I have NO idea where to go!

Applying to College
1

Hey, I’m kinda new to the boards, but it looked interesting, so… here I am. I’m only a sophmore this year… our advisor remarks that we should “start searching for schools”, and I seriously have no idea where to go. xD I’d like to get into one of top schools in the nation, but I hightly doubt I’d make it.

I’m basically here to here some opinions on match/reach/safty schools in the northeast [new england, basically], since I don’t want to go too far away from home. xD Well, here goes…

I’m a chinese female; living in a wealthy town in MA, to one of the top high schools in the nation.

GPA: ~3.44 UW, ~3.95 W [doesn’t include second semester yet; but if it goes well, it’ll be ~3.54 UW, ~4.275 W. Keep in mind… I’m still a sophmore.]
PSATs: 181 [57V 68M 56W - bleh, need to work on this next year. I didn’t study for these at all @_@;]
SATs: 1420 - 720V 700M. Took this last year, as a freshman.
Our school doesn’t rank. :<

Courseload for FRESHMAN year; honors english/world civ/geometry/ecology/physical science/french & art, gym & health.

Courseload this year & projected grades [depending on the teacher. xD]

Honors Biology - B+ [If I’m lucky!]
Honors English - A/A- [combined history course; so next semester I’m hoping for a solid A. xD]
Honors History - B+/B [next semester - projected A-/B+]
Honors French - A/A-
Honors Enr. Algebra 2/3 - A-/B+
Honors Chemistry - A. [Easy teacher :D!]

Yeah. >__<em>>; My grades aren’t stellar, but okay. I’m a decent essay writer, although my PSAT writing sucked, because I can’t differentiate between the evil grammar things. -</em>-;

Community Service / EC’s;

<li>Track [9, 10]</li>
<li>Varsity Tennis [9, 10] </li>
<li>Art Club [9, 10]</li>
<li>Math Team [9]</li>
<li>Piano [won @ two recitals, 2nd place; played for 8yrs] </li>
<li>Flute [played for only about 3yrs] </li>
<li>Marching Band - Colorguard [9, 10] </li>
<li>National Poetry Contest winner - 3rd place</li>
<li>School’s Literary Newspaper [10]</li>
<li>Intern @ a regional literary magazine, ~5hrs a week, ~160hrs per year. I’m probably going to be doing this until senior year. </li>
<li>Hospital volunteer [$10/hr too. xD]; had to apply to get in; everyday from June-Aug. </li>
<li>Involved with church community service activities such as summer camps, charities, bake sales, etc. </li>
<li>Community service program leader; organizes a soup kitchen community service program</li>

Yeah. I have no clue where to go. I’m interested in art, writing, theater - but then again, I’ve wanted to be a premed major. I’m confused. ^^; Help?

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<p>I think you need to back up and start asking some other questions of yourself first.
Try getting one of the large college guides like Barrons and start with the material in the front of the books that will suggest some criteria for you:</p>

<p>how academically competitive/selective, how big, geographical area (do you want to stay in the Northeast? try the West Coast? Midwest or South?), university or LAC, etc. (My D started out totally focused on research universities and wound up falling in love with LAC's...you have two very fine ones, including Wellesley and Smith, in your own state. The notion of doing art/writing/theater undergrad at an LAC and then progressing to med school is perfectly acceptable and top LAC's do very well with med school admissions.)</p>

<p>Whoops...I just re-read that you prefer to stay in the Northeast, so never mind about geography.</p>

<p>I think it's <em>great</em> that you're on top of your search as early as you are.</p>

<p>And by any chance do you go to Brookline? I know someone from there who went to U/Chicago this year.</p>

3

<p>Nope, I'm currently attending Andover [Phillips]. Btw, thanks for the info. It was really helpful. ;]</p>