<p>Hey guys, I am a high school junior who is looking for colleges to apply to. I have some ideas of the kinds of schools I want to apply to, but dont know what schools match my criteria. I am looking for a school that is, at its core, a community of intellectuals. One of my favorite things to do in the world is have scientific and philosophical discussions with people who are equally interested and passionate about these things as I am. I got to get a little taste of what this might be like in high school and they are turning out to be some of my favorite high school memories, no joke. For instance, I want to go to a place where I can sit on the campus lawn or in the classroom and discuss with people about how nothing in biology makes sense without evolution and the implications of knowing that we are a product of a random-ish natural phenomenon on our spirituality and the meaning of our existence on earth. Also, I am a person with a quirky sense of humor and am very spontaneous. I want to go to a place where I would feel at home in that regard.
In a more empirical direction, I am looking for an upper-midsize to smaller school that is preferably somewhere outside the south (I have spent almost my whole life there and wish to go somewhere else for the experience), but that is not imperative. I am also looking for a school that I would fit in well without being a partyer and without partaking in greeklife. I would also prefer for the school to have a slightly liberal bend, but that is also not imperative. I have no preference over liberal arts or technical schools. </p>
<p>Here is a little about myself.
I am a white male
I want to major in some field in the Biological sciences
I go to a very competitive high school in Brenbtwood, TN (ranked the fith best HS in TN).
I have a 4.2 weighted GPA, roughly 3.75 unweighted
I am 63 out of roughly 500 in my class
32 ACT
I will have taken 10 AP classes by the time I graduate
I am an officer of TN Model UN
I am the secretary of my schools Mu Alpha Theta Branch (the national mathematics honors society)
National Honors society and National Society of High School Scholars member
I am part of the international thespian society and act/sing in the school musicals and plays
I had a 109 hour zookeeper internship at the local zoo
Various hobbies</p>
<p>What I want to know is what schools would be good for me to apply to as reach, middle, and fallback schools? Also, I am thinking about applying to UChicago, Harvey Mudd, Cornell, and/or Washington University in St. Louis as reach schools. Are these good choices and possible with my credentials? Sorry for the long message, this is very important to me.</p>
<p>Definitely Reed and New College of Florida.</p>
<p>This may seem random-but maybe smaller colleges is something you should look into that way you can be more personal with the profs if you want REALLY intellectual conversations. (or larger schools with tiny classes)</p>
<p>My son will be enrolling at WUSTL this fall. I highly recommend the school. Some of your passions seem to be a fit for University of Chicago. Show sincere interest and work on the essays and LOR. It is a random process, but I’m sure you’ll do just fine.</p>
<p>I definitely loved both schools when I visited, thanks 
</p>
<p>P.s. can you define LOR for me?</p>
<p>Letter of recommendation</p>
<p>BTW although I went to UIUC for undergrad, I have become a real avid supporter of WUSTL- unfortunately, it often does not have the same name recognition as many other top institutions with the same academic quality, which is a real shame since the school is absolutely phenomenal. </p>
<p>So here I am plugging the institution, assuring you that I have absolutely nothing to gain by doing so. I would love to see the school get to the point where the average Joe knows about the institution, although this is certainly not the reason to attend or not attend an institution. In the end, the ones who really need to know about this institution, graduate schools and employers, are well aware of the phenomenal reputation of the institution.</p>
<p>“Definitely Reed and New College of Florida.”</p>
<p>Aren’t they party schools? I’m not really a partyer.</p>
<p>I loved how out of the way WUSTL went to make me feel welcome. A hand written note by my interviewer? WOW</p>
<p>^my son got a similar note. Others thought it didn’t mean much, but who knows. My son’s regional admissions rep met my son at a local trip in Central Florida and instantly recognized him during his campus trip in December. So if you are interested let them know. Applying ED wouldn’t hurt, but this is not for everyone, especially if you need to compare financial aid packages between schools.</p>
<p>While I don’t know much about Reed College, other than it being the school where Steve Jobs went, New College has a very lax background, kind of hippyish. I don’t think it is a hard party school (3 classmates from son’s class attending this fall).</p>
<p>Reed is not a party school; the work load is up there with Swarthmore and UChicago. Except for its being small, you are describing Reed (and others).</p>
<p>For bio, see Life Sciences at <a href=“http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html[/url]”>http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html</a>.</p>
<p>Have you talked to your parents about what they can contribute to your college costs, and run net price calculators on some colleges to get an idea of financial aid and net price?</p>
<p>If cost is a big problem, consider the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-18.html#post15895768[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-18.html#post15895768</a> for your safety list (perhaps also check to see if there are any such at your in-state public universities).</p>
<p>Honestly you sound perfect for Harvey Mudd.</p>
<p>Mudd sounds like a good place, though Bio’s not their main focus. Also Swarthmore and Haverford for the intellectualism.</p>