college list- please help! :)

<p>Hi so I was just wondering if you all could help me out with my college list. For some background info on me:</p>

<p>-I'm white, not first generation college student
-Live in Maryland
-Unweighted GPA: 3.8
-ACT Composite: 32
-SAT II scores between 620 and 640 (not so good, but luckily few of my schools require them)
-I'm in the IB programme (MYP classes in 9th and 10th grade, mainly IB and some AP classes in 11th and 12th grade)
-Varsity Cross Country (4 years), senior captain this year; chair member on Model UN; Senior class treasurer; Vice President of Spanish Honors Society; Varsity Track & Field (2 years); Guitarist in a garage band (we've had paid gigs and have played at community service events, charity benefits, etc.)
-Job experience at a local restaurant; some past volunteer experience
-I'm pretty sure I'm getting good teacher recs since both of those teachers (at least seem to) really like me
-Since I was in IB, 5+ of my classes were academic, most elective classes are still IB classes
-Also since I'm in IB, there are 100+ other mega smart, talented kids in my grade who are all also applying to top notch schools (QUESTION: I know many top schools don't like accepting multiple people from one school, but do they make the exception for magnet schools?)</p>

<p>REACHES:
-Brown
-Northwestern
-Cornell
-Michigan
-Tufts (still deciding)
-Wesleyan U (still deciding)
-Penn (I was gonna, but don't plan on applying since I dont think I'd like the people there)</p>

<p>SAFETIES:
-Maryland
-Wisconsin
-Boston U
-Syracuse (still deciding)
-Pitt (still deciding)</p>

<p>I want to pursue something in the communications field (mass communications, film studies) or social sciences (anthropology, polisci)</p>

<p>Just some info on me: I really do enjoy learning and such (if I'm passionate about the subject), but I'm really starting to get annoyed with grade-grubby people. I like pretentious people (if theyre pretentious about music, stuff like that), but again, not if they're on the verge of suicide if they dont pull an A in a class. I'm sitll not sure whether I want a big or small school. I feel like I'd like the people at a small school, but I don't wanna be academically/socially limited. Also, my high school has 2000+ students and I def want a school thats at least twice as big.</p>

<p>Most schools' apps are due on Jan 1st so I'm wondering if any of you can help me narrow down my search, suggest other schools that fit my personality/college majors/etc</p>

<p>oh and I'm really against frats and such (at least I think) but some of my top choices (ex. Northwestern, Cornell) seem to be socially dominated by greek life. Just wondering if any of you (somewhat more alternative) people out there have any input on that.</p>

<p>should i apply to more top schools? safety schools? liberal arts schools?</p>

<p>THANKS!</p>

<p>Can you afford the schools on your safety list? Will you need financial aid?</p>

<p>Check out Emerson College.</p>

<p>*Can you afford the schools on your safety list? Will you need financial aid? *</p>

<p>Erin’s Dad makes a good point. If you’ll need financial aid, those out-of-state publics don’t give financial aid to OOS students to cover those high costs. If money is an issue, you need to apply to financial safeties that will give you merit money.</p>