I’m a decent but not top student:… Can you please help me come up with some ‘fit’ schools, or even some not so crazy reach (Brown and UPenn are my wild-card schools, but they really, really, really unlikely).
3.65 UW GPA, 4.1 W (11 APs, most others honors)
SAT 1460 (790 V, 670 M)
Very strong ECs in the arts and academic areas, including competitive programs that show leadership and intellectual curiosity, plus a varsity athlete.
High School is a large, low income school in the south. I’m in a pre-college magnet in the school (but barely squeaking in to the top 10%)
I’m looking for a city school with an intellectual atmosphere and a lot of energy to explore ideas, culture, music, the city. Academically I’m interested in philosophy, film, and maybe social sciences. I also want a school where internships or experiential learning are supported so students don’t end up in consulting after graduation bc they don’t have any other path. I also expect to receive a good deal of need-based financial aide and so out-of-state public schools aren’t an option.
Thank you!
Once we know your financial constraints we can be more helpful- but in general, you will likely find the intellectual vibe at many of the Catholic schools to be a good fit. Take a look at Fordham, Holy Cross (Worcester probably not your idea of a great arts city to live in, but worth a look). Match/Safety (maybe really safe, I haven’t looked recently…) Case and Pitt? Neither school is known for turning out corporate animals, and both are in cities with great arts scene. Sort of reachy but a little less so than Brown and Penn- Rice and Mcgill? Safety if the financials are in reach- U Vermont? Another match- Brandeis-- not in Boston, but easy access, and a great school for an intellectual, not corporate vibe.
Are you male or female? What is your sport and do you plan to play in college?
Thanks @blossom ! Kenyon/Oberlin, etc. seem small to me since they’re not much bigger than my H.S. Brandeis seems like a better fit in terms of size (and bigger - I’m fine with very large). I also don’t mind a school with a party scene as long as I can find some more intellectual and driven kids. I’m male and run track but not looking to compete in college.
Matches:
Brandeis, New York University, George Washington University, American University, Boston University, Tulane, Southern California University, Northeastern
If you would look at smaller schools: Macalester, Union, Occidental
Check out Northeastern and Drexel. Both have internships built into their programs. Agree that Tufts will be a reach - it pretty much is for everyone–, but less so than Brown.
Haverford is small and will also be a bit of a reach but could be a Cinderella fit. As part of the consortium, there is more there than at most comparable schools of its size.
NYU, Tufts, GW, BU, Northeastern. All good urban schools with a range of selectivity, large enough to fit your academic interests and with plenty to engage in outside of the classroom.
Second Macalester. I recently heard an info session there and there is a lot of support for internships, etc. It was impressive. Smaller, but in a major metropolitan area with other colleges, right between Minneapolis and St. Paul. I think it meets need too.
I think you start local. Potentially commutable. Have you got a FAFSA EFC? What are the NPCs showing to your reaches? Are you a URM or first gen? Is your rank in the school overall or just in the magnet program? Is that rank due to weighting? Will that be show in your transcript?
Does that amount (plus about $5K-$7500 in “self help”) match the Expected Family Contribution, for schools that interest you, shown in the online Net Price Calculators?
This point is really key to decide whether you should focus on (a) low sticker prices (b) big merit awards, or (c) generous need-based aid. The same schools usually are not equally good for “a”, “b”, and “c”.