Expand my college list please

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I'm going to be a senior in high school and is looking for colleges that are "around my league" let's say... I'm having trouble searching for them because my stats are lower than ivy league school but also higher than a lot others. I want to get into the best school from my range. Can someone please help me decide/add some colleges to my list? I prefer college near PA. Right now I am looking at Penn State Main Campus. I want to expand upon that list, hopefully ivy-league schools? Thank you.</p>

<p>Profile
SAT (expected): 2100
GPA (4.0 scale): 3.601
GPA (weighted): 4.3
I take 6 AP course and the rest are all honors classes.
I'm in NHS and Math Honors Society (Mu Alpha Theta). I'm also in science olympiad and math league club for 4 years straight. I volunteered at a hospital and is currently working as a cashier. Was a basketball manager. Attended National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC).</p>

2

<p>You would be a reach for all ivies. What can your family afford?</p>

3

<p>My father has about $100,000 for me. Anything that’s not a reach for me? It don’t have to be an ivy. I was thinking Johns Hopkins? Anything else?</p>

4

<p>I was thinking of Hopkins. If you get really serious about it it’s one of the places where it might help a little to apply early decision. Maybe Emory? Haverford is possible and Bucknell more possible. Colgate? Do you care about size? That’s an important factor to sort out.</p>

5

<p>Apply to Princeton and Yale for the hell of it. Its a crapshoot.</p>

6

<p>lehigh maybe?</p>

7

<p>Ah…thank you! Bucknell and Colgate seems good!
I’ve visited Johns Hopkins (and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!). It’s small yet not so rural.
I don’t really mind the size. However, colleges like UPenn and NY really scares me because of the surroundings. I would like a student-friendly environment.</p>

8

<p>If your looking for student friendly, try Williams. I heard they are very <em>friendly</em></p>

9

<p>You can google “common data set” “name of school” then try 2009, I don’t think 2010 data is in yet … these files give you a sense of the caliber of admits by gpa and test scores … and will give you a good idea where you are a strong candidate.</p>

10

<p>Okay thank you all!
I’ve now added Williams, Bucknell, and Johns Hopkins.
MaterMia, I tried the common data set as you said, and it’s REALLY HELPFUL! Thank you guys!</p>

11

<p>$100k is $25k per year. Many privates (including the ones mentioned here). cost well over $50k per year.</p>

<p>If you won’t qualify for much or any aid, $25k won’t pay for many schools.</p>

<p>Do you know what your EFC will likely be? If it’s high (which it sounds like it will be), what will you do if the school expects your family to pay the whole $55k per year?</p>

<p>What was your PSAT score? Are you a likely NMSF?</p>

<p>What is your home state? PA??</p>

12

<p>Might look at Holy Cross-great science programs and 1 hour from Boston. HC is similar to Bucknell.</p>

13

<p>You won’t fit in well at HC unless your catholic, so I don’t totally recommend it, but who knows - maybe you will like it!</p>

14

<p>Georgetown, Holy Cross, and Boston College are all top Jesuit(Liberal) schools that seek students from all faiths or no faith.</p>

15

<p>I know they accept all faiths openly, but I think socially you might not be comfortable there. Just saying.</p>

16

<p>if you still want PA you could look at UPenn, Villanova, Lehigh, Carnegie Mellon, etc…</p>

17

<p>All good suggestions! Just a quick question. When I told my parents (who by the way act just like asian parents) about these schools, they were wondering why none of them are in the top national university list. Which got to my attention…why not? Are they a different category? Are they not as good ranking-wise? </p>

<p>I reside in PA, and I don’t really want to be so far from my family. I guess anywhere no more than 4 hours drive? Could be anywhere in New England and Mid-Atlantic.</p>

18

<p>And no, I’m not an NSMF; my PSAT scores (sophomore and junior) were 1800 and 2040. Not enough for merit :frowning:
If money would be an issue, I might go to an easier school with full-scholarship maybe.</p>

19

<p>There is almost no religious vibe at BC and GTown. They are your typical elite universities. Holy Cross and Notre Dame may have a religious feel. I haven’t been to either.</p>

20

<p>I think the OP can do better than Lehigh, HC or Villanova. Maybe good safeties though.</p>