Help choosing matches and realistic reaches

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello all :) I've already decided on some dream schools that I want to apply to this fall. Said schools include:</p>

<p>University of Chicago
Columbia University
Harvard University
Georgetown School of Foreign Service
Johns Hopkins
Claremont McKenna
Amherst
Northwestern
Macalester College</p>

<p>I've pretty much accepted that all of these school's will be high/impossible reaches for me, so I'd like your help choosing some match schools, as well as some more realistic reaches. I'll post my stats below. Thanks for all the help!</p>

<p>Gender: M
Ethnicity: Alaskan Indian and Filipino
Location: Puget Sound, WA
College Class Year: 2014
High School: Public
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA - Unweighted: 3.97
Class Rank: top 10%
Most rigorous courseload</p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>SAT I Math: 680
SAT I Critical Reading: 800
SAT I Writing: 800</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Vocal Jazz Ensemble
-10th-11th
Men's Choir
-10th-11th
Concert Choir
-11th
Service Chamber Ensemble
-10th-11th
Drama
-9th-11th
-13-25 hours of rehearsal per week</p>

<p>Leadership positions: </p>

<p>Tri-M Music Honor Society
-10th-11th
-Treasurer
Random Acts of Kindness Club
-11th
-Secretary
National Honor Society
-11th
-Secretary
Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council
-12th (was appointed recently, bulk of work will be done this summer and throughout next year)</p>

<p>Volunteer/Service Work: </p>

<p>Raven Crew (Freshman Orientation Program)
-10th-11th
National Honor Society
-10th-11th
Dream Academy Inc. Mentor Program
-9th</p>

<p>Honors and Awards: </p>

<p>-Most Outstanding Junior, Class 2010
-Winner of Washington State Trial Lawyers Association essay contest
-American Legion Samsung Scholar</p>

<p>Summer:
10th
-Biotech study program at community college</p>

<p>11th
-Biotech lab internship at community college
-Evergreen Boys State</p>

<p>I realize that my extracurriculars and awards are pretty weak, but I appreciate your time and assistance :) Thanks again!</p>

2

<p>I certainly don’t think all the colleges you listed are huge reaches for you - Macalester, and to a smaller extent Chicago and Northwestern, are high matches (Mac’s a match). You have a good chance at getting into all of them, but that’s still a big list of reaches, some of which are quite different from each other. Can you tell us, in 2-3 sentences per school, what you like about each school? That’ll help give us a better idea about what schools to recommend.</p>

3

<p>What do you want to major in?</p>

4

<p>I want to major in international relations. I also hope to study a bit of biology (possibly a minor?). As for my interest in each school . . .</p>

<p>University of Chicago- Above all else, I love the quirk that envelopes UoC. I also like the school’s reputation for tough academics.</p>

<p>Columbia University- The campus is beautiful and you simply cannot beat the location. Beyond that, I think the Core would help to unify the student body, and New York would be a great setting for internships.</p>

<p>Harvard University- Three words: grad school placement. And you can’t beat the resources.</p>

<p>Georgetown School of Foreign Service- Amazing international relations program that offers a great degree of personalization. DC would open up a lot of internship possibilities.</p>

<p>Johns Hopkins- Placement into SAIS.</p>

<p>Claremont McKenna- Reputation for international relations</p>

<p>Amherst- most graduate possibilities/grad school placement</p>

5

<p>Honestly, if you identify yourself as Alaskan (I think that technically counts as Native American), you have an excellent chance at all of your choices, even Harvard. Do you, however, have SAT2s?</p>

6

<p>“I realize that my extracurriculars and awards are pretty weak”</p>

<p>Every time I read something like that on CC, it brings me one step closer to suicide.</p>

<p>Also, I’m planning to major in Engineering, so I wouldn’t know any good matches for you.</p>

7

<p>monstor344:
Got a 690 in US in May. Taking US again along with Lit and Chem in October. I had hoped to get through the subjects tests earlier, but as I’m applying to UoC and Georgetown early action, I figured it was more important to get my SAT I scores up as neither of those schools require subject tests.</p>

<p>As for my Alaskan heritage, I posted it here because ultimately it is relevant in the admissions process. It is not, however, something I’d feel comfortable banking on, which is why I’ve always tried to make myself as competitive as possible without regard to race.</p>

<p>Skywalker:</p>

<p>Judging by your past posts, our ECs are very similar; lots of emphasis on music with a few leadership positions. To give my comment some context, I meant that my ECs were weak in comparison with the all too abundant triple-varsity, national debate, Intel prize posters on this site :P</p>

8

<p>Make sure you consider a safety as well. One option is American U. I believe their Int’l Studies major is considered good and they offer a Bio minor. UW would probably also be a good safety since you’re in-state though I don’t know about their Int’l Studies program.</p>

9

<p>look at tufts for international relations. apparently were good at that. it wouldn’t be a reach for you I don’t think.</p>

10

<p>Of course you don’t want to count on your Alaskan heritage as an admissions hook, but you still might want to give Dartmouth an extra look. Though it’s a reach for everyone, they do have a special commitment to Native American students.</p>

<p>According to an article on Wikipedia, “Since [1970], Dartmouth has graduated over 500 Native American students from over 120 different tribes, more than the other seven Ivy League universities combined.”</p>

11

<p>Hmm . . . Tufts looks like a real possibility. I will definitely look into it!</p>

12

<p>Holy Cross(near Boston) and Bowdoin.</p>

13

<p>Definitely look at Dartmouth… I’ve heard of a few Native American miracle admissions, and your stats are much higher.</p>

<p>Also, I know this is not what you probably want to hear, but… all your schools are possible, but you could REALLY boost your chances by raising your math SAT a few points… 700+ usually helps a lot, and you’re only a few points away… very possible.</p>

<p>And if you’re interested in Boston, also keep Boston College in mind. Great school in Boston area, somewhat similar to Tufts (but prettier campus, IMO).</p>

14

<p>If you are interested in a quirky student body, apply to Rice. Rice is kinda of like a more balanced version of UChicago: intense academics and quirky students, but with awesome quality of life. Rice would probably a high match for you; even though it is a very difficult school to get into (similar in selectivity to Northwestern and UChicago), the Rice admissions people LOVE geographical and ethnic diversity. Plus, although we are known as a science/engineering school, our Policy Studies program, where you can specialize in international relations, is very good because of the presence of the Baker Center for Public Policy.</p>

15

<p>kdmom, thats because unlike the other Ivies, with Protestant or Quaker foundings, Dartmouth was originally formed in 1769 to educate Native Americans</p>

16

<p>I’ve heard great things about both Bowdoin and Dartmouth. I’ll look into both schools.</p>

<p>Savs: No worries. I’d much rather receive realistic, helpful advice than sugarcoated nonsense. I will consider my SAT I options once I’ve taken the subject tests.</p>

<p>slik nik: I actually went to a Rice presentation a few months ago. It really sounded great; everything from the academic opportunities to the social scene seemed superb. And then a sun-filled picture of a volleyball match came on screen. The picture was taken in February. </p>

<p>The school itself is great, but I’m not sure I could cope with the environment. :stuck_out_tongue: I like my cold winters and low temperatures.</p>