I have long but incomplete list of colleges that I'm interested in

College Search & Selection
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<p>I have long but incomplete list of colleges that I'm interested in. I'd like some hep in deciding which ones I should drop and adding more matches and safeties. Only a few factors are important to me. The most important thing is that I can afford it. I think my family can afford to pay (with loans) around $12,000 dollars for four years. They would be able to pay more like $24,000 if I decided to transfer. After that, I'd really like to be in a school with smart and motivated students. I don't want to attend a school that will limit my success later in life with a bad reputation. I would also prefer a co-ed school with a liberal atmosphere but I could bend on that if I could get really good aid. I don't really care about urban or rural. Although I'd prefer not to attend a suburban school, that is not a big factor. I can see the benefits of attending both a small or a large school do I do not care too much about the size. I intend to study biology and possibly double major in political science or sociology. My intention would be to eventually get a PhD and do biological research.</p>

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.88 UW/ 4.28 W (I'm not entirely sure that this is accurate, especialy the weighted GPA)
SAT: 2070 (CR+M+W)
660 (M), 730 (CR), 680 (W)
I'm retaking the SAT and also taking the ACT
California resident</p>

<p>The List:
UC Davis
UC Berkeley
Stanford
UC Santa Cruz
U of Pacific
Haverford College
Georgetown University
Colby College
Boston College
Wesleyan University
Brandeis University
NY University
Macalester College
Reed College
Oberlin College
Eckerd College</p>

<p>Any help with just editing the list would be very appreciated.</p>

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<p>Cross off NYU they’re known for not giving aid</p>

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<p>Thanks for the help, I’ll cross it off. I knew there would be simple things that I would miss.</p>

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<p>I think your list is too reach heavy</p>

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<p>Yes, I need to get rid of some of them and add more safeties and matches. Which ones should I delete, though? The problem is that the reaches usually give the best aid and safeties are only safeties if I can afford them.</p>

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<p>Look into SCU and LMU. Maybe get rid of meh schools like eckerd. What are your ECs?</p>

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<p>My ECs are pretty average. I’m the president of the Young Democrats Club (secretary this year). The “Executive officer/ Web Master” of the California Scholarship Federation. I’m the Past Worthy Advisor (President) in my chapter of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (It’s sort of like a religious girl scouts). I’ve played violin for about eight years and I’m a member of the school orchestra and will be in the community college orchestra next year. I’ll likely be the principal chair at my school orchestra next year. I’m a three year member of the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Club. I worked on political campaigns in this year’s elections. I volunteer to tuor kids at the library once a week and next year I’ll be the Calculus tutor at my school. I’ve taken a lot of APs. AP Language, AP Physics AB, AP Calculus AB, AP US History last year. This year I’m taking AP Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Chemistry, and AP Computer Science A. I’ll look in to the schools you mentioned.</p>

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<p>Competitive ECs for the schools listed. The schools I gave you would make good safety schools with lots of aid</p>

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<p>Those are good ECs? I’m not sure how to judge them properly. Are ECs all that important?</p>

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<p>Get rid of NYU and Brandeis they won’t give enough aid.</p>

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<p>ECs are only important in some colleges (a lot of the ones you’re applying to.). You can find on college board or college data what the separate universities look for. For example, I think BU cares about rigor the most. Excellent ECs show: leadership, kindness, focus in a particular area, passion, talent, and dedication.</p>

<p>This’ll show how reed values aspects of your app: [Reed</a> College Admissions Information - CollegeData College Profile](<a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=765#selectionOfStudents]Reed”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=765#selectionOfStudents)</p>

<p>It shows what’s very important, important, considered, and not considered</p>

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<p>@barrk123 Thanks, I have crossed it off my list. How would one determine that? Are you just really familiar with colleges or is there a certain trick to understanding aid?</p>

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<p>@Chlogan3921 That’s interesting. Would it be a bad idea to add Reed to the list of colleges I’m considering?</p>

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<p>Isn’t it already on the list? Reed is a great school if you’re up for the struggle. It’s really for people with a love of leaning and challenge.</p>

<p>You can see avg financial aid packages and percent given aid on the college board website. NYU is listed as the most expensive university in the US I think on us news</p>

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<p>@Chlogan3921 Oh, you’re right. I was debating about whether or not to add it because I think it’s a reach. Well, I’m within the average but the low average SAT scores. Would that be considered reach? I’m unfamiliar with the quantitative requirements for safety, match, and reach schools.</p>

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<p>If you look up the school on USNews it will have the school’s financial aid information, you can also try out one of the school’s net price calculators.</p>

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<p>Match= 50/50 chance of getting in with enough aid</p>

<p>I think it’s a match for you</p>

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<p>might reconsider Boston College-not known as liberal atmosphere. bc is often condidered conservative. Georgetown and Holy Cross are much more liberal. Check out Holy Cross science programs which are strong and offer internships. Holy Cross offers good financial aid and their website is informative.</p>

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<p>Why uc Davis and Santa Cruz just pick one</p>

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<p>@par72 Thanks, I didn’t know that. I just added them to my list because they gave me mail. The Holy Cross doesn’t report their scores, what’s up with that? I’m also an atheist… does that lower my chances of admission to a religious school?</p>