Help....Suggest some colleges please?

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I kinda need some advice on what colleges that I should aim for. So far, all I have is 1 safety college in mind and a few reaches (elite/ivies). I'm a rising senior and applying for colleges in the next few months.</p>

<p>Top 20 in class of over 1000 (public)
GPA 3.92UW 4.8W</p>

<p>ACT:
30 (31 Super, I got killed on my second ACT b/c calculator died on me...)
Eng: 26/28
Math: 34/28
Science: 30/33
Reading: 30/28</p>

<p>SAT II
Math I 700
Math II 730
Chemistry 670</p>

<p>AP's
Took 6 so far and taking 5 next year. (11 Total)
Guessing 3-5s on all (OMG I can't wait for scores today lol)</p>

<p>EC's/Experience
-KeyClub
-National Honor Society
-National Technical Honor Society
-Help run our entire school district's website (small team)
-Worked/Help with family business since 6th grade.
-Web Design internship over the summer
Business Professional of American -
-numerous top 3 in district
-first in state in Web Application
-third in state XHTML Development
-top 20 in the nation XHTML Development
-top 10 in the nation Web Application</p>

<p>Hooks?
-First generation
-Midwest
-family income <40k</p>

<p>*Nonhook >.<
Asian American (born in US not immigrated) </p>

<hr>

<p>I'm trying to major in Computer Engineering/Computer Science.
Safety college I'm looking at is Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.</p>

<p>What are some other colleges can you suggest? I'm also looking at some Ivy (Cornell, Columbia mainly), MIT, Stanford (dream). But my test scores is my biggest weakness...</p>

<p>Suggestions/Chances please?</p>

<p>You might want to retake your ACT and SAT subject test… if you want to apply to Columbia, MIT, Stanford. Although I think you would be a decent canidate at Cornell, Purdue, and Indiana. Your extra-curriucular and GPA look great!
Other schools to consider:</p>

<p>UMich- low reach
UC Berkley- reach
University of Washington- match
University of Illinois Urbana and Champaign- match
UT Austin- match
Carnegie Mellon- reach
University of Maryland- safety
University of Wisconsin- safety</p>

<p>Indiana U. doesn’t have engineering. How about Lehigh, Tufts, Boston U?</p>

<p>Safety college I’m looking at is Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.</p>

<p>Are you instate for Purdue? If not, it won’t be a safety because you won’t likely be able to afford it.</p>

<p>If you are instate for Purdue, you need to determine if it will meet need for you, otherwise it’s not a safety.</p>

<p>Since you’re low income, you really have to focus on certain types of schools…</p>

<p>1) reaches that meet need.</p>

<p>2) matches that give good aid/merit.</p>

<p>3)…very important…some financial safeties where you know for sure that you will have all costs covered.</p>

<p>If you’re not instate for those publics mentioned above, don’t consider them…they won’t likely be affordable.</p>

<p>For a school to be a safety for you, you need to be CERTAIN that you have all costs covered thru…ASSURED grants, ASSURED merit, small student loans, and family funds. </p>

<p>Do you know if your family has much in assets/savings? You mention owning a business.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids,
Yes I’m instate. I’m qualified for 100% tuition for almost any colleges in Indiana through the state’s 21st Century scholar’s program. I’ve been to Purdue and love it + I’m at the top 80-90% of their admission pool based on test stats.</p>

<p>Currently, I’m looking at ~3-5k/yr for Purdue without any merit scholarships. + my parent owns a small restaurant so our income isn’t the best <40k/yr.</p>

<p>@Schmaltz, Thanks, I’ve looked at Boston U. I’ll check the other two out.</p>

<p>@Seattle. I’m probably going to take the ACT again, +Thanks :)!</p>

<p>Just got AP scores back also</p>

<p>2 AP Lang >.<!
3 AP Computer Science
3 AP US History
3 AP Chemistry
4 AP Calc AB</p>

<p>lol, testing is really my biggest weakness :(.</p>

<p>Currently, I’m looking at ~3-5k/yr for Purdue without any merit scholarships. + my parent owns a small restaurant so our income isn’t the best <40k/yr.</p>

<p>Is that $3k-5k per estimate because you can commute? Or is it because you will get a Pell Grant?</p>

<p>Does anyone know if the restaurant building will count as an asset?</p>

<p>@mom2. I think that’s with government Pell Grant +etc (FASFA), The 3-5k estimate is off Purdue’s FinAid site.</p>

<p>The building is rented, we don’t own it. So I don’t think it counts as an asset. </p>

<p>+The 21st Century Scholar scholarship was determined in 6-7th grade. It falls under “Purdue Promise” scholarship. As long as I maintain a 3.0+ GPA and no expulsion/crimes, it’s a guarantee scholarship.
[Purdue</a> University - Student Access, Transition and Success Programs - Purdue Promise](<a href=“Purdue Promise - Purdue University”>Purdue Promise - Purdue University)</p>

<p>-btw Thanks :)!</p>

<p>Have you looked into Questbridge matching and Gates Millennium scholarships?</p>

<p>Yes, I’m looking to apply for the QuestBridge match program (hense the Ivy/MIT/Stanford cause there will be no way my family can afford those).</p>

<p>Gates Millennium, no I haven’t, but I though it’s for URM? I’ll look into it!</p>