Hello!
I am in the midst of the college application process, and it’s going okay so far. However, many of the colleges I’m applying to are very competitive, and I don’t feel as if I have enough match and safety schools. Based on my current list of colleges, can anyone give me some suggestions on schools that are respected and somewhat competitive but ones that I won’t have to stress as much as I have been about being accepted? Also, I’m pretty poor and won’t be able to pay much out of pocket, so please keep that in mind. If my stats help, here is a brief overview: 32 ACT, 4.0 UW / 4.7 W, rank #2, several leadership positions, lots of ECs, varsity football and track (not recruited) Thank you so much! Here are the schools I have/am applying to.
Brown University
Columbia University – applied ED
Cornell University
Duke University
Harvard University
Miami (OH) University
University of Miami (FL) – EA for Stamps Leadership Scholarship
University of Pennsylvania
USC
Washington University in St. Louis
Yale University
PS: I have already been accepted to two state schools, but they are state schools and preferably, I want to go somewhere a little more competitive if none of the schools on my list work out.
Our state schools were the safeties because of chance of getting in and that they give good aid in our state. A safety that doesn’t give good aid doesn’t help you. Somewhere a little more competitive doesn’t rule out state schools where the top 25% are strong it will be just like a competitive school if it has an honors college so much the better. A competitive school just isn’t a safety.
Major is either computer science, maybe finance if it’s a reputable business school.
Right, I forgot to mention that the state schools I applied to gave me full tuition scholarships and I intend to have a couple of outside scholarships that will make it affordable to go to either two if need be. But do you have any suggestions on top-tier state schools?
I think you are a little light on matches as well. Take a look at Emory.
Take a look at Lafayette, Bucknell, Union, Lehigh, Trinity (TX), and possibly Case Western for safe matches. Wesleyan as a more selective match. Your list is all over the place, so it’s hard to get a feel for what you’re looking for.
You may want to consider replacing a couple of your reachier schools with with a slightly less selective university such as Rice, Boston College, or Tufts.
If you’re a National Merit (Semi-)Finalist, check out the NMF scholarships.
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com
Only UNC Chapel Hill and UVA guarantee to meet the full financial need of out-of-state students. Michigan has upped its game, however, so run the EFC calculator to see if it’s affordable.
Safeties will probably have to come from this list at http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ .
What state schools did you apply to?
I think that you’ve naively concluded that you won’t be challenged adequately in eng’g/CS at a state school. That is so wrong, especially if it’s a flagship or similar. Eng’g/CS is tough, and the best students are in that dept. The weaker ones get weeded out very quickly.
Your stats are very good, but your test score would be near the bottom of the upper quartile at my state’s flagship. Don’t dismiss state schools.
You say that you’re “pretty poor.” Do you have a non custodial parent? Can you pay anything out of pocket? Do you plan on working/saving over the summer?
You mentioned that your safeties will give you free tuition. how will you pay for room, board, books, fees, transportation, etc.
@warblersrule Are my chances better at those small liberal arts schools you’ve mentioned? And I have looked at Rice and BC but felt like my chances were as low as some of the other schools on my list, which is why I didn’t apply. Also, I have family in Charlotte (not close, but relatively small distance), so UNC has been an option, but once again, I’ve felt like my chances there are as low as some other places I’m already applying to. Correct me if I’m wrong.
@mom2collegekids I applied to Mizzou and U of Alabama. I know that the CS programs at both are adequately challenging enough, of course. I don’t want to say that I’m above certain schools. However, the problem lies with the other factors, such as the size and the environment. I don’t want such a huge school. Somewhere in the middle-size would fit me better. Also, I do plan to work and save over summer, and I won’t be able to pay too much out of pocket. However, I did mention that I am expecting several outside scholarships that I plan to use for room, board, etc. That’s also the reason I’ve chosen schools that meet full need.
“Meet full need” schools tend to be selective enough to be non-safeties for all or most applicants. Also, the definition of “need” varies – have you checked their net price calculators?
It’s too bad that you missed priority application deadlines for some colleges like Tulane, where you might have qualified for a generous merit scholarship. Try Temple; they might give you a very generous scholarship, and I’d say they’re an academic safety for you.
I’d like to suggest Pace University (NYC campus) as a safety. It’s in a prime location of Manhattan, similar to your ED school. It has an excellent business department which is actually something the school’s known for. It’s also known for giving significant financial aid and scholarships - in your case, you could probably qualify for full or close to full tuition scholarships. And, best of all, they have a very competitive honors college with tons of excellent benefits. Something most honors kids at Pace NYC will tell you is that they were accepted to NYU or even Columbia, but chose Pace because it was in the same area, but so much cheaper.
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don’t want such a huge school.
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@javaislife I understand. The good thing is that often big schools are laid out in such a way that a student can pretty much stay in one area of the campus because the academic buildings of the major are clustered together. At Alabama, the classes for Gen Ed classes are mostly held in buildings that surround the Quad.