<p>I have started to prepare for my ACT, but I am doubting my self heavily as to whether or not I will make the leap to the 28-32 range, but will continue to try. But what schools are a good match for my stats and criteria.
Criteria:
-solid academics
-good grad school placement
-3000-7000 students
-stong econ, bio, and poli sci departments
-Not extremely liberal or conservative</p>
<p>Stats:
GPA: 3.9 uw (My school doesn't weight GPA's) toughest course load
Rank: Top 10%
Act: 25 <----I hope to raise this to the 30's range </p>
<p>APs: AP World History-3
To be taken:
AP Stats
AP Bio
AP English</p>
<p>EC's:
Track (9-12) 3 Letters
Cross Country(11-12)2 Letters
Soccer (9-10)
Swimming (11)Letter
Book Club
Model UN
Teen Court
NHS
Boy's State
Rotary Life Leadership Conference
100 hours community service
Link Crew
Active in church Youth Group
Student Council: Treas(10) Pres(11) Exec Pres(12)
Work 10-15 hrs/wk during sports, 15-20 w/o sports, and 35-40hrs/wk summer</p>
<p>Did you take the SAT? Most schools outside the midwest really prefer the SAT. </p>
<p>For political science, any school in Washington D.C. is great. I doubt a 25 would get you into Georgetown, but George Washington you'd probably get accepted at, though they have around 11k undergrads rather than the 3-7k you're looking for.</p>
<p>If you are looking at a 25 or 26 ACT, a number of the schools that have been suggested really don't fall in that category. Try American University, which is also in the Wash. DC area. Their middle ACT range is 25 to 29, which makes it a small stretch. Another possibility in Wash DC is Catholic University, with a range of 22-28. George Wash. also shows an ACT range of 25-29, although it's a school that's become increasingly competitive.</p>
<p>Brownorbust - With your excellent class rank and leadership ec's along with a 25-26 ACT you are already in a strong position. If you consider excellent liberal arts colleges in the Midwest a bit below your 3000 student criteria, you have an array of strong alternatives such as Kalamazoo College in Michigan, Denison University (almost in your range), College of Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, Allegheny College and Washington & Jefferson College in western Pennsylvania, Knox College and Illinois Wesleyan, Beloit College in Wisconsin, Depauw University in Indiana, etc. These schools would all be much more difficult to get into if they were in the Northeast.</p>
<p>Meeting your size criteria but farther afield are the University of Denver and University of Tulsa. Tulsa isa favorite of mine that meets all your criteria. Read any guidebook that comments on academic and social life (such as the Yale Daily News) and you will see what I mean </p>
<p>I second American U and Catholic U as top-notch prospects in D.C. along with Goucher College in suburban Baltimore.</p>
<p>Also, almost all colleges/universities accept the ACT on par with the SAT with only a few exceptions (such as Wake Forest). If your ACT scores happen to stay in the 25-26 range you will still be in excellent shape as noted by some of your choices above. Translation - don't be enamoured of the "name brand" schools (noted by an earlier poster) where you could be needlessly setting yourself up for disappointment. You are obviously a thoughtful, deliberate person who is asking some excellent college placement questions and I commend you for it.</p>
<p>Excellent list from Lonestar dad. Start looking seriously at the schools he mentioned. BTW, Denison (is there an echo in here?) gives a lot of merit aid, if you do get that ACT up into the thirties.</p>
<p>You also need to decide whether any Michigan state schools would suit you. Can't beat the price and convenience!</p>