<p>Here is my list. Stats-wise I'm easily within the ballpark of "crapshoot" for my high-reaches (a definite chance at all of them, but nowhere close to guaranteed to any of them at the same time). </p>
<p>SAT will be 2350+ after my retake and I will have a 2400 in subject tests (Math/Chem/Physics). Tests scores are more important for me because I'm homeschooled.</p>
<p>My academic interests are chem, physics, political science and economics, if that helps.</p>
<p>Reach:
Claremont McKenna
Pomona
WashU of St. Louis
Rice
Williams
Swarthmore</p>
<p>Match:
Cornell
Georgetown</p>
<p>Safety:
Occidental
ASU</p>
<p>Am I accurate in my labeling of these schools? And do you suggest additional match/safety schools? I'm afraid I might be too skewed toward reaches...</p>
<p>I am also considering U. Virginia and UCSB, how would I stack up at these schools?</p>
<p>@ noobcake: I was told that Cornell would be a match in a chances thread, but I'm open to more than those opinions. I've considered it a high match, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a reach.</p>
<p>@ kwu: I have visited a few of the schools, and I think visiting is fairly useless in determining if you want to go to a particular school. How many schools do you think is too many? I agree it's a long list...I don't know where to cut down though...</p>
<p>All suggestions are welcome...I'm not trying to show off...I genuinely need assistance :)</p>
<p>I would even say Georgetown is a reach. My good friend got rejected this year with stats comparable to yours.</p>
<p>Honestly, go through and re-research each school on your list. You should ideally be happy to attend each and every school that you apply to. For instance, you're in Arizona. Are you sure that you would relocate all the way to the north east for college? Try to think ahead as well; your answer now might be "For Harvard?! Of course!" but in time it may change.</p>
<p>The mere fact that you created this thread shows that you realize that your list is light on the match/safety schools. The best thing you can do is cut down on your reach/high reaches and add some matches. This may seem ridiculous (after all, who in their right mind would cut Williams and add a lesser-known LAC!?) but trust me, it will pay off. </p>
<p>When I was in your position last year, I cut my high reach -- The University of Pennsylvania -- and added a high match/low reach -- Bard College -- and a safety -- Hampshire College -- and was accepted to both. I will be attending Hampshire in the fall and couldn't be happier with my decision (I dare say I would have chosen it over UPenn -- simply because it FITS me better).</p>
<p>Now that's not to say that you don't like every school on your list. But are they all fits for you? Give it some more thought.</p>
<p>lolcats, Several inter-related points here:
1. Don't worry too much about categorizing reaches/matches or reachy matches or low reaches etc. You've got some selective colleges on your list -- all 12 of them. It's okay.</p>
<ol>
<li>Build your list from the bottom up. The reaches will take care of themselves. I don't know much about ASU or Occidental (except for Obama's experience there!) The question is what do YOU know? Do you really in your heart of hearts want to go to one of these colleges? The "test" for me is does the thought of attending give you a queasy feeling? If no, then you're all set.</li>
</ol>
<p>If yes, go back to the drawing board and find some viable safeties that are good fits for YOU. They are out there, but they're a lot harder to identify and love than the selectives. These are the colleges that you should be visiting.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I don't have any argument with applying to 12 reaches as long as you can put in the time and energy to craft strong applications -- wonderful essays, lucid representations of what makes you tick. As a home schooler, you will need a lot of supporting material to flesh yourself out on paper. Scores are important, yes, but I think less than you might imagine. Who you are and what you will contribute to the campus community is the key element here.</p></li>
<li><p>Some mid-range schools that are similar to Williams/Pomona are Hamilton, Colgate, Kenyon, Bowdoin, Middlebury. These are not safeties, but they are good middles. </p></li>
<li><p>I think the reason that people are asking about whether you've visited is that you have some schools with very diverse cultures on your list. All excellent academics but very different environment, ambience and character. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>For example: Swarthmore and Williams, Cornell and Columbia.</p>
<p>If you like Williams you might consider Amherst. If you like Cornell you might consider Dartmouth. </p>
<p>Think a little more about what you want, where you want to be for four years. This will help you narrow in.</p>
<p>That seems like a nice list. Take the advice of how your characterize your colleges as reaches(high/low), matches, safeties as you will but I would still apply to all of them, $$$money$$$ permitting</p>
<p>If you are ok in terms of $$s as Quanta mentions, you are fine with your list. ASU is rolling, so you'll have a safety in hand early. Also suggest applying to either GT or Stanford EA so that you can maybe eliminate some schools from your list if you get into your EA school. I would have the apps ready to go, and if you are accepted, pitch the ones that you don't favor over what you have.</p>
<p>I'm confused as to why Arizona State (ASU) is on your list? It's an okay school, probably good in-state bang for your buck.. but it doesn't mesh with any of the others on your list. It's HUGE -- 41,626 undergrads, and only 52% are in the top quarter of their graduating class and 81% in top half. And middle fifty SAT scores are the following-- M: 490 - 620; CR: 470 - 600. Huge party school reputation. Surely you can find a better safety than that?</p>
<p>If you like the school, go for it. But it just seems so different than the LACs/ Ivies/ extremely prestigious institutions on your list. You're close to Cali, so maybe you should try their public schools? They are better, I think.</p>
<p>What are your ECs? And as you've realized, you have a loooot of schools, most of which are reaches or high-reaches. Find schools with programs specific to your area of interest, like John Hopkins or Harvey Mudd, that are slightly less competitive. And don't ignore the public opportunities around you, whatever they may be.</p>
<p>Is Harvey Mudd less competetive? I was under the impression it was more haha. My ECs are very good/competitive (I do game design and online game journalism, violin/symphony orchestra, and boy scouts) but not super outstanding.</p>
<p>@ HottYankRemix: I have ASU down because I would be going to the Honors College. I've visited it and talked to some of the people there and it looks very decent for a safety, not to mention it's less than an hour from home. If there was no honors college I very much doubt I would apply. However, you did recommend the UC schools. How about UCSB? Would that be a good match/safety for me?</p>
<p>^ True, but I still think you'd have a good chance to get in. You have good enough SATs, GPA (I think), and ECs. It's 4% OOS on collegeboard, but again not a big difference than the other poster. It is a crapshoot with the UC schools because they are required (by law, I think.. don't quote me) to take a certain amount/ students who fit certain criteria if they're in-state.</p>
<p>USC is private, pretty much 50/50 in-state and OOS.
--> 86% in top 10th of graduating class
--> CR: 620 - 720; M: 650 - 740; W: 640 - 720</p>
<p>Don't think it would qualify as a safety, but you'd be in the conversation to get in.</p>