<p>Hi everyone! I'm a bit lost deciding where to apply, being somewhat unfamiliar with the States. I'm interested in cognitive science, mathematics and finance (probably in that order). I'm looking for academically demanding places, nice location, international reputation/student body. I would be very grateful if anyone had any ideas... So far got Stanford and Harvard as reaches.</p>
<p>I think if you want more help, you'll need to be more specific. </p>
<ol>
<li>What kind of stats do you have?</li>
<li>Where in the US are you interested in? East, West, Central, South?</li>
<li>What size and type of school?</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>I don't have anything like a GPA, but I think my SAT scores will be pretty good...(?) Otherwise hard to compare.</p></li>
<li><p>Anywhere in the US, though surroundings are important</p></li>
<li><p>A coed school, non-religious, at least a few thousand students, enough international students so that I won't be the only non-American...though I'm flexible on all points</p></li>
</ol>
<p>...in fact, knowing in general what places are said to be good for cognitive science would be helpful.</p>
<p>For SATs: define 'good', give us something to work with
What is the closest thing you have to a GPA? what will colleges see on your transcript?
What activies/clubs have you been involved in? Have you worked? What was your position?
Define good location, and enough intl students so you wont be alone....</p>
<p>If your really looking for a good answer you need to be specific.</p>
<p>Okay, okay... you're right. For the SAT reasoning I was around 700 for the sub-parts on my first test try, mostly from not being fast enough. For the subjects, I'm taking Math IIc, Literature and World History, subjects largely dealt with at my high school. I haven't done any subsequent mock tests yet, though have all the prep books.</p>
<p>My grades are ridiculously low because that's how they grade in my country, but I am sure this will be taken into account.</p>
<p>I worked for two summers as an artificial intelligence research assistent, and belong to a nifty discussion club that is quite high-brow, but otherwise don't have any extra-curriculars. Then again, EC's are very rare for students in my country (unlike in America).</p>
<p>"Location" just means that the campus has nice architecture and/or is in a beautiful city (I keep hearing how poor and violent New Haven is, for example).</p>
<p>It's hard to choose places knowing so little about what they're like to live in. I have no idea whether I'd enjoy the lifestyle more at a place like UC Berkely or Princeton, for example, and have no idea what matches / safety's I could choose, since we Europeans only ever hear about the most famous places.</p>
<p>I should also point out that I'm aiming high in my choices because if I end up with a safety, I will probably choose to stay in Europe.</p>
<p>As for internationals, I'm hoping for something like 10%, though the figure doesn't mean much. I want to be in an environment where a European isn't seen as too much of an outsider.</p>
<p>Since you haven't taken the SAT yet, it's virtually impossible for anyone to give you solid advice on where to apply.</p>
<p>But since I'm taking the SAT on december 3rd and January 28th, and applications have to be started if not completed before...</p>
<p>Yeah, you'll have to wait till 2007, unless you're seriously considering this and want to use your Dec. scores without knowing what they are. The deadline for regular decision applications in most colleges is January 1st.</p>
<p>I love working under tough deadlines...</p>
<p>You'll have to send your applications two weeks from now so that they get there on time and you don't even know which schools to apply to, so all I can do is wish you luck.</p>
<p>could you talk a bit more about about yourself and what you want in a college? For example, would you prefer more of a liberal or conservative student body? Diversity wise, some schools that I first thought of are Macalester, Carnegie Mellon, and Wesleyan. I'm not sure how they are for your academic interests, and I'm not sure how they'd fit you, but I've heard they are all pretty diverse so you may want to look into them.</p>
<p>You don't need to send SAT scores to all the schools. At this point, chose schools that don't demand SATs, like Bowdoin, Bates, Bard, Lawrence and others. Check out the list at <a href="http://www.fairtest.org/optinit.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.fairtest.org/optinit.htm</a>.</p>