<p>I'm an American but I live in Switzerland.
I'm bilingual (English - French) and speak some German.
I have the equivalent of about a B+ average at my school, Swiss schools being some of the most difficult (75% failure rate at my school)</p>
<p>My SAT I scores are (best sitting) :
Math : 580
Writing : 690
Reading : 710</p>
<p>I haven't gotten the SAT II scores back yet but I took Math IC, World History and French.</p>
<p>I'm quite politically active (I worked on John Kerry's campaign at the age of 15) and have been to Africa on a humanitarian trip.</p>
<p>I want to major in International Relations with either a double major or a minor in Political Journalism.</p>
<p>What do you guys think of my schools? Which ones should I change, delete, etc. I really need to define my list - WAY too many schools here! (I want to apply to about 15)</p>
<p>Early Decision : George Washington University</p>
<p>Stretches :
Brown University
Carnegie Mellon (my dad's an alum)
Georgetown University
Harvard University
Stanford University
University of Pennsylvania
Yale University</p>
<p>Matches :
Boston College
Boston University
George Washington University
McGill University
New York University
Northeastern University
Tufts University (my brother's a current student)
UC Berkley (grandparents and uncle are all alums - dunno if they consider that far back)
UC Santa Cruz (uncle's an alum)
University of Michigan : Ann Arbor</p>
<p>Safety :
American University
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Maryland : College Park (both my cousins are current students)
University of Minnesota : Twin Cities
University of Washington</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>start by taking off some of your reaches- there is no reason for 7. i'd cut it back to maybe 3. also, get rid of some safeties- 2 or 3 of sure safeties should be enough</p>
<p>k.</p>
<p>I've taken off Carnegie Mellon, Yale and U. of Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>Also taken off U of Washington, U of Minnesota as safeties.</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>just a note, UCs don't look at legacies</p>
<p>besides that, i'd take off cmu, upenn, college park, and minnesota</p>
<p>So we're talking about a B+ student with a 1270 here, looking at Ivies?</p>
<p>Sweetie, it ain't gonna happen. </p>
<p>Even some of your matches are reaches. I'd be shocked if Michigan didn't defer you (I had a 3.6 (A-) and a 29 ACT IN-STATE (=1300 SAT) and was waitlisted)</p>
<p>You can cross off all of your reaches, except for Carnegie Mellon. But you aren't interested in that school, so it's crossed off. You have as good of a chance at admission to the ivies as winning the lottery. You are in the bottom 5% of all applicants, and they only accept about 10% of all applicants to begin with. Do not waste your time and money.</p>
<p>REACH (25% chance): NYU, BC, Michigan, Berkeley, Tufts, McGill
MATCH (50% chance): Boston, GW, UCSC, Maryland, American
SAFETY (75+% chance): Colorado, Northeastern</p>
<p>I think my scores would actually be considered an A-.
I didn't know there was a difference between A- and B+ on American scoring.</p>
<p>The Ivies are basically just to get the rejection letter. I know I've got no shot but you never know do you. You don't get anything if you don't try...</p>
<p>I think I should get into GW so fingers crossed.</p>
<p>No, I know. You will be rejected. You're willing to pay 50 bucks for Harvard to say "We've considered your application and we don't have space for you?" Yes, you can try. But your chances are less than 1 in 1000.</p>
<p>Drop Berkeley and Santa Cruz. I guess it's possible one of your reaches will look favorably on somebody who's been going to school in Switzerland, rather than just another valedictorian from New Jersey. But try to raise the SATs significantly.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with A2Wolves. Although if you can bring up those SAT's 200 points, you'd have a good shot. Good luck.</p>
<p>Berkeley, Tufts, UMich, BC, McGill, NYU would be reaches with those grades/SAT's. The rest of the schools in your match category (also UMD) seem like good matches for you. The schools in the bottom category are good safeties. As for your reach category, I wouldn't get your hopes up. Just focus on your SAT's/senior grades a lot.</p>