Guide me, Yodas of CC.... I don't know what to do.. I like everything!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a rising senior. Ack. And I don't know what schools to apply to - I don't know if they're safeties, matches, or reaches. No plan. </p>

<p>Partly due to the fact I've attended over ten schools in about five different states because of my dad's job, I haven't really committed myself to something. At my new school, I was on the Debate Team for the first time, and then moved to another school, where they didn't offer it. I joined the chess team instead. My life is kind of like that. I've also dabbled in both orchestra and jazz band, creative writing, women's rights, MUN, and waitressing.</p>

<p>I like everything! I don't know what I want to major in. I know a lot of people don't choose until way into college. But its so hard to choose colleges to apply for when you don't have a vision in your head! </p>

<p>All I know is that I need to start earning money as soon as possible to support my family. So medical school and law school are way out of my league. So is majoring in creative writing. But I like learning about globablization and international relations as well as variable change and calculus. </p>

<p>Basic stats
GPA unweighted 4.0
SAT: 2130 (R740, M710, W680)
SATII US 790
AP Gov (5)
AP US (5)
AP Calc BC (5) </p>

<p>Calling any college that needs a colorful person!!</p>

2

<p>If you want to do international relations then check out GTown, Tufts, and maybe even JHU. I'm not sure about math, maybe RPI or Georgia tech?</p>

3

<p>really really good non-Ivy for International Relations:</p>

<p>Johns Hopkins (Reach)
Georgetown (Reach)
Tufts (Match)</p>

<p>Since your looking for colleges that have strong IR and Math programs, also Check out</p>

<p>American University, USC, George Washington, Syracuse, NYU</p>

4

<p>I have to be truthful - I got interested in variable change after watching the movie 21... where the professor asks him to choose three doors, then shows him that one of the doors is empty, and asks him whether he would change his door or stay with it. Turns out you should change your door!</p>

5

<p>Of course, behind one of the doors is a free car :)</p>

6

<p>You seem like the Mount Holyoke type...strong, powerful, intelligent, dedicated.</p>

<p>And I second American U...they give great scholarships.</p>

7

<p>I suggest you look at liberal arts colleges, which allow you more flexibility in choosing majors. Any of the top LACs are going to be strong in your fields and you have good chances at them with your stats.</p>

8

<p>Wellesley if you are a girl? this may be a match/reach</p>

9

<p>GTown, Notre Dame, Michigan, Rice.
Safeties: Northeastern, Boston University, UCSanta Cruz</p>

10

<p>cafe, The first thing you need to do is to better understand your position on financial aid. If your family qualifies for need based aid you'll have a wide list. If you need (or want) merit based aid, your list will be narrower. </p>

<p>There are thousands of colleges in America and your statistics put you within the realm of possibility for all of them. There's no guarantee of course, but your lack of standard ECs will not keep you out.</p>

<p>Unless you take charge and start focusing on what you like you will get suggestions thrown at you like popcorn to pigeons. So, even though you like everything, you need to make a wish list of what you like best. Don't worry about the major. All good colleges offer more or less the same majors. Unless you have a very specific area of interest you can export that decision to the future. For now, think about location and ambience.</p>

<p>North/South/East/West/Northbynorthwest
Large/Medium/Small
Urban/Suburban/Rural
Sporty/Nerdy/Greek/Political
Coed/All women (if you are female!)</p>

<p>Once you narrow this in a bit, you'll have plenty of suggestions. After you've picked one or two that fulfill your ideals you can expand your list along the same general character to include a range of selectivity.</p>

<p>ECs are important but they don't need to be traditional sports teams or student council. Your life experience alone would make you a person of interest to many colleges. You've attended 10 schools and still have a 4.0 average! There's a compelling story there; you need to tell it. </p>

<p>The best way to communicate who you are is in essays and recommendations. Hopefully your high school counselor will be able to help you. If you've changed schools between junior and senior year, recommendations could be tricky so start thinking creatively on how to best tackle that issue.</p>

<p>Believe me, colleges like kids who are out of the ordinary, interesting people who do interesting things (as long as they have the grades and scores to go along with the quirkiness) so don't worry that being different will be held against you. It won't and in fact it could be a plus. You just have to have a strategy that showcases your strengths, not your weaknesses.</p>

<p>So, first determine where you stand on aid.
Second, try to come up with a list of about 15 schools that share characteristics that appeal to you.
Third, get to know the college counselor at your school
Fourth, think creatively about how to communicate your intangibles to the admissions committees.</p>

<p>Good luck and let us know how you do.</p>

11

<p>Thank you everybody for your suggestions, and for your good advice momrath! It's going to help me so much come application time :)</p>