<p>I need some help. The college search process is such a whirlwind! I'm a senior and have been looking for some more REACH schools. I'm including USC, College of William and Mary, and possibly Whitman in my list. I have an unweighted GPA of about 3.85. I hope to find a solid pre-med education, with a possible major in either anthropology or biology.
A beautiful campus with a comfortable atmosphere, friendly people, strong academics, and awsome dorm rooms (from what i've been seeing they are hard to come by) are important to me...</p>
<p>I'm involved in a few activities:
--Varsity Tennis team (4 years)
--Health careers (HOSA), through which I've volunteered at hospitals, blood drives, worked in nursing homes, etc. (2 yrs)
--Volunteer at the Art Museum
--Involved in Piano and art (continuously for 8/9 yrs.)</p>
<p>I'm slightly concerned about my activities list. Though I have a few other very small additions, I am worried it is severely lacking in substance :(</p>
<p>Some other schools I'm applying to: U of W & U of Puget Sound & U of O</p>
<p>Possibly looking at: Rice--Case Western (good schools???)</p>
<p>Honestly, I'm very worried that my application will not be strong enough for some of the higher ranked colleges/universities.</p>
<p>Please let me know what you all think. Oh, and please be as blunt as possible. I can take the comments. Bring 'em on!</p>
<p>Looks good so far, but what did you score on the act or sat?</p>
<p>I did not do very good on my standardized testing. I got around a 26 on the ACT (terrible, I know). Recently I've just re-taken it. Hopefully it will get up to at least a 27/28. I was trying to avoid posting my scores :)</p>
<p>Is your school known for producing students that go to top universities? That may be your saving grace. Also where are you from? That could play a big factor into what schools you are applying to.</p>
<p>I am from Portland, Oregon and two of our most recent valedictorians were accepted into Harvard--in the same year (good for them, maybe not for me?). I think I'm ranked around 68 or 69 out of a senior class of around 370.</p>
<p>You should not freak out. You volunteered at a hospital, so make a big deal about that. Colleges love community service. Also since you live on the west coast this will help you get into west coast schools. I think Whitman is a great school, and also the University of Washington is a good bet (if big public schools are your thing). I would still apply to USC, but that might be a reach school for you. William and Mary is also a good target school for you.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help. I agree about USC. Do you know of any other "east" coast schools. I know and have heard lots of names, but am unfamiliar with the area and college atmospheres that accompany them. The east side seems pretty intense (in a very good, academic, intelligent way of course).</p>
<p>There are lots of great east coast schools. What are you interested in attending, an lac or a big university?</p>
<p>Probably a smaller university, but not too small--I don't want to go crazy.</p>
<p>Swarthmore in Philadelphia is good, but that would be a reach school for you. Also Trinity College (Connecticut) and Union College (New York) would be good target schools.</p>
<p>Oregonian, I think your ECs are great, especially your health volunteer work.</p>
<p>Whitman is a wonderful school. </p>
<p>Also, if you are female, Smith College (in Northampton, Massachusetts) meets a lot of the criteria you listed. Smith is a wonderful place and is known for small classes, academic excellence, terrific advising and mentoring, and available, committed professors. The campus is beautiful (it's an arboretum). Premed is awesome and you have the opportunity to do research with professors who really get to know you. Smith has an open curriculum which gives you lots of room to explore your interests.</p>
<p>The dorm rooms are awesome--Smith is rated as having "dorms like palaces"--often with huge doubles and many singles. Students live in houses that are supportive communities in themselves, consisting of students from all 4 years, living rooms with pianos in which to hang out, and many have their own dining rooms (you can eat in any, and they have different themes--i.e., asian food, traditional, etc). </p>
<p>More good news: Smith no longer requires SAT or ACT scores for US applicants, so you don't need to worry about test scores. The admissions office really works to look at the whole person.</p>
<p>Smith is also part of a 5-college consortium (with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Univ of Mass). You can take classes at any. There is a free shuttle bus to get to classes and activities at the other campuses. So you get the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>For more information: Smith</a> College</p>
<p>i'm actually a male, so smith won't work out too well... but thanks for your advice. It seems like a great college.</p>
<p>Any other ideas?</p>
<p>Are you opposed to going to the midwest? If not Beloit, Illinois Wesleyan, Ohio Wesleyan, College of Wooster, and Denison would all be good lacs for you to check out.</p>