<p>Here is a list of colleges I am looking at, those considered major considerations asterisked. I have no idea how to narrow it down. I like seminar-style discussions, but I also like a ton of people to get to know. I don't know if I'll get into some of these schools (chance thread: here</a> for your viewing pleasure. Post if you want to help me out!), but I am trying to narrow the list down to something bearable. Most of these schools I'm applying to also accept the Common App, so the ease is much more bearable, but I don't know what to do about narrowing it down. What should I focus on? What schools should I definitely apply to? What schools should I reconsider applying to? I need the most help I possibly can. I want to apply to so many colleges because of the risk involved (of not getting in), but I heard that was a bad thing. </p>
<p>What do I do? I need guidance!</p>
<p>List of Colleges:</p>
<p>Middlebury
Dartmouth*
U of Vermont*
Bowdoin
Fordham
Skidmore*
Providence
Brown
Amherst*
BC*
BU
Bucknell
Gettysburg
Fairfield
Villanova
Loyola of Maryland*
Washington and Lee
U of Richmond*
Catholic*
U of Chicago
Saint Joe's of Maine
Colgate*
Holy Cross
Trinity College
Georgetown*
U of Maryland*
UMBC
Rutgers</p>
<p>Why not just narrow it down to the astericks and you have your list?</p>
<p>Like BC vs BU? VERY DIFFERENT, obviously you like BC better, dont apply to BU</p>
<p>These are colleges I'm highly considering, but seriously, all of these colleges are great; it's hard to decide which one is suited for my personal tastes. I like a taste of everything, but then again, different schools offer different things. BC and BU are definite choices (I don't know why I didn't asterisk that college), but every single college I've researched I've enjoyed. I can't obviously go to every college on a visit or else I'd run out of time to apply, but what are the things I should look at to narrow this list down to something much easier to bear? </p>
<p>Decisions, decisions.</p>
<p>If you want discussion classes AND lots of people, you may have to compromise with a small university. Therefore, cut the small LACs like Amherst and Middlebury.</p>
<p>I'd say Chicago is ideal on this regard (4,500 undergrad, 15,000 overall, small classes). There are so many people here I don't know... and so many I do. I sliced out a lot of the LAC's on your list, though a lot of your schools are to me an ideal size (3-4,000)</p>
<p>Based on your scores, I think I'd go for the following:</p>
<p>Super reach:
Dartmouth
Brown
BC
W&L
Chicago
Colgate
Georgetown</p>
<p>Reach:
Fordham
Villanova
Richmond
Holy Cross
Maryland
Rutgers
Trinity</p>
<p>Match:
Providence
Fairfield
Loyola Maryland</p>
<p>Low match:
Catholic
UMBC</p>
<p>Your 28 ACT score is much better than your SAT score. You're going to need at least one surefire safety, though. My suggestion would be Towson.</p>
<p>I can't focus on the ACT, however. Since I will be taking three SAT IIs, the SAT I score will also be submitted. If only I could send just the SAT II scores! And wow, "super reaches!" What does that even mean? And some of those colleges were just reaches at first; why the sudden jump?</p>
<p>Ah, and also, I do like the small liberal-arts colleges. Small colleges are great, big colleges are great, so it's even harder to come up with what I want. I think that I'd prefer the LACs, though, simply because I appreciate the Liberal Arts and Sciences.</p>
<p>unalove hit it right on the button. Some of the reach schools would be interested in hearing your interest level. Visit the schools and that will also help you determine that all important "fit" factor. I dont just mean the pretty buildings either...I mean talk to students on campus and determine if "its ME" or "this is not me!"". Also, consider more than just prestige. Consider how well you will do in that environment...academic challenge and social challenge.</p>
<p>Super reach means just that.....likely out of reach. Go ahead and apply if you want...but dont count on them at all. Good luck.</p>
<p>Did you consider Elon University? It fits your profile well. Really lovely school with really, really nice people. Just fabulous.</p>
<p>I was told by many that Colgate was just a reach, as well as all of the others (the thread contains the proof). I don't know if one post stating that they're super reaches can overturn the general consensus that these schools are just reaches, due to my being Hispanic, being a Recognized Hispanic Scholar, etc. </p>
<p>I never even heard of Elon University, unfortunately. I assume you go to it? </p>
<p>Also, would doing an overnight stay be a better idea than doing tours this summer, or would a combination of both suffice? Good Lord, I'm asking a lot of questions. I'm scared. </p>
<p>(By the way, would anyone be really willing to help me out via PM? Going through the entire process, SATs, ACTs, AP Exams, etc., etc. It'd be very much obliged!)</p>
<p>"simply because I appreciate the Liberal Arts and Sciences."</p>
<p>Most schools have a liberal arts school. That's no reason to pick an LAC. I'm not sure what the reasons are (I'm sure there is a post about it - maybe named "what would i miss if i dont attend an LAC or something similar), but because it's basis is liberal arts/sciences should not be the reason. Most colleges and universities have that.</p>
<p>Dartmouth, Brown, Chicago, and Georgetown are super-reaches. The others are maybe just high reaches. But you do have the minority tip, so pick a few reaches that you really like and hope for the best.</p>
<p>HottYankRemix: LACs, from what I was told, specialize in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, so the attention is on them, and the curriculum, again, from what I was told, is more liberal arts-centric than those research universities with Liberal Arts and Sciences schools in them. The difference is obvious in the amount of attention and scrutiny of the courses and classes and the like.</p>
<p>Keilexandra: Chicago? Really? It's that hard to be admitted there? I knew about Dartmouth, Brown, and Georgetown, but Chicago? Wow. </p>
<p>Also, I have several questions about teacher recommendations: how many is too many?</p>
<p>HottYankRemix: Most LAC's focus on undergraduate study, are not research institutions and have very few, if any graduate programs. Many are superb extremely selective colleges like Williams and Amherst, for example. </p>
<p>Keil: well, we can start to subcategorize to SuperReach, HighReach, Reach etc....the point is that they are not likely good schools to focus on. No harm in applying to any school, because one never knows what happens or what the admissions committee is looking for that year, including minorities. I dont discourage ANY applications, just give a solid straight answer on the odds of admission. Its always best to spend the most time on matches and safeties, as they often offer the best packages as well.</p>
<p>FWIW Washington and Lee is super, super selective (and quirky). Its a great school with fabulous history and a growing number of people from the Northeast seeking its beautiful bucolic campus setting. But its very high reach if you ask me. Their SAT cutoff is around 1450.</p>
<p>Actually, LACs specialize in undergraduate teaching. Some do have engineering, business, etc. The course offerings are more limited, but the community is closer-knit (can be good or bad), your class sizes will be lower, and generally the professors offer more individualized attention. However, some might prefer the anonymity and greater resources of a university.</p>
<p>Chicago admission is very eccentric, so generally it's considered a reach for everyone, and would be a very high reach for your stats. Don't be fooled by the apparent selectivity; they pay close attention to fit, and the applicant pool is self-selected.</p>
<p>Actually, LACs specialize in undergraduate teaching-Keil.</p>
<p>That is what I said.</p>
<p>^ Yeah, I was typing it while you posted.</p>
<p>okay.....lol. no problem.</p>
<p>"Actually, LACs specialize in undergraduate teaching. Some do have engineering, business, etc. The course offerings are more limited, but the community is closer-knit (can be good or bad), your class sizes will be lower, and generally the professors offer more individualized attention." That's me. I'm an English/Humanities guy, so that's perfect. Smaller classes are great, the idea of community is extremely important to me, and all of the undergrad emphasis is also good, so my professors won't shove me away because he needs to help someone with his dissertation. That's not fair to us undergrads.</p>
<p>By the way, anyone willing to take up the offer of helping me out a little more one-on-one? If not, it's cool. I can easily find someone else; it's just that doing it one-on-one with someone who's gone through this process before and recently will be a much better asset than my counselor, who has done this for years, and hasn't experienced the process firsthand in years.</p>
<p>Ping me. I am delighted to help you.</p>
<p>We went through this two years ago and I have another daughter who is a junior in high school.</p>
<p>LAC's curriculum is definitely more open. But I would think a liberal arts college within a university would be somewhat 'specialized'. Maybe some double majors, but everyone would be majoring within that college.. and therefore majoring in the liberal arts/sciences. There are major differences. I really think you have to make up your mind somewhat. Saying you want an LAC and a larger population just contradicts itself.. What is working for me is just picking a good college that's maybe a match for me and then deciding everything off of that. Like.. if I got into school X, which schools would I rather go to? Then you can apply to those (reaches). Then you think about if you didn't get into any matches/reaches, what safety (or other match) would you willingly go to? Apply there.</p>
<p>It's working for me..</p>
<p>As for recommendations, just send what they recommend. I've been told that if they want one teacher rec and you give them two, they'll just read the one on top.. There are exceptions if you get recommendations from athletic coaches, who you volunteer for, etc. but you shouldn't double up in one area if they don't recommend it. Hope that makes sense. :)</p>