College list help pls!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Here’s my list

Reach Schools:
MIT (Cambridge, MA, USA)
Cornell University (Ithaca, NY, USA)
University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA, USA)
UC Berkeley (Berkeley, CA, USA)
Oxford (Oxford, England, UK)

Target Schools:
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) [Apply ED]
UCLA (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Boston University (Boston, MA, USA)
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (Champaign, IL, USA)
Imperial College London (London, England, UK)

Safety Schools:
University of Manchester (Manchester, England, UK)
University of Birmingham (Birmingham, England, UK)

(Backup safeties: UC San Diego & UC Davis – if ACT < 33 by application deadline)

Current Stats:
ACT 30 (plan to prep during summer)
SAT Math 2: 800
SAT Chemistry: 800
GPA: 3.95 (W) 4.31 (W)
UC GPA: 4.29
Awards: AIME Qualifier (the only one at school); school honor roll
EC: Choral Society of Durham (auditioned group in Durham, NC); School chamber singer; Math Club Founder & President; AP Chemistry TA; Tutoring; ESL TA for internship one summer
Intended Major: Materials Science
College Preferences: located in urban areas

I know my stats are pretty basic, but considering the school I’m in, it’s somewhat at the top.
I’m aware that you are not supposed to put 5 reaches, 5 targets, and only 2 safeties. However, since UK schools only look at AP scores and ACT, I think I’m almost guaranteed to be admitted to Manchester and Birmingham; as long as I do well on the admission tests as well as the interview for Oxford or Imperial, I’ll also have a good shot.
How should I plan my USA schools then, I do not want to write a bunch of essays for every school I’m applying - so limit American colleges to about 7-8?

2

I would move UMich and UCLA to your reach list. Unless you’re in state for one (it seems you’re in state for UCLA? Or am I reading that wrong). If you’re in state for UCLA it’s a high match or low reach its really tough to get into. UMich is a reach you’re act isn’t very competitive for them especially OOS where kids with 34s and 2200s get rejected. Also as a side note I wouldn’t list honor roll as an award but that’s just me. Your SAT IIs are amazing congrats on that! I would just advise thinking about match schools that are matches. Best of luck!

3

Thx! I was simply using their median score for coming up with match schools - guess it’s not safe this way then lol. Also, I’m OOS for Michigan and UC schools, I’m in North Carolina and my school is a small private Episcopal school (hence not very competitive).

4

@hssenior27 So do you think it’s necessary to drop some “reach” schools on my list b/c then I’d have SEVEN REACHES?!

5

Yes, drop some reach schools. Or keep them until you get take the ACT score again. I would drop the top 3 (MIT, Cornell, UPenn) until you get your score up.

6

@anxiousenior1 Should I have at least a 33 or even higher to apply to Ivy league? I know the freaking median for MIT is a 34!!!

7

You can always apply, but yes, a 33+ will greatly improve your chances from a 30.

8

If you’re not in state for the UCs UCDavis and UCSD cannot be considered safeties.

9

Yeah, agreed with what is stated above. Unless you are in CA or MI, then those schools cannot be considered true matches or safeties. Also, UMich is EA :slight_smile:

10

The UCs actually seem to be easier to get into from OOS, not harder, but in any case, I wouldn’t consider UCSD or Davis a safety. Go look at the threads of kids with ACT of 35 who got rejected or waitlisted at Davis (granted, instate for the most part, but still).

11

UIUC was a very tough OOS admit this year in some majors, and I think materials science was one of them. Sorry – but that is a reach as well.

Also, what is your financial situation?