<p>I've posted plenty of threads about college selection, and I've tried to follow all the advice, but I still can't quite get it right.</p>
<p>I need one good reach school. I'm a senior this year.</p>
<p>My stats go like this:</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0 UW, no weighting
Rank: 1/51
ACT: 32 (retaking in October)
SAT: CR 720, 680 M, 710 W (not retaking)
SAT II: 600 Lit, 640 Spanish, 730 Math 2 (not retaking)
AP Lit & Comp: 4
No AP/IB/honors courses are offered at my school.</p>
<p>I need a reach school that's going to be cheap for me. My family's income for last year was $70,000. I'm not sure how it will be for this year, but it should be close to that. I know that income is on the borderline for getting good financial aid, so this will be tricky.</p>
<p>Here is my definite list:
Amherst College
University of Chicago
Bucknell University
Case Western Reserve University
Oberlin College
Kenyon College
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio State University</p>
<p>I live in Ohio.</p>
<p>I'd really appreciate some help in determining the best reach school. My list of schools should say what type I prefer, but I'm not going to be picky. I need a school that will give me good financial aid. If I can't afford the school, it's not really going to matter how intellectual it is.</p>
<p>Usually I'm not one to hawk the Ivy League, but it doesn't get much better than H/Y/P/S for financial aid. I know they aren't likely, and you would still probably want one more more reasonable reach, but if you like one of them toss out an app and you never know...</p>
<p>It seems to me that Amherst and Chicago are reaches for you. However, I agree with big's assertion that HYPS are very good for financial aid and also, for sure, reaches (for anyone and everyone, I mean).</p>
<p>Your test scores (with the exception of your subject tests which are pretty low) all put you somewhat in range for HYPSM and non HYP ivies. So yeah, those could be possible reaches for you. </p>
<p>But as it stands now, Amherst and U of Chicago, like someone else already pointed out, will be reaches for you. Actually, I'm not entirely sure why you even have both of those schools on your list. They are completely different. For example, I was under the impression that Amherst had an open curriculum like Brown which is completely different from Chicago's core.</p>
<p>Yeah, I realize my Subject scores are low. There are probably a lot of factors in that. The funny thing is that Math 2 balances my low SAT I Math score, and my SAT I CR score balances my low Lit score. I also have a slew of awards from my school for Spanish.</p>
<p>I'm just looking for an intellectual atmosphere. I want coffee shop discussions, not season football tickets. Amherst may not fit with the others on my list, but for some reason it just appeals to me. If I were to matriculate at Amherst, I would take a variety of courses anyway. I'd be happy to eliminate Amherst if I knew I wouldn't enjoy it there.</p>
<p>I keep contemplating sending an application to Princeton. I like Stanford, but it's in California, and my parents wouldn't go for that. Supposedly, Penn has no tuition for incomes up to $90,000. That's making me think that might be a good reach school, even if it is quite large.</p>
<p>^I say you should go for Princeton. In all honesty, you'll have a really hard time getting in with your scores, but it's not impossible. You just need to make the rest of your app shine.</p>
<p>Unlike hippo, I see the overlap between Amherst and Chicago (full disclosure: best childhood friend attends Amherst on probably the best aid package I've ever heard of, plus I know a <em>very</em> influential Amherst alum who is one of my favorite people on the planet!) and from what I've read from your posts, I think either would be a fit.</p>
<p>Grinnell is far from home, but I think it offers the Amherst LAC atmosphere and a more Chicago-ish personality. It's probably most similar to Oberlin on your list right now, and it gives great aid.</p>
<p>If you want intellectual, look into Swarthmore (PA) and Reed (OR). Swarthmore would be a good reach for you, and Reed would probably be a match.</p>
<p>Grinnell seems like it might be a match... but don't quote me. Amherst and Chicago are definitely reaches. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, you're disadvantaged that your school doesn't offer AP courses (a case of education misconduct that should be a crime). Even though it wasn't your fault, you're 4.0 doesn't look as admirable next to a 3.8 from someone with AP classes. </p>
<p>Your SAT really isn't low, per se, only by CC standards. SAT II's are. Your ACT is fine. You'll probably have success with a college you really want. If you want another reach, I would second Swat.</p>
<p>First of all, disclaimer, I have no clue which schools offer good aid, other than within my own state system.</p>
<p>I'd say Swarthmore is a good reach, it's quite like UChicago, and even perhaps Columbia. Columbia offers similar core curriculum and city feel as UChicago. Also look into Carleton, Wesleyan, and Reed.</p>
<p>I'll look into Grinnell. It would be about an 8-hour drive from here, and that would be closer than Amherst from Ohio (I live in the western part).</p>
<p>If I were to add Swat and Grinnell, I'd probably want to drop either Oberlin or Kenyon. I don't want my list to be too top-heavy.</p>
<p>Kenyon is a match for you. Considering all four in regards to diverse selectivity, I would keep Swat and Kenyon, pick one between Grinnell and Oberlin (the latter being slightly more selective than Grinnell).</p>