I need some more match schools, less reach! Help!

<p>Grinnell is no one's safety either. I think you are "reaching" a bit too much with this list. A few reaches are fine, but the list should be built from the bottom up.</p>

<p>For example: Not Davidson, but Rhodes.</p>

<p>Not UofVA but James Madison.</p>

<p>Not Stanford, but USC.</p>

<p>Sure, by all means add the very competitive schools at the end, but don't base your list on them. And if you are seriously interested in merit money you must tailor your list toward even less competitive schools. Perhaps you qualify for need-based aid at the need-blind school. That is another strategy.</p>

<p>There are many, many wonderful schools just a hair less competitive than the ones you are considering. i don't know where you are or exactly what you're looking for so I hesitate to make specific recommendations.</p>

<p>And your in-state school is always good for an economic safety should all else fail.</p>

<p>1st - no , I'm not a minority. White male, live with a very rich relative. far from minority. I don't like the idea of a campus that is very homogeneous (usually in the schools I look at - White, either almost totally liberal or conservative, and rich), though. I dont like the idea of just being comfortable with 'your' type of people, or anything like that. Enjoy diversity, want to meet people from a lot of different backgrounds. Etc etc, you see what I'm saying... Hard to get the right words, i'm really tired.</p>

<p>"Grinnell is no one's safety either. I think you are "reaching" a bit too much with this list. A few reaches are fine, but the list should be built from the bottom up."</p>

<p>That's why I made this thread! I recognize that my list is full of reaches. And I already said Grinnell isn't a safety, it's an 'i might apply'. </p>

<p>Thanks for your post nocousin. I am trying to find a match for me, on a lot more levels than just academics (of course). Thing is, I havn't seen tons of schools, and the few I have, I love the very competitive ones (Davidson, UNC-Chapel Hill). </p>

<p>I've only visited
Stanford (it felt like a very inspiring place, absolutely loved the area. great academics, great sports, too. Lots of amazing people). </p>

<p>Berkeley (didn't like at all. did not like the location... seemed very focused on sciences. Almost no one was around campus, and the tour guide admitted that she hated how there were always so many people studying 24/7. Didn't enjoy the campus and people I encountered generally).</p>

<p>Davidson (as said before, love it. only dislike is that it doesn't have a very diverse body.. might be very homogeneous/comfortably close-minded)</p>

<p>UNC (if I had a choice, that's where I'd be, no doubt. seemed like a very enthusiastic student body. great great academics, saw a few nice professors. great area and town. franklin street. beautiful campus. heard of some great abroad programs. can't hate that Carolina basketball!)</p>

<p>Wake Forest (again it seemed like a very homogeneous. I just didn't like the vibe of the secluded, privateness of the campus. Didn't like the architecture for some reason. Dorm room they showed seemed a lot smaller than other ones i've seen, and a lot older. The only thing the tour guide told me when I asked what there is to do for fun is 'bars'. and they have a contract with Pepsi... Yuck!!! list goes on lol.) </p>

<p>Emory (ABSOLUTELY loved to multiculturalism. Esepcially the fact that they have close connections to the Dalai Lamma and Tibet. Cool bit of Atlanta, and I know a lot of people that live close by. however, i didn't like the school. I didn't see any school spirit once so ever. Not great athletics. I saw a track meet about to start - saw they didn't even have the whole track teem there. and no audience of course. Just got the feel that the school was too focused on the academic side of school. I want a wider experience than just class, maybe an internship. Though studying abroad at a Buddhist Monastery would be a dream come true!) </p>

<p>Should have visited Furman, Elon. Going to visit UF. I don't know if I'll be able to visit many other colleges, though.</p>

<p>I am also very interested in UVa. Seems to be similar to UNC, which I love. Also Vanderbilt is on the list.</p>

<p>When you visit Furman, also visit Wofford and perhaps College of Charleston? Just more colleges for you to check out.</p>

<p>William and Mary is NOT a safety for you. You have a "shot", but it's a high reach for you. Try JMU.</p>