<p>Is my college list okay with my stats?
SAT I: m: 670 w: 740 cr: 800 (taken once, will take again)
SAT II: Lit 760 (taking again) Math IC 580 (long story, ouuch) US Hist 730,770 Writing 790
gpa at a very competitive CA public HS: 3.7 uw/4.0 w UC gpa: 4.2</p>
<p>My List: (I could be totally wrong about what's a match/safety. I just got this from my counselor/alumni)
Reach: Wellesley, Tufts, Brown, Wesleyan, Swarthmore
Match: Boston Univ, NYU
Safety: Bryn Mawr, UCSD</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Toffee, without other info beyond the bare stats, I'd put NYU more into a "low reach" or "high match" category, and Bryn Mawr & UCSD into the "match" category. A safety among the UCs would probably be Irvine, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz. Competition is just too high for all of the schools. As far as the UC's are concerned, you should just pick one of the easier campuses to get into and check that off as an additional choice when you apply to UCSD - no reason to worry too much. Your scores & GPA are fine for all the schools, its just that you are competing against lots of students with equally great stats. I just wouldn't put any college that rejects a majority of its applicants into the "safety" slot unless there are also some great hooks or ECs to go along with the numbers. </p>
<p>That being said, there is no reason you need more than one TRUE safety, so as long as you don't get your heart set on anything, your UC application will pretty much assure you a place in college next year.</p>
<p>I don't know about the UC schools but the previous poster's advice soudns very sensible.I think your list is fine as far as it goes but I would not think of Bryn Mawr as a real safety, but rather a match or a likely. So my advice is to add a true safety to your list, and if that means another UC school, fine.</p>
<p>While I don't exactly disagree with what the other posters have said so far, I think this "safety" issue has been glossed over a bit.</p>
<p>IMHO, the safety school should be a centerpoint of the college search. It is the one school that you're sure will accept you, and it may be the only option that you have come spring. Merely checking off another UC on the app may give you a safety, but is it a school you want to attend? </p>
<p>Each spring there are far too many posts from kids that only got into their safety or a safety and a match, but they're schools they don't want to attend! Its not a fun situation.</p>
<p>So I'd say put as much effort into finding a good safety as you did in narrowing down the reaches to Wellesley, Tufts, Brown, Wesleyan, Swarthmore. Actually put in more!! These reaches are fine schools, but they say no to far more good students than they accept. Its entirely possible that for all the work you did in researching them, crafting essays, etc. that none will come thru. On the other hand if you find a safety that you could really be happy at, you'll have the comfort and security this fall of knowing that come spring you're going off to college at a school that's right for you. At this point maybe it will be one of the reaches or matches, maybe the safety, but you're covered no matter what. </p>
<p>Not only that, but if you really spend the time to look into safeties you may find (as other kids have) that the safety is a better overall match than the other schools! At a safety they are looking for strong students and will often put together packages with merit aid, special dorms and counseling, etc. to attract their top candidates. You have to decide if spending $40K/year is really worth it. Not every safety is a large U like the UCs. You can find mid-sized U's and even LACs that aren't as competitive at the top schools and yet still provide a great atmosphere and wonderful education.</p>
<p>thanks, everyone. yeah, those are bare stats, it's just i've posted all my ec's etc before and i didn't want to be annoying and do it again. if you wanted to know more, you can just look back in history or w/e.</p>
<p>good advice..</p>
<p>I don't think you need to tell us - it's just that if you have some great EC's or accomplishments, and/or something like URM status, that might explain why your counselor sees what would ordinarily be match schools for high stat applicants as safeties for you, etc. But I still think you can never be too safe. One of the problems that a high stat applicant runs into is that these days the colleges are playing guessing games to try to sort out which applicants really are likely to attend their school, from the ones who might simply view them as safeties. So you get some strange results, with higher stat applicants sometimes rejected in favor of lower stat applicants who just seem like a better "fit". </p>
<p>I've noticed that your college list seems to have some schools that are very different from one another -- such as NYU/BU (very large universities, urban settings) vs. Bryn Mawr (small LAC, suburban setting). So I'm wondering what you see as the best fit and why you've chosen that particular array of colleges. You don't have to post the answer here - the main point is for you to give some thought yourself as to why these colleges are attractive to you.</p>
<p>Toffee,
What is the reason that you have for re-taking an SAT test that you already have a score of 760 on? Schools just like to see that you are "in the range" of scores. Scores of 800 are so common that they have lost their cachet. Once you get over 750 there is little to be gained and it will keep you from working on other things like your math score.
Look at it this way, a little effort and you can raise your math scores substantially. The most you can raise the 760 is 40 points. It is much harder to squeeze out those points at the top of the scale than to raise middle level scores.</p>
<p>It's hard to believe Bryn Mawr wouldn't accept you.</p>
<p>I agree the retake of the Lit is a waste of time. . the Lit is a tougher SATII and that score is extremely high. I'd redo the math.</p>
<p>I do think it is essential to add another UC or two just in case. They are great safety schools for you. UCSD is no way a real safety, although a likely.</p>
<p>i'm pretty sure if i retake the math, i'm not going to get much higher. i don't really want to go to an UC though and it seems like a LOT of effort. so i think i might just take off UCSD. </p>
<p>yeah, i guess nothing makes me really special. i do have really good ECs with good focus and good essays/recs but i think a lot of ppl have those too.</p>
<p>so judging from people's comments, my college list should be more like:
Reach: Swarth, NYU, Wells, Tufts, Wes, Brown
Match: Boston Univ., Bryn Mawr
Safeties: Okay, I guess time to get some.</p>
<p>Toffee... are your parents able to foot the bill for the private colleges you are looking at? Are you aware that some of the schools on your list, like NYU, do NOT promise to meet the full financial need of all incoming students? </p>
<p>Do keep in mind that you need a financial safety as well as a college you are sure to get into.</p>