Help me pick colleges.....

Applying to College
1

I would like to get some feedback and advice on which colleges I should apply to. I have 12 colleges picked out, and I will be applying to 8 of them. Yes I know that’s a lot but I don’t want to take any chances of not getting into a college.
And my stats are nowhere near as spectacular as most people here!

GPA: 3.74/4.5
SAT: 1120 (530M/590V)
Senior courseload:
AP Biology
AP Literature/Composition
Teen PEP (Peer Education Program, like an outreach program)
Business Law
MS Office

Work Experience:
NJPets (4-store chain of pet stores in NJ)- August 2004-present - Sales Associate in Small Animals Department (reptiles, birds, small mammals)

Volunteer/Community Service:
Closter Animal Welfare Society (CLAWS) - 6 hrs (will get more in before sending out apps)
Responsible for cleaning litter boxes, feeding, playing with and caring for hundreds of stray kittens and cats at an animal foster home.

Read Across America - 2 hrs
Read books to a sixth grade class.

St. Stephen’s Church - 16 hrs
Helped prepare for multiple masses.

City of New York Parks & Recreation/Natural Resources Group - 3 hrs
Studied and evaluated a New York City salt marsh by recording the amount of species living there, observing the statistics involved, and cleaning up pollution in the salt marsh.

New York Aquarium Docent Program - 93 hrs
Helped educate and raise awareness of the world’s aquatic wildlife and it’s need for conservation by using the aquarium as a place to meet and teach the visitors about all aspects of what we are trying to conserve.

Extracirriculars:
Art Club - 11th & 12th grades (Secretary 12th grade)
SAVE (Students Against the Vanishing Earth) - 10th and 12th grades
School Based Youth Services - 9th - 10th grades

Awards:
Voice of Democracy - Audio Essay Contest - 1st place (Town level)
Stairways of Kearny - Photography Contest - 3rd place
Meadowlands Student Art Exhibition - Participant

Major: Zoology/Wildlife Biology (hope to one day be a zookeeper)

I am also part of a Middle College program for Fairleigh Dickinson University, which gives college credit for students who are taking any AP classes and plan to pass them at the end of the year.

Now, the list of colleges:
University of Washington (top choice, already started application)
Oregon State University (already started application)
Colorado State University (already started application)
University of Oregon
Portland State University
University of Montana
Utah State University
San Diego State University
Texas A&M University
California State University
San Fransisco State University Fresno
Washington State University

I have to remove 4 of them, and I have an idea, such as Texas A&M and Utah State, but I wanted to get some opinions in before I started eliminating.

I am applying out of state from New Jersey.

So fire away!

2

<p>You mean CSU Fresno, not San Francisco State University Fresno.<br>
All CSU's are iffy for out of state due to budget crunches. It sounds like you've researched your list well. If you do want to try for any CSU get the application in ASAP.</p>

3

<p>Yea I meant to put Fresno with CSU, and SFSU by itself.</p>

4

<p>Oregon State sounds perfect for you. Great Zoology and Wildlife Biology programs and a great Marine Biology, plus Corvallis is a great college town.</p>

<p>Also, it's where my parents went to school.</p>

5

<p>Any of the schools I shouldn't apply to based on the chances of me getting in? I want to get my final 8 so i can start up the applications on the others.</p>

6

<p>Texas A&M and Washington are both slight reaches. Washington especially since you're out of state.</p>

<p>Other than that, you should be competitve at all of those schools.</p>

7

<p>Yeah I know Washington is a reach but it is my top pick and I hope I do get accepted!</p>

<p>My biggest fear is not getting accepted to ANY school. </p>

<p>Anyone else have input on what colleges I should apply to besides UDubb, OSU, CSU, and Washington State?</p>

8

<p>bump anyone else have input?</p>

9

<p>you really shouldn't worry about not getting accepted into any schools. You have a great shot at almost all the schools in your list!</p>

10

<p>Oh and dude, don't go to PSU. Trust me on this one.</p>

<p>Also, if you like your body without bullet holes, I'd seriously reconsider Fresno.</p>

11

<p>I'm the one over here with too many reaches and not enough safeties ;)</p>

12

<p>That's what everyone tells me, not to worry, but thats just me, I fear that i won't get into any of them!</p>

<p>And why shouldn't I apply to PSU?</p>

<p>And is Fresno a violent place or something?</p>

13

<p>Because, it's straight up not a great school. Reed and UP are 1000x better if you're looking to go to Portland.</p>

<p>"And is Fresno a violent place or something?"</p>

<p>My friend's dad is a doctor who did his residency in Fresno. He said he treated more gunshot victims in a month in Fresno than he has in 15 years here in Boise.</p>

14

<p>Do Reed and UP even have my major? </p>

<p>And I live near a violent town in NJ so I'm used to it.</p>

15

<p>RE: Fresno - platinumtlc - don't let anyone give you the wrong idea - I live in Clovis, just outside of Fresno. While there are areas of Fresno that are "bad" just like any city, there are also lovely areas...Clovis has a small town atmosphere...no one really goes to "downtown" Fresno because there is nothing much there...CSU-Fresno is in a nice enough area - just across from a major shopping mall and close to the SaveMart Center, which is just a year old and a great venue for concerts and such...Fresno is about 3 hours from LA and 3 hours from San Francisco, and about 2 hours from Yosemite...you can also get to Tahoe in about 6 hours as well as Las Vegas - the beach is 3 hours...plus the cost of living is <em>way</em> cheaper than the rest of CA - a big plus for a college student...I think you'd like it here...</p>

16

<p>Thanks. ANyone else have input?</p>

<p>I already narrowed it down to the 8,
University of Washington
Oregon State University
Colorado State University
Portland State University
University of Montana
California State University
San Fransisco State University Fresno
Washington State University</p>

17

<p>your list seems great, very realistic</p>

18

<p>So I have a chance at getting into at least one of those schools?
I hope I get into atleast one school!!!!!!</p>

19

<p>Your chances are excellent at everywhere except UW, where it's about even.</p>

<p>If you only got into one of those schools, I'd be shocked.</p>

20

<p>Thanks. Any more input?</p>