Good matches/reaches/safety?

<p>I need some help from you guys on where you think I would "fit". I would like to go to college somewhere on the east coast.</p>

<p>I possess a 3.5 unweighted gpa. I have taken courses in AP French, AP World History, AP US Government, AP American History. I tested in World History (4), US Government (3), and American History (score hasn't arrived yet). For senior year, I have signed up for AP English, AP Human Geography, and AP Statistics. </p>

<p>I was active in my high schools quiz bowl team and French Club. I was a Boy Scout for several years. My ACT (taken junior year) is 25, though I'm going to work on getting it up to maybe a 28 senior year. I intend on majoring either in history or international relations.</p>

<p>To give you an idea, right now I am considering the College of Charleston, East Carolina, Hampden-Sydney, South Carolina and Winthrop. My reach is UVA.</p>

<p>Many people have told me that I do not "apply myself," and I believe it's a fair characterization. Do you think I have a chance at getting in my listed schools? And what about suggestions? Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>In which state do you live?</p>

<p>I live in the state of Kentucky. Hardly a bastion of academic excellence.</p>

<p>It is generally cheaper to go to school instate. Can you afford to go out of state? Will your parents help you?</p>

<p>I am trying as diligently as possible NOT to go to school instate. I am going to apply for grants and loans as well as any other financial aid to help me. However, if this doesn’t work out, I will probably go to UK.</p>

<p>That is a good choice. You are right at the midpoint of both GPA and ACT. And it’s a good school.</p>

<p>why don’t you apply to Clemson instead of South Carolina? it has a better reputation </p>

<p>also look at UNC-Asheville or St. Mary’s College Of Maryland since it seems those schools fit you as you are looking at C of Charleston. Replace Winthrop with UNC-Asheville and East Carolina with SMCM and USC with Clemson.</p>

<p>With all due respect paid to pierre’s bias, Clemson and USC have approximately equivalent reputations–Clemson is better for engineering and business, not so much for liberal arts (think history or sociology, not financial econ). Asheville is a quirky public LAC, but with many nontraditional students and a low graduation rate. SMCM, while excellent for liberal arts (in my opinion the best public LAC in the nation, 2nd-best if you count W&M as a large LAC), is highly competitive compared to the reset of your list; it would be a reach.</p>

<p>haha yeah just ignore the USC suggestion, that was definitely part of my bias but Clemson is ranked higher ;)</p>

<p>but College Of Charleston is an excellent choice!</p>

<p>Providence has a big history program. If you can get your ACT/SAT up you shouldn’t have a problem. The Catholic University of America is in Washington DC which is a great location for what you want to study and you would be able to get in even with your current test scores.</p>

<p>At one point I was juggling with whether or not to go to Clemson or USC but I decided Clemson’s admissions were more difficult. The only school that competitive I wanted to apply to was UVA.</p>

<p>I looked at SMC, but for some reason I was turned off by it. I guess I didn’t care for how the school stressed sailing.</p>

<p>Now that you mentioned CUA, I once considered it, GWU, and American University. However, I didn’t know if I could thrive in a large city like D.C., or if I would be accepted. GWU’s cost was a huge negative, as well.</p>

<p>I have heard some bad things about Providence. Is it in a good part of town? Is the Civ program good? Is it a party school? How difficult is the coursework?</p>

<p>CofC remains one of my top choices. What about Coastal Carolina?</p>

<p>compared to College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina is a joke, C of Charleston is a lot better.</p>

<p>and about Clemson, the admissions policy is far from difficult. Sure, it’s more selective than USC but with your 3.5 GPA and ACT score, you should definitely get in (I got in with a 3.0 GPA/B average). If the difficulty of admissions to Clemson is holding you back from applying there, DON’T LET IT!</p>

<p>Also look to the buckeye state. </p>

<p>Wittenberg, Miami U of Ohio, Ohio Wesleyan, Ohio University, OSU (if you can get your GPA up to a 3.6 and ACT to a 28, you’ll automatically make main campus and the scholars program) and maybe even Deninson, Ceaderville, Centre in KY or Earlham in Indiana would be good for you. However, going with an LAC would probably be best for you.</p>

<p>Really, pierre? I saw the average gpa was like a 4.0. I am definitely not in that echelon!</p>

<p>OHKID, I looked at Xavier, but I’m definitely not an Ohio State fan. Centre is probably too selective for me.</p>

<p>historylover, as you may have already heard, Clemson manipulates its admissions data, and many schools have different GPA scales. The people I know that get into Clemson have B/B+/A- averages and your 3.5 would definitely put you in range for admissions. At my school a 4.0 is an A+ and I doubt a 4.0 would be the correct GPA. Once again, I was admitted with a B average in HS</p>

<p>yea basically you guys already covered the schools I would consider if I were in your position. UK should be your safety, Clemson and GWU should be your matches, especially GWU considering your backing for political sciences. The only problem I think of D.C. is that it’s a ghetto, but that hasn’t really bothered me much at all.</p>

<p>A 3.5 is hardly a slacker’s GPA, unless it puts you in the middle of your HS class. Give yourself more credit!</p>

<p>You might want to look at Mary Washington (in VA – no, it’s not a women’s college), UConn, Gettysburg (PA–it will be a reach, but if you like it, apply ED), Rollins (in FL, if you can afford it), Drew University (NJ), American University (a reach), and George Mason.</p>

<p>Do you want a large school? Smaller LAC? One in a city? Suburban setting?</p>

<p>Pierre, at my school a 4.0 is also an A+. That’s why I was so surprised by the stat. What about the town? I’ve read it’s less than satisfactory. How about I apply to Clemson and USC? They’re both fine schools.</p>

<p>Compared to Columbia, the town of Clemson is tiny but Greenville, Anderson and Atlanta are close by so you can find stuff to do in those towns. Clemson is a town completely devoted to the school and it comes to a complete stop for football games etc. Also, there are many outdoor activities around Clemson such as hiking, mountain biking or sailing on the lake next to campus.</p>

<p>I’m assuming you’re a SC resident? Then yeah apply to Clemson, USC and C of Charleston. You’re lucky to be in a state of that size with 3 excellent public schools.</p>

<p>I am actually not a SC resident. But I love the state. After college I am going to move there permanently. I am a big fan of the beach as well, if you haven’t noticed.</p>

<p>Momwaitingfornew, I am fine with a research university or a LAC. I would prefer to stay away from schools with student populations over 20,000 and under 3,500. UConn is out of my range as far as driving, so that’s off the table. Drew is interesting but NJ is also a bit farther and they cost too much. I’m trying to stay in the south.</p>