I have a list of colleges. I need feedback pls

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello everyone. My name is Andrew from California, Junior and have not taken the SATs yet.
However, I have a decent 3.6 UW GPA, and will probably be able to raise it up to 3.8 by the end of senior year. During my high school schedule, I will be taking 5 AP courses. Currently I'm involve in 4 clubs and 1 varsity sport which is swimming, most likely will be captain for 2 years (junior & senior year). Aside from that, I took leadership positions of Class Vice President (03-04) and President (04-05), Elected ASB Secretary (05-06) & [will be] ASB President (06-07) next year. I am also part of our city team's swim team and have decent community services. Community services include clean ups and weedings and raising fund raisers for libraries. In addition, I volunteer in a hospital. Before I forgot, I'm also a minority: Filipino to be exact.</p>

<p>Enough Background information, but I would like to get some feedback on what my list looks like at this moment. So far I have 14 colleges that I'm interested into, and will narrow it down for the next several months.</p>

<p>[state, name of college]</p>

<p>CA-University of Southern California
CA-University of California, Santa Barbara
CA-University of California, Santa Cruz
GA-Emory University*
IL-Northwestern University
MD-John Hopkins University
MA-Tufts University
MA-Boston University*
MO-Washington University in St. Louis
NY-Cornell University
NY-Columbia University, Columbia College*
NY-Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus
NY-New York University
PA-University of Pennsylvania</p>

<p>My top 3 would be Emory University, Columbia University & Boston University. But my first choice would be Boston - diversity, city, especially Athletic Training Major.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? I'll probably take out one of the UCs</p>

<p>I also need some advice on:
Cornell vs Columbia University vs UPenn<br>
Fordham University vs NYU</p>

<p>Advice, suggestions and feedback is always helpful</p>

2

<p>Also is there a good college that offers great Athletic Training Major and with diversity and have a swim team? This is not my criteria, but I'm just wondering.</p>

3

<p>Northeastern, Boston University, and UCONN have the best three programs in New England. Northeastern, especially, because you can do your rotations through the COOP program, which means great oppurtunities. My friend did Sports Medicine at Northeastern and did her rotations with the Patriots and eventually combine her major with media and is noww working with MSNBC. Great oppurtunities at NE.</p>

4

<p>I am confused by your list of colleges since some entries appear antithetical. For example, schools like Columbia, Penn, and Tufts would not be good choices for someone inclined to study Physical Training, Kinesiology, and the like.</p>

<p>On top of this, you may well not be able to gain admission to any of these anyway, so why bother? Stick to more vocationally inclined schools. Boston University and Northeastern seem like great fits.</p>

<p>I'd add a few more to consider:
Colorado State
Florida State
Miami</p>

5

<p>My list does not really target only to Kinesiology majors and the like -althought, a college with Kinesiology & Athletic Training/Aports Medicine etc. will be a plus and may make my list depending on the diversity and location. My list includes the colleges which I think I could benefit from and have the best 4 years of my life ^_^. So any thoughts about these colleges?</p>

<p>But you guys really did suggest great colleges that I might consider. I think Boston U is my really first choice overall. but so far, the list has changed, and I'm considering UMich as 2nd choice.</p>

<p>California - University of California, Santa Barbara
California - University of California, Santa Cruz
Florida - University of Miami
Georgia - Emory University
Illinois - Northwestern University
Maryland - John Hopkins University
Massachusetts - Tufts University
Massachusetts -Boston University*
Michigan -University of Michigan*
Missouri - Washington University in St. Louis
New York - Cornell University
New York - Columbia University, Columbia College
New York -Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus
New York - New York University
Ohio - Miami University
Pennsylvania - University of Pennsylvania</p>

<p>I still have mixed feelings on Northwestern, Fordham & JHU. Miami U in Ohio seems pretty homogenous, so I don't know if I should drop it. I have NYU for the hell of it since it is in NYC. The UCs are safety (and instate too) just in case I never got to these other colleges. I still need indepth view on UPenn vs Cornell vs Columbia (the Ivies) - even though I'm more inclined on Columbia, I would like to look more into Cornell and UPenn. University of Miami (FL) seems okay, but its in florida, and I'm scared of hurricanes =/. So I don't know if I'm exactly correct about that.</p>

<p>Any thoughts & comments? It would be appreciated! ^_^</p>

6

<p>I think you are underestimating the differences one finds between schools like Columbia that trying very hard to avoid any hint of vocationality and those like MyStateU that co-mingle vocational programs with liberal arts.</p>

<p>You could go to a school like Columbia for 4 years and essentially be farther from your career goal than had you simply worked at Bally's all the while.</p>

7

<p>I really think you need to learn more about each school you are applying to. I am guessing you want to be in a major city, hehe. I just know that I first narrowed my list down by wanting to be in a city, then by area, then by majors offered. You seem to not really care about that third point but it is really important. I love Fordham, that is my first choice. I am also applying to NYU, Barnard, Drexel...all schools in Philly and NYC with good environmental and writing programs. Check out Drexel in Philadelphia by the way, it is right next to Penn and if I am correct, they have a good rep in your major interests. Oh, and they have an awesome pool!</p>

8

<p>Good list so far! But if I had BU as my first choice, I wouldn't bother applying to any Ivies or private elites. Why try to get into a school more selective but less desirable.</p>

9

<p>NYU > Fordham, definitly. If you like B.U., you would probably like NYU as well. That's a good list.</p>

10

<p>Instead of applying to U of Miami, apply to UF. It is a better school and is much cheaper.</p>

11

<p>Thank you everyone for the word of advice. I'm taking things into consideration and would like to learn more about these colleges' strength and weaknesses. Though, don't penalize me for limiting the states that I want to go to colleges - specifically, I just crossed out Florida, though I'm setting aside U of Miami when applications comes along (University of Florida is actually a good school with great school spirit, well from football games I hear. But it's a state school and usually (no offense) I run away from state schools - when I go OOS, my family would either like it public or private.).</p>

<p>Boston U & UMich offers my major that I am interested in. I am thinking about putting Northeastern U with this since I hear it have a great Athletic Training/Sports Medicine programs. But the thing that holds me back is that there is no men's swim team and having a men's swim team is usually a criteria for me. Am I wrong for thinking this because I know I might get bashed for saying it. I'm not entirely crossing out Northeastern because of this, but I am looking around and considering this university. Northeastern U do have a women's swim team, so I don't know how it will play out. Most likely, I'll be attracted to Northeastern U. I'll go check on them about their Athletic Training Program ^_^.</p>

<p>So far Emory, Columbia, Tufts & WashU in St. Louis seems like great universities to spend my years of college in (even though they don't offer the major I'm interested in, I can do undecided and be experience in variety of fields then declare a major right?).</p>

<p>I'm going to ask my teacher about Northwestern U and its strengths. She did mention about its engineering programs and asks if I want to intern during the summer. I probably might be interested in that major, so I don't know how it played out, I'll go ask.</p>

<p>So far, UPenn & Cornell seems like a little baggage now. I'm getting more attracted to BU, and as mentioned here before, I feel that I might not need the Ivies if I have BU as my first choice.</p>

<p>Also - I'm looking @ University of Delaware. They have an Athletic Training major there, so it got me hooked. I'll go ahead and research this university, esp their AT program. Hopefully it is at least diverse ^_^.</p>

<p>Hmm...sorry if this sounds like I'm convincing myself. Reading through this, it sounds like it, but it does help me out selecting colleges and evaluating my choices on the list. Comments, advice & suggestions is appreciated everyone. Thanks :)</p>

12

<p>A few comments:</p>

<p>Wait...your in California?!! Why haven't you looked at Pepperdine? Go check out Pepperdine before you go any further! </p>

<p>Now, why are we looking at Columbia for Athletic Training, or for anything regarding kinesiology. Columbia sounds like absolutely nothing you're looking for.</p>

<p>Also, if you're looking into Athletic Training, you can't hold the grudge against all public institutions. The fact is that many of the best programs are at flag-ship state schools, you will not find any full programs at any of the Ivies or Elite Private Universities. I for one and going to tell you again to look at University of Connecticut, excellent program and you'll be doing your rotations at a Division I powerhouse.</p>

<p>3rd, if you love Cornell so much, have you tried looking at it's neighboring school, Ithaca College? </p>

<p>Last, I would take Tufts of if you have any current interest in medicine at all. There are no undergraduate medicine programs at the Tufts-Medford Campus...where you would be. The med school and vet school are totally detached from the undergraduate college.</p>

13

<p>Thank you for the advice Cre8tive1, this helps a lot - although I need to clarify something. First, I know that Columbia doesn't offer my major. I have it in my list, so maybe if I get in, I can get a chance to be experience variety of fields and declare a major after a couple of years (hopefully this plan will work) ^_^. But you have a point that not all of the Elite Universities, esp. Ivies will have full programs on Athletic Training - state schools will probably have core AT programs. </p>

<p>However just a little question - I mention before that I run away from state universities because they usually admit instate students and probably I will have little chance to get in as an OOS applicant. Thing is, I have an idea that state universities are different from public universities. Is this accurate? From your response, Cre8tive1, it seems that it's just the same and now I feel as that I am wrong? =/. But just a little question.</p>

<p>Second, I just want to clarify that Cornell seems like a baggage to me now and probably will drop it - I don't really see myself @ Cornell. But you brought up Ithaca Col. and I think it may be just a good college to be on the list too (I'm looking into their AT major for quite awhile, along with Northeastern U). What stump me about UConn is that when I look @ collegeboard, it did not list Athletic Training major, so I guess I just passed it by when you mentioned it. Now that I get to go around their site, I was mistaken. Sorry I was really careless =/.</p>

<p>But at this moment, Pepperdine and Northeastern U seems like a couple of great choices to be put on the list. I called northeastern U this afternoon and inquire in their Athletic Training program and I was hooked. But thing is both doesn't have a men's swim team and it kind of holds me back. I really feel that they have good programs as you guys are saying. But I know I'm wrong for giving this criteria on men's swim team (whether I join it or not), but I don't necesarrily going to cross them out - I was hoping to put them aside and reconsider and reach with my counselor about this. Maybe talk it out about having a men's swim team as criteria.</p>

<p>I do have a question though. If I do athletic training major, I get to do hands on, probably with collegiate, high school or pro teams. How hard is it to balance Athletic Training and be on a college team itself (if I do decided to continue swimming). Will it collide with my schedule or am I going to be able to do both (I was hoping)?</p>

<p>So far list has been revised:</p>

<ul>
<li>Offers Athletic Training major</li>
</ul>

<p>CA- UC Santa Barbara (safety)
CA- UC Santa Cruz (safety)
MA- Boston U (1st Choice)*
MI- University of Michigan (3rd choice)*
NY- Ithaca College (2nd Choice - I just fell in love when I browse around their site ^_^. Thanks Cre8tive1!!)*
DE- University of Delaware*
CT- University of Connecticut*</p>

<p>Colleges that DONT offer my major:
GA- Emory University
MO- Washington University in St. Louis
MA- Tufts University
NY- Columbia University Columbia College</p>

<ul>
<li>I have these colleges since they feel like great colleges to go to if I don't get into the universities that do offer my major. Although, I would like to minimize this to 1 or 2. Even though, they're great colleges, probably Emory will be dropped first, then Tufts. and its up to Columbia & Wash U. Wow, sorry I'm just thinking aloud there.</li>
</ul>

<p>Just a note that for California, University of La Verne has my inclined major. Not sure why I don't put it in my list. Maybe I do want to go OOS, but I'm still thinking about it =/. I'll probably replace one of the UCs with this, but we'll see.</p>

<p>But thank you for the advice, Cre8tive1. I really appreciate this and really helps me throughout my college search. Additional comments and advice, suggestions etc. are always welcome :)</p>

14

<p>A State school and Public school are one in the same.
You seem quite determined to apply to elite LACs that lack your major. As other posters have pointed out, this is ill-advised. Don't say you were not warned.</p>

15

<p>A couple things...</p>

<p>Most varsity swim teams I know practice at the crack of dawn. Most AT rotations take place during games and big evening practices, atleast for BU. At Northeastern, you can do your rotations as part of the coop program and get...</p>

<p>I'll finish up later, g2g</p>

16

<p>This is worth reposting:</p>

<p>"A State school and Public school are one in the same.
You seem quite determined to apply to elite LACs that lack your major. As other posters have pointed out, this is ill-advised. Don't say you were not warned."</p>

<p>You need to seriously consider what nightfly wrote, or at least acknowledge that your hunt is being largely driven by prestige over practicality. Your list is stuffed to the brim with great schools that don't even remotely fit the direction you are heading in, and I'm actually a tad taken aback by how flippant you are being concerning your major, i.e. "even though they don't offer the major I'm interested in, I can do undecided and be experience in variety of fields then declare a major right?".</p>

17

<p>I did a lot of thought to what you guys are advising me. Looking through the universities that didn't even offer my majors is reckless decision, but they do have undergraduate majors that seems to attract me (which is an optional thing to pursue for my college career). Changed my mind though, I'll be inclined to Athletic Training since I like hands-on experience and be able to work with athletes. Anyways, thank you guys for the input, this has helped me greatly and you guys have no idea how everything starts to make sense =). So far I have this:</p>

<p>California - University of California, Santa Barbara
California -University of California, Santa Cruz
Massachusetts -Boston University
Massachusetts - Northeastern University
New York -Ithaca College
Michigan - University of Michigan
Missouri - Washington University in St. Louis
Connecticut - University of Connecticut
Indiana - University of Indianapolis
Delaware - University of Delaware</p>

<p>I did a lot of thinking with Northeastern U and seems like it will be one of my top choices. Even if they don't have men's swim team, they do have the men's swim club, which is convenient. Seeing that their co-op programs & the rotations that you guys mentioned are incredible, I'm excited to take part in it!! This might be probably my standard list that I will keep looking at. Comments & advice are greatly appreciated!</p>

18

<p>New York University has a Sports Medicine major and a men's swimming & diving team. You might want to check that out.</p>

19

<p>I had NYU throughout my lists in the past because of their swim team and its NYC area. I didn't know it had a sports medicine program. I thought they only had physical therapy, but I'll go and look to it.</p>

<p>I was also thinking of U of Evansville in Indiana. It was one of the top choices I had in the past and most likely will be a safety. But does anyone know how strong is their Athletic Training program is?</p>

20

<p>Also...this is about Ithaca College. It seems that diversity is homogenous and probably white from middle to upper class. Statistics shows that, but in this college, I feel that there are a lot of snobby people. Can someone help me out?</p>