Help me refine my college list?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone,
I am having difficulty cutting down my regular decision College list down to a reasonable amount of schools. I have already applied to all of my in state safeties and matches, and I’m going to apply to most of my reaches regular decision. Here is the list of schools I’m thinking of applying to;

Williams
Barnard
Tufts
Brown
Bowdoin
Amherst
Wellesley
Smith
Wesleyan
Connecticut College

I’m definitely applying to Williams and Barnard because I attended fly in programs there, which greatly increased my chances of admissions. The other LACs I have on my list are very similar, but I’m looking for these qualities:
Undergrad research
Great science programs (biology)
Best financial aid packages
Accessibility to professors
Good social life (food, dorms, etc.)

My stats are also:
3.98/4.0 Unweighted
4.5/5.0 Weighted
1330 SAT (waiting for November scores)
5s on AP World History, US History, and Literature
2 in AP Physics 1 :frowning:
Hooks: African American female, First Gen
Lots of science based extracurriculars, leadership positions

Thanks for all your help!

2

I’d drop Conn College if you already have other safeties & matches.

3

Wellesley offers academic exchanges with MIT, which enhance its STEM opportunities. The Boston area has world-class medical and science research institutions.

4

According to everything I’ve read on the subject, Wellesley and Wesleyan have among the highest, if not the highest, levels of government funded science research of all the well-known LACs. Wesleyan gets good grades for the quality and variety of its dining hall fare, but, its “points” system (as opposed to “all you can eat” systems) takes some getting used to as a freshman. Happily, kitchens become increasingly available as you gain seniority; Wesleyan has an elaborate system of fully-furnished university-owned houses available for upperclassmen.

5

Definitely keep Tufts, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Brown (these four have the most opportunity for undergrad research imo).

Unless you really really liked it, I’d drop Conn College… assuming you have other safeties