That is the case with any large public University.
The Arizona schools get that rep because it is more documented here due to weather and students. But the party scene is no bigger at UA than at UW, WVU, UMich, etc. we just have summer year round!
I would seriously advise checking out UA - amazing school with great academics, opportunities, happiness, and solid financial aid.
@an6rew thanks! The financial aid got me, I’ll look into it and see if they offer good OOS scholarships!
While a party can happen wherever there are two or more people, I would not put Michigan and Washington in the same category of “party school” as West Virginia or even Arizona. If by “UW” you mean Wisconsin, that would be in the same category – not that there is anything wrong with that. 
Hey there! I can totally relate with you! I was also ranked in the top 11% of my class… That sucks right!!! Don’t worry though. Colleges recognize the effort and it isn’t as big a deal as you may think. I think your ACT score looks solid… I was just recently admitted to UCLA’s class of 2019 with a 30 on the ACT so it’s definitely not impossible! If you’re looking for safeties, definitely consider the UC schools… for obvious financial reasons… Based on what you seem to like, I would also recommend looking into Boston University, Northeastern, and UT Austin. Also, this school wouldn’t be a safety, but the University of Michigan is an AMAZING school and it looks like a good fit too… if you don’t mind the cold that is 
I applied and was accepted to NYU as well… I’d definitely recommend applying! It’s on the Common App and it’s a dream school!! I hope this helped you! Best of luck and GO BRUINS
It does! I’m so frustrated because its based on unweighted GPA, and a ton of kids ahead of me are taking easy, regular classes and getting all A’s. What was your GPA (UC capped and uncapped)? I’m really worried because kids at my school say if you don’t get straight A’s in tenth and eleventh grade, UCLA doesn’t take you unless you have hooks. I don’t really think I have hooks for UCLA except that I volunteer at Ronald Reagan hospital and I’m doing a summer language institute there…ahh @nnocnat2
" Also, this school wouldn’t be a safety, but the University of Michigan is an AMAZING school and it looks like a good fit too… if you don’t mind the cold that is."
A 3.7 GPA with a 31 ACT is not going to get you into Michigan from OOS.
The middle 50% for U Mich is 3.7 GPA and 30 ACT… @rjkofnovi
@rjkofnovi I got into Michigan with a 3.76 unweighted GPA and 30 on the ACT… And I’m OOS teehee
I’m not 100% sure what my UC GPA was… when i spoke to a UC representative, they instructed me to display my GPA as closely to how my school calculated it while following UC guidelines… such as not including some elective courses and all… I do know that my unweighted GPA was a 3.76 (as I just mentioned) and a 3.97 weighted.
Don’t listen to the other kids either… If UCLA wanted to accept ONLY kids with 4.0 GPAs, they could. They got 92,000 applications this past year… If UCLA wanted to accept ONLY kids with perfect SAT scores, they could… But they don’t. They’re looking for the entire package. My biggest advice is to spend A LOT of time on your essays. Be creative and take a different perspective.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
@nnocnat2 thank you so much! This was really reassuring. Good thing I’m good at essays! What kind of EC’s did you have? Or sports? Sorry if I’m asking too many questions, you’re the first person on here who has similar stats to me!
In Arizona, Barrett is by far the best honors college - UA hasnot invested enough toin theirs compete and most of the classes are regular classes with an honors discussion or just the regular one where you have extra work; as a consequence, one of the key benefits of honors colleges -smaller classes- is not there. It’s true UA is overall the better university because ASU made the peculiar choice to cater to the top-end of students with exceptional resources, then look for students barely above open-enrolllment and promote its reputation for parties and sports while cutting down on academic-related costs (very large classes, Lots o online learning for which most don’t have the willpower and autonomy, etc). UA has allocated its resources more evenly.
" I got into Michigan with a 3.76 unweighted GPA and 30 on the ACT… And I’m OOS teehee"
Just curious. Was that recently?
@MYOS1634 I see. Arizona is not in my ideal location, I either want in state or midwest/east coast…colder climates. But thank you for the information!
UT-Austin is not a safety, by a long-shot, for anyone who is not in the top 7% of his or her class in a Texas high school. Their mandate severely limits the number of non-Texans they can admit.
@rjkofnovi Yes. I was just accepted this past school year into Michigan’s class of 2019
Yeah of course! I had a lot of extracurriculars actually… I taught sunday school to elementary school children, I was the president (former treasurer) of my school’s habitat for humanity chapter, I was vice president (former community service chair) of my school’s FBLA chapter, I was an editor of my school’s yearbook, I was a member of national honors society, english honors society, and spanish honors society and I was a sales associate at a local clothing store. In terms of sports, I played competitive club soccer for 12 years and played high school soccer for 2… I think my ECs and essays were definitely the strong points on my application!
Okay neat! I have a bunch of EC’s too, I only had one leadership position but I hope I’ll have more later. Will you be attending UCLA this year? @nnocnat2
Yeah no worries you’ve got some time to achieve those positions!! And yes! I’ll be a freshman in September! I’m so excited!!!
Ah you’re very very lucky! I hope I will join in two years @nnocnat2 what is your major going to be?
I’m sure you will! Just keep up the good work! I’m an english major with a pre-law track. I haven’t picked a minor yet though!
Perhaps math or philosophy to give practice with logical thinking (on the LSAT and in reading laws)?