Do I need more safeties/matches/reaches?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>First, I know many people will disagree with the category that I place these colleges, so I will simply list them.</p>

<p>I have to finalize my college choice list soon, so could anyone tell me if I need more matches/safeties/reaches, and recommend some possibly?</p>

<p>My interest is engineering, mostly Aeronautical and Chemical. The one I choose to pursue will depend on where I'm accepted.</p>

<p>Stats (Again):</p>

<p>GPA: 9-11th: 3.73 [4.0 4.0 3.8 3.4 3.2 4.0]
GPA: 10-11th: 3.6 [3.8 3.4 3.2 4.0]
Rank: 49/526 (Top 10%)
*and I have a (very good) explanation for the dip in my grades for the more selective schools on my list.
SAT I: 770 CR 720 M 710 W (2200) Taking again this June.
SAT II: Yet to take, probably 700+
AP: Probably two 5s and a 4 or 3 </p>

<p>Hook(s): I live in Arkansas and I'm African American.</p>

<p>ECs/Awards: (My ECs are nothing special, but I have a lot of awards)</p>

<p>Debate (2nd in state, 4 years)
ROTC (4 years)
Student Congress (2 years)
UAMS/School Tournament Volunteer
Cornell University Summer College, 2 yrs
Marquette University Debate Institute
Piano (Hella long time, but I play as a hobby, not in competition)
NHS (But let's face it, everyone's in this--this goes last on my list if there's room on the app)</p>

<p>
[quote]
2nd place State Champion (2006)
8th place State Champion (2005)
6th place State Champion (Speaker--2006)
4 1st places - 1st Place Champ Debate - State
2 2nd places - 2nd Place Champ/Novice Debate - State/Regional
4 3rd places - 3rd place Champ/Novice Debate - State
1 1st place - 1st place debate speaker - State
2 1st places - 1st place Impromptu/Extemporaneous - State level
1/about 100 cadets recieves- Military Order of World Wars - School
1st - Superior Flight - School
1/ about 50 cadets recieves - Military Order of the Purple Heart
- School
1 of about 50 cadets recieves- Aerospace Education Academic Award
-Scohol
Only - Award of Academic Excellence/ROTC - School
Only - Superior Student/Debate - School
1 of about 20 - Dadaelian Award - School
1 of many - (5 promotions,
SAirman/TSrgnt/SSrgnt/MsSrgnt/Lieutenant)- school
One of few - National Merit Commendation - National
National Achievement - National
1 of few - Six different ROTC ribbons, academic excellence,
superior flight, leadership, good conduct, superior performance,
outstanding performance
Hendrix College Book Award (1 of some hundred high-performing students)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>These are the choices I'm considering. Those in bold are final.</p>

<p>University of Miami
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Michigan
University of Southern California
Rice University
Vanderbilt University
Cornell University
Columbia University
Stanford University</p>

<p>And a state university--a big goal is to have at least two safeties up there.</p>

<p>I also need to sever 1 or 2 choices, but I don't know which.</p>

2

<p>Okay, you are getting into probably all of these schools so I would probably dump the University of Miami and Gtech. I would consider adding MIT, Caltech, and Duke. If you apply to Michigan in October (rolling), you'll get in by november so no need to have safeties.</p>

3

<p>i can say you would get into at least some of school that you mentioned. but to be safe, make some more safety..</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
Okay, you are getting into probably all of these schools so I would probably dump the University of Miami and Gtech. I would consider adding MIT, Caltech, and Duke. If you apply to Michigan in October (rolling), you'll get in by november so no need to have safeties.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Thanks for the speedy feedback, but you don't think that's a tiny bit generous of an estimate? I'm within the top 10%, but my Stanford GPA is only 3.6.</p>

5

<p>You are an URM with highly competitive scores. That's why even with the 3.6 "Stanford GPA" your chances are great.</p>

6

<p>Does anyone have any recommendations for how to list these schools (in terms of safety/match/reach)?</p>

7

<p>well, you don't have any true safeties, but you can pretty much bank on georgia tech (which would be a great choice for aero eng), UMiami, and USC. </p>

<p>I would drop UMiami and Vanderbilt. Stanford and Columbia are the reachiest, but not impossible. </p>

<p>Also consider Caltech.</p>

8

<p>By true safeties, do you mean none of my schools are statistically 'safe' enough or none of my schools can be considered safeties?</p>

9

<p>The thing is if you apply to Michigan by October you'll know before other applications are due, so you can dump safeties.</p>

<p>As for Stanford, I would apply EA is I were you. You're likely getting in, you are a URM with great stats from ARKANSAS! I would seriously consider adding a few more reaches like Duke and Penn as well.</p>

10

<p>I heard that the SCEA pool of Stanford is more selective than RD and that Stanford will want my semester grades to see if my 4.0 trend continues. (I just went from 3.2 on 1 semester to 4.0 the next, big difference).</p>

11

<p>I wouldnt throw out GTech, its a good school and rising in reputation.
It can be a safety (U of Miami is definitely a safety for you.) I agree with others you have a good to fair chance at all the schools you listed.
Your stats and URM from AK will definitely work for you. I think come next fall you will be in a very good school. Good luck.</p>

12

<p>Can anyone rate Rice's engineering?</p>

13

<p>b -- u -- m -- p</p>

14

<p>I don't know a lot about Rice's Engineering, but I gather that it's very good for such a small school. If you want a smaller atmosphere that would likely be less expensive than some comparable schools, Rice is definitely a good option. Being out of state will also help in Rice admission.</p>

15

<p>More opinions? b-u-m-p</p>

16

<p>agreed, apply to Michigan and Wisconsin as early as possible to determine if safeties are needed.</p>

<p>consider Penn, MIT, Lehigh, Princeton, UCSD and Rochester.</p>

17

<p>How early can one apply to UMich?</p>

<p>Edit: Do you think being in the top 10% can balance out the 3.6 10/11th?</p>

18

<p>August (ten char)</p>