Help Expanding College List?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I am now a rising senior in high school and I really need to expand my college list. I'm not sure where to look or visit, because I'm not sure what I can reach for or target. Thank you for looking at all of this in advance!</p>

<p>Location: New York
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Aspiring Major: Animal Science/Biology</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0
ACT: 30 composite
(I'm taking the ACT again in 2 weeks and again in September in necessary to get it higher)
Classes: 6 APs (Biology, Calc AB, and Art History as a junior | English Lit, Human Geography, and Spanish as a senior), a bunch of honors - I take all the APs and Honors my school offers
Rank: 1/30 if that says anything lol</p>

<p>Awards:
National Latin Exam Award - Summa Cum Laude - 3 years in a row
Service Award</p>

<p>ECs (grades):
Varsity Crew (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) - captain
Newspaper (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) - leadership in 11 and 12
Earth Committee (9, 10, 11)
Animal Rights Club (11, 12) - head
Women's Health Club (9, 10, 11, 12) - head
GSA Club (10, 11, 12)
Friendship Circle volunteer (working with kids with down syndrome/autism/etc) (grades 11, 12)</p>

<p>Volunteering/Internships:
Volunteer/internship at animal shelter (9, 10, 11, 12)
Volunteer walking dogs/caring for pets for senior citizens weekly (grades 10, 11, 12)
Internship @ MSPCA (animal shelter) - (11)
Summer Program @ Cornell Summer College (12)</p>

<p>So, I'm not sure where to look and expand my list. So far, I have Cornell (ED, top choice :x ), Tufts, Northeastern, and then I really don't know. I visited a bunch of others, but they're all ivies and I don't know if I have a chance. The only hook that I have is at Harvard (double legacy), but I doubt I could get in either way. My uncle is also a professor at Penn (voted #1 teacher) and went to Cornell med school, if that does anything?</p>

<p>Any suggestions on where to look/chances at ones I've listed?</p>

<p>THANK YOU</p>

2

<p>Have you taken the SAT? I would if I were you- not that your ACT is bad, but a couple points higher or equivalent SAT would really open new doors for you. What about SAT IIs? And what were your scores on the AP tests you’ve already taken? All that information is important. To have a real chance at Cornell- you’ll need those higher test scores.</p>

<p>What type of school are you interested in size wise, location (East Coast v West Coast, city/suburban/country), liberal arts schools or universities? Plan for grad school, law or med school?</p>

<p>Price restrictions?</p>

<p>If you can give me some more information then I can make more helpful suggestions. Remember there are thousands of colleges in the US</p>

3

<p>@SummerAus - Thanks for responding. I haven’t tried the SAT, but I did take the PSAT (got a 199). I think I’m better suited for the ACT, as I don’t do well with the SAT’s different style and such. I am really trying to improve my ACT, and if anything, I will hardcore study over the summer to improve at least 1 or 2 points in my composite.</p>

<p>I took the Math II subject test and got a 680 (didn’t study). I’m taking Biology in the fall, and I’ll retake the math. Though I guess I’m looking for schools who will take just the ACT+writing and no SAT IIs (I’ll be applying to CALS at Cornell which doesn’t require subject tests). I haven’t gotten my AP scores yet, since I took them this year and they are released in July.</p>

<p>I really don’t have a preference size wise. I’m interested in Cornell, which is on the larger side, and also Tufts, on the smaller side in comparison. </p>

<p>I do want to stay East though. So, I’m interested in anything in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast region. I don’t have price restrictions or preference of liberal arts vs. not. Not too big or too small. I likely plan to go to vet school, so a major in biology or animal science would be good. </p>

<p>Thanks so much :)</p>

4

<p>A women’s college would provide a wonderful environment for a STEM major. Admissions are actually possible (unlike at Harvard etc) but don’t let the fogires fool you, you will get a fantastic education at a well-regarded school if you attend Smtih, Mt Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Barnard or Wellesley (the last 2 are toughest admits).</p>

5

<p>Check out Auburn University. They are very strong in vet sciences/animal studies.</p>

6

<p>You can major in bio at almost any school. Vet school is expensive, so while you think price isn’t an issue (assuming your parents are paying), they might pony up some for vet school if you keep your undergrad costs down. Another vote here for Mount Holyoke. You might check out Dickinson, too. Your test scores (so far) are not up to snuff for Cornell, Penn, or Harvard, in my opinion. </p>

7

<p>@SpaceCoastMom‌ </p>

<p>This poster seems to be very liberal (judging from the extracurriculars). I am not sure that one of the most Conservative major universities in the country would be what she would want. She also said that she wants to stay in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. If she were open to a more Conservative environment in the South, then it would be worth a look (along with a few others).</p>

8

<p>I think Emory could be a good low reach/match for you. It’s probably a bit further south than you were thinking but I think it could be worth a look. George Washington would probably be a good match school- you MAY even get merit aid although that is never a certainty. Fordham would be a good low match, although I don’t know if that’s too close to home? Liberal arts schools around the Gettysburg/Connecticut College level of selectivity could work for you-Smith sounds like a great college if you are open to a women’s school. Maybe Bucknell or Lafayette. Georgetown is another university option - it would be a reach but far from impossible.</p>

9

<p>Your GPA/activities are very good but the ACT might be a touch low for the Ivys – worth a try ED at Cornell for sure. Maybe add in a few schools like URochester, Brandeis, SUNY Binghamton, Lehigh, Fordham etc.</p>

10

<p>Take a look at Muhlenberg. Great biology program and an impressive % of students going into medical schools. A great mix of students… it might be worth a look. Best of luck to you! </p>

11

<p>Your legacy will hurt you when not applying to Harvard. They will see privilege and automatically expect a lot more from you. It will make admissions a bit harder.</p>

12

<p>@AnnieBeats Really? You mean when applying to schools that aren’t Harvard, they’ll expect more of me because my dad went? My dad is significantly older than the typical junior’s parents, but that’s slightly irritating. </p>

13

<p>I don’t think that is true at all. No more than if the parents went to any other well regarded college – the fact that they ARE both college educated means the OP doesn’t get the ‘first generation’ tick. But the mere fact that the parents attended H will not matter in the least. Don’t worry about it, OP.</p>

14

<p>@hopefulrm @intparent It is true. Colleges see privilege and don’t like that. Here’s a video from Amherst’s decision room: <a href=“College Admissions: Inside the Decision Room - YouTube”>College Admissions: Inside the Decision Room - YouTube;

15

<p>For animal science why would you go to any place but a land grant school with a strong school of agriculture? For example, take a look at this: <a href=“http://www.ansci.wisc.edu/”>http://www.ansci.wisc.edu/&lt;/a&gt; or this: <a href=“http://animalsciences.rutgers.edu/”>http://animalsciences.rutgers.edu/&lt;/a&gt;; or this: <a href=“404 Error”>http://www.cobleskill.edu/academics/schools/agriculture-and-natural-resources/plant-science/animal-science-bs.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>The University of New Hampshire has degree programs in animal science and zoology. The University of Florida has the following programs: Wildlife and Animal Behavior:
Animal Sciences (Agricultural and Life Sciences)*
Entomology and Nematology (Agricultural and Life Sciences)*
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (Agricultural and Life Sciences)
Zoology (Liberal Arts and Sciences)</p>