Confused to say the least, help!!!

<p>Hey all, like most of you, I'm a senior and am currently applying to colleges. I chose not to apply early anywhere and am now finding regular decision deadlines to be fast approaching. I'm a smart kid, I guess, and always thought I could get into pretty tough schools. However, when it came time to decide where to apply, a number of people, including my best friend, my school-provided college counselor, and an additional private college counselor, all told me that I had set my sights too high. I was looking at some of the Ivy's (which I now freely admit was foolish), but all I seemed to hear was that I needed to apply to more realistic places. So, I lowered my standards, and thought I had a good list of places to apply to...</p>

<p>The only thing is, I'm seeing all these kids who have lower scores than me, or lower grades or easier schedules, etc., get accepted early to more selective schools than I am applying to. I've been mulling this over alot and thought it wouldn't hurt to post my stats and see what you all thought about where I could and couldn't get in.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.5
SAT: 2220 (1490)
ACT: 33
Current courses (to give a feel of my schedule rigor or whatever): AP Physics, AP American Government, theology (catholic school mandate, lol), AP French IV, AP Calc I, English IV, Newspaper
Extracirriculars: Newspaper staff reporter, model un delegate, varsity lacrosse team captian, french club, students for political action club
Awards: National Merit Semifinalist, awarded a scholarship based on my high school enterance exam (perfect score), and then like honor roll and all that good stuff</p>

<p>I'm applying to Georgetown (my reach), Tufts (my #1), Fordham, Claremont McKenna, Villanova, and American. I want to study international relations or something in that vein. Any feedback about my chances to where I'm applying, or suggestions of other places I might apply last-minute would be amazing!!! Thanks so much!</p>

<p>Rank?</p>

<p>You will definitely get into Fordham in my opinion.</p>

<p>my school doesn't rank, so I really have no idea, it would be up there though. And yea Fordham is like, well a definate safety</p>

<p>Your GPA will hinder you at Georgetown, Tufts, and McKenna. If you can, EDII at Tufts. You're fine at Fordham, Villanova, and American.</p>

<p>Try a few of these:</p>

<p>URochester (very much like Tufts)
Holy Cross (like Villanova)
Pitzer (part of the Claremont Consortium; you can take classes at the others)
Franklin & Marshall
Vandy
Hamilton
Pepperdine
Wake Forest
Dickinson
UMiami
Occidental
URichmond
Lafayette
Union
Miami U
Trinity (CT)
Macalester
Denison
Rhodes
Tulane
UIllinois
Centre
Whitman
Gettysburg
Trinity (TX)
Bucknell
Santa Clara
DePauw</p>

<p>I'm not sure he's fine at Villanova...</p>

<p>That's a good list above. U Richmond and Bucknell might be a reach. I'm not sure about Holy Cross. Of course I'm partial to Denison. :)</p>

<p>Agree with others that Holy Cross might be a good option. Also HC is SAT optional.</p>