How much is too much...?

College Search & Selection
21

<p>mom2ck is doing a great job with the finance side so let me offer me ideas on the academics. First of all, not to be anal-retentive but “how much is too much”, probably should read “how many are too many”. Second, you say your ACT is low but looking at a SAT/ACT conversion a 30 equates to roughly a 1980 - 2000 on the SAT (versus your 1880). So I’m thinking statistically you’re about we’re you’re going to end up. Third, while there may be some differences between the caliber of physics taught at your schools, the differences after MIT and CalTech will be marginal.</p>

<p>So, a “good but not perfect” GPA plus 1900 - 2000/30 standardized test scores means…</p>

<p>1) Dump the OOS publics, you aren’t going to get into a better public than UNC (a reach for you) and NC State is on par with your other publics. 2 down.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>MIT and CalTech are massive reaches for most candidates, your standardized test scores make them even bigger long shots, so unless you have an Intel Science award in your back pocket, dump both or at most keep 1 as you “lottery ticket” school. 1 more down.</p></li>
<li><p>The four Ivies, Duke and Chicago are only marginally easier to get into that MIT/CalTech. I’d save no more than three: My suggestion keep Penn, Cornell & Duke. 3 more down.</p></li>
<li><p>The remainder, BC, Rice, WF, JHU. Since you express no preferences whatsoever about your collegiate experiences, these four schools are essentially interchangeable. So I’d drop 1 or 2; me I’d drop Rice and Wake, but I don’t love hot weather. 2 more down.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>By my count you’re now down to 9:</p>

<p>UNC
NCState
Duke
Penn
Cornell
BC
JHU
MIT</p>

<p>Without knowing more details of your academic profile, to me your only safety is NCState, so I’d look to add another in-state public to your list. I think you still have too many reach schools; I’d do some research on other options, Case-Western, University of Miami (it seems to have been a good scholarship year down there this year), etc.</p>

22

<p>^^^That’s way too many reaches considering 1900 SAT’s. </p>

<p>My list would be (based on your interest in physics)</p>

<p>Reaches:Cornell, Columbia, JHU, UPenn</p>

<p>Matches:UNC, PennState(OOS), Rutgers(OOS), CaseWestern, WakeForest</p>

<p>Safety:NCState, MichiganState</p>

<p>I know people are saying to remove PennState and Rutgers from the list. But I would say to keep them because their physics programs are better than some of the reaches like Duke and Brown. You can complete both their application in 1-2 days (If money is an issue, you can always request fee waiver). Just apply and wait and see what they offer. </p>

<p>If you want to study physics, why apply UChicago? And unless you get the SAT’s at least 2200, MIT and CalTech are very very difficult (I didn’t say impossible). </p>

<p>Finally, I would add Michigan State and CaseWestern into the mix.
That’s my opinion. And 10-12 universities is a norm nowadays, so don’t worry.</p>

23

<p>If NC’s cutoff for NMSF doesn’t change, then the student will likely be a NMF - which opens more scholarship opportunities. </p>

<p>An ACT 30 is good enough for some good merit at some safety schools. </p>

<p>Since the student is a rising senior, I don’t think he needs to do an “official” FAFSA yet to determine EFC…he could just do an EFC calculator…</p>

<p>For instance…</p>

<p>If your family’s AGI is $50k and there are 4 people in the family, your estimated EFC is…</p>

<p>$3843</p>

<p>So, for a NC school, your parents would be expected to pay at least $3843 per year. </p>

<p>you would get about $1700 in Pell grants and a NC school would cover the rest with grants, loans, and work-study. </p>

<p>Of course, this is just an estimate based on a guessed income.</p>

<p>The problem is that your stats aren’t likely high enough for the top, top schools that give the best aid.</p>

<p>Take Penn St and Rutgers off your list. They will be unaffordable and they don’t help OOS students. Don’t add Mich St…same problem.</p>

<p>Wake is not a safety and they don’t meet need. This student needs FINANCIAL safeties.</p>

24

<p>Your scores are far too low to be considering quite a few of these schools. Getting rid of your reaches is a good way to slim your list.</p>

25

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<p>There’s more to it than numbers, even if you don’t want to think so. He should keep them if they really represent what he wants.</p>

<p>moondragonx: I think it’s a mistake not to visit everything within reach. It’s not just the food and the dorms you get to see, but the academic atmosphere as well. Do you want to be in hugemongous intro courses, or small class sizes? How accessible is the library? What are the laboratories like? There are so many things to take in, and you have everything on your list from large to small. </p>

<p>Might want to add University of Rochester, which DOES claim to meet 100% of need, and has a large physics group. BTW Medical Physics is the hot thing in physics these days.</p>