<p>What I'm looking for in a college:
good engineering program balanced with liberal arts
urban location or near a city
small or nonexistent greek life
students are friendly, diverse, not overly preppy or cliquey
does not have a completely open curriculum, a core would be good
size- ideally 5000 but willing to go from 3000 to 15000
students are focused on academics (not a party school) but they still<br>
have some social life and are balanced
workload is challenging but not crazy impossible
ideally located within a reasonable driving distance from Connecticut</p>
<p>Me:
gender: female
major: Chemical Engineering
SAT: 730 CR, 730 M, 740 W
Eng Lit: 720
Math II: 710 (retaking)
will take Chem subject test
rank: 2/250
gpa: 3.9ish, all As
most demanding courseload all honors or AP
ecs: good/ok, not amazing</p>
<p>Here's my list so far:</p>
<pre><code>definitely applying to:
Columbia
Tufts
University of Rochester
UConn (safety)
considering:
Carnegie Mellon
Johns Hopkins
University of Pennsylvania
Washington University in St. Louis
Rice
</code></pre>
<p>It seems like I have too many reaches/ high matches. If anyone could eliminate some of the schools on my list or give me some more schools to consider (especially safer ones) I'd really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Syracuse could be a good safety option. It does have a number of parties, but I wouldn't say that it's too bad. And overall, it offers a better education than most safety schools. </p>
<p>Except for the east coast factor, I think Rice and Wash U fit most of your criteria. You should really look into these schools and see what you think.</p>
<p>The male/female applicant ratio at CMU for engineering is much more heavily weighted towards male, so that would definitely give you a boost if you choose to apply there, but it's not nearly as social or relaxed a school as at Rice and Wash U.</p>
<p>If you'd consider all female, and on the lower end size-wise, take a look at Smith (and the all-female thing is cut down quite a bit by the Five College Consortium). And perhaps it's too small, but you might look at Union College in Schenectady as well.</p>
<p>I agree with Smith being a possibility. Other than the east coast thing, Harvey Mudd seems to fit a lot of your criteria. The five college consortium in Claremont offers the resources of lac's and the engineering is top notch. Olin College, just outside of Boston, might be too small and would probably be a reach. However, it offers cross-registration with Wellesley, Brandeis, and Babson, plus tuition is free. Otherwise, it seems to fit a lot of your criteria as well. Maybe Cooper Union as well (same deal with tuition)?</p>
<p>Eliminate?<br>
It doesnt sound as though Penn has the student body and social scene youre looking for.</p>
<p>Safer schools?<br>
U Rochester seems an excellent fit to those criteria youve laid out and should be quite safe with your stats as a female engineering prospie. CMU should be a low match, though its a place that you should visit lots of extreme reactions typically seen, in both directions. U Conn is certainly a safety.<br>
I really dont think you need add anything more. Nothing truly safe really fits your multiple requirements. Maryland (a drive) and Wisconsin (not a drive) could be considered both strong engineering programs but much larger and somewhat Greeker than you prefer.</p>
<p>Rice, unfortunately not quite next door to CT., really does seem to fit your bill perfectly. Youd probably love their residential college system, it sits surrounded by a major city, has excellent engineering cred, and will be expanding to around 3600 students over the next few years.</p>
<p>Hopkins is another solid choice but Greeks are to be found. Although not present in overwhelming numbers, they are responsible for a lot of campus night life. The immediate surrounding area is quite dead, though Baltimores offerings (both good and bad) lay a short ride away. Balanced enough social life?</p>
<p>Id suggest you consider adding Brown. It would seem a good fit. Engineering certainly not their strength but overall academics are certainly excellent and the student body is a very happy one. Admission there is consistently very tough though selection almost unpredictably random. But they have been aggressively recruiting women in the sciences and especially engineering. Id give it some thought.</p>
<p>I would also suggest Cornell. Cornell does have frats, but the school is diverse enough that you will find students who would never step inside a frat, and they all gravitate to the smaller, quieter, cozier West Campus after their first year. Cornellians also pride themselves on their balance-- they work hard-- arguably harder, on average, than any other school in the Ivy League-- and still have fun. Cornell also prides itself on its engineering-- there are lots of engineering and sciences people around. If you're a science person, it's a really exciting place.</p>
<p>I immediately thought Columbia (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences) before reading your choices. It sounds ideal. Hopkins sounds like a good choice, also. How about another choice in Boston- Northeastern. It should be a safety for you.</p>
<p>Thanks guys for all your suggestions. You've given me some great schools to consider and have reaffirmed my thoughts on the schools from my list.</p>