(This is kind of a long post, apologies in advance!)
Hi guys! I’m a senior about to start applying to colleges soon and I’m having a lot of trouble trying to decide where to apply and what majors to consider when choosing a school, because I’m not really sure what my chances are of getting in to a number of schools. I’m also on the fence deciding whether I should retake the ACT & SAT.
Just some background about myself: I live in Michigan and have always been a pretty decent student. I got a 35 composite score the first and only time I took the ACT (state testing earlier this year), and I also took the SAT I for the first time in May and got a 2170 composite.
I currently have a 3.9 GPA and have also been pursuing a rigorous college prep course track in school with plenty of AP classes:
Sophomore Year:
AP Biology - 5
AP Chemistry - 4
AP U.S. History - 5
Junior Year:
AP Calculus AB - 5
AP English Language & Composition - 4
AP Physics C: Mechanics - 4
AP Psychology - 5
AP U.S. Government & Politics - 5
I’m also scheduled for all 7 of my classes this year to be APs:
Calculus BC
Comparative Government & Politics
Economics (Our course covers both macro and micro)
English Literature & Composition
European History
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
Statistics
This is all for a total of 15 AP classes and 16 AP tests over the course of my high school career.
I’m also involved in plenty of extracurriculars. I helped start a FIRST Robotics team at my school my freshman year and have been the team captain since my sophomore year. I’m in National Honor Society and a couple sports (swimming, track, and this year, possibly cross country). I also did marching band for the first three years, but that’s nothing too special.
Practically speaking, I’m more or less on my own paying for college, as money is very tight for my family due to some financial issues, and given the current student loan “crisis,” I’d rather stay out of those too, so scholarships and financial aid are looking like the way I’d like to go. However, I’m a white male, and my dad makes a little over $100k a year by working a lot of OT, so I’m doubtful I’d be able to get much aid. If anyone could shed some light on the realities of this for me, I’d be thankful.
I have a couple other questions I’m looking for advice on.
I’m trying to put together a list of what schools I should apply to. Right now, I’m looking at some good regional universities like U-Mich, Ohio State, and Purdue, and I’m also in the process of applying to the Naval Academy, West Point, and the Air Force Academy at my brother’s recommendation (he’s enlisted in the Navy). A couple of relatives have encouraged me to try applying to some Ivy League and upper-tier schools like Harvard, MIT, and Caltech, but my parents seem to believe I wouldn’t have a very good chance of getting in. I myself have no idea what to think, and I’m looking for advice on where I should apply given my academics and interests. Any suggestions for places to apply are also welcome!
Next, I’m trying to decide what major I should pursue in college. I realize a lot of schools don’t make you choose a major until the end of your freshman year, but I’d like to at least have a good idea so I can shop around for the best school, so to speak. Right now, I have pretty much equal interest in either some form of engineering (I was thinking maybe aerospace, electrical, or something computer-oriented - maybe a CS:CE double major?), or law, med, political science, or actuarial science. I believe I have the skill set and drive to be successful in whatever field I choose (perhaps I’m mistaken), but I haven’t really had a whole lot of experience or exposure to anything other than some engineering through robotics. Any advice on choosing a major would also be extremely helpful.
Lastly, I’m also considering retaking the ACT and SAT to get better scores, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it this late in the game, so to speak. I’d like to get back into the swing of things with school before I retake them, that way I’m fresh, so I’d basically have to take it in September to get the scores back in time for applications. Again, any advice is welcome.
That’s basically it. I’d be extremely appreciative of any and all advice or help. Sorry again for the long post, and thanks for reading!