<p>My current college list is as follows: </p>
<p>University of Florida
Emory
Tufts
Duke
Princeton
Yale
Harvard
WashU</p>
<p>Assuming I'll be content to go to UF (huge financial incentive), does this list look good? I want to stay on the eastern half of the country and prefer a larger university (4000+) to a small college. </p>
<p>While my strategy is "shoot for the stars", I have a feeling that I'm missing out on more match schools.... Hmm... </p>
<p>Any commentary or advice?</p>
<p>Assuming you have the academic chops to make the other colleges on your list remotely plausible, then sure.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. I’ve got the goods to be a strong applicant at all of the schools. The question is, does this look like a “typical” college list of a high-achieving student?</p>
<p>I’ve ruled out the small LACs, preferring to participate in a larger, more diverse community. From anyone’s experience, does this list stand out in any way, or does it resemble what one would expect for someone shooting for top tier schools? </p>
<p>Your list looks reachy – from Duke on up it’s largely a crapshoot. Have a look at Wesleyan U, for a larger LAC, and Rochester would give you a nice bridge between UF and Emory.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input! </p>
<p>My situation involves comparing a practically free education at University of Florida with any other options, knowing that any money I spend on undergrad will, to a mild extent, affect my financial flexibility in paying for grad school.</p>
<p>Given that any other acceptance offer will be compared to UF, thus comes the “reachiness” of my list.
I’ll definitely look more into Wesleyan, it and Tufts seem to be similarly unique in terms of size and selectivity.</p>
<p>My Yale SCEA is exciting. I find the process kind of fun, no matter the outcome.</p>
<p>Any other tips from the peanut gallery?</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with this list if all you care about is prestige. </p>
<p>There are lots of prestigious schools that you have a better chance to get into, however, and that might actually serve you better. So if you want to be well served by your prestigious college, to actually fit it better, this list has everything wrong with it. </p>
<p>Unless you can prove to me that these top 20s fit you better than a top fifty or 100 you might get into then I would encourage you to examine some of the top 100s before completing your list.</p>
<p>Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. How many times have you heard your parents say that?</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, jkeil. Just finished watching Malcom Gladwell’s 2013 “Big Fish, Small Pond” speech at Google Zeitgeist - relates to the last part of your post.</p>
<p>Anyway, my philosophy, which I’ve discussed with my parents, as to why I like these schools lies in the quality of student. I’ve had several experiences in the past, especially taking a college course over the summer, where being in class with bright, motivated, and confident peers actually makes me more excited about learning.</p>
<p>So my reasoning for wanting to go to schools with higher test scores, more impressive achievements, well-written essays, etc. comes from my desire to surround myself with a stimulating student body.</p>
<p>Love the climate at Duke, I visited Tufts and think the campus, surrounding, and general study body would be a great fit. I started a nonprofit program that ties in with the community-based thinking behind Yale’s residence college system. I’m excited by the idea of everyone having to do a senior thesis at Princeton, plus the supposed undergrad focus. </p>
<p>WUSTL seems like an all-around great school, seems to cover all the bases in terms of academics, social, cultural, etc.
Emory was the result of searching for more of a match school, and I know people who are apparently loving it there. Harvard’s the only one I don’t have a real reason for… but why not, right? ;)</p>
<p>Does that frame of reference change anything, in your opinion?</p>
<p>it changes my understanding of your rationale for choosing these schools. if you’ve been to campus and assured yourself that you’re likely to encounter a critical mass of like-minded students then that’s a very good reason to have that school on your list. </p>
<p>Personally, I found my critical mass at UColorado Boulder, and I did it because the school was so large it had the numbers right and because I put myself out to find these like-minded people. That search in itself made Boulder a great place to go to school. I had to work to encourage my peers to step out, and that made my experience there that much more valuable to me as someone who loves learning and who would go on to become a professor. Even though Boulder’s on only a few top 50 program lists, I got a great deal out of it. It fit me well in many respects.</p>
<p>BTW, I’ve taught at those Top 25 schools, and there was often a lot less elevated classroom conversation than you might expect. Sometimes it was as if people feared looking intellectually clumsy in front of such stellar peers. That made my teaching really difficult some days. So I’d suggest that you not assume that because you saw what you were looking for at some schools that it’s there at all of them. </p>
<p>Hmm, I appreciate your insight. That’s an encouraging anecdote, especially considering that there’s a decent chance of me going to UF, another large school with a wide range of academic ability. </p>
<p>Not sure if anyone cares, but another reason for chooses these selective schools is partially because I want to see where I can get in. I’ve got a certain EC (can’t into too much detail for privacy reasons), that nonprofit thing I mentioned, that I personally founded, has had genuine community success at 10+ local schools, an internship that ties in with the nonprofit/economic thing, plus a glowing recommendation from my internship boss. </p>
<p>I’ve heard top schools really appreciate genuine leadership and innitiative, so part of me is like, “Hey, let’s see if I’m what they’re looking for!” I’ll keep you posted this December :P</p>
<p>(sorry for the poor writing/typos, written on my phone)</p>
<p>yeah, I like that EC for some of these elite schools. I don’t want stereotypes keeping you from the best college experience for YOU, OP. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is a very typical list, if not THE prototypical list. State flagship + HYP + a few other top 20 schools. And you have the prototypical, albeit generic. reason: “my desire to surround myself with a stimulating student body” </p>
<p>Hence the uber-low acceptance rates at these schools. HYP will be slammed with early applications, then the deferred and rejected students will flock to USNWR’s next tier: WashU, Duke etc…</p>
<p>Much more rare I think is the college list carefully chosen across a broad selectivity spectrum to cater to a student’s distinct interests. It’s difficult to do, but a more successful approach I think.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re well aware of the risks of your list, and comfortable with your state flagship, so it’s fine. I’m curious to see how you do. Please keep us posted. </p>
<p>–How much will you be paying out-of-pocket at these other schools versus UF?
–Do you plan on grad school?
–What are your career goals?</p>
<p>What is your GPA and SAT scores?</p>
<p>I would include Tulane, perhaps UVA. </p>
<p>If you would be truly happy to attend UFlorida it is fine. Not knowing your stats and ECs it is hard to comment, but to me there is a huge gap between the seven schools that are reaches for most people and UFlorida. I’d add a couple of schools that fill in that gap (I like the suggestion of Tulane because they have non binding EA and generally give good merit aid). </p>
<p>OP posted his stats here: <a href=“Suggestions for College List? - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>Suggestions for College List? - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;
<p>Cost could be a major consideration here. I think the OP feels that UF will be such a huge bargain that if he’s going to pay much more for another school, it better be top-drawer. Hence the gap. Call it the “Go Big or Stay Home” philosophy.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all the responses! That’s exactly the strategy, Dunboyne. </p>
<p>SAT 2250, ACT 34, GPA 3.9, 790/770 SAT IIs (just for reference). And sure thing, I’ll keep you all posted! </p>
<p>Yes, I’m planning on grad school. The thing is, I have the Florida pre-paid program plus in-state tuition rate for all public Florida schools So while UVA/Tulane, for example, may provide a better undergrad experience in some respects (especially considering the climate!), I guess 'I’m pretty lucky to have a state flagship available at such a low price, one that plenty of Florida kids consider a top choice as well.</p>
<p>To be completely honest, I’m not excited by the prospect of going to UF, but I have a generally mature outlook and can see how I will be challenged academically anywhere, will make friends anywhere, and will even have more opportunities to stand out at UF compared to Yale, Duke, etc. So I’m sure once I get there I’ll be perfectly happy with my college opportunities. </p>
<p>Like Dunboyne stated, any offer I get will have to be weighed in comparison to UF: “is this college significantly better than UF, and is the difference in perceived quality worth the cost?”</p>
<p>Is merit aid more common than I thought? There really aren’t too many school better than UF with a higher than 20% acceptance rate that have 4000+ undergrads and are preferably east cost.</p>
<p>As a parent I appreciate your approach, and a few years ago I would have whole-heartedly endorsed it, but after having just gone through the process with my daughter (and seeing her peers go through it), and now going through it with my son, my perspective and opinions have changed.</p>
<p>I think there is a lot of value to be had underneath the top tiers, and the student who forces himself to explore it gains a better understanding of who he is and what he wants from an education. Sure, it’s easy to understand why you might like Yale or Princeton, but much more challenging to sort out your own personal check list of pluses and minuses for less selective schools.</p>
<p>IMO, this intensive, balanced search not only yields more choices in April, but also forces a student to better evaluate and understand their 2-3 reaches; and I think that better understanding comes through in their applications. </p>
<p>UPDATE: Just received sat score for my final test! </p>
<p>Old Superscore: 730 CR, 700 M, 800 W
New Superscore: 750, 750, 800</p>
<p>Can you say confidence boost? Feeling pretty good!
Essays are done and I’m very proud of the result.</p>
<p>I’ll let you know Dec 15th! </p>