Help a Texas resident find some match schools?

College Search & Selection
1

Hello all! I’m developing my college list, and I’ve found my reach schools (USC, Tulane), and my safety TAMU (with my ACT score I’m guaranteed a spot). But the thing is, i don’t feel very confident about my reaches, and although I recognize TAMU to be a good school, I just don’t really like the atmosphere. Can you guys help me find some matches?

My parents can pay for $35,000, and I jab no geographic preference, I just care about a good education. Also, do you think I can get into Tulane?

Intended Major - Philosophy ( And then law school)

3.8 GPA
Hispanic URM (Argentinian)
11th Grade
Male
Texas Resident

Work History
• Currently working as a lifeguard
• Swim instructor for kids aging 4-11
• Don’t know if this counts, but I helped my father do some paralegal work last summer, I was mainly an accountant.

Skills
• Fluent in Spanish (speak it at home) and currently in French III, plan to continue in college
• Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Leadership, public speaking, communication
• Linux and other computer skills (can pretty much trouble shoot any computer problem, am well known for fixing various operating system problems that usually require more expertise)
• Currently developing my own Linux distribution (mainly as a side project, Linux is a hobby of mine)
• Have been told by my English teachers that I am a good writer (it has improved tremendously since I took the SAT)
• A very good interviewee
• A very well rounder reader

Awards and Achievements ( I know, not so good here)
• Superintendent Scholar 2013-2016
• National Honor Society
• National English Honor Society
• 1870 SAT (first try last year, recently retook and felt very confident)
• 31 ACT (English - 31, Math - 29, Reading - 34, Science - 31)
• Captain of varsity swim team (I have been a member of varsity swim for all 4 years)
• In the top 7.8% of my class

Courses -
• AP Physics I (junior)
• AP Human Geography (sophomore)
• Dual Credit English (junior)
• Dual Credit Precalculus
• Dual Credit Statistics (senior)
• Dual Credit Government (senior)
• Dual Credit Economics (senior)
• Forensic Sciences (junior)
• French I, II, and III (fresh,soph, junior)
• Dual Credit Computer Science (senior)
• Dual Credit English 221 (senior)
• Dual Credit English (232 possibly, not sure what I’ll take in the spring)

2

Hispanic male from the south/southwest should look East.

3

Rather than TAMU, which is best for stem, apply to UT.
Add: Bowdoin, Colby, Dickinson, Middlebury, Hamilton, American, Macalester, Davidson, Fordham, NYU (worth a shot for philosophy but be aware their financial aid is very bad, except for a handful of lucky few, so be ready mentally to walk away even if they admit you) As a reach, Georgetown.
Are you registered for subject tests? Try to - possibilities : French, Us history or world ?English literature should be easy due to your background and you should be able to handle math 2. If you feel you can handle 3 you’re good to go.

4

Look at Northeastern, GWU and UMiami.

5

@MYOS1634 thank you for your reply! I am actually registered to take subject tests for Lit, French, and World History, and I am seriously considering UT as a match. However, aren’t Bowdoin and Middlebury reaches for me? Is philosophy a not-so-popular major, and if so, does this help me?

6

I wouldn’t recommend Neu for philosophy…
UMiami = OP’s urm status would likely be quite mitigated there, unlike the rest of the south, the northeast, and the Midwest.
What about Uchicago as a reach?

7

Also, for Philosophy, check out other Catholic universities such as Notre Dame, Boston College and Villanova.

8

Yes, Middlebury and Bowdoin are reaches but you’ll have three hooks for you: male, varsity captain, urm. Plus one nice boost : philosophy.
Apply Ed to one of these and your odds increase even more.

9

I would add Bates, Colgate and Hamilton as reaches and Holy Cross as a solid match. The first three are reaches but they are smart risks for you and a good use of your time and energy.

Another solid match would be Lafayette College.

You have a great demographic for the Northeast and gender is a boost too.

10

Thank you all for your replies! My parents want me to decide where I am going to apply ED, and I was thinking either UChicago or Cornell. What do you guys think?

11

Take a good look at UT Dallas!

12

Uchicago if you find the essays fun to write.
I’d pick Bowdoin over Cornell for your profile.

13

What kind of atmosphere do you like? What appeals to you about Tulane and USC that you might be able to find at a match school?

14

Given your financial limits don’t apply ED. No reason to.

You should apply to reaches where your demographic is an asset. Cornell it is certainly not.

15

The reason for which I like USC and Tulane is because, according to the common data set, my ACT score places me in the 50th percentile, and furthermore, both have strong Law Schools. I agree with the poster above stating that Cornell may not be the place for me, it was quite silly of me to ever think that. UChicago seems like a wonderful place, and I’d love to attend, but I feel as if my application is a bit lacking compared to some of the students attending. Does UChicago have ED? USC is my top choice for “realistic possibilities”, (at least I believe it to be a place where I could be admitted, although I know it is very selective), and I was a bit let down when I saw that they didn’t have ED. However, if I got into any of my reach colleges, I’d go there in a heartbeat over USC.

16

How much would my chances improve if I applied to UChicago ED?

17

OK, if you don’t see how 'fit’is different at uchicago and usc, and think only in terms of GPA /scores, time for you to buy or borrow Princeton Review 's best colleges, Fisk guide, etc. It’ll help you craft your list and write better admissions essays.

18

Well I understand that the fit is different for both colleges, and I believe that USC is still a reach for me. I was simply saying that based on ACT scores alone, I think I’d have a better shot at USC that UChicago. Pardon me for my ignorance on the subject.

19

No pardoning needed - get the books and start reading.

20

You have virtually no chance at U of Chicago. You are well below average in the ACT and in the bottom 25% with an admit rate of 9% on average. Not a good use of your time.

USC is more realistic. Your are in the middle 50%.

The schools in the Northeast that have been mentioned are better applications for you given your profile and stats. You could possibly overcome the low admit rates because you are coming from Texas and your demographic is for lack of a better phrase, in demand, at the small elite schools in the Northeast.