Help me find match/likely schools, please!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi CCers! As a rising Senior, I've been trying to whittle down my list of schools. Unfortunately, I've been having some problems with my match and likely schools, so I'd like to ask for some help. </p>

<p>My stats: </p>

<p>Race: Asian
Gender: Female
GPA: 3.4
SAT: 2190 (730CR, 720M, 740W) Superscore it would be 2230 though (740CR, 750M, 740W)
PSAT: 211 (NMS Commended by the end of this year)
APs: Psychology, Chinese (5), English Language (5), US History (4)
SAT IIs: Math IIC (740), US History (720), Literature (740)</p>

<p>Courses:
 9th Grade: English (Honors), Biology, Geometry (Honors), AP Chinese, Modern World History, Poetry
 10th Grade: English (Honors), Chemistry, Algebra & Trigonometry (Honors), 20th Century History, Chinese, French I
 11th Grade: AP English Language and Composition, Physics, Pre-Calculus (Regular), AP US History, AP Psychology, French II, Journalism
 12th Grade: AP English Literature and Composition, Environmental Science, AP Statistics, AP US Government, Journalism, French III</p>

<p>AWARDS:
 Our school newspaper won the American Scholarship Press Association Contest – 1st place with special merit (2010)
 Intercity Debate – Member of winning team (2010)
 Debate at my school – Member of winning team (2010)
 National Novel Writing Month Winner (2008)
 Middle/High School English Speech Contest Winner – Third Place (2008) </p>

<p>ACTIVITIES:
 Creative Writing Club President (2007-Present)
 Student Newspaper Writer and News Editor (2009-Present)
 Debate Club Participant (2008-Present)
 Model United Nations Participant (2008-Present)
 Student Council Grade Representative (2009-2010)
 French Club Participant (2008-2010)
 Soccer (Div. II) (2007-2009)
 Swimming (2006-2008) </p>

<p>WORK / VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:
 Tutoring English and Physics (2 hours/week) (2009-present)
 Charitable Supermarket (4 hours/week) (2009-present)
 Orphanage (3 hours/month) (2007-2009)</p>

<p>Other information: </p>

<p>The sole reason why my GPA is low is because of my grade in Math for 9th and 10th grade. I got a C every semester in those two years in the same class (Honors Math) under the same teacher. However, since moving to Regulars Math, I have gotten As and A+s, so I hope those grades can mitigate the Cs I got in 9th and 10th grade. </p>

<p>I turned 16 a month and a little more ago, which is why I was unable to participate in a lot of opportunities around me (like volunteering for Expo 2010, working, interning). </p>

<p>I'm looking for some small schools with close communities, a friendly student body, a caring faculty and administration, and a nice campus. Some of my reach schools are Georgetown U, Brown U, and Amherst C, so work off of those if you can! I'm undecided on my major right now, but some areas I'm interested in are social psychology, international relations, and peace studies and conflict resolution. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>What is your class rank?</p>

3

<p>My school doesn’t rank.</p>

4

<p>Many don’t but they give colleges enough info to rank you. Whether you’re top decile or not will have a big impact on what schools are realistic.</p>

5

<p>Frankly with Cs in honors math those reaches (Amherst, Brown) are pretty big reaches. And there must have at least been some Bs as well. Check American U.</p>

6

<p>Look at possibly adding:</p>

<p>Boston College
Bucknell
Colgate
George Washington University</p>

<p>I’m assuming you want to stay on the East Coast, by the schools you have on your list. Try to get straight A’s your fall semester to show a continual upward trend on your GPA.</p>

7

<p>Might look at Holy Cross(smaller version of Georgetown but easier to gain admission. HC has very nice campus-1 hour from Boston and is need blind for financial aid(same as Ivies).</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the colleges, guys!</p>

<p>@jshain
Actually, I’m not opposed to going anywhere in the States. East Coast would be better because my brother is there, so my parents can visit both of us easily, but I don’t mind going to the West Coast. The only area I’m not comfortable with going to school in is the South. </p>

<p>Any more schools to recommend?</p>

9

<p>Some possibilities:</p>

<p>Pitzer (a small college in a consortium, like Amherst, but less selective. One of the consortium partners, Claremont McKenna, shares some of the same academic strengths as Georgetown - in government, business and finance, perhaps International Relations - so you may want to consider adding it, too, as one of your reaches.)</p>

<p>Macalester College (a small liberal arts college known for its focus on international issues)</p>

<p>Oberlin and Colgate are worth considering, too, although they may be a little too selective to be be considered “match” schools. For less selective options, consider some of the schools in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (Beloit, Lawrence, etc.), or the many LACs in Pennsylvania (such as Gettysburg, Juniata, Muhlenberg, or Dickinson).</p>

10

<p>I would suggest Rhodes in Memphis, Tn. You will probably get some nice grant money from them as well. William & Mary fits a lot of your criteria. Wake Forest, Elon in NC.</p>

11

<p>Also consider some of the women’s colleges. Asians are underrepresented at many LACs, and many women’s colleges have become less selective than their quality would suggest.
Smith and especially Mt. Holyoke are much more likely than Amherst but you’d get the same consortium advantages at all three. Consider Barnard or Bryn Mawr, too.</p>

12

<p>Maybe University of Rochester, it tends to overlap somewhat with Brown and Amherst because of its curriculum. Also Tufts.</p>

13

<p>I would highly recommend that you give both Elon and Davidson in NC a look. Each is a unique school that draw the majority of students from far beyond the southeast.</p>