Help me narrow what schools I should apply to [NY, 4.0, 1380]

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Demographics

— U.S. citizen
— state: New York (Long island)
— type of high school: small, public, somewhat competitive
— Gender/ race/ ethnicity: female, white

Intended Major(s)

— Undecided, but interested in English, public relations, media, or anthropology (just assume liberal arts)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

— Unweighted HS GPA: 96.0 or 4.0
— Weighted HS GPA: 101.558
— Class Rank: school doesn’t do rank
— SAT score: 1380 (considering retaking in November)

Coursework

— Taken: AP seminar (4), AP world history (4), AP eng language and comp (4), AP research (5), AP US history (3)
— Taking: AP statistics, AP literature, AP gov

Awards

— AP scholar
— Principal honors roll
— AP seminar and research certificate (would receive the capstone diploma at end of senior year)

Extracurriculars

— Involved in National Honor Society, English Honor Society (will be applying for leadership positions soon), History Honor Society, & World Language Honor Society (not sure if I’m still in this however since I didn’t take a language senior year).
— 2 years of Junior Varsity Tennis
— Co Vice president of my Interact Club in 11th grade, supposed to be Co President this year (I’ve been organizing events and acting as President but our teacher refuses to confirm if we are Presidents, I’m assuming that I am though)
— Currently organizing a community-wide book drive through partnership with a non profit organization called Book Fairies, will last through the month of October
— Recently joined student ambassadors
— Recently got a job at Science Center / Museum
— Decent amount of Community service from everything listed above

Essays/LORs/Other

— Currently working on personal essay with a professional college essay advisor (she’s a family friend so she’s doing this for free). I’ve been told that I am a good writer and I think that my essay might stand out (hopefully)
— haven’t asked any teachers to write a LOR yet, stuck on who to ask since I’m not very close with anyone

Cost Constraints / Budget

— My parents are basically retired so I’d rather not go somewhere crazy expensive, but they’ve definitely been saving up and they think that we’ll do really well with the FAFSA… still don’t want to cause financial problems tho (colleges that are generous with aid tho would be a big plus)

Preferences

— Small to medium sized student body
— amazing professors and good value
— Fun and inclusive social scene + interesting clubs (especially for an introvert lol)
— Academically centered + research opportunities with professors (I’d like to avoid a sports or Greek life oriented school)
— Beautiful campus (honestly this is really important bc I need to be able to romanticize my life)
— surrounded by nature
— Cool and homey college towns (walkability is a huge plus)
— I’d like to avoid cities because my parents would “be unable to sleep at night”

Schools

— Safeties: Hobart and William smith?, UVM?, C of Charleston?
— Matches: Lafayette, Syracuse, Connecticut, Villanova, Bryn Mawr?
— Reaches: W&M, U Richmond, UNC, Smith?, Boston college, Vassar, Hamilton, Kenyon?, Wake Forest?, Bowdoin, Bates

I’m not necessarily sure on a bunch of these bc of either distance, financial costs, low acceptance rates, overall fit, or because some are girls schools. Please suggest me some more matches and safeties, let me know if you think I would fit in at any of the schools on my list, and tell me straight up if I’m delusional and which schools are completely out of my reach (I’m trying to narrow it down to at least 10-12)

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We’ve heard that Hobart with aid is not cheap - but again, you didn’t give a formal figure.

Actually, none of your schools will be cheap unless you have need. Have you run the net price calculators - many of these schools have no merit aid. You said your family is retired - so it’s likely they’ll be asked to spend down assets.

After you determine what they’ll cost then we can look better.

Have you looked at any SUNYs?

Or schools with massive merit aid?

You need a formal budget - and you need to check the college + net price calculator and have your parents fill it out - especially at those with no merit aid (Bowdoin, Bates, Vassar, Hamilton, etc).

Good luck.

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The first thing I would do is sit down with your parents and discuss costs. Use the NPCs with them and ask what they think. Once you discuss the financials you will know more about merit need, etc.

I would keep at least 2 SUNYs on the list.

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Well my counselor said that Hobart gives out good aid, so that’s mostly why it’s on my list— I definitely will look more into it though

We haven’t done the net price calculations yet, although we have looked at overall net price and my parents weren’t too concerned. I should’ve mentioned they are technically self employed since they run an air bnb— but my dad is of retirement age and receives social security. I’m going to have a more in depth discussion about budget with them soon, but so far it hasn’t seemed like getting a big amount of financial aid is a must.

I’ve looked a little into Binghamton, but my parents are very discouraging of me applying to SUNYs so I haven’t really looked into it further.

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What is your max budget?
DD had 40k merit but there are 45k+ would be left for Hobart.
DD got 0 merit from Richmond and Lafayette.
Do NPC with each school.
Richmond and Lafayette (probably same for Hobard and William Smith) are not FAFSA based. They all requested CSS profile that wanted every retirement penny accounted…

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My parents are currently filling out the CSS profile and it’s definitely been tedious— thanks for letting me know about Richmond and Lafayette

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Are UVM and C of C affordable without any merit, and have you shown the cost to your parents?

Are your parents ok with the private schools on your list, which may cost close to $90,000 a year?

You need to start with affordable schools that are likely for admission and work your way from there.

UNC also requires the profile and it is not a small to medium school. I consider it to be large.

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My parents are okay with the private schools, we’ve actually visited a bunch and they are aware of the prices. They may be assuming however that I’ll receive some form of financial aid— so I’m going to have to clarify this with them.

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I would ask them if they are willing to pay full cost at Wake Forest, which will be over $85,000 a year. I would also use the NPCs.

Your current list has a lot of reaches and/or pricey schools.

Would you consider adding additional schools that are not on the east coast?

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I definitely don’t plan on applying to all of my reaches, I’ve just had trouble narrowing it down so I listed all of them

The reason why I’ve only considered the east coast is because of distance. I would definitely consider adding additional schools in the Midwest or South tho if they’re a good fit.

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The University of Delaware has a very pretty campus and I feel you would be accepted. I have also heard good things about Miami U of Ohio.

I would keep UVM for now.

It’s hard to create a list without a firm budget.

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I’ve looked into U Delaware before actually but it just got lost in the shuffle— thanks for reminding me of it!!

I’d much rather apply to more safeties than reaches, but honestly I’m just overly distracted by prestige and name recognition (I really need a reality check :grimacing:)

I’ve just asked and our limit would be around 60k a year

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Good is relative - and they may. We just have one person who didn’t get great - it doesn’t mean you won’t but you also want to apply to schools that you know have given great aid.

If you’re not going to qualify for aid, you can go to a school like Western Carolina for under $20K.

Or a U of Alabama for low $20s as nearly 800 New Yorkers do and you get $24K automerit. Or maybe a Miami of Ohio in the 30s, etc.

So you can tell the Bowdoin, Bates of the world now - because there’s no merit aid. If they’re retired, you’re likely full pay - but find out.

In that case, and again, depends on what you want to spend, but you can do a lot cheaper with your list. Instead of Wake or Richmond, maybe a Furman…that type of thing. instead of UNC, a Bama or Rhode Island or since it’s journalism, how about a Missouri or Ohio U - or back to Bama being cheap and one of the top PR schools in the country. These are all great for your interests.

Keep a Hobart but add the Gettsyburg or Sewanee or DePauw, etc. And as a Long Islander, the SUNYs are a must.

So it’s great they are filling out the CSS - but I’d take a breath and go to WFU, Bates, Bowdoin and fill out the Net Price Calculators. That will tell you now - whether or now you’ll get aid. I put them below.

btw - you need one safety - assured, affordable, and you’d love it. Two is better- after that, it’s up to you. You noted you’d rather apply to more safeties than reaches. Then do that. There’s no magic formula…once you have those assured, the rest of the list is up to you. But see now what your financial situation is. The CSS doesn’t tell you that. It tells the schools that who will tell you after it’s too late. The NPCs answer the question now.

Bowdoin College - Net Price Calculator (studentaidcalculator.com)

Affordability | Undergraduate Admissions | Wake Forest University (wfu.edu)

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Use the NPCs for these schools and eliminate the ones that are over 60,000 a year. Note: I am not sure how accurate they will be if your parents have their own business. Others will advise.

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So why are UVM and C of C on here? And one might argue SU although I think it’s ok - but I’m an alum.

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I think Syracuse is more urban than not, but that’s just my opinion. I also think it will be too expensive.

UNC might be within budget, but it’s a reach and it’s large, as I noted. You need some likely schools.

Will your parents allow you to add a SUNY even though they do not like them?

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I should’ve specified that they are mostly against me going to big cities (D.C., Philadelphia,…) I’ve brought up Syracuse to them and while they weren’t thrilled, they weren’t against it either.

Charleston is also an exception to my parents

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So UVM and C of C are ok? Have you looked at Union and Skidmore? Not sure of the cost but try the NPC.

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Please add a SUNY or two. Just apply as a backup.

Maybe look at James Madison and Ohio U? Nice campuses. Flies under the radar.

I know it’s big and urban but would a Canadian school like McGill work?

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That’s funny because I’ve been toying around with the idea of applying to McGill for a while. My dad is heavily against it though just because it’s out of the country— but slowly I think I’ve been convincing him that it might be a good route.

Other than saying it’s the Harvard of Canada and that it’s much easier to get into, what else could I say?

Also do you think Binghamton is a good backup or is that 40% acceptance rate too low? I could look into Geneseo as well… but I’m not sure how they are in liberal arts

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