I need a new list... Reality hit.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Well, after I fought the collegeboard server and rescued my SAT II scores I saw some numbers that weren't as high as I had hoped, I decided that I should make a list of schools that would actually accept me.</p>

<p>My numbers:
My (brief) stats:
1450 SAT (800 V, 650 M)
740 Lit, 740 Writing, 640 Bio E
97% GPA = 4.0
5 or 9 / 121 (weighted rank)
At least one of my recommendations is very, very good (one of best ever, leader, etc.). The teacher let me read it.</p>

<p>My old list:
Princeton ED, Dartmouth, Columbia, UPenn, Swarthmore, Haverford, NYU, Vassar, Wesleyan, University of Pittsburgh.</p>

<p>I'm still applying to Princeton ED. It's too late to change that, and I think I would regret not trying. My app to Pitt has already been sent out. I think I'm taking Columbia off the list, but leaving UPenn because my parents really are pushing me to apply. I'll apply to Swarthmore for the same reason. Haverford, Vassar, and Wesleyan, I'm not so sure. I really like NYU and still plan to apply.</p>

<p>Anyway, if I apply to any of the schools on my old list, I feel like I'll be rejected. So, I'm looking for suggestions. I plan to major in comparative literature if the school offers it, but if not, it would be very nice if they had strong english and foreign language (especially french) programs. Location and size doesn't matter too much, but I really wouldn't like anything under 1000 students. I'm wary of Swarthmore and Haverford as it is. It would be nice if the school were more on the liberal side, and ideal if there were a significant gay presence on campus. I would also like to live on campus, so a high percentage of commuter students wouldn't be that great. I need financial aid, so if the school doesn't meet 100% of need, scholarship opportunities would be nice. </p>

<p>I did some research on USC, Tufts, Boston University, Pepperdine, and Berkeley today. USC and Tufts seemed to be good, but I don't know much about their student bodies. Boston University looked like it might be a good safety (I think?) but I don't know much about it. Berkeley had only ~30% of students on campus and I don't think I would be accepted anyway. Pepperdine didn't have enough course offerings in english or french for my liking.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any suggestions?</p>

2

<p>I think Tufts is a good school for you. They have very good language programs (big emphasis on international stuff there). When I visited, the students seemed very energetic. You'd have to travel abroad though, as most juniors do, so they don't offer campus housing junior year. </p>

<p>Other schools to consider: Boston College, George Washington University, Penn State.</p>

3

<p>Thanks, zantedeschia. I've heard stories about consevatism at BC, and most of the kids from my school (all of which I'm trying to escape) go to Penn State, so I might steer clear of those two schools, but I'll definitely look into GW.</p>

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<p>I personally think conservatism is a cover at BC. They are jesuit, but the kids there party a decent lot.</p>

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<p>Frankly, I don't see anything wrong with your OLD list. Pitt is a safety for you, NYU close to one (hestiate to ever call NYU a sure thing). Tufts, Vassar, Haverford and Wesleyan are solid matches, the rest realistic reaches (with the possible exception of Princeton)</p>

<p>Still, you might look at: Kenyon, Oberlin (Ohio) Trinity College (CT), Skidmore, Wheaton College (MAss), Occidental (Calif), Whitman (Washington), Colgate, perhaps Dickinson.</p>

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<p>Don't be too disapppointed about your SAT IIs. They are not the most important elements of your application and you still stand a good chance of admission at the majority of the schools on your list.</p>

<p>Adjusting your list based on your SAT IIs makes sense, but adjusting it based on your concerns makes even more sense. If you are not sold on Haverford or Swarthmore, I wouldn't apply. And I certainly would not assume that you'll be rejected at the schools on your list. Your SAT scores are fine, and your GPA excellent. ECs and essays will also have impact. </p>

<p>Pitt is a definite safety for you. But even if SAT IIs were higher, it would still be a good idea to add some less-selective schools to your list, as long as you are enthusiastic about them. </p>

<p>The first school that comes to mind is Kenyon - I don't believe they have a comp lit major per se, but they have excellent English faculty and course offerings, and strong theatre and social science departments as well. In addition, you might look at the following: Connecticut College, Bard and Skidmore.</p>

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<p>But all those schools are smaller, and he said that he was wary about Swarthmore and Haverford for the same reasons.</p>

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<p>But many of those smaller schools have very liberal and open minded student body as he wants.</p>

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<p>Carolyn, thanks for the vote of confidence. My lower end SAT II scores have really shaken me up a bit (I ended up getting a 590 on my US History test because I neglected to study -- I figured that I remembered enough from the AP test... guess not) and I feel like the top schools are beyond my reach now. I'm glad that I went looking for more schools, though, because I found USC, which I like more and more as I think about it. I'm definitely going to apply. I'll be sure to look into the schools you recommended, too. I might find another unexpected match.</p>

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<p>Reidm, I'm definitely not sold on any of my schools except Princeton right now. I change my mind so often that my parents have given up asking where I plan to apply. That's why my list seems so odd. I want to have a diverse list of schools to choose from when I have to make a decision. I'm not so keen on small schools right now, but just last week I would have gone $120k into debt to attend Swarthmore. I'm much to unstable to make a decision at this point.</p>

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<p>Takeheart, do "take heart" it will all work out come April. I promise. You don't HAVE to make a decision right now (except for ED of course).</p>

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<p>Of course low sat2's won't help, but yours really aren't that bad, so apply where you think you'll get in, but your scores truly aren't terrible, and if you're still interested in columbia or others on the former list, i would go ahead and apply there</p>

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<p>define "low SAT II" ?</p>

<p>Is a < 700 crappy on an SAT II?</p>

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<p>. . .for the purposes of selective colleges, high and low are relative terms. If a student is applying to a top ten university or liberal arts school, you would want SAT IIs > 700. Anything lower would be "low" for those schools. But scores in the 500s and 600s are fine for many schools, and would be "high" at a typical state college, where SAT IIs may not even be required or optional. And keep in mind that SAT IIs do not have anywhere near the impact on admissions that GPA, schedule strength, class rank or SAT Is have.</p>

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<p>takeheart. . .it seems that you are just a bit overstressed by the whole deal, and that is very understandable. At this point in time you need to do your best to forget about how high or low your test scores are or whether school X or Y is going to accept you. You will be in at Pitt; you'll be taking a shot at Princeton. . so put them out of your mind as well. Focus on compiling a list of schools, of varying selectivity, that you believe meet your academic, social and career goals as you know them today.</p>

<p>You have put a great academic and test record together and you are a top candidate at 98% of the nation's colleges and universities. You are a solid candidate at the other 2%. And you have excellent schools on your current list that will accept you - probably more than you think. </p>

<p>You already have a good sense of what would work for you, and I think if you keep digging through the Fiske Guide, Princeton Review college guide etc. you will be able to formulate a solid list of schools for RD. No problem applying to 1-2 schools to satisfy your parents, but every other school you apply to should be one that really looks good to you. I know you say you have been all over the place with your list, but you are clearly a thoughtful enough student to get a solid list together if you can spend a bit more time really focusing on what you want. </p>

<p>Finally, of the schools you mention, the only one I would question would be Dartmouth. I do think USC would be an interesting addition, a good choice for an English major. And I would investigate Kenyon, though I am not sure about a significant gay presence there. It would not be as significant as you would find at an urban university or a liberal urban LAC, though likely more than most schools of its size (small), type (LAC) and location (rural.)</p>

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<p>Reidm, I think you're right when you say that I'm a bit overstressed. My parents are certainly putting a lot of pressure on me (they once went as far as saying I would be a dissappointment if I didn't go to an Ivy League school) and those test scores certainly didn't help. I like a lot of the less selective schools on my list (USC, NYU, Vassar -- not that they're easy to get into, they just aren't Princeton) very much and would go there in a heartbeat. My parents might not like it so much, but I guess ultimately it's all up to me. They won't even end up paying that much (maybe around $1,000) so they can't really hold that over my head too much. I think that I could really be happy anywhere if I had some kind of intellectual stimulation, whether it be smart kids or just interesting classes. I'm sure this will all work out (I hope so, anyway).</p>

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<p>All the schools you are looking at have the interesting classes and smart kids you are looking for. Even at your safety, english, philosophy and history are very good departments, and I think you would find plenty there to engage you. Personally, from what you've posted, I like Swarthmore, Vassar, Haverford and Wesleyan for you, though there is certainly nothing wrong with Princeton, Columbia et al.</p>

<p>Again, your SAT II scores are very good. You are not planning a biology or other science major, so the impact of that score is negligible. 4.0, 1450, 740/740. . .that is going to impress adcoms everywhere. So eliminate the schools you really aren't excited about, adjust the matches, and if you find a safety you like better than Pitt, fine. But keep your focus on your current classes and on generating excellent applications and you will do just fine.</p>

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<p>I think that I like Swarthmore, Vassar, and Wesleyan the most, too, but I have some reservations about the first two. I'm afraid of Swarthmore's size, and a rather clingly boy that I'd rather avoid is headed for Vassar, but Wesleyan seems like a very good fit for me, at least when I don't feel like going to a school with 20,000 kids... Come April, I think I might have a very hard decision to make...</p>

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<p>What are your EC's?</p>

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<p>My ECs aren't anything special.<br>
Drama: 4 years, 5 leading roles, 2 supporting, 2 ensemble, Varsity Letter, Student Director, Propmaster, Assistant Artistic Director, ~20 hours a week.
Forensics: 4 years, 5th place JV finals freshman year (Phila. Catholic Forensics League), Grade School Coach, don't know how many hours off the top of my head.
Volunteer Tutoring: 4 years, ~3 hours
NHS: 2 years, random amounts of time
School News Broadcast: 2 years, news anchor, ~1 hour.
And I'm also in a dual enrollment program that has me in classes and extra 8 hours per week. So that's not exactly an EC, but it's why I can't do more things.</p>