I need some help...

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am a junior in high school and we’ve started to do all this college research at school and I have absolutely no idea where to go. I go to a very small school and currently I am the ONLY ONE in the entire grade looking to go out of state. I currently reside in Texas and have no plans on staying here. Anyway, here is where my trouble comes on…</p>

<p>My brother is in his first year of school at UCSB this year and he absolutely loves it. I had a hard time with him leaving because all his friends were my friends, and I hung out with them and him all the time, so now that he and his friends graduated I feel very lonely. Anyway, I, since I started high school have had my heart set on going to NYC. I’ve been there and loved it and just love the thought of going to school there and then living and working there. Or at least I thought I did.</p>

<p>I went to Santa Barbara over Halloween and it was so awesome. Like everyone there is really laid back and friendly and my brother had a ton of friends and it seemed like it was so easy to meet people. I got back here and started thinking and really liked the idea of going to UCSB. But then I figured if I went, I’d end up hanging out with my brother a lot and his friends would become mine and it would be the same thing over again and I would never learn to make friends.</p>

<p>I’m torn between NYC and other schools where it’s more of a college atmosphere and a lot of kids. NYC seems like it’s more of a bunch of kids from all around and there is not set campus. At UCSB there was like an area where all it was is students. I’d love to go to UCSB but I don’t’ want to have the option of having the same friends as him as like a plan B incase I don’t make any. I still love the idea of NYC thought, but after going to UCSB I’m wondering if it would be hard to make friends in NYC and whether the people would be stuck up and what not.</p>

<p>I don’ know what to do. I’m torn between the east and west coasts. I love cold weather, but after Halloween I’ve come to love the beach to. What should I do? What are some suggestions? I’m not stuck solid on these schools; if you guys have any other school suggestions that are far away from Texas hick country ness would be fine. If its on the west coast preferbely something thats Southern California. You’ll find my grades, etc. below. HELP! Please and thanks.</p>

<p>By the way, I want to go into the field of business. Something along the lines of financial business or international business.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0187 weighted
Rank: 5/94
ACT: 24 (Retaking on December 11.)
SAT: Not Taken</p>

<p>I’ll put up some clubs/community service if needed. It’s late though. Any and all help would be great. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>does anyone have any advice?</p>

3

<p>This is just one of those tough decisions all the kids face. Just spend some time thinking about it over the next year, no one else can decide for you (excepting your parents maybe.) One thing to do is apply to both and see where you get in. </p>

<p>It's important to understand out-of-state admissions chances in the UC system are very tough. For UCSB 93% are in-state, the rest out-of-state + internationals. You should calculate your GPA the UC way, then look at the test score requirements you need for out of state. Throw an app in, but understand it's a long shot. Avg in-state SAT is 1229--your ACT equiv is 1110 and will have to be much higher for out-of-state.</p>

4

<p>Definitely take the new SAT..I read in the Fiske Insider's Guide that the (former) UC president, Richard Atkinson, threatened to remove the SAT from the admissions requirement...and that's why its changing. I guess UC is the SAT's biggest user...</p>

5

<p>What school(s) in New York are you looking at? At this point, NYU looks like a reach, as well as UCSB. Assuming that you do very well on your SAT and SAT II and have good ECs, you stand a shot. Realize, though, that both will be reaches (depending on other factors that you haven't provided, as well as test scores). Basically what I am saying is don't get ahead of yourself. You will be greatly disappointed if, after all of this deliberation, you choose which school you like best and are rejected. </p>

<p>Regarding your question:
You are going to find vastly different atmospheres at NYU and UCSB. They are roughly the same size, but the student bodies are like night and day. It all depends on what type of person you are. If you visit both campuses, tour and talk to students, it should be pretty apparent which school is right for you. Also, do yourself a favor and do not base where you go entirely on location. The novelty of being a new place will most likely vanish after a year or so, at which point you are left with the school itself. </p>

<p>Just out of curiosity: What were your brothers stats (test scores, GPA, ECs)?</p>