Help narrowing down college list

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm trying to narrow down my list of colleges, but I am stuck. There are some schools that aren't exactly what I'm looking for, but I'm hesitant to take them off my list. They are really good schools and I don't want to count them out so quickly. The problems with them are all things that I could easily deal with.</p>

<p>I am interested in math and physics. I might go into engineering, so schools with an engineering program would be a plus. I don't want to eliminate the ones without engineering programs, though, because I could still just major in math/physics. I also wish to continue with music, so a good music program would be nice. If the marching band is good, I would join for sure, but this is not a must. I would prefer a larger school, but I could still go to a smaller school and be perfectly happy. </p>

<p>My current list is:</p>

<p>Brown University
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
Davidson College
Grinnell College
Harvard University
Illinois-Wesleyan University
Johns Hopkins University
Lehigh University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Stanford University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
Yale University</p>

<p>I have also found that I am attracted to good athletic programs. For example, USC has an incredible athletic program and an equally good marching band. The only problem is that it is not as good academically. It is still an excellent school, but not as good as some of the other schools on my list. How much should these qualities factor into my final decisions?</p>

2

<p>It is difficult to give suggestions when there is no information about your scores, ECs, rigor of schedule, climate or geographic preference. On your list are large universities and small LAS colleges.</p>

<p>Will you need financial aid? Could you qualify for merit aid at any of these schools? Do you have a safety and a financial safety?</p>

<p>If you change your mind and wish to major in music you might reconsider some of the colleges/universities on your list.</p>

3

<p>SAT: 620 CR, 800 M, 760 WR
SAT II: 800 Math II, 740 Physics, 710 Chemistry</p>

<p>Before High School:
Adv. Algebra I
Adv. Geometry</p>

<p>9th:
Adv. Eng
Adv. World History
Adv. Algebra II
Adv. Biology
Spanish I
PE/Freshman Focus
Band</p>

<p>10th:
Adv. Eng
APUS - 3 on exam
Adv. Precalc/Trig
Adv. Chem
Adv. Physics
Spanish II
Band</p>

<p>Summer:
Health/PE</p>

<p>11th:
Adv. Eng
AT Chem (AP level labs)/AT Modern Phyiscs
AP Stats - 5 on exam
AP Calc AB - 5 on exam
AP Chem - 5 on exam
Spanish III
Band</p>

<p>12th:
AP English
AP Gov.
AP Physics
Spanish IV
Band
Calculus II
Calculus III
Linear Algebra</p>

<p>Unweighted 4.0 GPA</p>

<h1>2 in class of ~400</h1>

<p>Highest score in school on AMC 10 - 9th
Highest score in school on AMC 12 - 10th
Bausch and Lomb Science Award - 11th
PSAT High Scorer (I think I will be a semifinalist)</p>

<p>Pep Band - 10th, 11th, 12th
Jazz Band - 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Pit Orchestra - 10th, 11th, 12th
Private Trumpet Lessons - 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Private Piano Lessons - 9th
Solo and Ensemble Competition - 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Church Youth Group - 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Prom Works - 11th
Safety School Volunteer - 10th (summer)
Internship at Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State - 11th (summer)</p>

<p>-Any climate is good
-Money won’t be too big of a deal, so I’m not going to let it affect my decision.
-I don’t plan on majoring in music. If i do, it will either be a double major or a minor.</p>

4

<p>Your CR score is below the 25th percentile for many schools on your list which would make being admitted quite hard. I would think about reducing the number of major reach schools.</p>

5

<p>You look like a very strong candidate for the top schools, but I agree, you should possibly retake SAT’s and work extremely hard to increase your CR score. Not sure what area of the country you are in but look into a prep course for honors students (like honorsprep in DC area). It’s not that your scores are bad, so please don’t take it that way, but below 700 on any of the 3 is a problem if you are going for the Ivy’s in general. </p>

<p>In terms of narrowing down your list, I would say to ask yourself what kind of school environment are you looking for? A larger or smaller school? A “bubble school” or one that has a urban setting? I know, it’s really hard to cut schools and I also am finding that just when I think I have it narrowed down, I add another, lol! But really think about the kind of person you are and then consider the student body at that school — are you a “good fit” for that school or are you just considering the image of that school? Visit as many as you can – this makes cutting schools or reaffirming your decision to apply much easier. Right now, I think you are on a very good path to getting into a top notch school :)</p>

6

<p>Right now it looks like you have too many reaches. Your SAT is good but the CR is weaker compared to your M and W. Even though you like schools with strong sports most of the schools on your list don’t have very competitive athletics (surprised that Duke isn’t on your list if that’s the case). </p>

<p>If you can’t seem to rule any out, that usually takes care of itself when you apply because you might find you don’t really want to answer the essay questions a particular school has posed or something like that.</p>

7

<p>I know that you are trying to narrow your list, not expand it, but it sounds like the University of Wisconsin has everything you’re looking for, including: [Join</a> the Band – University of Wisconsin Marching Band](<a href=“http://www.badgerband.com/joinTheBand/]Join”>http://www.badgerband.com/joinTheBand/)</p>

<p>Plus this: <a href=“Our Opportunities - Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH)”>Our Opportunities - Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH); and this:<a href=“Our Opportunities - Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH)”>Our Opportunities - Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH); (Even if money is “not that big a deal”!)</p>

8

<p>I’d start by tossing out some of the advice you’ve gotten so far and simply investigate further to find out what characteristics of a particular college appeals to you. Don’t go overboard. Just remember that admission to some colleges is a lot harder than that at other places. They will be people in the freshman class with higher scores than you, and people with lower scores than you, so don’t have an anxiety attack about the application/admissions process. Most people whom apply won’t get in. But many will, if they selected reasonable options in the first place. Make yourself attractive to the admissions committee; don’t spin your wheels trying to game the system.</p>

9

<p>Sorry, but I’ve got another one you could check out for a smart safety: St. Olaf College. It’s a mid-sized LAC, its biggest majors are math and physics, and it’s got a great music program.</p>

<p>I agree, you should visit a few different types of schools and stay overnight during the school year to see what type of atmosphere you want, to help focus your list. And don’t feel like you “need” to keep schools that aren’t what you’re looking for on the list just because they are good schools; they have to be the right schools for you.</p>

10

<p>USC isn’t of the same caliber as say, Brown or Harvard, but it actually is a very good school…better than most people think. Maybe it doesn’t have the name prestige, but it would give you a good education. Hopkins looks like a good fit for you because of the affiliation with Peabody, great engineering, and a strong athletics program. Bucknell looks like a good fit…I don’t know much about its music program, but i know it has strong arts opportunities in general (my friend studying engineering there is way involved in theater as well). Northwestern I’d stick with as well…good engineering,and their football team has actually done respectably recently. I’d say it would be a better fit than somewhere like MIT or LeHigh if the athletic program is important to you.</p>

11

<p>I would drop Grinnell and Davidson, because you seem to be more interested in universities. Of your original list, you would probably be pretty sure to get into five or six of them. If you like USC, go there. The school you attend matters less than you think. You need to thrive, or else it is all worthless.</p>

12

<p>Look into Pitt and Penn State. They both offer a lot of what you want, and you would mostly likely get merit $ at Pitt and possibly at Penn State. Saving money is good. :)</p>

13

<p>I think you need to tell us more about your personality or factor that into your decision. These are very different schools with different student bodies. For instance, Bucknell, by many accounts of friends, is very white, overlywealthy and preppy (there are exceptions but it has sterrotype to it) with more drinking than some schools, so if you have even a mild “geeky” side, you may (and I stress may) not be happy there. Grinnell is very liberal earnest and slightly more unusual, so if that’s you go for it. MIT is reported to have a more competitive, “colder” vibe etc. Remember you will spend 4 years with your classmates.</p>

<p>So whoever advised you below to check into the best fit beyond just math/physics/band is correct. Your scores would likely get you into Ohio State University (My alma mater) Honors program with a scholarship and they have a great band and great sports, but again that is only if you love a wild, large crowd and a large campus. If not, look at Rice University in Texas. Top school, great in math/engineering, and has a music program-ShepHerd School of Music and athletics. Quieter more tight knit community. Trust me, and those of us parents & students that have gone on before you, fit does matter. So take another look at your list and picture yourself there. I would narrow to no more than 10-12 schools. You could re-take the SAT as most schools super score, so they would take your new CR score and combine with your excellent Math score, but I personally don’t think it is necessary unless you want an IVY. Also if you are Asian, Under-represented majority, male, female -makes a difference in what schools would be more likely to accept you based on their needs and demographics.</p>