Guys help me out here...

<p>A little bit about myself first. My UW GPA is 4.0 and my W GPA is 4.8 (capped). I will graduate with 11 AP classes, and as a senior I am taking Calculus 3 H with a local college. I take part in numerous ECs, such as Varsity Quiz, HOSA, Speech and Debate, Science Bowl, NHS, and Mu Alpha Theta. Fortunately enough, I got many state championships in my competition events and I have 300+ clinical hours with a local hospital and 100+ hours in standard community service. My SAT is 2200.</p>

<p>Most recently I qualified for NMS, which is causing my counselor and parents to push me towards USC (I will not receive financial aid due to my family's income bracket) and their generous National Merit Aid scholarship. But my dream school is likely Vanderbilt - they will charge me 50+ thousand per year even with the National Merit considered.</p>

<p>So guys, I'm wondering about my chances of getting into Vanderbilt or a similar-level school with credentials like these. I don't want to sound conceited, but I've worked really hard and I don't know if USC will give me as good of an education as a top-20 institution. </p>

<p>tl;dr: I have the stats, I'm worried about admission into aforementioned schools.</p>

<p>You have a good shot at Vanderbilt with that GPA (considering your class rank is 1 if you’ve actually maxed it). Your SAT seems just a tad low but doesn’t subtract from your application considering your other amazing stats. If you don’t qualify for financial aid then I’m sure you’ll be paying at least 80–90% of what the estimated cost is on Vanderbilt’s website. Definitely apply, and if it really is your dream then just take out some loans and go for it. But you’ll be in debt for 20 years, if you’re lucky. My teacher went to Stanford on loans because he didn’t qualify for financial aid and he has a 40-year loan. I don’t mean to be discouraging, however.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Thank you GuidoStroustup, that’s one of my biggest concerns. Having that much debt is one of the biggest things keeping me from just applying there as first choice.</p>

<p>Bump, I would appreciate it if others would comment. Please guys, I’m up the river without a paddle over this issue</p>

<p>If Vanderbilt is your dream, there’s no reason to not apply. Once you get the acceptances and financial aid packages, you can make a decision that involves less guesswork. You may decide it would be better to go to Vanderbilt for grad school and a cheaper school for undergrad, or you may decide the opportunity is too great to pass up and you’ll go to Vanderbilt. But you don’t have any options if you don’t apply!</p>