<p>Hi guys!!
This is my first post so here goes..
I am a junior in high school. As far as college planning goes, I am the oldest child so my parents are just about as clueless as I am about how the whole process works.
here are some stats about me:
My grades are mostly b's and a's. however i got a c last year in precalc. it brought down my gpa by a lot so my gpa is not that good. its around a 3.8, but i think i can probably pull it up a little more this year. i wish i could say that something drastic happened in my life and thats why i got a c, but i can't. it was a little bit of laziness and there were a little bit of a family issues too.
i got a 2240 on my sat (first time) 760 reading/writing and 720 math. the math score is honestly really low for me. i am retaking it again in a few months and i am hoping that i can bring it up to atleast something above a 2300.<br>
im taking 4 ap's this year, i took one last year, and if everything goes as planned i'll be taking 4 next year too.<br>
i go to a magnet school. Each course is weighted a little differently than a normal high school as well.
im in a few ecs (newspaper, cultural club, mun) , nhs, senior editor of our schools sciece magazine. im also a classical dancer (cultural dance) and have done that for 9 years. I have also played the violin since 4th grade (although I am not that good)<br>
i am interested in eventually going into medicine.
im looking at schools like uva, william and mary, unc, duke etc. am i aiming too high? does anyone have any suggestions of schools i can look at that are perhaps more appropriate for my stats? i would prefer if they were on the east coast but i am open to size, type etc.
also any suggestions for things i can do to help boost my chances of getting into these schools within the next year?
any help is appreciated :)</p>
<p>Your stats are fantastic. If anything you could aim higher than that to the ivys.
Ways to boost chances:
Lots of extra curricurars
Do well this year
Take act and sat again around may/June.
Enjoy junior year, have fun, make new friends be yourself.</p>
<p>Do well in your high school courses this year.</p>
<p>Talk to your parents about cost limits and basic financial parameters to plug into net price calculators at college web sites.</p>
<p>Consider taking the ACT as well as the SAT, since some students do better on one than the other.</p>
<p>Select a rigorous senior year course load, but not one which will overwhelm you to the point you risk getting poor enough grades to have college acceptances rescinded.</p>
<p>Make sure that you have at least high school courses in biology, chemistry, and physics as preparation for college courses (honors or AP would be a bonus, though you should not count on being able to use AP credit as a pre-med).</p>
<p>When you are considering a college, put the financial parameters into its net price calculator to check whether it is affordable. If it is not affordable on just need-based aid, check to see if it has large enough merit scholarships that you can try for (but then you need to realize that admission without the scholarship is the same as a rejection).</p>
<p>The first college you need to put on your application list has to be a safety that you are assured of getting into, assured of being able to afford, has the academics you want to study, and is a place you like. Sometimes, the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-12.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-12.html</a> (see post #180) may be worth looking at for safeties.</p>
<p>University of Virginia and University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill do offer financial aid to out of state students, but most out of state public schools will come up short on that, though some offer large merit scholarships.</p>
<p>The schools you listed are very appropriate for your stats. However, they are highly selective so you need to make sure you have some kind of safety (you will get in, can afford, and are willing to attend).</p>
<p>thank you all for your great advice! some people mentioned the importance of having some good safety schools. considering the schools that I am looking at, and without regard to finances, does anyone have a suggestion for a safety? i just need some sort of idea into what schools i should be looking at with my stats. i know that a safety definitely is affected by individual finantial abilities, but I just need some advice based on my stats first. thanks in advance :)</p>
<p>State of residency? Some states’ public universities have assured admission based on stats; if you meet the stats, then you can know those schools are admission safeties. But they can only be true safeties if they are affordable, have the academics you need, and are places you like.</p>
<p>Of course, the big automatic merit scholarship schools that you qualify for the scholarships at should admit you as well.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if any of the schools in this thread are still accepting apps:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>Your list looks very appropriate (especially if you are in-state for either the VA or NC schools). I might suggest Tulane as a safety - they have non binding early action and you will likely qualify for a lot of merit aid. You would have a great shot at Vanderbilt & Emory if you want to stay in the south. Perhaps consider adding one less competitive in-state school just to be totally safe as well.</p>
<p>You are in great shape – just keep doing what you are doing. Start the essay and preparing your applications over the summer so you can get them out early.</p>
<p>Rice University</p>
<p>Thank you do much for all the help. Any more schools or advice that I should consider would be appreciated.</p>