I know that it doesn’t seem very balanced, but I already have a spot at one of the UCs for my fallback. I don’t want to make this a chance thread so I’ll just say that I have really unique ECs and test scores that put me in the middle 50 for my reach schools. My GPA is also a 4.0 UW. I intend to pursue a major in literary arts at Brown (if I get in lol) or an English related major at others. Here’s my list:
Reach:
Brown (ED)
Harvard (legacy through mom)
Pomona
Northwestern
Low reach/ high match (from what I’ve been told):
WUSTL
Tufts
Williams
Match:
Berkeley (in state and everyone with my stats and lower has been accepted from my school)
Northeastern (EA)
Safer school:
Bard
I would like to know which colleges I should add/ remove from my list!! Thanks!
What’s your parents’ budget? Have you run the NPC and shown the results to your parents?
The easiest way to cut a school is to cut the unaffordable one
However, in your case, I wouldn’t so much look for “cutting” as I’d look to expand…
Your “high matches” are reaches due to selectivity/acceptance rate - even if your stats are a match, their selectivity rate makes them automatic reaches.
Do you mean you’re in at UCR through the July admissions, and would fine going there?
I somehow doubt it, when I look at your list.
It seems to me that you should apply to a couple other UCs, perhaps UCSC for a true safety and UCLA.
For English, though, Columbia would be a logical choice due to the Writers’ workshop.
For safeties, Knox or Eckerd?
According to one of your other threads, you have a 32 ACT and 4.0 UW GPA. That’s really good. If finances are an issue, check the guaranteed merit thread pinned to the top of the financial aid forum for options. Make sure you have some solid matches on your list, and add a couple safeties that you’d be happy to attend.
@austinmshauri Affordability won’t be an issue. I took the ACT way back in April and I am taking it again on Saturday. My practice tests have been 34 34 35 36 so I’m hoping for at least a 33 on the real one (the test environment during the real test always messes with me).
My D didn’t apply to any UC’s (we live outside CA) so I don’t know about the fees, but am under the impression that applying to several is not a lot more work than applying to one. So it seems like a relatively easy way to increase your options. If FA is not an issue, then surely the app fee is not either. But if you and your GC feel confident about admission to Berkeley then maybe it’s not an issue but most people would consider Berkeley a reach. Anyway best of luck!
For kids in California, the default option is ELC (Merced) or community college. However it seems to me UCSD,UCSB, or ucd would be vastly preferable to these two options in your case.
An article such as Flavowire’s “The 25 Most Literary Colleges in America” offers descriptions of some of your choices’ English-related programs that may help you solidify your list.
If your interests lean toward creative writing, you can review the schools in “The 10 Best American Colleges for Writers,” USA Today.
