<p>Hello! My sister is now a junior and interested in a much broader college search than I was as a high schooler. We're looking for colleges that would be matches or moderate reaches for her. She would prefer name recognition and, if nothing pans out, would attend a community college and transfer to a UC. </p>
<p>She would prefer a moderately sized research university or LAC near a big city with lots of internship opportunities. Money-wise, we can afford a tuition of < 36k, maybe a bit more. She's undecided, but possibly business or premed. Strong job placement/alumni network would be great. Schools with lots of tradition would be nice. Her dream school is Barnard.</p>
<p>Stats:
3.67 UW, 3.92 W, two C's in math.
~1900-2000 SAT (hasn't taken it yet)
Great letter of rec and essays.
Decent but unfocused ECs: NHS leadership (2 yrs), FIRST robotics (6 yrs, several associated leadership roles: driver, day camp counselor, business lead, etc.), county crisis teen rep/intern, founded/mentored a student newspaper at a local elementary school (3 yrs).
California. No hooks unless female possibly interested in comp sci is one.</p>
<p>Under consideration:
UCSC, UCD, UCSD, UCLA
University of Washington
University of Maryland, College Park
Penn State
USC
Wellesley
Smith
Scripps
Bryn Mawr
Barnard
Carnegie Mellon
Boston University
University of Pittsburgh (? don't know much about it)
Baylor University (?)</p>
<p>Anything else she should consider? Any ultra high reaches that she should take off to save app fee money?</p>
<p>If you’re instate for California, you’re unlikely to get your much financial aid from OOS publics like UMDCP and Penn State. What is her UC GPA? CSU GPA? She seems to like women’s colleges, so why isn’t Mount Holyoke on her list? It’s hard to say whats a reach, match, and safety for her with a tentative SAT score. Boston University sounds like a good choice to me. Maybe Scripps, too. I’m not sure about some of the others.</p>
<p>UC/CSU GPA (I believe they are the same) is a 3.92. We can definitely afford Penn State and most other out of state publics, although UMD was higher than expected - thanks!</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke seemed too far away from other universities and a large city (ideally, she’d be able to take a 15-30 public transport ride to one). Of course, we’ve never visited and might be totally off base.</p>
<p>Colleges in the Boston area to consider…
Bentley: Great Career Services. However, it’s mostly just Business majors.
Brandeis: Test Optional. Kind of Quirky/Nerdy. My friends love it there.
Northeastern: Great Career Services and Co-Op Experience.
Simmons: Women’s College. Might be a great “Safety” school. </p>
<p>The only other college in the NYC area I’d consider adding is Fordham. The Lincoln Center campus offers great internship opportunities for Business Majors.</p>
<p>Also, if your sister is at all interested in DC, I would consider adding AU or GWU to her list. </p>
<p>** I can’t comment on the affordability of these schools. You’d have to run a Net Price Calculator. **</p>
<p>@NCalRent 1900-2000 is where she’s at based on the PSAT and SAT practice tests. While she can’t make a definitive list yet, goal schools that fit her interests will help her plan out visits over breaks and (if the average SAT is much higher) give her something to work toward. Her GPA is pretty much set.</p>
<p>@flickgirl13 Thanks for the suggestion!</p>
<p>@foreverabeachbum That’s an amazing list! We’ve heard of most of them, but had no idea where they were in the US. Thank you :)</p>
<p>@Autumnal For what it’s worth re: Mount Holyoke… it’s part of the 5-college consortium with Amherst College, Smith, Hampshire and U Mass Amherst. It’s definitely not “too far away from other universities”. There is a free bus that connects all the campuses and towns and shopping, and students are constantly traversing the area. My D and her friends go to other campuses often. They take classes at other schools, go to parties there, study in other libraries, go shopping. She absolutely loves it there :)</p>