<p>Jprencipe: Duke and Dartmouth are "significant reaches"? Interesting, considering I am above their "average" stats. I thought they were in the match, high match, or low reach territory for me. </p>
<p>Rasberry: Were you talking to me in that last statement?</p>
<p>hey, i'd imagine landscapers make quite a bit of money.. also, plumbers are mad rich, too, aren't they? </p>
<p>about uchic... what kind of people are they looking for?</p>
<p>Oh My Gosh Dude I Didnt Know People Actually Got 1460 Sat, U Are In At Princeton Hands Down!</p>
<p>The thing cavalier is that stats at this level arent enough to get people in anymore. You need to be differentiated through ECs as well. That is why Willaims, Princeton ED, Duke, and Dartmouth are all reaches, although you will likely get into at least one of them.</p>
<p>No, Cavalier, he was talking to me.</p>
<p>Rasberry, how am I trying to impress anyone with my "list?" It is based on personal experience and discussions with adcoms (one of which is from the UofChicago). So, in that respect, you're right - my suppositions aren't based on "empirical data" as you put it, but thats no different than 90% of the others who post on this site. </p>
<p>Also, with regard to my little typo...I didn't reread my post until after you pointed it out, as I'm not overly concerned with petty spelling errors and grammatical mistakes on a message board. </p>
<p>Furthermore, i've noticed through many of your posts that you have a thing for Dartmouth. Then, perhaps, is it your bias towards Dartmouth that caused your condescending post earlier? </p>
<p>Nonetheless, I don't proclaim to be a college admissions guru. I do, however, have <em>some</em> experience with this matter, so I'm not being completely arbitrary.</p>
<p>Yeah, I hope I get into Princeton RD and MIT EA. Wow, wouldn't that be impossible!</p>
<p>haha, Jerew, which one would you go to if you got into both? Princeton, right?? lol. I'm thinking about switching Williams out for MIT, but I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't get into MIT.
BTW, does anyone have any insight into how athletics may or may not play a role in MIT admissions? My track times would make me one of the fastest on MIT's team in my main event, so would that help? I've emailed their coach about this but have not received a response.</p>
<p>Yeah, probably Princeton. That should help you, especially compared to my sport, Ultimate Frisbee <em>cough cough</em></p>
<p>Cavalier - you have excellent resume, etc., and I think you'll get into at least one or more of your schools. So congratulations on a great HS career. </p>
<p>My question is how did you create your college list? Other than the obvious prestige of the institutions, I don't see a lot of similarity between Williams and U of Chicago, for instance. I'm wondering if you would stand a better chance if your interest in one of these schools went beyond the prestige factor. Why did you put these particular schools on your list? What attracted you to each one? What do you want to study?</p>
<p>Well, Williams most likely will be changed sometime between now and january 1. I like the idea of applying to eight schools (nice round number, and I am going to need financial aid), so right now Williams is just kinda "there". I plan on studying physics or astrophysics, and among my seven definites, here are my reasons for applying:</p>
<p>Princeton- amazing physics dept, Institute for Advanced Studies, Plasma Physics lab, etc.
UVa- Best school in Virginia, always a favorite of mine, excellent in all areas as far as I am concerned
Duke- great physics/sciences, research triangle, relatively close to my home
Cornell- great sciences, physics, etc.
dartmouth- nice physics and science depts, and something about the campus from the viewbook really appeals to me...
U. of Chicago- outstanding economics and physics dept, very intellectual, etc
Rice- great in sciences, Baker institute, etc</p>
<p>One thing that several of these schools have in common is that each has a campus that appeals to me; duke, dartmouth, cornell, UVa, and Princeton are all rural or suburban, scenic, and self-contained. Besides these reasons, there are just certain intangibles that I can't really express. I sorta had williams down because it is so similar to Dartmouth, but it is a little on the small side for me and compared to the others, a little weak in physics. I'll most likely change it, but I'm not sure which school I should change it to...I'm still deciding. MIT would be nice but seems like it would be a monstrous reach for me and not a perfect fit socially. I still may apply there, and I'd likely attend if I got in (IF, lol), but that is yet to be determined.</p>
<p>Cavalier - I can appreciate where you're coming from, and certainly these are good (at least most of them are) for physics. Nothing comes close to Princeton in physics ! (I never connected Dartmouth so strongly with physics, but it's not my area, so that's not a surprise).</p>
<p>Do you have a list of safeties and matches as well as reaches? Since you mention you will need money, you may want to consider selecting a couple of really great schools that aren't at the Ivy level, but have superb physics programs. If you are at the top of their target class, rather than at the middle of their profile, you could end up at a terrific school, have a great experience, a wonderful college resume, and money to boot.</p>
<p>Maybe its just because i've lived in houston for 10 years, but I really dislike Rice. I've been to various summer camps there, and other than the fact that I think houston is a terrible city to live in (the weather also sucks), the students seemed very uptight and well, not very fun. However, the academics are top-notch, obviously...</p>
<p>Hayden: I consider all of the schools on my list with the exception of UVa to fall somewhere between match and reach. I am fairly sure that UVa will accept me (I'm instate). Since I have been in high school, everyone in the top 5% with a 1300+ at my high school has gotten in. My counselors have pretty much assured me that I will get in, and I completely trust their judgement (they are very very familiar with instate schools). I guess I am taking a slight risk, but I don't think it's a big deal. The chances of me being rejected at all 8 are probably pretty small (from what I have seen on CC) and even if I only got into one private school, and got screwed with financial aid, I still probably wouldn't be paying much more than $20k per year and could just transfer out after a year. It wouldn't be the end of the world. At this point I'm just wondering where I'll get in...</p>
<p>BTW, if it matters, at my school all these ivies and "elites" are pretty irrelevant. Only around 50% of the graduating class each year goes to college and almost every top student goes to UVa, w&m, or virginia tech. I've been pretty independent in throughout my academic career and haven't been subjected to much of the peer, parental, and school pressures that a lot of you guys are. I'm really trying to pick the best colleges and the best fits for me. As far as my parents or other people in the community are concerned, I could just go somewhere like VaTech. In this whole process of finding a college, message boards like this have been such a tremendous help...I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Again, just like me. I understand your position. I was shocked to hear that my friend was going to apply to Stanford. We would be the only HYPSMC apps in probably over 4 years. Anyway, he won't. When I mention big colleges to my teachers, they say, "you don't want to go there. It's just a name. Here, look at these small cheap state schools." </p>
<p>It makes me angry. I can try can't I! So what if its called Cornell. Let me try, that's what I say.
I live in a discouraging town for admissions. I am a bit obsessive about colleges cuz I am on my own. That being said, Good luck with your search!</p>
<p>LOL jerew I know what you mean! Most people have only heard of two or three of the places I am applying to...and I have been asked why I am applying to so many no name schools instead of prestigious places like VirigniaTech! lol...<em>sigh</em>...people like you and I should get some kind of special attention in admissions...lol...self motivated people of the world unite!</p>
<p>Yeah, and unfortunately, since I was the only person to score a 5 on an AP test in my school in three years, everyone assumes I have my pick of schools. I get sick of explaining my unfortunate odds to everyone. They are shocked that some kids take more than three AP's I am apparently going overboard by taking the SAT II's. Heh heh. Oh Well.</p>
<p>Again, I know what you mean...some people think I am fishing for compliments when I tell them that I probably won't get into Princeton and definitely won't just get in everywhere. Hopefully we'll get into our top choices.</p>
<p>Cavalier - you have obviously thought this through very thoroughly - probably evidence of sound decision-making, which bodes even better for your future than your high SAT's ! I was not trying to discourage you from shooting for the top schools, I was just thinking of the financial aid aspect. But obviously you will get into U of Va and since you would be very happy there (as anyone should be) the worst case scenario for you is still very rosey. So best of luck and let us know where ou end up.</p>
<p>aw man i'm glad u guys are motivated on your own =)
here it's like.. what, your entire courseload isn't APs, what's wrong with you? you want to go to <insert not="" ivy="">?????</insert></p>
<p>haha ataforce, that would be accurate (blame it on the asian parents)</p>
<p>and joe, keep in mind our school never gets anybody into pton cuz we compete against all the kids of profs and alumni over at princeton high. so, since we live 10 mins from pton its alot harder for us than it would be for someone from VA.</p>