Help Me Find Match Schools?

College Search & Selection
1

So right now I’m applying to Brown (ED), NYU, College of William & Mary, George Washington University (safety), UNC Chapel Hill, and University of Virginia. I live in Virginia, but would really like to apply to some more match schools out of state, since I’d love to attend school out of state. Only problem is, I can’t wrack my brain to think of any more match schools for me so I’d love to get your guys’ input! Also, do you think that Tufts could possibly be a match school?

Stats (totally copied/pasted this from some results forum):

SAT I (breakdown): 2280 - 690 CR, 790 W, 800 M
SAT II: 800 Math 2, taking Chemistry in October
GPA: 4.23 weighted, my school doesn’t tell me unweighted and I don’t remember the grades I got to calculate it myself, sorry.
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
APs: 11 APs, got decent scores on all except for Physics 1, got a 1 on that haha oops. Do AP scores even matter when you’re applying to college? I thought schools only look at them after you’re accepted for credit.
Senior Year Course Load: Advanced orchestra, AP Calc BC, AP Physics C/M, AP Government, AP Literature, AP Macro/Micro Econ.

-Auditioned and accepted into Senior District Orchestra (9th/10th)
-Auditioned and accepted into Senior Regional Orchestra (11th, hopefully 12th but auditions haven’t happened).
-Principal cellist in highest orchestra
-Attended Summer Governor’s School
-Co-President of UNICEF
-Leader of Student Ambassadors
-Committee Leader of English Honor Society
-Science Olympiad member - 2nd, 6th at Cornell Invitational; 1st, 2nd, 3rd at Regionals; 3rd at States; team won 4th at States
-Volunteer at Nursing Home (9th - present)
-Volunteer at University Hospital

State (if domestic applicant): Virginia
School Type: Public
Race(s) (White, AA, AI/AN, Asian, NH/PI): Asian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: > 50k

2

Income is less than 50k, not greater than. Stupid error.

3

You could look at a few NESCAC schools (besides Tufts), particularly if you might like to study in a purely undergraduate focused academic setting while being close to nature. Vassar, Swarthmore and Haverford are some other schools that might suit you.

4

I don’t think Tufts is a match, and neither are Vassar, Swarthmore or Haverford. I don’t think GW is a safety either unless you have some kind of hook like legacy.

It’s kind of hard to list schools for you when you give us no information about what you’re looking for. University of Rochester and Case Western are two schools that are often suggested as matches to people with stats like yours. But we could give more informed advice if you gave us more information about what you want in a college.

5

GW is likely based on scores and gpa.
Others to add- Wash U, Wake Forest, Colgate, BC, Lehigh. All could be targets.

6

@wisteria100 Wash U is definitely not a match. OP’s stats are great, but the fact of the matter is many people with stats like this get rejected from Wash U. They have more qualified applicants than they have spots for. Admissions are far too competitive for it be considered a match.

OP’s scores might be high for GW (technically we don’t actually know what their UW GPA is, but I assume it’s good), it has a rather low admit rate for a safety. It would be wise to have one other safer school.

7

@lalalemma my apologies, I should have elaborated! I meant safety not in the sense that I would definitely get in, but in the sense that it’s my last choice school and I would only go if I had no other choice. I do have another, safer school!
As for the qualities I’m looking for in a school, I’m not looking for too much. Schools without a large Greek life population because that terrifies me, and schools where the students aren’t too cut-throat and self-absorbed. Other than that, any school appeals to me :slight_smile:

8

Some of the comments relate to how one defines match. If match means a school at which you meet or more than meet the average academic requirements, but at which there is still a meaningful, but not overwhelming, chance of denial, then schools such as Haverford and Tufts would be matches.

9

Thanks for the info! I would still recommend Case Western and Rochester. Perhaps also Brandeis, BU, and Northeastern.

If size does not matter to you, I would definitely check out some LACs! There are tons that would be considered matches: Grinnell, Oberlin, Macalester, Kenyon, Holy Cross, Dickinson, Skidmore, Whitman, Bard, and Connecticut College are some ones you could look at. They all have somewhat different vibes. Also, since you don’t have that many reaches on the list, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check out some of the more competitive, like the ones merc81 mentioned in post #2.

10

<<<
@lalalemma my apologies, I should have elaborated! I meant safety not in the sense that I would definitely get in, but in the sense that it’s my last choice school and I would only go if I had no other choice. I do have another, safer school!


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a safety must also be affordable. What is your real safety (assured admissions and a school that you know FOR SURE that all costs are covered)?

Do you have a non-custodial parent?

Do your parents own a business?

11

@mom2collegekids it’s George Mason, I could commute there and I could definitely get enough financial aid to attend. :slight_smile: I don’t have a non-custodial parent, and my mother doesn’t own a business. (father passed away)

12

bump

13

I am not sure you can afford GWU and NYU. These schools gap.

If your mother’s income is less than $50,000, you need to apply to schools that meet full need and not just the really highly ranked ones.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2014/09/15/colleges-and-universities-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need

You should consider the women’s colleges like Smith, Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke. These aren’t for all women but they do offer good aid.

14

I like the suggestion of women’s colleges. As an Asian, the midwestern LACs are a good suggestion since you are a URM there - Grinnell, Macalester, Kenyon, etc…No frats at any of these. And the small student bodies tend to be more supportive and less competitive just because people tend to know each other better in a smaller community and the norms against sharp elbows tend to be strong.

Another possibility not yet suggested is Rice in the Houston suburbs. Has a vibe not too different from William & Mary and Georgetown.

Check the Common Data Set, Section C for each school to see the stats of the students admitted last year. It’s the best way to chance yourself. Lots of important info in the CDS about how the schools weight various factors for admission as well.

15

I think your sweet spot will be at UVA, W&M or George Mason. Will be your best education at the lowest cost. And then strive for a free Graduate school (work for the school) and you are in great shape.

16

Holy Cross in Massachusetts would be a great fit. HC also offers some merit aid for music studies and Holy Cross has strong science and pre-med program.