<pre><code> I am a high school senior who is having some trouble finding colleges that are in my reach. I probably want to major in biology, geology, or environmental science, but I am not sure. I attend a small, challenging private school, and have an unweighted gpa of a 3.6. My sat score was 700 math 620 reading and 630 writing. My AP biology exam score was a 5.
I have visited Carleton, Macalester, Lafayette, Lehigh, Bucknell, Colorado College and Colorado School of Mines. I know that all these schools are reaches for me, so I was wondering if you guys have any liberal arts colleges or small universities similar to the above schools but easier to get into. Thanks.
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<p>Ripon College in Wisconsin
South Dakota School of Mines </p>
<p>I think you would gain admission to both schools. South Dakota School of Mines would be more for geology or environmental engineering. It doesn’t offer a Biology degree.</p>
<p>Don’t kid yourself. You have very fine grades and scores. Some of the schools on your list are matches (Colorado School of Mines, Lafayette and Lehigh). Check the College Board site and compare your stats. You have a few reaches, which is fine. </p>
<p>For Liberal Arts colleges, also look at Ursinus, Juniata, Hobart, Allegheny and St. Lawrence. All offer at least 2 of your probable majors. For small universities, you can’t beat University of Rochester- they have all three. Also, take a look at SUNY school of Environmental Science and Forestry. I don’t know anything firsthand, but from reading, it is small but it shares some facilities with Syracuse. And SUNY schools are reasonably priced for out of staters. </p>
<p>Don’t worry, you will get into some very fine schools.</p>
<p>Colorado College, Colorado School of Mines, and Lafayette (especially Lafayette) aren’t so much reaches for you…Lafayette is a match, as you fall square in the middle of their SAT score ranges. Same with CSoM. Lehigh is also a match with your stats. Colorado College is a matchy-reach for you - you are in the bottom of their middle 50% range, but not too far off.</p>
<p>Everyone else recommended some very fine schools. You might also look a</p>
<p>-Union College in Schenectady, New York (has all three of the majors in which you are interested)
-Sewanee - the University of the South (is a rural school, so it has all through majors - biology, forestry and geology, and environmental studies, plus it’s COA is lower than a lot of other small LACs)
-Kalamazoo College (has biology and environmental studies),
-Berry College (has all three majors, and is also a work college which may allow you to get substantial financial aid in exchange for 10-15 hours of work a week)
-Whitman College (may be a high match but has joint majors in geology and biology and in geology and enviromental sciences)
-Beloit College (also has all three majors), Wheaton College in MA (has biology and ES),
-College of Wooster - ES is only a minor, but has biology and geology majors
-Ursinus College (has ES and bio but no geology)
-Earlham College (has a geosciences major, environmental, and bio)</p>