<p>GPA: 3.56 UW, 4.04 W
UC GPA: 3.79
SAT: 570 math, 730 reading, 660 writing (planning on retaking this after my prep class this summer)
7 honors classes (out of 10), 7 APs (out of 10), w/ an interest in science, history, english, and the performing arts
Extracurriculars: Mock Trial (sophomore yr), Human Rights Board Member/Leader (junior/senior yrs), Confirmation Leader (junior/senior yrs), School Ambassador (freshman to senior yrs), CSF (freshman to senior yrs), Technology Assistance Team (senior yr--it's new)
I know my GPA seems really low, but on the bright side my counselor told me I'm near the top of my class! (Avg weighted for class is ~3.0)</p>
<p>Alright, so my list as of now is
Georgetown
UC Berkeley
Emory
UCSB
Johns Hopkins
Penn State
Wake Forest
UC Irvine
Northeastern
NYU
UCLA
George Washington U
Loyola Chicago
Syracuse U
Arizona State
Marist
UC Riverside</p>
<p>I wanna try to narrow it down to 12 or so... suggestions?</p>
<p>Let’s assume that colleges are truly able to look past the lowish GPA number (only really low in the world of very selective colleges and CC) and they base their assessment on you as being in the top 10% (presumably) of your class, which usually is a big point to them. If you happen to be in the top 5%, so much the better.</p>
<p>Then the thing holding you back is your math SAT. If your prep class helps you get that math score up to 650 or so, and assuming marginal improvement in the other 2 sections, you would go from 1960 to about 2100. IF, and I emphasize IF that is the case, then the two schools that would appear to be the longest odds on your list are Georgetown and Johns Hopkins. But what you actually asked was to pare down your list. So if you don’t mind having a couple or 3 really long shots out of your 12, then leave those on.</p>
<p>I think to decide between the rest, you have to answer a few other questions. First, and this applies to the long shots as well, are finances an issue at all? Second, what is your preference for the school you would want to be attending? Huge school or smaller? Urban, rural? Big Greek life or not so much? Sports important to you? How about weather? Would you rather have a warm weather school?</p>
<p>All those schools you name have good to excellent academics. That won’t create a separation. It is these other factors that can help narrow down the list. I mean after all, there is little similarity between Johns Hopkins and Penn State, and either of those to Marist, or to Loyola Chicago. How did you happen to create that list in the first place? That last is somewhat rhetorical, although it would possibly provide some insight into what you are looking for in a school.</p>
<p>I am assuming you are a California resident.</p>