<p>I'm going to be a senior this fall, which means I need to start applying to colleges. I've been working on making a list of schools I want to apply too, but I can't narrow it down! Right now my list is:</p>
<p>Duke
UNC
Michigan
Clemson (safety)
Maryland (in-state)
USC (southern california, not south carolina)
Wisconsin
Brown
Northwestern
Colorado
UCLA</p>
<p>As of right now, I have 11 schools, and I want to try to get that number down to about 6-8. Also, if there are any schools similar to the ones above that you think of, please share! I'm in the beginning phases of my college search, so I'm open to everything. So basically, help me shrink/grow my college list!</p>
<p>How about telling us why these schools appeal to you, then maybe we can help cut down the list or suggest alternates.</p>
<p>Rough observations: If Clemson really is a safety, then most likely so are Maryland and Colorado.</p>
<p>The state schools will be very cheap when it comes to financial aid; so UCLA, Michigan, UNC, and probably Wisconsin and Colorado could be pretty pricey.</p>
<p>Without knowing your stats. Duke, Northwestern, Brown, UCLA, Michigan and USC could all be reaches.</p>
<p>No problem! I’ve grown up very, very close to Maryland and have always loved the size and feel of a big school with it’s own campus, not in the middle of a huge city, but not really isolated. I went and visited Duke, and I loved the atmosphere of the place, and the campus was awesome, and I sat in on a class that was incredibly interesting. UNC had the same sort of appeal, it felt like the kind of place where I could always find something to do. Clemson and Colorado are on my list because I am very, very confident I can get in, and I know I would at least be very competitive for some scholarships at Clemson. I also like the more “relaxed” atmosphere at Brown, but that’s not exactly one I’m 100% sure about. Maryland is on the list because it’s my state school. Michigan and Wisconsin seem to fit the mold of “big, busy, academically solid schools” and my dad is a Michigan alum. USC and UCLA are also ones I’m not 100% sure about, just because they are so far away. Northwestern is on my list because I really like the atmosphere there, and the student body, plus being close to Chicago is awesome. </p>
<p>About me, just roughly I have a 3.9 and a 33 ACT. ECs are good, lots of leadership.</p>
<p>Have you checked the net price after need-based financial aid and guaranteed scholarships at each school?</p>
<p>If any are unaffordable on that basis, then check for large enough merit scholarships; the reach/match/safety assessment should then be based on the merit scholarships, not merely admission. If there are no large enough merit scholarships, don’t bother applying if it is unaffordable on need-based aid.</p>
<p>Your intended or possible major(s) may also have an effect on which schools are better for you.</p>
<p>Cost is not a huge factor, my plan has been to wait and see, and consider Maryland my true financial safety, because of in-state tuition. </p>
<p>I have no clue about possible majors, maybe something like sports administration or education, although I have though about a possible political science or even pre-med. Everything is on the table at this point, except for art :)</p>
<p>Your parents know what Maryland’s in-state price is and have assured you that they are able and willing to pay for it (without going into debt themselves)?</p>
<p>mspearl, I was thinking along the same lines, but Wisconsin seems to be MUCH easier to get in to, which is the only reason I would apply to both. I just can’t see myself going to Wisconsin if I get into Michigan.</p>
<p>I actually think your list looks pretty good. I see why you have Colorado and Clemson in but in the end I think that UMD will be a cheaper and higher ranked school (and you should definitely get in). And I’m not sure if the CA schools fit your criteria as much since they are both in a city. Brown doesn’t really fit in with the others, but certainly if you like it, it is worth a shot (maybe Notre Dame is more similar sports-wise?). 0 I’d leave both WI and MI in (WI is easier to get into than UM but is a fine school). </p>
<p>And a bit of unrequested advice - a lot of the state flagships have some kind of early/rolling admissions so I’d start working on your application soon and get them in as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Are you certain that you have all costs covered for these schools? Will your parents pay for them? If not, then they’re not safeties. </p>
<p>You have several other OOS publics on your list (UCLA, Wisconsin, Colorado, Mich). Again, if your parents won’t pay for them, then take them off your list.</p>
<p>You say that cost isn’t a huge factor because you’re just going to see how everything works out and that Maryland is instate. </p>
<p>However, if you’re looking to cut down your list, you might as well cut the schools where you’d be expected to pay all costs and your parents won’t pay (UCLA & UMich $50k per year, Wisc $40k+ per year, etc).</p>
<p>You really need to ask your parents how much they’ll spend each year. many parents will NOT pay full-freight for an OOS public when their instate public is a good one and would be much cheaper. Plus, your parents may have a budget in mind…if so, you need to know that NOW. The app process is very time consuming and costly, so why bother wasting time/money on schools that wouldn’t work out? </p>
<p>If you’d like to attend a school other than UMaryland, then why not have a couple of financial safeties on your list that would be as cheap or even cheaper than UMaryland? </p>
<p>Clemson might give you enough merit to get close to their instate rate. However, Clemson’s instate rate is rather high for public univ.</p>
<ol>
<li>My philosophy is that any school with an acceptance rate <20% (i.e., >=80% of applicants are rejected) is a reach for any candidate. Obviously some schools are ‘reachier’ than others.</li>
</ol>
<p>Based on that idea - Reaches:</p>
<p>Duke 16% admit rate
Brown 9%
USC (southern california) 18% though your stats are 60th+%-tile
UNC (OOS acceptance rates rumored to be in the mid-teens)</p>
<ol>
<li>Match Schools where you are in the 50th%-tile and higher with acceptance rates between 20% and 50% (The lower the acceptance rate the higher up you need to be statistically)</li>
</ol>
<p>Michigan 38% admit rate. 75th%-tile statistically. probably a yes though no merit aid
Northwestern 23% admit rate. ACT 75th%-tile 90% grad in top 10%. Match/Reach
UCLA 26% Stats 75th%-tile Match/Reach
Maryland (in-state) 45% admit rate. Stats around 75th%-tile Match/Safety</p>
<p>As has been mentioned, it’s unlikely that you’ll get much if any merit aid/scholarships from the out of state schools (Michigan and UCLA seem especially unlikely given budget constraints). I suggest getting rid of 1 or 2 of my reach designated schools maybe choose between Duke or Brown, or, if you aren’t sure about being out in California, drop USC (though I think you have a fair chance of getting in there). Drop one of Michigan/UCLA. Drop one of the safety schools.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! mom2collegekids, my parents have said that they are definitely willing to consider paying OOS prices if there is a compelling reason to choose them over Maryland. I can’t think of any schools that would be cheaper than Maryland, except for the University of Alabama because of a guaranteed scholarship. Do you have any suggestions?</p>
<p>I was thinking about dropping UCLA anyway, so that makes it easy. I’m not sure about dropping one of the safeties (clemson/colorado) because Clemson just sent me a letter saying they would waive my app fee, and maybe Colorado would do the same.</p>
<p>Vince…for a school to be a safety, you can’t just look at acceptance. How would a school be a safety if you can’t afford to go there??? What’s a student supposed to do in the spring if his only acceptance is to safeties that aren’t affordable?</p>
<p>Happy1, I thought about Notre Dame, but I’m jewish with very jewish parents who definitely would not be willing to pay for me to attend Notre Dame. I would definitely consider it if it wasn’t for the religious aspect.</p>
<p>In both of my posts on this thread I’ve given the OP my assessment of the low likelihood of receiving aid from OOS schools. Furthermore the vast majority of the responses the OP has received have been centered around financial concerns. Everyone else has done a good job addressing the money issue. </p>
<p>Conversely nobody seemed to want to talk about the acceptance probabilities of the OPs list. From my perspective the OPs list is top heavy with reaches and tough match schools (only made worse by throwing in the financing question). I was trying to steer the OP to adjust his list to also consider his chances of admittance. To my thinking, while getting into a school you can’t afford is certainly a problem, constructing a list wherein you’re shut out or left with only poorly considered safety schools is equally problematic.</p>
<p>Vince, that’s part of the reason I made this thread. I need ideas for schools that would give me merit aid. I’m not sure what other schools I could consider both admissions and financial safeties, besides the university of Maryland. The only other school that I have a guaranteed scholarship at is Alabama. I got a fee waiver from Clemson in the mail today with a letter saying I would have “priority placement” or something like that with regards to possible merit scholarships, so I am also hoping (not counting) on that to give me another option</p>
<p>If your budget is limited, schools like UCLA may be out of reach, with limited financial aid for out of state students (check the net price calculator) and few or no large merit scholarships.</p>
<p>In addition, any school for which you need a large merit scholarship to be able to afford attending should have the reach/match/safety assessment based on the likelihood of getting the large merit scholarship, not the greater likelihood of admission.</p>
<p>I’m confused. At the start of this thread you never mention needing aid, if fact in post #5 you tell us that “cost is not a huge factor” and in post #14 you tell us that “my parents have said they are definitely willing to consider paying OOS prices”. If merit aid is imperative then that trumps all other concerns; if not then you have to balance things like probability of acceptance when compiling your final school list. </p>
<p>With the exception of Clemson, your OOS publics are highly unlikely to offer any significant merit aid. Conversely the private schools on your list that may be generous with aid have low admittance rates and therefore are hard to consider safety schools in the truest sense. Research Indiana-Bloomington. They do/used to offer automatic scholarships for OOS students based on certain statistical thresholds; with your profile you may automatically qualify for at least $9,000 per year. Second, what is your PSAT score? Might you be a National Merit Finalist or semi-finalist? If so, USC offers very generous (ranging to 1/4 to full tuition) awards to students who designate them their number 1 choice.</p>