<p>OK, my list is way too long, and I need to cut it down. Applications are so LONG!
old SAT: 800 M,760V
new SAT: 800 M, 800 CR, 770 W
SAT II: 800 bio, 800 Math IIC, 780 Chem, 760 Writ
GPA: 6.0 w (5.25 cumulative), 4.0 uw. Very competitive public school. All IB/AP classes Junior year and senior year.
ECs: Eagle Scout, president of a couple major clubs, marching band, ~600 hrs community service, NC Governor's school, summer biomedical research at ECU, and a few others. </p>
<p>I'm looking for medium-sized schools (3-8000) with good biology and classics/near eastern studies/archaeology programs. I'd prefer the "intellectual" feel rather than a super-active social scene. I have:</p>
<p>Brown
Penn
Yale
Cornell
Columbia
Chicago
John Hopkins
Duke (not really sure I want to go there, but good school instate)
UNC-CH (safety)</p>
<p>Also, it seems my list is extremely top-heavy. Any safeties/matches? Or any thoughts at all?</p>
<p>All of those schools are high reaches for anyone. UNC-CH can never be a safety even in-state. I say it is a great match for you, not really a SURE safety.</p>
<p>Take out Duke if you wouldn't want to go there. After that, leave the list alone. Applying to around 8 schools is pretty much standard when you about ones at the high end of the selectivity spectrum.</p>
<p>Chapel Hill has more than 8000 students, but I know a lot of people there, so it's not really the same thing. Their classes aren't really that big either. </p>
<p>Do I need another safety, though? I was kind of counting on Carolina, but can I? :confused:</p>
<p>^^^ You have like 2000 schools that would fit your criteria. And would be a safety. Pick one. You would need about two, because you cannot ever count on the ivies to accept you. And don't just pick some random safety. Like it, please. I know too many people who whine about going to a "sucky safety"...and I just want to yell "THEN YOU SHOULDNT HAVE PICKED IT THEN!".</p>
<p>But, seriously. Just pick a college. You're probably getting so much mail right now. Sift through it.</p>
<p>Almost every person who applies to these schools is amazing (perfect scores, perfect grades). Ok so Duke is out? Now then, why don't you put a good match/safety in its place? Maybe a UC (not UCB lol) or UT Austin (perfect!).</p>
<p>Drop Chicago. You can get what you want closer to home.
Drop UNC (unless money is a factor).
Hopkins and Cornell will be your safeties.
How important is the size of the school?
How important is it to be near/in a big city?
Nine colleges is actually not too many. The list is not top-heavy for you.
That is a pretty eclectic list of interests. Indiana Jones, M.D.</p>
<p>I'm hesitant to drop Chicago because it has the best ancient studies program in the U.S., as well as a good biology program. It's also the one I liked the most. I planned to apply EA, and my essay is pretty much done. </p>
<p>The size of the school isn't terribly important, but I don't want a LAC or a really large public. </p>
<p>I'd definitely prefer to be in/near a city. I've lived in the "country" for 17 years, and I'm tired of it. </p>
<p>Diverse interests, yes. Unfortunately, archaeology is not exactly a booming field, so I need a career that's a little more practical!</p>
<p>Almost all top schools are "good" at biology. Don't choose on those factors. Much of the intellectualism I believe you seek is prevelant at liberal arts schools. If a banging social scene isnt your cup of tea I recommend at least considering a place like Swarthmore. As for your current list, here's my two cents:</p>
<p>Big Reach:
Yale - Must keep
Maybe add Harvard</p>
<p>Moderate Reaches/ matches:
Brown - Must keep it, intellectual, great size, great undergrad education
Penn - Big and not incredibly intellectual. Potential drop.
Columbia - Keep it
Duke - Drop it</p>
<p>Semi-Reach/ Matches
Cornell - Drop it. Its big and institutional compared to the others
Chicago - Keep It
John Hopkins - Not incredibly intellectual, its split between jocks and quiet academics. Doesnt quite have the "liberal arts" intellectualism of a place like Brown. I would personally drop it.</p>
<p>Safety:
UNC-CH (safety) - Keep it. Great school for a great price.</p>
<p>Chicago is great for what you stated you wanted. The undergrad population is about 4300 and is fairly self-contained. Grad population of about 8 or 9,000.</p>
<p>I like Slipper's advice, totally agree. Also Chicago is awesome I think it is a great program. The classes are the smallest I've heard of almost --18 is usual and 22 is often max. Discussion style. I also think that it's a good idea to go away from home a bit if you have the opportunity. </p>
<p>Duke instate doesn't mean anything, it's a private school so doesn't matter instate or not, right? Unless it's like Stanford, where lots are accepted instate but the pool is larger and it can be tough. Keep UNC-CH as it is likely safety for you. But you might think about how you will feel if by some fluke you don't get into anywhere else, and see if you'd rather add another match or safety.</p>
<p>The OP has near-perfect SAT and gpa, good ECs, and prefers an intellectual feel, not a super-active social scene. UNC does not make it into the safety category for this person (unless there is an important money factor). For this person, UNC has SATs 100 points too low, 15% too many students below top 10% rank, and a grad rate that is 10-20% too low. It does not have the intellectual culture the OP seeks.</p>
<p>True, maybe Duke would be a candidate for elimination before Chicago.</p>
<p>U Chicago has an excellent Near Eastern Civilizations program but so do Princeton, Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Columbia. There are Ancient Studies/Archaeology majors at Dartmouth, Wesleyan, Yale, U Penn. If you HAVE to eliminate some, then maybe eliminate Chicago on the basis of distance from home. If distance is not a deciding factor for the OP, then Chicago would be a keeper.</p>