Deja vu!!! Safety Suggestions?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I posted a similar thread a couple of months ago... but many of the safeties suggested either a.) just didn't seem "safe" enough (I've started envisioning rejection letters from every college!!!) or b.) didn't end up being good fits for me. I'm getting nervous, because the summer is winding down, and my college list isn't complete! It seems as if everyone else is so on top of things...</p>

<p>Also, my list is way too long!!! I was hoping to apply to 7-9 schools... which schools would you recommend cutting?</p>

<p>Anyway, could anyone help out a picky/paranoid senior-to-be? Thanks!!!</p>

<p>Stats:
White female, (public) HS is respected by colleges...
GPA: 5.018/5.3 (5.3 = A+ in H/AP)
Rank: 2/~370 as of Sem 1 junior year... might be val now?
ACT: 34
SAT: The Math section and I didn't get along too well...
SAT II: 800 Chem, 770 US, 740 Math IIc (retaking?)
AP: 5 Chem, 5 US History, 5 Envi Sci
EC's: Music (clarinet, music blog, DJ at radio station), volunteering (Council on Aging, Town Council workshop coordinator, Habitat for Humanity), running (JV track and cross country... possibly varsity XC this year), Producer of Senior sketch-comedy/talent show, paid tutor... other stuff...
Awards: Grand Prize in Science Fair, Gold Key (RAL) in Scholastic Writing Competition, Harvard Book Award, USNCO Semi-Finalist, tons of stupid departmental awards, other stuff that I'm forgetting about...</p>

<p>List Now:
MIT
Brown
UChicago
Swarthmore
Johns Hopkins
Tufts
Vassar
Brandeis
Wesleyan
Bard</p>

<p>Things I'm looking for:
-Good science program, but also a very good humanities dept. as well; I'm thinking of majoring in biochem and minoring in creative writing... maybe. I'm guessing that I'll probably change my mind when I experience the college workload!!!
-Down-to-earth, genuinely helpful student body. I don't want an overcompetitive, cut-throat environment! I don't mind being challenged (I'd prefer it!), but I want the support of my peers! I'd also prefer a somewhat quirky/liberal student body, but I really just want an open, non-cliquey environment.
-I'd like to stay in/near the Northeast.... I'd also like to be near/in a city or large town</p>

<p>I know that I tend to go on rants, but hopefully I kept this entry short(ish). Anyway, thanks for reading my boring post =)</p>

2

<p>Bard is a safety. </p>

<p>How about Macalester?</p>

3

<p>In the safety region, I would add Bryn Mawr and Smith. BM and S especially go crazy over science-inclined applicants, but you have to make sure the women's college vibe is right for you. Although they are not real safeties, you look like a student who would be at the very top of their applicant pool.</p>

<p>Also look into Hampshire, Sarah Lawrence, and Ursinus.</p>

4

<p>You might want to cut MIT since they are more science/math inclined and may not have as good a humanities dept. But then again, their bio department is top notch. MIT is cutthroat though maybe not overcompetitive (perhaps with self?). </p>

<p>It's up to you though.</p>

5

<p>I'm not sure if a women's college is right for me, but I'll keep an open mind and visit some of those schools! I do like Hampshire, though, and I'll definitely visit it...</p>

<p>Actually, I've heard that MIT has an excellent writing program. Also, I never got the "cutthroat" vibe. Obviously, it's an incredibly intense school with many passionate people... but cutthroat? I'm not sure how much experience with MIT I have, but I disagree with you there... I always got the impression that students were very supportive of each other as a whole.</p>

6

<p>What is your SAT score?</p>

<p>And you could easily cut one of the following: Swarthmore, Tufts, Vassar, Brandeis, Wesleyan, Bard</p>

<p>Because they're similar in size/offerings/etc</p>

<p>Swarthmore/Brandeis would be my suggestions for cuts.</p>

7

<p>Okay, Swarthmore and Brandeis weren't at the top of my list, anyway...</p>

<p>800 W
760 V
...620 M</p>

<p>My calculator broke on the second problem of the first Math section, and then I panicked and tried to fix it. I guess I have a terrible concept of time, because suddenly I only had five minutes to do the rest of the section. Rather than do the intelligent thing and leave the probability questions blank (I always get them wrong unless I use the Pr/Cr program on my calculator =P), I took "educated guessed" on all of the problems. When I got the Question-Answer service sheet, all but one of my mistakes were on that section. It was a disaster. The fact that I got an 800 on my Math practice test the day before the test made me feel even worse about myself =(</p>

8

<p>Maybe cut JHU for being too cutthroat in the sciences (or so some say)? </p>

<p>Also keep in mind that Wes doesn't have minors, or a Creative Writing department separate from the English department (of course, I'd still encourage you to apply because I love it and it fits everything else, but something to think about). </p>

<p>As for some safeties (on top of Bard, which does seem to be a safty for you), maybe Goucher? Tulane?</p>

9

<p>why cut swarthmore?</p>

<p>it seems very in line with the theme of the rest of the schools you're applying to</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
When I got the Question-Answer service sheet, all but one of my mistakes were on that section. It was a disaster. The fact that I got an 800 on my Math practice test the day before the test made me feel even worse about myself =(

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Might you retake the SAT?</p>

<p>Considering that all but one of your math mistakes are connected with an untoward event--considering that you had an excellent result the day before--you could feel pretty good about your chances on a retake.</p>

11

<p>With a 29% admission rate, I wouldn't call Bard a safety, in spite or your excellent stats (low match, perhaps). It also doesn't meet your urban proximity requirement.</p>

<p>If you don't want competitive, JH should probably go.</p>

<p>U of Rochester?</p>

12

<p>^^^I think everyone thinks twice about Swarthmore. All those cans of Red Bull everywhere.</p>

13

<p>I was going to retake the ACT in September (just for kicks, really... there are no other tests offered in Sept) and try to get a 35 or 36. If I do, I'll definitely just submit my ACT scores. In October, though, I'm not sure whether I should take the Lit SATII and retake Math II, or retake the SAT. I know that when I submit my AP/SATII scores, my SAT scores get automatically included buuut... I'm just not sure what to retake! Suggestions?</p>

<p>The University of Rochester does seem like a fit... thanks!</p>

14

<p>I think you have a great list here and my advice would be to apply to all of them if you can. Admissions is so unpredictable, especially at top schools and small ones. </p>

<p>Bard and Brandeis seems like good safeties.</p>

<p>Tufts and Wesleyan are low matches, JHU and Chicago seem like matches, and Swarthmore a high match. You could eliminate one or two from this category if you had to.</p>

<p>Brown and MIT are reaches for everyone, but you're a very strong candidate.</p>

<p>Your SAT II's are fine; you don't need to re-take or take any more. Don't worry about colleges seeing your SAT I scores. Your ACT score is great and that's what will count. No harm in taking the ACT again.</p>

<p>I don't think you need to add any more schools. You've covered all the bases here and will surely get into at least a few of them.</p>

15

<p>Chicago and Brown sound ideal for you. I would cut Swarthmore and Bard. Swarthmore is too competitive and small. Bard is too artistic and small. Rice would be great, too, but is out of your geographic preference. Carnegie Mellon, same thing. Rochester sounds like a good safety. One caveat- be sure that you can afford these places. Most of your schools do not give any merit aid, but a few do.</p>

16

<p>As to what test to retake, if it were me I would retake the SAT before I would retake the MathII. Your SAT Math score is far out of line with everything else in your record, and we know precisely why it is out of line. Imo you can quite reasonably have every expectation of substantially, really substantially, improving your SAT Math.</p>

17

<p>Okay! The only reason I wanted to retake Math II was because MIT requires it, and according to students here, a 740 is terrible due to the curve, and anything that's not 750+ looks bad to MIT...</p>

<p>I could always take one test in November, though...</p>