How is my list of colleges?

College Search & Selection
1

I am interested in doing physics, mathematics, and/or a pre med program.
GPA: 4.56
SAT: 790 Math and 750 Reading
ECs: Vice President and President of my school’s Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honors Society), Robotics Club, Math Team, National Honor Society, and Governor’s Honor Program
I am heavily involved in Math Honor Society to hopefully help to make up for the lack of extracurriculars

I have received a few awards for my achievements in mathematics (One for Calculus and the other for Algebra/Geometry that only one student per year receives) and some for Spanish II and Spanish III. I also am a National AP Scholar with Distinction.

The List:
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Emory University
University of Texas-Austin
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
UC Berkeley
UPenn
Georgia Tech
Washington University in St. Louis
John Hopkins University
Harvard
New York University
Case Western
Carnegie Mellon University
Northwestern University
CalTech
MIT
Vanderbilt
Duke University
University of Chicago
Princeton University
Stanford
Columbia University
I know many of these are FAR reaches and I need to cut the list down a ton, but for now this is all of what I am thinking could be possibilities.

2

Your parents have the ability and willingness to be full pay for the OOS publics and NYU, and to pay the net price calculator EFC for the remaining schools?

3

Not necessarily my parents, but yes someone can.

4

What schools do you consider to be your safeties?

What is your unweighted GPA? Different high schools compute weighted GPA so differently that it is very hard to compare. The admissions staff at each university will see your actual grades in each class.

What is your home state?

Should we assume that you are fine being full pay at all of your out of state public schools?

5

@Mateo109

Home state?

What can your parents afford to pay per year? That is, do you have a budget? Have you run the NPC at any of these schools?

Are you going to be a National Merit Finalist?

6

There were a few schools I left off this list that were safety, and I am from Georgia. The GPA is out of 5 with each AP granting a +1.0 and honors granting an extra +0.5. My unweighted is about a 3.9, and yes I am fine with paying out of state public school tuitions.

7

Is one of the state schools your home state? These are almost all reach schools given the low acceptance rate. Case might give you some merit and be more of a match. Also you’d might be competitive for some merit at Emory. Maybe Vandy. I would cut this list in half and add one or two safety - maybe a state school. If you can apply to a few rolling/EA especially with some match schools that can help the process.

8

List:
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Emory University
University of Texas-Austin
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
UC Berkeley
UPenn x
Georgia Tech
Washington University in St. Louis
John Hopkins University
Harvard x
New York University
Case Western
Carnegie Mellon University
Northwestern University x
CalTech x
MIT x
Vanderbilt
Duke University
University of Chicago x
Princeton University x
Stanford x
Columbia University x

I marked ones which are unlikely to send an acceptance message so focus on others to avoid dissapointment. If you are URM or kid of a senator or actor or prince, then its a diffrent matter.

9

By the way, there is no such thing as National Merit Scholar with distinction. National Merit Scholar is the highest award, AP Scholar with distiction is tier below that.

10

I think you have a shot at any of these colleges – some more than others, of course. If i were you I’d narrow it down by some criteria other than just admissions rate. Look at location/weather, or check out faculty / courses in the math departments and physics departments to see how they appeal to you. You could also narrow the list in other ways – some have more gen ed requirements (like UChicago and Columbia) which you might like or not like, some have larger Greek presence (like Vandy). Or, pick other criteria.

I notice all your choices pretty urban so I assume that’s what you’re looking for. And no LACs…

HPSM are big long shots w/o some sort of national award or legacy or URM hook – so maybe only apply to just your top two. I suggest no more than 10-12 total so that you can keep essay quality high.

If you’re fine with full pay and have a def. 1st choice you should consider ED.

You need a solid safety – add UGA?

Finally, don’t forget demonstrated interest – esp. at Wash U and maybe Vandy/Northwestern/Chicago.

Good luck and congrats on your hard work and success in high school!