<p>So the most stressful part of my 17 year old life so far is only beginning.</p>
<p>I haven't chosen a major, and I'm not sure where to apply to for undergrad.</p>
<p>I've read a lot of the threads here, and they haven't helped.</p>
<p>I have a 2300 after 2 tries, but I know I could easily do better. Not sure if I should take another stab at a 2350 or just not bother. I'm going to be valedictorian and I'm considering business, engineering, and maybe medicine, just like everyone else on collegeconfidential. Obviously my case isn't unique.</p>
<p>I've visited UPenn, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, etc. and they all just seem the same to me. The programs are all good enough in all areas to not matter where I end up going. Though I'm partial to UPenn since it's closest to home (though I don't care if I go across the country for college).</p>
<p>Anyway, does anyone have anything to say to me out of experience? Should I apply to all the Ivies plus Stanford and a few safeties, or should I somehow choose among a few of the colleges that all strike me as the same thing in a different wrapping. How and when should I decide my major when I can't even decide my career of choice? I can't choose a college based on a major I haven't chosen...</p>
<p>Do not retake a 2300, have you taken subject tests? if not take in fall, at least 2 some require 3. do you have any favorite subjects? If not stay focused on liberal arts programs. do you care about size or environment such as a city or is rural okay?</p>
<p>The ivies are all different and applying to all seems to express our not really knowing about any. Have you spent time at them all? Brown and Dartmouth have a very different feel from UPenn and Princeton. Columbia is very city without real campus feel.</p>
<p>It is not necessary to know your major, but many schools particularly ivies are looking for students who show some sort of passion.</p>
<p>Don't apply to 10+ schools. That's way too much money gone to waste on application fees. In the time between now and October/November, research the schools that you're interested in and visit the ones you haven't been to yet, and narrow down your list before you apply anywhere.</p>
<p>If you're going to be applying to all highly-regarded schools (which you'll probably do) it doesn't really matter if you haven't chosen a major yet; if the school is reputable, it will likely have good professors in every department.</p>
<p>If you do choose to pursue a career in medicine, I would suggest majoring in biology because the major requirements at most schools fulfill medical school admissions requirements.</p>
<p>Have you thought about the elite LACs (Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Haverford, etc.). They are premised on people exploring options, learning to think analytically, learning to write, learning to learn, learning to question so that they can do anything they ultimately decide they want to do in life. Consider some of my closest friends:</p>
<p>o The history major who went to Harvard Business and became a finace professional</p>
<p>o The English major who was also pre-med and went to Johns Hopkins Med</p>
<p>o The political science major who went to Harvard Business and is a marketing executive</p>
<p>Of course, others are working in fields more closely aligned with their majors. But that's the beauty of a degree from elite LAC, IMHO, people are prepared to do anything and, more important, it's part of the culture...</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you for replying.</p>
<p>Yeah I'll try to keep it to 10 applications or less, but narrowing the list down is hard for me, since I can't seem to find any reason to cut a school out.</p>
<p>I actually haven't visited either Brown or Dartmouth, since my other visits have done me absolutely no good, I didn't feel like having my family drive around all summer without reason. And I hate to decide where to apply based on how a campus struck me (which is so susceptible to my mood at the time or whatever).</p>
<p>And I think you're right and I should just let my score be, as much as it ****es me off that my 2300 instead of a 2370 is entirely based on "silly" errors.</p>
<p>I've heard that med schools like applicants who aren't biology majors, since most applicants do biology or chem since it's easy to fulfill requirements. So if I do decide to take the MCATs, I don't think I'll be doing it as a biology major.</p>
<p>Columbia was nice, I agree, and I love New York, but higher tuition as a result, for me, seems to level those advantages. Does anyone seem to think that an Ivy League education isn't worth the price? My financial status is about middle.</p>
<p>Thanks point of order, I'll look into the elite LACs.</p>
<p>Harvard, Yale, and Princeton (I can't speak to the other Ivies) have great financial aid. Middle-class families earning $80000-$180000 pay ten percent of their yearly income instead of $50000.</p>
<p>I'm baffled as to why you'd be worried about not having chosen a major at the tender age of 17.</p>
<p>As far as where to apply, the simplest way really is the best: go to any respectable college search engine (collegeboard maybe) and just pick all the criteria in a college that would make you happiest. As cliched as it sounds, it really is all about finding what school fits you, no matter how many kids you meet ranting about how fabulous HYPS are.</p>