Hello, I’m currently a junior and I’m trying to create a college list. I have some ideas of colleges to apply to because of the time I’ve spent on this website, but I thought I’d create a thread to see what you all suggest.
Stats:
3.9 UW GPA (Top 15 out of around 900)
2340 SAT (790 CR 750 M 800 W, I’m usually best at math but I guess I messed this up)
IB Diploma candidate
Weak extracurriculars (Just clubs and stuff)
Academic Interests: Biology, Math, Computer Science, etc.
California resident
Black Female
Income: Around 100,000 (I think…my parents don’t want to tell me the actual number)
I’m also a military dependent and so I should get any financial benefits associated with that.
I’m going to apply to 4-5 UCs, of course, but I’m not sure where else. I’m interested in Harvey Mudd and UChicago but I’ve never visited these colleges so I don’t really know for sure. Plus I don’t know if I should even be applying to them considering I have such weak extracurriculars! I will not be able to visit because my parents do not have the time or money. Any suggestions? I suppose I would like a place that is “intellectually curious” but I don’t know for sure. I’m also trying to avoid doing interviews because I know I’d be terrible at them but I guess if I really like a school I will do an interview. And yes, I’ve used the Supermatch tool before.
I wouldn’t worry much (if at all) about weak EC’s. To be perfectly frank, black females in the top 2% of their class with 2340’s who are interested in STEM subjects do not grow on trees. Heck, people of any variety with 2340’s don’t grow on trees! Shoot for the moon, you’ll have a decent chance practically anywhere, I’d say.
That being said, any sense of whether you want to go large or small? Any geographic preferences/limitations? Preferred type of campus culture? Any interests outside of academics where you’d like to see strength?
Rice University in Houston. (I am a biased alum.) I think the college system might suit you.
You have excellent stats. Try to convince your parents to run the NPC on some private schools. Chicago and Harvey Mudd are good options for you. The COA could be a deciding factor. Depending on your parents’ income (plus number of siblings), you might get financial aid. If not, then look for large merit scholarships.
Yes, the net price calculator (NPC) on each school’s website is an important step. It gives you a pretty good idea of your cost of attendance at each school you are considering. I have a daughter at Mudd who also got into UChicago (and for what it is worth, she did not interview at either). I’d say you have a good shot at both if you can show via your essays that they are a good fit. Is there any chance that you can visit Mudd, since you are in CA? Also, can you start any more ECs or try to do something interesting this summer to beef them up a bit?
I would also recommend the University of Washington which has an amazing, but competitive Computer Science program and is a strong fit for you based on your grades and interests. It is a great school for any math or science major
Thanks everyone. @Studious99 Not sure. All I know for sure is that it’ll be a STEM field. Probably one of the fields I listed in my original post. @rayrick I don’t really have any geographic preferences or limitations, but I’d only leave California for a really good school, since there are already so many good ones here in state. I’m not sure what type of campus culture would fit me, but I am very shy if that helps. Maybe a smaller college would be better? @intparent Yes, it is possible for me to visit Harvey Mudd, but it would be hard. I want to go to one of those diversity fly-ins that they have in order to visit, I’ll try to apply once I can. And I’m still trying to work on my ECs, I’m definitely going to try to do a lot this summer.
UChicago is an excellent choice for the “intellectually curious”, and you have a shot at getting in (especially with a good personal essay). You’ll also get a pretty broad education since they have a “common core” all majors have to study.
Harvey Mudd also excellent, very strong science/engineering focus, won’t have broad of options for courses as at Chicago.
I’d encourage you to apply to both, though getting accepted will be a roll of the dice for either one.
Other good schools you have a good chance at being accepted to: Rice (as someone mentioned already), CMU (especially if you decide to go full-tilt on Computer Science; perhaps the best CS program in the country; but hard to get into), Duke.
Also: RPI, excellent CS and biochem/biomolecular eng programs and reputation in the industry, and you’re likely to get substantial merit aid being a top student. My daughter’s an engineering freshman there on a full scholarship; she’s very happy. Her first choice was UChicago but she didn’t get in (she was waitlisted), her SAT CR and M scores were the same as yours, but W 760, her GPA same as you, 5-6 APs, not much ECs (though home-schooled abroad). RPI is a small, nerdy, science/engineering focused school, if you like that. My D really likes it there.
GaTech would also be shoe-in for you and potentially lots of merit aid, if you prefer Atlanta.
As others have said, STEM programs at top schools for female URMs with high stats are wide open. I’d say you have an excellent shot at Mudd (definitely try to go for an interview, though) or CalTech. Look for schools with good FA that meet 100% of need (the Ivies are especially generous). Schools that offer good merit aid will be glad to have you as well.
I disagree with @insanedreamer - Mudd, as part of the consortium, will allow for myriad opportunities in terms of courses.
You do NOT have to interview at Mudd if you aren’t comfortable. My D got in without it. Although it could be part of a diversity fly-in, and then of course you should. Yes, definitely apply for the diversity fly in. Try to find ways to beef up your STEM ECs specifically. And as mentioned above, you can take classes at the other consortium colleges if you end up at Mudd.
One other thing worth considering is that the very richest and most elite schools in the land provide outstanding financial aid for folks in your income bracket. I read recently that Stanford just made itself free tuition (though you’d still be on the hook for room and board) for all families with incomes less than $120K.
I think you can apply to Stanford, but light ECs still may hold you back there. Your URM status and high scores will help, but pretty much every highly qualified URM students in the country applies there, so the competition is still pretty strong. But I could see it as a reach.
It is certainly true that Stanford likes applicants that are amazing at something. I still remember reading in the Stanford entry of a college guide under the heading “From the College” that (I’m paraphrasing) “the most attractive applicants will have distinguished themselves at the state, national or international level in their chosen area of interest”. Oh, is THAT all!? That being said, if the OP decides she’d like to go there, it’d certainly be worth a shot, in my opinion.