HELP! Please help me narrow down list of schools!!!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi - I am a senior and am having trouble narrowing down my list of schools. I'm not sure about my major. I’m thinking of Environmental Policy/Studies, Economics, Urban Studies, or Geography, depending on the school and eventually what I decide I like best. </p>

<p>I feel I have pretty good stats: 4.62/3.94 (w/uw) GPA, 33 on the ACT, I am the president of a community service org. at my school, race bikes and work in a shop, am a member of student actives council, mock trial for two years. I have one 4 and seven 5's on AP exams and have taken all honors or (except language, tech, etc.) since 9th grade with an extra two math courses from middle school and 3 extra social studies courses from high school. </p>

<p>Good fin. aid or merit scholarships are required. I'd like to stay with smaller, liberal arts colleges or small universities. I don’t want to party and would like a rigorous academic environment. I live in east PA and would like to stay within driving distance (10 hours).</p>

<p>Here is my list; let me know if you have suggestions for deletions or additions. I'm trying to make it more manageable to keep essay-writing, visiting, and fees to a minimum. Thanks!</p>

<p>Reach:
Amherst (really liked)
Swarthmore (really liked)
Williams</p>

<p>Fit:
Haverford (Visited)
Vassar (I’m a male) (Visited)
Univ. of Richmond (Visited)
Wesleyan
Colby College
Skidmore
Connecticut College</p>

<p>Safety:
U. of Pitt (In state)
Clark University</p>

<p>Free Apps and no Essay:
Drexel
Fordham
Furman</p>

2

<p>Has your family calculated their EFC yet?</p>

<p>In creating your list did you evaluate whether each school has generous FA and/or merit aid?</p>

<p>In terms of admissions chances I think your list looks pretty good.</p>

3

<p>Yes ,I forgot to mention - I’ve run Net Price Calculators for all schools on my list except UPitt</p>

4

<p>Did you consider Tufts, Univ. of Rochester, CMU?</p>

5

<p>If you intend to use Pittsburgh as a safety, you need to run the net price calculator to check whether it is affordable, unless your parents have assured you that its list price is affordable, or you have a guaranteed merit scholarship that brings it down to the affordable range.</p>

6

<p>I’d look hard at your two safeties and 3 free app/no essay. Pick two. You don’t need 5 safeties if they are really safe (and that means affordable). Applying just because it’s free and easy seems like a waste unless you would really rather go to one of those schools instead of a safety that requires more work from you.</p>

7

<p>Sorry - I should have been more clear…I’m not concerned about the number of schools so much as number of schools which require payment and essays. </p>

<p>M’s Mom - I actually was considering those schools even when I didn’t have a free app invitation- or, in Furman’s case before I knew it was free. I’d prefer these schools to Pitt, but I don’t know how merit awards will paly out, so I’d like to keep options open.</p>

<p>ucbalumnus- I defiantly will do that.</p>