I am a sophomore in a pretty competitive high school and have been advised to start researching colleges.My GPA is a 3.5 and I got a 1850 on the PSAT.I feel very disheartened by seeing how competitive it is to get accepted to colleges and am worried.I am looking for colleges that my SAT and GPA would allow me to get into and that I would fit in at.I am not an extremely social person and don’t really care about sports.I love to travel and learn about random things like types of wine and different art.I consider my self to be well-cultured but not very intellectual.I prefer to watch reality tv shows over going to football games but don’t like reading books.My dream school is Tufts and I am aware that my low stats would make me have an extremely low chance of getting in.My intended major in college would be finance or marketing.I am open minded about going to college anywhere in the country but I am not a very outdoorsy person.I am aware that my stats are not very good but I want to go to the best school I possibly can.What are some schools that I would succeed at and have a chance at getting into?
What can your family afford? What is your home state?
I do not have a budget and my home state is Rhode Island.
I’d look at BU, Northeastern, and maybe Babson. You haven’t really been too specific about what you want in a college (I.e. Size, location, social scene), so right now your options are endless.
PSAT does not really predict how you will do on the SAT, because most likely you took the PSAT without studying. By studying, you can really raise your score. My sophomore year, my friend and I both got a 1500 on the SAT. We both studied and he got a 2300 and I got a 2100. Studying is really just how its done. 1850 is good for your sophomore year.
Meaning that you do not know what your parents are willing to contribute, or they have told you that they are willing to pay up to $70,000 per year for your college costs?
If the former, talk to them to find out what they are willing to contribute.
Tufts doesn’t offer Finance or Marketing as majors, so I don’t know why it’s your dream school. Ask yourself what it is about Tufts that appeals to you, and that will help you in finding less selective schools that will suit you.
But honestly, you’re putting the cart before the horse. When you have your test scores in hand; have some handle on the type of school you prefer (big vs. small, public vs. private, co-ed vs. single sex, religious vs. secular, etc., etc.), have determined the location you like (distance from home, climate, big city vs. suburbs vs. rural), and know how much your family will be contributing to your costs, post again, and you’ll get some fine guidance.
There is no limit on how much they will spend so 70,000 a year.I would prefer a school that is co-ed with anywhere from 1000-10,000 people.I am open to any location,anywhere in the country except Hawaii and Alaska and as long as it isn’t in the middle of the woods.I think I would prefer a private college because they are smaller and I am open to any type of weather.I wouldn’t mind going to a religious school as long as it wasn’t the main focus of the school.
any suggestions?
Any suggestions now that I added more info?
Check out Elon, Mercer, and Providence
Probably wouldn’t be the “best” you could get into, but have you checked out Creighton University in Omaha, NE?
I know, when you think of Nebraska you are turned away, but Omaha is very urban (unlike the rest of Nebraska).
It has 8,000 students, private (Jesuit affiliated but isn’t pushed on the students), and a very quality business school (#1 in the Midwest).
Nebraska will give you all types of weather. There is also no football so you wouldn’t feel left out of that.
http://www.creighton.edu/program/Marketing-Major-BSBA
http://www.creighton.edu/program/Finance-Major-BSBA
Clark, UVM, UNH, Connecticut College and Providence.
Babson college, Gettysburg, Pepperdine, Case Western, SUNY New Paltz, American U, Tulane, Fordham, TCU, UMiami
Reaches- Boston College, Emory
Gettysburg is a great suggestion. St. Lawrence is another.
Woah you think my stats are good enough to get into those?!I thought I had zero chance of getting into such selective schools.
Case Western is a low reach, and Pepperdine is definitely a reach. Babson is also a reach.
Only on College Confidential is a 3.5 a low average! As someone mentioned, your PSAT is not indicative of your SAT score and if you’re worried about that aspect, look at the hundreds of schools that are SAT and ACT optional. You are so wide open in your requirements that thousands of schools would work for you based on your GPA and interests. Try to narrow it down a bit if you can - what kind of extra curriculas do you enjoy? Are you interested in a strong sports program, Greek life, service orientation, theatre/creative arts? You mention a religious school as a possibility - does that mean you would be uncomfortable in a very liberal school?
Try looking at some of the big catalog type books and see if there’s any that strike your fancy, then peruse their websites. Once you’ve narrowed those down, look for similar schools. There are thousands of colleges in the US, you’ve got to narrow down your “wants” a bit before you can start a list and that takes a few weeks of personal research, then come back and ask for suggestions based on your new thoughts.
Good luck!
A 3.5 is not as far above average as you would think. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2011/04/19/average-high-school-gpas-increased-since-1990
??
You’re only a sophomore. Who knows what your stats will be in a year plus. Get your GPA up and retest.