<p>So I did my college search this summer, and these are the schools I've fallen for in someway or another. A few offered me free applications, so I decided to apply to a couple of those too. It's far too long though, and I was wondering if you guys could help me cut.
Thanks! [: </p>
<p>AP Courses: World History (4) U.S. History (4) European History (5) English Language (5) English Literature, Macroeconomics, US Gov&Poli, Statistics, Biology (TBD)</p>
<p>State: California </p>
<p>Privates:
Boston College
Brown University
College of William and Mary
Middlebury College
New York University
Northwestern University
Tufts University
Tulane
USC
Washington University in Saint Louis
Williams College</p>
<p>Public:
UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz</p>
<p>This list is way too long! Please help me cut!</p>
<p>You seem to have a lot of reaches. Any reason for that? You should compare your stats (particularly gpa) with the stats of kids who got in to see if it fits. Not saying that you shouldn’t apply to reaches, but if you are concerned about having too many, you might start there. Definitely keep the UCs (even though UCLA will be tough!). The fact that you are a CA resident should give you a slight boost.</p>
<p>The reaches are there because my parents want them there. I really do want to go to College of William and Mary or Williams, though. Brown is there because I have a some childish hope that I’d get in, and my parents know it, so they crazy-encouraged me to apply. I feel a little bit like a pawn, but that’s besides the point. I need to cut schools, the fees are adding up to a considerable amount, and I’m willing to take opinions–since I know that I have nearly a 0% chance at most of the schools.</p>
<p>There was a good post on this site (can’t find it now) that said “if you like Denison, you’ll like…” and it gave recommendations for other, similar schools (which were easier to get in to but had many of the same elements as Denison), kind of like the recommendations that pop up when you buy something on Amazon. That’s what I felt I needed – the top schools come to mind easily, but they’re so tough to get into. You need a few more schools on your list that offer what you like about Brown, or Williams, or William & Mary, but with a greater chance of acceptance. Then maybe your list should be those 3 top schools, but 3 similar schools with higher acceptance rates, then eliminate some of the reaches.</p>
<p>What do you like about these schools? Location? Size? Is there a certain area of study you’re focusing on? Once you hone in on what qualities you like in those schools, it might be easier to find acceptable better match substitutes.</p>
<p>I would apply to the ones with free apps for sure, and then set an application budget or a number of schools to which you will apply and work from there. While the fees may be adding up, they are a fraction of the cost of attendance. If you get a good offer from one of your favorites, it will be well worth the cost of the apps. Two other things to consider are- if the schools take the common app (and if there are supplements), and if you will be applying for scholarships. If so, you will drive yourself crazy trying to get all the essays written, and apps completed and sent in. My daughter applied to nine schools, and by the end of the process she was stressed out.
I can only relate to Wash U and Northwestern. My daughter visited both, but only applied to Northwestern. The people at Wash U were extremely friendly, though. I think she was just looking for a top notch sports team for which to cheer, and Wash U is D3 in athletics. Their dorm rooms and campus were also very impressive. I think you do have a fair amount of reaches in your list, so I’d narrow them down for two reasons. They typically cost more to apply to, and there is more work in completing their apps. Personally, I’d cut the private list in half. Maybe make a spreadsheet listing qualities you are looking for in a school and then score them.
We also got a ton of use out of the book by Princeton Review “The Best 373 Colleges.” Sorry for not being more help. Good luck!</p>
<p>And, as far as cost, you probably shouldn’t count the cost of the schools your parents are forcing you to apply to. Assuming that they are footing that bill, it becomes more of their problem than yours. My D is applying to one school that she is unsure of, but I am wild about. So, that one school was not added to the max limit we set for her. So, now she is applying to 10 (her favorites) + 1 (mom’s choice).</p>
<p>Privates:
Boston College
Brown University- CUT
College of William and Mary
Middlebury College- CUT
New York University
Northwestern University- CUT
Tufts University
Tulane
USC
Washington University in Saint Louis- CUT
Williams College- CUT</p>
<p>You really only have 11 schools, not counting the UC’s. That really isn’t what I would call going way overboard. My personal opinion is that Brown, Middlebury, Northwestern, WashUStL, and Williams could be cut and you would still have some nice Reach Schools on your list. I do think you are too top-heavy, given your stats, but if you decide to apply to all of them you are not that far in excess of your fellow applicants.</p>
<p>I would encourage your parents to read these boards.</p>
<p>You don’t mention if money is an issue. If it is, and UCs are your financial safeties, I would add some below the top. I think you have a strong shot at SC, and that SB is only a small reach, but as they continue to get more competitive these are not sure bets.</p>
<p>The privates that are matches for you, NYU and Tulane, don’t meet need. So again, if money is an issue you may want to revisit your list of privates.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you’re not in the top 10% of your class. If this is the case, unfortunately most of the other privates on your list will be uphill battles. I would look at schools like Trinity CT, Bates, Conn College, Colgate, Carleton, Grinnell, and Colby as smaller reaches and matches.</p>
<p>I’m counting on getting into UCSB, since I think of it as a match school because my friends from previous classes have been admitted and they graduated from the same school with lower scores than I have currently.</p>
<p>Would it help if I listed my extracurriculars? </p>
<p>I’m definitely leaning towards cutting Brown, Northwestern, and Tufts.</p>
<p>I’m in the top 11%, so I’m about ten spots away from being in the top 10%, which sucks.</p>
<p>Money is an issue. My family runs a business, and, well, the economy isn’t doing too swell, so to use that as a litmus test…</p>
<p>According to the free app that Tulane sent me, I’m automatically considered for scholarships, so I’m hoping that will amount to something. If not, I didn’t have to spend much time on the application and the only cost is postage, so it wouldn’t bother me if I didn’t get in. Hopefully, I will though, just in case.</p>
<p>^2college2college really says it best by suggesting some alternate choices. Most of the schools on your list are reaches, and I would have to say NYU and Tulane are as well. Your SAT score is in range for some of the schools on your list, but your GPA will not make you a competitive applicant. You definitely want to come up with some solid B and B+ schools so you don’t get potential rejection notices at all the schools with the exception of UCSC. Good luck.</p>
about. So, that one school was not added to the max limit we set for her. So, now she is applying to 10 (her favorites) + 1 (mom’s choice).</p>