Hi everyone,
After some long talks with my parents and even longer conversations with some great people on this forum, I’ve decided to get more realistic about my list. I originally wanted to simply try my luck at all the tippy-top schools that I liked in America, but I realized that I have a very small chance at going to school in the states with that plan, so I want to change things up.
I’m primarily looking for more reach schools, but anything from safety to match to dream is appreciated also. I’ll try to give some brief context here, but my story is the primary appeal to my application, and I don’t quite have the time to explain it in its entirety here.
Stats/Info: Around 4.0. Straight As in APs. 32 ACT. Maybe one subject test this fall; I’m really good at writing, electives, and some courses like Psych and Econ, but I’m not too confident with my math, science or reading ability when it comes to subject tests. I only took APs in junior (and going to in senior) with around 9 total-- full APs and one honors in senior year. Canadian. Online student. Full pay.
Story:
The first three years of high school were really poor for me. I did homeschooling with my Mom and, to make a long story short, I only did four or five core pass or fail classes in those years. After those three years, I decided to enroll in grade 10 at a new, online (not homeschool) school where I would have full independence. There was no accountability at my new school, and I had nobody really helping me, but I went on to get all the main courses I need (and some extras) for top schools and a pretty good score. I live at a small shared (amongst four families) cabin in northern Canada and I do all my school up here. My hope is that my entire application will be able to express who I am and how my life over the past few years has shaped my character.
ECs:
Pretty bad, to be honest. I started at my online school with absolutely no expectations, so I didn’t really do anything special. Then, I started to add APs because I wanted to push myself more, but I never thought I would do well enough to be considered at top schools. Now, I realize that it takes a lot to get into top schools in America, and I haven’t really met that cut. Not trying to make excuses here, but rather tell why this happened (my choices-- my fault! ;))
I have done a ton of shared-cabin like stuff, such as being the one responsible for tarping boats, cleaning them, packing the car every time we leave, taking my cousin’s baby for rides in the quad, and stuff like that. I also have done some product-like stuff, and am in the process of designing some stuff to make the wakesurf wake better on our boat. Also, I am in the middle of pursuing a product that I think is pretty impressive. I can create a portfolio, but not sure if that helps. I’ve done a bit of community service this summer as well.
My biggest EC would be putting in and taking out roughly 30 docks in 50-degree water throughout my lifetime. Every spring (or late winter, lol), my family (mostly three or four of us) put in our extremely heavy dock and boat lifts. We also do this for three of our elderly neighbors simply because it’s the right thing to do (never told, asked, or did so reluctantly). Then, every fall we take all of them out.
Here is my current in need of adjustment list: (Will be eliminating lots after college tours in a few weeks); an asterisk (*) means I really want to apply here.
Stanford * (Product design. Fantastic location and campus. Amazing people)
Brown ** (Open curriculum and one of the best programs on this list: Behavioral Decision Sciences)
USC ** (Love the elective freedom at Marshall, their product design minor, and the athletics)
Penn Wharton (Insane business school, I have to try)
Dartmouth (Location!)
Amherst (open curriculum and good location!)
Northeastern (incredible combined programs. I like the campus but the lack of campus life is a drawback)
Babson ** (entrepreneurship!)
Boston College (Business and seems like the community is pretty awesome)
UDub Foster or Product Design (Courses and location. Love Washington State.
Bentley University (Like Babson but less entre.)
Waterloo **
Western Washington University (product design and good location)
Chapman (Comfort pick as I’ve toured it and found it very homey and easy-to-adjust)
Clarkson (Outdoorsy, Entrepreneurship, and Product design-like course)
University of Wisconsin Stout (Product design and outdoorsy)
University of Minnesota (I think I’d love MN. Product design and Entrepreneurship)
UVM
*a few safeties in Canada
Obviously, this is a massive list. I am touring colleges really soon and I can cancel out a lot of these depending on if I like the locations/size/etc.
Quick notes on this list:
Stanford, Brown, and USC are far and above my number 1 picks. The incredible product design course at Stanford, the Behavioral Decision Sciences program and entrepreneurial resources at Brown, and the vast electives and entrepreneurial resources at Marshall at USC are the standouts here. Program is extremely important for me and the is the main reason for most of my selections. Here’s a gist of my needs/wants
Program (open curriculum, product design, any psychology business mix, human behavior mix with entrepreneurship, or/and entrepreneurship resources or major; fewer the core requirements the better) → community (not too political, laid-back, always stuff going on, inclusive, friendly, outdoorsy or business-minded is a bonus) → location (decently easy to travel to, not in the south but anywhere else is fine) → sports (intramurals are big for me, college-spirit with varsity/div1 is a bonus)
I’m really wanting to add some more candidates for my reaches. If I don’t get into my reaches/dreams, there is a strong chance I will just do school in Canada. With that said, I want a list that is pretty heavy on reaches, so I’m looking for anything that would appeal to me yet is a place where I have a chance to get in (so not Stanford, lol). I ask that this doesn’t turn into a chance me thread, but rather a thread that helps me find schools where I’m a reach or match.
Thank you all!!!
