to Philosophy (Online)
Neuroscience Honors (Online)</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
AP Calculus BC
Dual Credit English 4
AP Physics B
Varsity Choir
World Theater Honors
World Religions
Dual Credit Algebra and Trigonometry
Dual Credit U.S. Government/ Economics</p>

<p>I won't go heavily into extracurricular activity, but I am as involved in choir, theater, debate, and academic competition that I can be at my high school. Now realize that national competition isn't available from my high school in any area, but I have nearly received the highest award possible in every activity at the state level. </p>

<p>Now my college list is centered around the idea that the worst that can happen is they can reject me. If you can't change it, then accept and embrace it. Here it is:</p>

<p>Rice University*
Northwestern University*
University of Texas-Austin*
Oberlin College*
Columbia University
The Juilliard School*
Harvard University
New England Conservatory*
Johns Hopkins University*
University of Southern California*
Carnegie Mellon University*
Cornell University
University of North Texas*
Yale University
Stanford University
Vanderbilt University*
New York University*
University of Chicago
Dartmouth University
Brown University
University of Washington-Seattle*
Swarthmore College
Princeton University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology</p>

<ul>
<li>indicates that I will need to apply both to the university's school of music along with the university itself.</li>
</ul>

<p>I sincerely thank you for your time and thoughts!</p>

2

<p>Have you run the net price calculators on each school to see which ones are affordable?</p>

3

<p>I’m planning on doing that this year, but my parents have assured me constantly that they will be able to handle it. Plus, my first year of college is paid for by my school as I am valedictorian and do not have any foreseeable competition.</p>

4

<p>bump 10char</p>

5

<p>Quite an impressive list - If I may, I’d suggest you spend some time with a medical school graduate. While the pay is great, the life is really really hard and nowadays the school goes o n forever and ever. The one thing I would mention is that you have a large number of what they call ‘reach’ schools here. Places like Harvard and Columbia are difficult to get in to. Even Valedictorians get turned down, so you need to make sure you have some degree of comfort with the ‘safety schools’ on your list (IN your case, that would be University of North Texas). Also, UT would be an excellent school for you as their honors program has a great deal of flexibility.</p>

<p>That said, spend some time on their websites and get a look at what is required, when they will start accepting applications and whether you could be happy there. Believe it or not, most of your time in college is not spent in a classroom - but in the dorms, libraries, cafeterias and with your clubs, sororities, fraternities, etc. You will want to think about whether you want to go to a big city or small, big school or small, whether you could succeed in classes with 300 people in the same class with you or do you feel more comfortable in small classes. Do you want a school with a marching band or symphony? Start putting together those kinds of things first and then find a school that fits them.</p>

6

<p>There are several reaches on my list that I should nix, such as MIT, Swarthmore, and Dartmouth. The other reach schools such as Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and Harvard remain on my list because they have wonderful joint programs for a B.A./M.M programs. Yale with its own graduate-restricted school of music, Harvard with NEC, Princeton with the Royal College of Music in London, and Columbia with Juilliard. These programs are exactly why Juilliard and NEC are on the list. I would never attend a conservatory without some outlet to a liberal arts eduction. Also, the idea of possessing two degrees from what I to see be top caliber education in both music and academia is lucrative(what an understatement!). Harvard would be deleted because of their limited concentration policies, and Princeton as well. It’s this program that draws me to them!</p>

7

<p>Not that you need additions to your list but have a look at Eastman school of Music (University of Rochester)</p>

8

<p>Does Juilliard send many grads to med school?</p>

9

<p>Juilliard has no classes that fulfill premed requirements. [All</a> Courses - The Juilliard School - Acalog ACMS?](<a href=“http://catalog.juilliard.edu/content.php?catoid=17&navoid=1889&filter]All”>http://catalog.juilliard.edu/content.php?catoid=17&navoid=1889&filter)[item<em>type]=3&filter[only</em>active]=1&filter[3]=1&filter[cpage]=4#acalog<em>template</em>course_filter The OP would need to Cross-register at Barnard or Columbia and is limited to one class per semester. [Barnard-Columbia</a> Cross-Registration | The Juilliard School](<a href=“http://www.juilliard.edu/degrees-programs/barnard-columbia-cross-registration]Barnard-Columbia”>http://www.juilliard.edu/degrees-programs/barnard-columbia-cross-registration)</p>

10

<p>I wouldn’t attend Juilliard alone. The Columbia-Juilliard Exchange allows for an undergrad degree from Columbia and a Masters in Music from Julliard. That would be ideal!</p>

11

<p>^^ that’s my point. Do you want a career in music or medicine? Can’t have both.</p>

12

<p>I want a career in medicine but an undergrad in chemistry or classics with serious music training. I don’t want a premed major.</p>

13

<p>My music training might as well result in a degree!</p>

14

<p>I don’t understand your original comment that you want to go to grad school AND med school. You will be in school until you are 40… okay, maybe not quite 40, but still. </p>

<p>Also, you will want to check about your ability to major across both colleges at Oberlin (be in the conservatory and also have a chem major). I know there are limitations on going the other way (if you were a chem major who want to participate in music classes). </p>

<p>I think your list is reach heavy… and you need to run the NPC as soon as possible with your parents. We get parents out here all the time who say that cost is no issue, then just about fall over in shock when they realize what schools like this really cost today. And you stated yourself that you need them to meet 50% of demonstrated need – until you run the calculators you can’t even have an idea of whether your idea of need and the schools’ idea of need matches up. </p>

<p>Also, I just don’t see that this is the case: </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I don’t see this as especially lucrative – neither music nor chemistry are particularly employable degrees these days. If you continue on to med school, that can be a more profitable endeavor. However, med school is very expensive. You will want to avoid taking out a lot of debt for undergrad if you can – especially on degrees that don’t pay very well no matter what school you go to.</p>

<p>And you need a great GPA and MCATs to get into med school – just going to say, you may find competition at some of these schools a LOT stiffer than in a 4,000 person town in the panhandle. Getting that GPA with all of your ambitious academic plans will be a lot more challenging than you think at these types of schools, if you get in.</p>

15

<p>Just remember you’re not valedictorian yet :slight_smile: one more year</p>

16

<p>@intparent</p>

<p>I’ll address all of your points individually. One, your hyperbolic statement about the amount of time I would be in school assumes a lot of things. I know life can get in the way, but I want to enjoy a deep and wide education. Time is of secondary importance.</p>

<p>I’ve done deep research specifically into dual degree programs such as Oberlin’s. Their program is by far the most feasible and encouraged. 1)The conservatory and college are located in the same campus and 2) conservatory students can apply for admittance into the college upon acceptance into the conservatory and vice versa. Then again, though, one can apply to both college and conservatory and be accepted into both (the preferred method).</p>

<p>I was actually planning on performing PNCs in August. I think again you made assumptions that aren’t really yours to make. I have a fuller understanding of my parents financial status than most kids my age. I’m certain that my choices are in the right ballpark.</p>

<p>Your disagreement concerning my use of the word lucrative was based upon the monetary interpretation of the word. I meant that possessing those degrees would be rewarding/profitable for me in the long run. Many door would be opened with such majors. Besides, my goal is to continue down the med school track which is a high-paying field. Furthermore, my family and I take on a different perspective of money than you have expressed. Money may be important, but it is not all-important. </p>

<p>I realize rigorous schools with talented student bodies would have brilliant minds with which I could not compete with. And many of them at that. My goals for med school are not set near as high as it is for undergrad. College has just always held a reverent position in my mind that med school has not.</p>

<p>It seems that you think I am naive and unaware of the world around me. Or at least that is how I interpreted the post. </p>

<p>I really am sorry for pushing on rude and the argument-like feel of my rant, I’m at debate camp and got bitten by the debate bug! Forgive me!</p>

<p>@dancingqueen237</p>

<p>I know, I used my current ranking combined with what I knew and some other variable I could rely on for this post. The next highest GPA is a 4.1 UW. My class has shrunk by 17 people since 6th grade. No rise, just fall. Friona is not a booking city and I don’t foresee any change concerning that. </p>

<p>I do agree a plethora of scenarios can unfold in just a year. I’m just hoping that those that do unravel have me retaining my number one spot.</p>

17

<p>Why would you take algebra and trig before pre calculus</p>

18

<p>I’m taking College Alg. and Trig. after PreCal.</p>

19

<p>I think you should re-read stanatedj’s post. What are you looking for in a college - city, rural, suburban; strict core classes or a looser attitude, large, small, etc. You come from a very small school in a very small town with little competition, how do you deal with larger crowds or heavy competition? Do you want a more personalized professor/student relationship or would you prefer to be more “lost in the crowd?” Narrow down these thoughts a bit and view the colleges on your list from that viewpoint. </p>

<p>You say you should eliminate MIT, Swathmore, and Dartmouth then that’s a good start. Based on someone’s post here, revisit Julliard/Columbia’s website - can you only take one class a semester at Columbia? Carnegie Mellon does not allow much crossover between their schools, it is a vocational school at it’s core. Be very careful and skeptical when reading websites, they are sales tools not always based in reality or practicality.</p>

<p>You definitely seem secure and self-confident, my concern is that you haven’t really been “tested” all that much. Not to insult Texas too much, but it’s a great big country and Texas is a small, somewhat different section of it. Do your research and good luck!</p>

20

<p>My hope id to figure out what I’m looking for in a college next summer. I’m taking a tour across the Northeast as my grandparent’s senior gift to me. They at allowing me to visit colleges that I’m going to apply to. What I’m looking for with this college list is what to visit. I’ll narrow down from there in terms of fit. I’ve looked at Columbia-Juilliard crossover. They have three different programs. One allows Juilliard students to take classes at Columbia, another permits Columbia students to take lessons from Juilliard staff, and the final one that I’m hoping to attain allows students to study a major at Columbia whilst they take Juilliard courses. Then they study at Columbia for a year post-graduation and receive a Master’s in Music. </p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon has been on the chopping block for a while. I don’t like location. I was giving my very broad list to see if the general consensus and my thoughts are the same as to what I should remove. </p>

<p>I’m a very competitive person, but I know my limits. I have a place in this world and it is not the top.</p>