<p>I'm a junior in high school, and if any of you can give me suggestions on which schools would be good safties/reaches for me, that would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Major: Probably philosophy or psychology, but it's just tentative right now.</p>
<p>Career path: Law school and then lawyer (though this obviously could change between now and then)</p>
<p>ECs: Band has taken up the vast majority of my time, but I'm also in debate and NHS, and I would like to continue the first two in college if possible, especially band.</p>
<p>Class Rank: 9/660</p>
<p>GPA: 99.5 weighted, not sure what it is unweighted</p>
<p>SAT: (super score) 700 CR 750 M 780 W (one sitting) 680 CR 750 M 780 W</p>
<p>PSAT: Commended, and possibly SF, but it's unlikely. (213 in TX)</p>
<p>I'd like a school with a strong academic environment, but with an element of semi-laid back-ness as well. As far as climate goes, I'm looking for warm to moderate (not freezing cold all year). I haven't yet decided on an LAC or a University, but either way finances are an issue. My state school is an academic and financial safety, but for anything more expensive, financial aid/scholarships/grants/loans will be required.</p>
<p>You have great stats and are a good chance for scholarships. The best bet is to visit good schools and see how you feel, IMO. You may get advice or have conceptions, but that might all change upon a visit. Ask yourself: Can I see myself here? Try to talk to students, just anyone. Try to meet with faculty, esp in areas of interest. Ask them frank questions. Try to eat a meal in the dining hall. Ask a random student to see their room. This is what decided me, and believe me, my initial choices changed as a result.</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement ekmom. I am visiting a few schools this summer including WUSL, UVA, GWU and Trinity U. I know the visits are important but I am limited in the amount of travel that I can do. So many schools sound good on their websites and in their mailouts and it is hard to choose which are worth the trip. I am hoping for some suggestions about schools that I would have a good chance at getting into with scholarships or financial aid. I am searching for a school that will have a strong academics focus but without a supercompetitive atmosphere.</p>
<p>Well if you like Psychology, extend that to Biology, maybe Medicine...</p>
<p>Try Johns Hopkins University, their Behavioral Biology major is awesome, I've heard good things about it. But its kinda competitive, but given your stats you *should*be able to survive the competitiveness :)</p>
<p>Also there's Harvard for the same reasons, but getting into Harvard/MIT is a crapshoot ;) </p>
<p>Duke, Brown, Yale, other humanities, etc...</p>
<p>UT plan II is an amazing program and you definitely have a really great shot. That would be an amazing value for you...
Looking in one of my many college books :) at schools that award the most merit aid, tulane, gwu, smu, umiami, pepperdine, and boston u give out quite a large amount...if you would like specific figures on merit or need based aid (what % recieve, avg. amount, % of need fully met) for a specific school, feel free to pm me and I'd be more than happy to help you out.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I haven't yet decided on an LAC or a University, but either way finances are an issue.
[/quote]
If you're going straight to law school after college, you'll want to consider schools where you're not going to have any debt. That means your flagship public, U of Texas, but also schools that give good financial aid. UVa, Rice, Vanderbilt, UNC, and Dartmouth are all better than Texas and have strong financial aid programs.</p>
<p>poubelle: I am in marching band, concert band and wind ensemble in HS. I would be most interested in doing wind ensemble or concert band in college. </p>
<p>dncrgrl: I thought UT Plan II was perfect for me when I visited but the admissions director explained how extremely competitive the program has become in recent years. I expect to apply but it will be a reach.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input. Rice, Vandy, UNV, UCLA and UC Berkley are all schools I have thought about. I will explore them further. Do any of you know how Pamona or Claremont McKenna are on aid, grants and scholarships?</p>
<p>Just a hint: For the LACS, they like to see a visit. Then they know you are a serious applicant, and they also pride themselves on doing very individualized admissions. So if you have limited travel options, use em for the LACS.
BTW- Davidson is a highly ranked school with good weather. ALso great basketball, if you havent heard.</p>
<p>I appreciate the hint. I will definitely try and schedule interviews at any of the LAC's I am serious about applying to. I hope that some of them do alumni interviews. I read about Davidson and it does sound like a great school. The books I read however made the student body sound very affluent and religious so I don't think I would be comfortable there. Thanks though.</p>