Colleges for the average above-average student?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>People on CC act like there are only two types of schools-- HYPMS, and community college. They seem to lump public schools into the latter category, unless it's Berkeley, or you're getting a full ride. </p>

<p>The problem is, you need 2799 SATs, a 17.8 UW GPA, five varsity sport captaincies, and legacy status to get into the former, while the latter accept B students, maybe C students, maybe all students. </p>

<p>What about the average above-average students? The ones with 2000+ SATs, who are somewhere in the top 5% of their class, maybe play a sport or a musical instrument. Who are sure as hell not Princeton material, if the rumors are to be believed, but are bright and driven enough that they don't want to be force-fed margaritas at some party school with a population twice the size of Belgium's. </p>

<p>Okay, that sounds harsh, and way oversimplified. But what kind of colleges should kids like that be looking at? Would they be "wasting their potential" at their in-state public, or would they fit right in?</p>

2

<p>There’s so many places for people who are in the category you speak of. There’s places like Boston U, NYU and publics like University of Vermont. I mean, you still have tons of options. It’s more, what you want.</p>

<p>You’re not wasting your potential at an in-state public. Seriously, you’re saving money that way. If you’re smart, you’d excel regardless of the college…really.</p>

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<p>Actually, there are a lot of colleges in the top 30-50 for those stats. If you are in the top 10% you are good at most schools. SAT is overrated.</p>

4

<p>If you are middle class, go to the state flagship. If very poor (so you’ll get a scholarship) or very rich (so your parents don’t care about money), consider LACs or other non top-tier privates.</p>