Help with college list!

College Search & Selection
1

I’ve started my college list recently(yes I realize I should have begun much earlier), and I was having trouble finding schools that I would like that wouldn’t be absolutely ridiculous for me to get into. I’ll give some information about my academics, and what I’m looking for:

Standardized Tests:
SAT: 1550(780 math 770 English) Essay 6/6/6
PSAT: 1450(740 math 710 English)
ACT: 32(35 English, 34 math, 25 reading, 33 Science) Essay 7 (Yes I’m planning to retake this one, and note, I took an ACT with 30 on reading previously, but still had a 32 man that day was really bad for me on reading)

AP Scores:
AP Chem: 4
AP Calc AB: 5

Freshman Classes:
Regular Biology
Honors Chemistry
Honors Algebra II
Reg Eng and Hist
Band
Latin II

Summer: Honors Precalc

Sophomore classes:
AP Calc AB
AP Chemistry
Reg Eng and Hist
Band
Latin III

Junior Classes:
AP Calc BC(Expected 5)
Multivariable Calculus
AP Physics C(Expected 5)
AP Physics 2(Expected 5)
Reg Eng and Hist
Band
Latin IV

Took AP CS A(Expected 5)

Senior Classes:
Ancient Greek
AP Latin V
AP Music Theory
Honors History(Semester 1) and AP Human Geo(Semester 2)
Regular English
AP Bio
Band
Independent Study on Algebraic Topology(Will be on transcript, and have previously learned topology through other means)

Unweighted GPA: 3.68(I really wish i put more effort into my humanities classes, also not entirely sure how exact this is, so ±0.5)

Home:MS
Note: Sister went to UChicago

Extracurriculars: Quiz Bowl, Chess(Not to a very large degree), Flute(I take lessons, consider myself to be intermediate-advanced, haven’t done much outside of lessons, but planning to do some more performing et al throughout the year), Volunteering at children’s museum
Free Time is spent learning various areas in STEM, leaning towards math and physics, and practicing flute. Recently picked up on making electronic music(for lack of a better term)

What I’m looking for: I do want to go to a school with a strong stem program, particularly on the physics and math. However, I am also interested in the ancient world, and music(specifically flute), and was hoping for, if not strong, at least existing programs in those areas. I would hope for research opportunities, and would rather not live in a rural area. California and New England are slightly, but not extremely preferred.

Schools I’ve seen(but probably won’t get into based on GPA)
UC Berkley
Rice
UChicago
Princeton(Yes i know that this is extremely unlikely)
UT Austin(More likely than all the previous options, but still unlikely from what I’ve seen)
MIT(I basically have to say this because of their stem program, but I likely wont even consider applying to this one)
Carnegie Mellon(I’ll stop putting notes, you probably get what I’m trying to say)
Georgia Tech
Cornell
Cal Tech
Duke
Harvard(Well, I’ve already listed schools I have a 0% chance of getting into, might as well add Harvard)

So, as you can see, I’ve come up with a list in which I can maybe get into 2 of if I’m extremely lucky. So I’m hoping for a much more realistic list of colleges I can actually get into.

Thanks for help!

2

Don’t think you need to take another ACT. Your SAT is very strong, so just use that.

A few schools you may want to look into where your chances would be high.

Case Western

RPI

WPI

3

How much can your parents afford to pay per year? Do you qualify for need-based aid? Are you looking for merit aid?

For example: UC Berkeley is $60K/year with no need based aid for out of state students. Little merit aid ($2500/year) if selected.

4

Look into the University of Michigan.

5

My family will be able to afford pretty much any colleges(not due to wealth but due to long term planning. Thanks mom and dad!). While aid would be nice, it’s not strictly necessary, and choosing between two schools where one has a better education with a greater cost, we would go with a better education.

6

URochester fits your mix.

7

Harvey Mudd for STEM, with the option of classes at other Claremont consortium colleges for your other interests? Not a safety, but less competitive than most of the schools on your list.

8

Hi! :slight_smile: Just thought I’d recommend some other schools for you to consider!
Wake Forest U
Elon
Richmond
Emory
Bowdoin
U of Florida
Bucknell
Davidson
Charleston
Washington & Lee

Hope this list is somewhat helpful!

9

Thanks all! I’ll go ahead and do more intensive research in to most of these(probably all) and go from their. Once again, thank you, this was really helpful as a starting point. Is there anything I should do not directly related to the application that might help me(for example, some type of extracurricular activity that could do)?

10

@purepani add RPI, CaseWestern, Stevens.
I was accepted to CarnegieMellon for ComputerEngineering so I don’t doubt you could get in since your SAT, Grades, and ExtraCurrs are better than mine. I didn’t go because I couldn’t afford their offer but since you say you got finances covered, it’s all yours.