<p>Basically, I'm not really sure what colleges/universities are at the right level for me to have a good chance of being accepted, and since I need to decide where to apply soon, some suggestions would be appreciated. My SAT score is in the low 2300's, my GPA is around 3.8 UW, and I have basically no EC's (I'm sure I'll come up with some things to put down, but you know what I mean--hardly any clubs, no leadership positions, no awards, no sports, and barely any volunteering). It's not like I don't have a life outside of school, but anyway, I still have terrible EC's.</p>
<p>I'm not complaining about that, since I accepted long ago that prestigious schools on par with my test scores didn't have quite enough pull over me to get me to force myself into clubs/sports/etc. that I had no interest in, which I expect you guys might consider a dumb choice, but I don't regret it. I'm just trying to figure out where I should apply, since my scores are above average for even the schools that would reject me based on my EC's, and most of the schools that don't care as much about EC's are far below my level on scores. I don't mind going to somewhere like that, I just want to try to get into somewhere halfway decent, even if I don't have a shot at most of the super-selective schools (though I'll apply to one or two of those and give it my best shot, since I don't want to give up on those completely before I've tried).</p>
<p>So, can anyone suggest what sort of level of school I should be looking at?</p>
<p>Your academic achievements may qualify you for some goodies like honors programs and merit scholarships. You’re applying to join an academic community, after all (unless being recruited for big-time sports!).</p>
<p>But don’t assume you don’t have any ECs unless you spend all your out-of-school time playing video games and sleeping. Having a job is an equivalent; it shows responsibility and commitment. Taking care of a sick relative is an equivalent, for the same reasons. Learning to play a musical instrument or writing poetry or mastering the tango can be perfectly acceptable interests. So can building birdhouses or rehabbing houses for people. You don’t need to participate in expensive programs or exotic trips. Internships and research positions that you got from family connections actually aren’t great assets to admissions committees.</p>
<p>Schools that ask about activities want you to care about something or someone besides yourself. What you say in your essay will show whether you’re curious, open to new experiences, reflective about situations you’ve been in, etc. You actually write the scripts; ECs just provide the stage sets.</p>
<p>I’m interested in science (especially physics and chemistry) and would rather go somewhere out of state, especially somewhere warm. I’m not sure yet what I’ll be able to afford, so I’d like to just figure out what sort of places I should be considering. I’d prefer somewhere less expensive, but I wouldn’t rule other places out.</p>
<p>I’ve already been considering U of Alabama, so I’ll move that one up on my list.</p>
<p>I know, Woodworker, and I do have interests that I can include, just not things like awards and leadership positions and other things that would get me into the really good colleges.</p>
<p>You missed my point. Those places aren’t looking for people who blindly follow formulas; they want people who are curious, reflective, open to new experiences, persistent, etc. Your activities are a way to demonstrate these qualities. Awards and leadership positions are fine, depending on what you learned from them. They have little value if you just went through the motions. Other activities can be just as well received if they’ve contributed to your growth.</p>