<p>I'm a junior right now and it seems the time for me to start my college applications is fast approaching. I have a preliminary list of colleges I'm thinking about applying to, but I would like to perhaps narrow it down or see if there are other colleges I should think about applying to. If you guys have any input (experiences you've had with these schools, tips for getting in, other schools I should consider, etc, etc) please share! Thanks!</p>
<p>Info about myself
-Asian
-Illinois resident
-I have taken the ACT once so far (will be taking it again in April) and received a 35 (35 on all sections except Science (36) and got a 9 for writing)
-Have not taken the SAT yet (but I have taking numerous official practice SATs (from the blue book) and I've always been in the 2300s or 2400)
-Planning to take SAT math II and SAT US History and SAT biology (eco)
-GPA of 4.64 weighted (4.0 max regular classes, 5.0 max AP or Honors classes) and unweighted GPA of 4.0
-Volunteer regularly at a therapy horse barn and am member for Rotary Interact Club
-Tutor English to Chinese immigrant students on weekends
-National Honor Society
-Spanish Honor Society
-Varsity Science Olympiad all years of HS, likely will be a captain next year (currently am facebook moderator for the team) and have won various medals (10+)
-Literary magazine editor
-GEMS member (Girl Engineer Mathematicians and Scientists) --> plan STEM events for local children
-Taken: AP World history (5), AP US Gov (5), taking AP US History, AP Lang, AP biology, planning to take AP Psych, AP Macro/Micro, AP English literature, AP Calc BC, AP Chemistry</p>
<p>Future goals/ what I want in a college
-Interested in pursuing medicine (unsure exactly what though, either some sort of practicing doctor or research)
-Distance from home doesn't matter much
-I would like to conduct research during undergrad
-I would like to go to a diverse school
-Would like to avoid a "cut throat" type of environment</p>
<p>Preliminary List of Colleges
-Brown University
-Princeton
-Harvard
-Yale
-Duke
-Emory
-John Hopkins
-Northwestern
-WashU
-University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
-University of NC at Chapel Hill
-University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
-University of Illinois -Chicago (probably gonna apply to the GPPA Medicine program)</p>
<p>Thanks for the help! :)</p>
<p>You’ll need to take SAT Subjects in May and/or June - based on your current classes, Math2, English Lit or US history, plus one science.
UIC GPPA = probably a safety for your stats but not worth it since you’d be admitted to med schools if you continue working like that (or even a little less) while attending a college that’ll suit your academic level better. Of if you want a direct med school program, perhaps look into some that take place at colleges that will be more on-level for you.
If you don’t want cut-throat, cut out WashU and Johns Hopkins (JHU).
I would suggest adding Harvey Mudd (great for STEM subjects and for research - one of the few colleges that requires all applicants to have taken calculus by senior year in HS and very supportive of women in science.)
Definitely apply to UAlabama since you’ll be an automatic admit to the Honors College, Honors Dorm, and Full tuition scholarship (and you can compete to get a full ride).
Not interested in UChicago? Northwestern?
Look into Grinnell. Very strong in the sciences, not cut throat and in fact very supportive, lots of opportunities for undergraduate research. Same thing for Carleton.
Check out the women’s colleges: Scripps (part of a consortium essentially 5 colleges share a campus and a science research complex), Wellesley, Smith (part of 5 college consortium), Bryn Mawr (consortium)…</p>
<p>Hi!
Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll look into them! :)</p>
<p>What’s your financial situation? Need aid? This is the first consideration when making a preliminary list.</p>
<p>No reason to take the ACT again. A point or two isn’t going to make or break admissions. Concentrate instead on putting together a strong application. At many of the private schools on your list, essays, recommendations and how you present your ECs will have as much impact as your grades and scores. </p>
<p>If you’re looking for a lower stress environment (but still rigorous academics) I agree, you should look at some small LACs. Grinnell, Carleton, Macalester in the midwest. Williams, Wesleyan in the Northeast. All have good to excellent medical and graduate school admissions track records. At some of these – especially the ones in remote locations – Asians have a URM advantage. Smith is excellent for women in sciences.</p>
<p>My family is decently well off ($100,000+/year) but I am the last of 3 children who will all be in college my freshman year (one sibling is 3 years older than me, the other 1 year) so aid would be appreciated.</p>
<p>
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<p>“Want” and “need” are two different things when it comes to financial aid. Ask your parents to run some net price calculators to get an idea of the amount of NEED based aid you might be eligible for. If that isn’t sufficient, you may have to rethink your list as many of the colleges you are targeting don’t offer MERIT aid. Now is the time to have a serious talk with your parents about what’s doable. </p>
<p>And take a close look at Grinnell and Smith. Excellent academics and excellent merit aid.</p>
<p>-Brown University
-Princeton
-Harvard
-Yale
-Duke
-Emory
-John Hopkins
-Northwestern
-WashU
-University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)</p>
<p>I echo what momrath said. Is your family willing to pay the 40-60K per year for all of the above schools(having two siblings in college might help a bit). They will not offer merit aid and your family is in the range with little need based aid.</p>
<p>Good list but reach heavy. I suppose you and your GC know if your instates are safeties for you or not and if you are happy should that somehow be your only result (it happens.) Otherwise add some mid to hi end LAC’s and such. You can’t be assured admission at the OOS publics either. I take it all of these colleges are affordable to your family?</p>
<p>I don’t know why you would expend the time to take the ACT again. I do not think your application package will be viewed any differently with a 35 vs 36. SAT maybe. SAT II’s for sure.</p>
<p>My daughter has told me that Brown has a very cooperative culture and she really noticed the difference when she was visiting grad schools. That sounds like you would like it. She was involved in research in one way or another right from freshman year. I think you have the stats for the PLME program but maybe not the related EC’s and it isn’t clear how fixed you are on medicine yet. Very competitive, but you get admitted to the university first, then the program.</p>
<p>Mudd is an interesting suggestion, they are known for Engineering but I believe they have an outstanding Bio program too. Although it doesn’t fit in with the ‘type’ of the rest of the colleges on your list. Have you done a lot of reading of different types of colleges or are you just picking a generic greatest hits?</p>
<p>Take some time to read more about these colleges, look deeper at the curriculum, what it’s like to actually be a student there, and then you can probably focus more and knock a couple off that you don’t love quite as much.</p>
<p>For tips, I would say to start your essays early so you can develop deeper layers under surface stuff and present a point of view. Make an impression, even in the short answers. </p>
<p>Are you interested in small liberal arts colleges, or just large research universities? Maybe a mix, or something in between? Do you have a location preference (rural, urban, etc.)? Do you have any geographic preferences?</p>
<p>DON’T bother retaking the ACT . And don’t take the SAT. Your ACT is already stellar, and there is absolutely no reason to try for the 36/2400 (the difference between the two is tiny, and adcoms won’t care.) Instead, spend your study time preparing for the Subject Tests and writing essays.</p>
<p>My very similar stat (and goal) middle son is VERY happily a sophomore at U Rochester - participating in research, enjoying clubs (esp Dance and ASL), volunteering in their hospital, and more. Just a thought…</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
I do not have a preference in regards to LAC or large universities. Geographic location I do not have a preference, but I’d rather not go to college in a rural setting.</p>
<p>Since a lot of people have addressed this, I’d like to clarify that I am retaking my ACT because the April ACT is mandatory for all juniors at my school to take (part of the IL school system), and I plan to take the SAT eventually so that I can get National Merit Finalist status.</p>