Help me choose colleges?

College Search & Selection
1

Hello! I’m a junior right now, and I’d like to add some more targets and safeties to my list.

Stats:
GPA: 3.9 UW; 4.0 UW for sophomore and junior year so far
SAT: 2300 (800 CR, 770 M, 730 W); I will be taking the new SAT in June as well because I did well on the PSAT
PSAT: 1520 (760 M, 760 CR/W)
SAT Subjects: 800 Math 2, 770 Bio E, 780 Chem
AP Courses (I haven’t taken any tests yet): Junior: AP Chem, AP Physics 1, AP Calculus BC, AP World History; Senior: AP Lit, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science, APES (maybe? either APES or Multivariable Calc/Linear Algebra), AP Stats
Honors Courses: Honors English 9, 10, 11, Honors Algebra II/Trig, Honors Precalculus, Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry
Concurrent/Dual Enrollment: Spanish III, Intro to Psychology

I’m a South Asian female from California; I attend a highly competitive public school. My family’s income is in the 100k bracket.

I’d prefer not to specify my extracurriculars here because people would be able to recognize me. However, I have a pretty extensive list, mostly balanced between STEM stuff, performing arts stuff, and writing stuff, among other things. Last summer, I interned at a top university in the earth sciences. I’m applying to many summer programs this year as well.

I plan on double-majoring in Computer Science and Geology/Environmental Science/something related to the earth sciences, depending on what majors my chosen college has.

My current college list:
Stanford (first choice, probably EA school)
Brown
MIT
Various UCs (Berkeley, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Davis, Merced)
…and that’s it. I might apply to Harvard just because my parents want me to, but I wouldn’t really want to go there.

I want a school that’s very intellectual and quirky; in addition, some schools where I might get some merit aid would be nice. Some other reach schools would also be fine. However, I’m looking for schools with strong programs in both of my majors. I either want a good gender balance (no Caltech, please) or a women’s college (however, I can’t find any that I’m really in love with). I’d prefer no publics, because at that point I might as well go to a UC. And no traditionally stingy schools that I wouldn’t be able to get merit aid at, please! There are only three schools my parents would be willing to pay full price at (Stanford, Harvard, and MIT), and we’d get lots of financial aid at those schools anyways (I ran the cost calculators).

Thank you for your help!

2

I don’t know what you mean by a school that’s quirky, but ones that come to mind: Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Rice University, Northwestern. All have outstanding STEM departments, but are also strong in other areas, and tend to attract intellectual students. Have you looked into Pomona College, and the Claremont McKenna consortium (both in Southern California)?

3

It’s not as highly ranked in computer science, but for intellectuality, I’d recommend UChicago. (Last year my daughter, also STEM oriented, was initially set on going to Stanford, but after researching UChicago and interviewing for it, the latter became her first choice for its intellectual atmosphere.)
Also for intellectual and quirky, and excellent undergrad academics, I’d say Reed - they don’t offer much aid though from what I’ve heard.
Harvey Mudd (which allows you to cross enroll in classes at Pomona and the Claremont colleges). [Along with CalTech and Reed, Harvey Mudd has the highest percentage of undergrads who go on to get a pHd.]
Carnegie Mellon has one the best CS programs (if not the best) in the country, but I don’t think they have much in Earth Sciences - you’d have to check. Very intense/competitive CS department (predominantly Asian if that’s what you want). - Also, their CS program is as difficult to get into as Stanford, so don’t count on it.
Rice - a great student body, outstanding STEM department, good with aid. All around a great choice if you don’t get into Stanford or MIT. (I’d even pick it over CMU.)

4

I second Reed (depending on how quirky you’re willing to go), and in terms of women’s colleges, have you looked at Barnard?

5

Thank you, everyone, for the advice so far!

I’ve looked at Barnard, but they don’t have an earth sciences major (tear). Harvey Mudd is supposed to be extremely difficult to double-major at (it used to be one of my top choices, but has since disappeared from my list for that reason). I don’t think I’m techie enough to get into CMU’s school of Computer Science. On UChicago: is it true that it’s extremely stressful there (more so than other top colleges)? I love the idea of its culture, but its reputation has turned me off to some extent.

I’ve added Johns Hopkins and Rice to my list, though!

6

Have you thought about Yale? Students generally love their time there.

7

If you want an LAC, you might check the Keck schools, e.g., http://www.keckgeology.org/

Oberlin and Pomona come to mind for great geology and great dance.

8

Your profile fits Carleton to a T.

Quirky, intellectual, absolutely top tier in CS and Geology.

However, very little merit aid, but good FA. You should run the NPC to see how it shakes out for your family’s income.

But in terms of your academic and social profile, perfect fit.

Good luck. You should have great choices!

9

There’s no reason to retake the SAT - the difference between a 2300 and a 1600 will be negligible to an admissions officer.

Tufts is another “quirky” school, and it’s very easy for CoEngineering and A&S students to take classes in the other school, if that’s of any interest to you.

10

About UChicago: I don’t know about it being extremely stressful (I guess that would depend on how easily you get stressed under pressure), but it is definitely a study-focused school. Pushes you, but in a good way. Take a look at their “Core” (required for all majors) with a very broad focus - that will either highly interest you (expand your thinking) or turn you off (time wasted on things you’re not interested in): https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/academics/core

11

-Cornell University
-University of Pennsylvania
-University of Southern California

12

Have you looked at this program at Mudd? https://www.hmc.edu/hcsed/environmental-analysis-at-harvey-mudd/
It looks like you could major in CS and get this additional certificate.

For National Merit, your current SAT score should be fine as a confirming score if it was taken in October 2014 or later (if they follow the pattern of previous years).

13

Totally with @ColdinMinny on this one. Carleton, other than lack of merit aid, sounds perfect. CS and Geology are two of the very strongest departments at an absolutely top-notch school that’s intellectual and quirky as all get out. Carleton sends more kids on to get Ph.D.s in Geology than any other LAC by more than a factor of 2. It’s also the largest producer of future Ph.D.s in CS of any LAC that doesn’t have an engineering school. See post #2 is this thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19572642#Comment_19572642