<p>I've been feeling down about colleges lately, and wondering whether I should even apply to reaches. Although my scores are okay (~4.0 GPA, 2020 on first SAT, which I believe is much higher the second time, but we do not receive scores for a few weeks) I am lacking in most other areas.
My schedule isn't very rigorous- I am taking 4 APs and two college classes for credit now, but I have only taken one AP before senior year, and barely any honors classes freshman and sophomore year. My class rank is about 20%, and I have almost no extracurricular activities- only family responsibilities, math league-STEM club, a little volunteering, and hobbies I do outside of school but have nothing to show for (I create art and play violin for fun, but haven't won any awards.)
My match colleges are Colby, U Rochester, Grinnell, and Macalester. I chose based on excellent need-based aid, strength in science, and intangibles. I don't know if I could get into much better colleges. Should I still aim for a reach school? What level should I be looking at? (I assume I can't just go by SAT scores because I am much weaker in other aspects than the usual candidates.)</p>
<p>Is there any harm in applying to a few reach schools? Why wouldn’t you apply to a few if you have a good list of matches and safeties?
Family responsibilities - if you spend significant amounts of time helping your family you need to work this in as an EC. It helps the college understand your values, how you spend your time and why you don’t have tons of other ECs. Colleges do understand and respect family obligations.
What is your unweighted GPA? Not taking a ton of AP classes compared to what your school offers will only potentially be an issue at the most elite schools. Taking too many APs, though it is widely done, is becoming controversial.
What other criteria do you have for schools? What are you looking for?</p>
<p>Visit the schools and if any one school really jumped out at you, apply there. It’s not always about the numbers. And don’t worry about rejection. It hurts when it happens, but the college students I talked to say that you forget all about the schools you didnt get into the moment you get an acceptance letter and that no matter what school you end up going to you’ll in all likelihood love it there.</p>
<p>Beantowngirl- Good point. I suppose I just don’t want to get my hopes up for colleges I probably won’t get into. My unweighted GPA is 4.0. I like medium colleges (about 2000-12000 or so students,) an “intellectual” feel, a college where sports aren’t necessarily popular. I prefer an urban location, but it’s not necessary. Great undergraduate research opportunities and internships are also important. The more diverse/accepting, the better, although I’m not extremely into politics or activism. I’m not sure about my major, so I can’t choose based off of which college has the best program.</p>
<p>DuhNaNaNaa- Unfortunately, I can’t spare the money to visit more colleges. I have visited a few nearby where I live, but none stood out except UPitt (which I already applied to.) That’s true…I know I will be happy at whichever college I attend in the end.</p>
<p>“much better colleges”?</p>
<p>There is nothing mediocre about the schools already on your list. They are excellent schools. If you are interested in more selective schools - schools where you are less likely to be in the top half of the class academically - then yes, there are those out there. And you are also less likely to get merit aid or scholarships of any kind from them. (In fact most don’t offer merit aid at all - though there may be a few scholarships for the most attractive applicants).</p>
<p>Take a look at Rice in Houston, Pomona in Claremont (part of a 5 school consortium in the burbs of LA), and Swarthmore in the burbs of Philadelphina, Bowdoin in Maine and Carleton near Minneapolis. Georgetown in DC might also be worth looking at if you are in the sciences (since most of their top applicants are looking at political science and IR). Apply to a few but don’t get emotionally attached - these schools aren’t necessarily ‘better’ - just somewhat more selective and well known outside of their regions. And keep in mind that even if you get in, you may not be offered sufficient aid to attend. But it could happen - that’s what ‘reaching’ is all about.</p>
<p>And I agree with BeanTownGirl - family responsibilities are respected and it’s not necessary to take 10 APs to prove that you have a rigorous curriculum.</p>
<p>I hope you’ve also thought of a safety which you can afford.</p>