<p>Honestly. I'm lost with this college search process. I have (honestly) ZERO schools "picked out".... because I don't even know what I'm capable of getting into! What should I be looking at? </p>
<p>Here is a basic list of things in a school I'm looking for:
-Very studious students, both motivated and driven people who go to college to learn, not to get a career. The career is just the added bonus to an inspiring education
-Midwest. Preferably Illinois (I want to stay in state)... but I'll go to Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio... maybe some other surrounding states
-Offers my potential majors: Political Science and Geography
-SMALL.
-Beautiful campus. I don't even care if it's rural/suburban/urban. I want an area that's not too clustered with pretty buildings. :) That damn "Hogwarts" post in "College Search" made me want one!
-A good library. Sad but true. I need to be comfortable in the place where I'll be spending most of my time.
-Offers pretty good merit aid.</p>
<p>Okay. Now my stats.......... I posted these before but in the wrong section, oops.</p>
<p>Current year: Junior c/o 2006
Potential areas of study: Double major in Political Science and Geography OR Religoius Studies</p>
<p>GPA: (uw) 3.33, (w) 3.36
----I've used one of those online GPA calculators.... at the end of this semester I'll be at a 3.45 unweighted. I'm doing an independent study course in the summer that should boost be to about 3.48. Most colleges I'm assuming will see this GPA. At the end of my first semester, with straight As (which I've been getting all year -- huge 180 from my frosh/soph yrs), I'll be at a 3.55, graduating with a 3.6... this is all unweighted that I calculated</p>
<p>Rank: (uw) 209/65831.7%, (w) 217/65832.9%
----I jumped from 40% to 30% in one semester, so I'm thinking/hoping I can get to top 25% at the very least.</p>
<p>ACT composite: 26
-English: 29
-Math: 26
-Reading: 28
-Science: 21 (Gah)
-Writing: 10(/12)
------I'm taking SATs June 4 since I did okay on everything but Science. I'm hoping my SAT will be a bit higher, but you never know.... I also don't know my ACT score that I took a few weeks ago AND I'll be taking it once more in the fall. </p>
<p>Credits (What I will graduate with):
-Foreign Language: 3 or 4 (still deciding whether or not to take Spanish 4 next year)
-English: 4.5
-Math: 4 or 5 (debating whether or not to drop Spanish 4 for AP Stats)
-Science: 4
-Social Studies: 6.5 (I love history/government/geography...)
-Other electives: 2</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Frosh: Student Council
Soph: Newspaper. Student Council
Junior: Entertainment editor of newspaper, Literary magazine
---Next year I'll be editor in chief of school paper</p>
<p>Award: Junior year Quill and Scroll</p>
<p>I worked for a year (second semester soph yr--end of first semester junior year) as a cashier...</p>
<p>Active in community service, though nothing full-time/steady....</p>
<p>I've always taken the maximum number of classes I'm allowed to at my school (six a semester). I've taken summer school twice (to get ahead) and I'll be doing an independent study course this summer. </p>
<p>My classes may not be considered incredibly difficult, but I've REALLY progressed over the years. Freshman year I believe a 3.0... soph year something like a 3.2... this year I really turned around and got a 3.83 first semester and will have a 4.0 this semester-- so about a 3.9 average for the year. However, I'm really afraid my poor choices as an underclassman hurt me significantly....</p>
<p>Okay. Phew. I just told basically my life story. SO! Can anybody recommend any schools for me? I've tried collegeboard. I've tried AP central.. but I think I just need to hear it from a person, not a computer-generated counselor who tells me that University of Chicago is a safety. I know better. Can anybody give me some schools to start with? I feel like I just need a basis somewhere....</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>