Compiling my application list... your help would be greatly appreciated.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm not usually one to request help on a subject that is fairly easily researched, but I am running out of time until applications are due and I have too much schoolwork to do much college research.</p>

<p>Frosh</p>

<p>English - 93
Latin II Honors - 98
World History - 94
Geometry Honors - 90
Bio - 93
Comp science Honors - 91</p>

<p>Soph</p>

<p>English Honors - 92
Latin III Honors - 99
World/US History - 96
Algebra Honors - 93
Chem - 97
Comp science Honors - 95</p>

<p>Junior</p>

<p>English Honors - 92
Latin IV Honors - 96
US History Honors - 92
Trig Honors - 92
Comp science AP - 92
Physics Honors - 95</p>

<p>Senior courses: Honors comp sci, AP Psych, AP BC Calc, AP Physics, AP Latin, Honors English</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.88</p>

<p>ECs / Summer Stuff
-4 year member + President of Latin Club
-3 year member + Vice President of Computer Science Club
-2 year member + Founder/President of Rubik's Cube club (make fun of me, I dare you)
-NHS 2 years (makes me want to die/quit)
-Japanese Lessons for a summer with my girlfriend.
-Worked at Harvard Business School as a lowly intern. I did stuff for professors. Organized the school's video library. Bought sushi and gave the change to the bountiful homeless population in Harvard Square. Admired the beautiful buildings and played the Steinway in Cotting Hall (when there's a steinway in your office, you know it's Harvard).
-I've played classical music on piano for 8 years. I love it to death.
-Guitar for 5 years as well.</p>

<p>SAT:</p>

<p>2330/2400 (1590/1600) on my first try
800 CR
790 math
740 writing</p>

<p>SAT II's: Math II and Literature to be taken in two weeks.</p>

<p>Top 5% at a large (~1600 students? I guess that's large? Not too large...), pretty well-regarded Massachusetts public school. School doesn't rank, and I suppose it's pretty competitive. I'm pretty sure I got the highest SAT in my grade (2310 and 2300 were others), and we get a few kids into the Ivies each year. I know that a lot went to Tufts last year.</p>

<hr>

<p>Sorry, that's all rather trite and likely cumbersome to read.</p>

<p>Other stuff: My family is poor, however I don't know how our income would be classified. I am a male. I am a salad of racial genes from eastern Europe, but I am white. nota bene, tamen: I am, for the sake of several girls at my high school, petitioning commonapp to allow for a "Jersey Shore" racial option.</p>

<p>I took a lot of college prep (regular - not as reputable as the illustrious honors program) classes, which brought down my weighted GPA, so my weighted GPA is not as high as my peers' (see my freshman year for this - everything not labelled Honors is college prep.) I was lazy, I wasn't self-confident in my ability to get an A, and I was so afraid of failure and hard work. But luckily things have now changed, as I'm taking 4 APs and 2 honors in my senior year. Yay. :) However, I'm fairly sure that most colleges wouldn't like me not taking the most rigorous courses in my freshman (and to some extent my sophomore) year.</p>

<p>Things I like overall:
-New England
-Some Greek life
-Preppy (not necessary but I guess I like that environment)
-Pretty small, I don't want to get lost in the group
-I'm leaning towards more freedom regarding college course requirements
-I don't want a super strict drinking policy</p>

<p>Things I like for my reach(es):
-New England
-Law, Med, or Finance
-(Very) respected name</p>

<p>Things I like for my realistic(s):
-New England
-Pretty campus
-Law, Med, or Finance
-Pretty good name</p>

<p>Things I like for my safeties:
-New England
-Dirt cheap
-Law or Finance
-Running water</p>

<p>As you can see, I'm pretty sure I'd like to stay in New England. I don't want to get my hopes up for any Ivies. I was tossing around the idea of Tufts, but it's so much money and my family is poor right now: my dad doesn't really have a job and my mom is a nurse. And, of course, there are plenty of competitive guys and gals in that pool.</p>

<p>Reaches: Dartmouth (early decision?), Brown (I toured there and I liked it a lot), and Tufts.</p>

<p>I need some realistics. A safety would be UMass Amherst, but I'd also like a smaller safety that's also cheap.</p>

<p>Please, if you have ANYTHING to say, just post it. I'd be very grateful for conversation.</p>

<p>And if I forgot to mention any aspect of my college-based existence, please tell me. College college college college college! My parents went to college.</p>

<p>Sorry if it's not specific enough, but this is the first time I've written anything up.</p>

2

<p>I’m just starting to realize that senior year doesn’t matter that much. Yeah, I’m going to get A’s. I’m not going to slack off… but I’ve made it this far, and I need to relax. But I DO need to write my college essay.</p>

<p>Please, someone. NESCAC? Do you think some of those schools are in my range?</p>

3

<p>I don’t want to sound naggy, but in the amount of time you spent to type all that out, you could have used College Confidential’s college search tool to find a list of colleges that fit your criteria. A quick plug in of your stats and desired attributes turns up names like Clark University, Fairfield, and Providence College (if you indicate that you want to be above the average student for these schools, so as to increase your chances of scholarships). If you don’t indicate that, you get schools such as Brandeis and Colby. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

4

<p>I was actually thinking that Dartmouth would be perfect for you, before I read that it was first on your list.</p>

<p>Your prefences…</p>

<p>-New England
Of course
-Some Greek life
Well, the Greek life is pretty strong, but that’s only because there’s little else to do for fun in Hanover.
-Preppy (not necessary but I guess I like that environment)
Not really sure what you mean by this… over half of the students are wealthy enough to pay the full $50,000+ a year to go there. There are a variety of student “types” though. Quirky would probably be a better description.
-Pretty small, I don’t want to get lost in the group
Smallest of the Ivies! You’ll probably meet at least 10% of the freshman class during orientation week alone.
-I’m leaning towards more freedom regarding college course requirements
Not quite as much freedom, because of distribution requirements. However, they are pretty lenient when labeling classes for this. Example: You can take Public Speaking for your Art credit.
-I don’t want a super strict drinking policy
It’s probably one of the most lax policies you’ll find. All of the frats are open to everyone.</p>

<p>Financial aid is also pretty awesome. There’s a “no loans” policy for anyone whose family makes below $75,000 a year.</p>

5

<p>You also definitely seem to have a shot of getting in there. Early decision would help, since about half of each incoming class comes from ED.</p>

6

<p>Are you in NJ? If so, then I’m not sure that UMass is a safety. Yes, you’d be accepted but it probably wouldn’t be affordable.</p>

<p>A safety has to be affordable as well…which means that you know FOR SURE that all costs are covered because of ASSURED grants, scholarships, and/or family funds, small Stafford loans.</p>

<p>Do you know if you’d have a EFC 0?</p>

<p>Are you a NMSF?</p>

7

<p>“I don’t want to sound naggy, but in the amount of time you spent to type all that out, you could have used College Confidential’s college search tool to find a list of colleges that fit your criteria…”</p>

<p>I’m sorry, but in my defense I’ve needed to type that all up for a while now to post elsewhere. Thanks for the tip though.</p>

<p>"Are you in NJ?..</p>

<p>Do you know if you’d have a EFC 0?</p>

<p>Are you a NMSF?"</p>

<ol>
<li><p>No, I live in Massachusetts, though I’m curious as to what gave you indication of New Jersey.</p></li>
<li><p>I would not have an EFC of 0. My family’s financial situation is hectic right now, so it’s difficult to ascertain what our contribution could be, (I’ll deal with that hurdle when it comes) but I am quite sure that it would be at least something.</p></li>
<li><p>Nope. Honorable mention or whatever. I got a 211.</p></li>
</ol>

8

<p>Hahahaha. Nevermind. I know why you asked.</p>

<p>Nope, I don’t live in New Jersey. There’s just a lot of spray-tan on sale here in Boston.</p>

<p>:)</p>