I really need guidance

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I was just wondering what sort of colleges I would have a chance at. I'm a homeschooled Junior from a small town in a small rural state and will graduate with about a 3.8 grade point average. All my Bs are freshaman year. As a homeschooler, I haven't taken any AP classes, but I took community college honors American Literature and History for dual credit last semester and am taking College Comp now. I'm only taking Alg. 2 this year, but am thinking of taking precalc this summer. My PSAT score was a 232 and PLAN was a 31. My predicted ACT score is 33-35. I enjoy reading, but am often too busy to read much. I read the entire Paradise Lost last year. This summer I read a book about the effects of the French Revolutiion on surrounding states and another on anti-intellectualism in American life. I compose music for a hobby. I want to major in English. I should get good reccomendations. I lived in Ireland in 7th and 8th grade. My extracurriculars are as follows:</p>

<p>Student Congress(legislative debate) - freshman on, took 1st in house last year</p>

<p>Speech - freshman on, regularly place 5th in Extemp., nothing higher</p>

<p>Drama - joined halfway through sophomore year, a few supporiting roles, one very major</p>

<p>Piano - have taken lessons for 9 years, my teachers most advanced student currently, play for church regularly, may be church pianist senior year</p>

<p>Orchestra - learned contrabass last summer, play in the high school and community orchestras</p>

<p>Choir - advanced choir since freshman year, lead the tenor section, was in an ensemble that got a superior at state last year, went to International Music Camp, made it into honor choir this year, participate in church choir</p>

<p>Church Youth Group - vice president</p>

<p>Volunteer - not a lot, less than 50 hours, volunteered for the NRCS, counseled at bible camp, played in nursing homes, rang bell for salvation army</p>

<p>Any suggested schools, preferably small?</p>

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<p>where do you live now? what do you think you'd be interested in studying?</p>

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<p>I live in North Dakota and I want to major in English, or history. A couple other tidbits: I work an average of 16 hours a week, and I volunteer to play piano for the high school jazz band. What colleges should I be thinking of applying to.</p>

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<p>What does your PSAT score breakdown to?</p>

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<p>Math - 73, Reading - 79, Writing - 80</p>

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<p>Could somebody PLEASE tell me what colleges I should consider. I'm planning on applying to Wheaton(IL), St. Olaf's, and St. John's. Should I aim higher, lower, or am I right on target? Any substantiary reply would be wonderful. My lack of volunteer hours and leadership positions worries me.</p>

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<p>Taoigh, post your story on the parents' forum, and entitle it something like "Homeschooler needs advice" There are several parents posting frequently who have homeschooled and taken their students thru the admissions process. I actually don't think the lack of leadership wil be your problem, what sort of work do you do? That may take the place of leadership - who are you going to lead ;).
Anyway they will have great, specific advice. If your PSATs hold up, those will all be safety/match schools.</p>

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<p>What would be reach schools? I know my courseload doesn't look ultra impressive on paper.</p>

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<p>"played in nursing homes"</p>

<p>what exactly did u play?</p>

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<p>Piano, to entertain the residents.</p>

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<p>well where they entertained?!?!?</p>

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<p>they could have been deaf...</p>

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<p>Are you looking for a secular or Christian college? Christian college wise you won't do too much better than Wheaton. St. Olaf isn't particularly selective from what I remember, I doubt you'll have any trouble getting in. Your ECs look good. Out in CA there's always Azusa and Biola, though they're not particularly selective either. Also, if you're looking at Christian colleges, prepare to get reasonably small scholarship aid (for most, some are quite good). I sincerely doubt there are any Christian colleges that won't let you in (unless of course, you're not of their denomination) and you'll do fairly well with secular schools. If you're SAT does as well as you're PSATs your scores will certainly help you out. Make sure to apply for music scholarships where ever you go! The only thing I can see working against you is that your GPA isn't the best, but honestly I think your ECs and scores will put you into a pretty nice place college selection wise.</p>

<p>BackToReality</p>

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<p>Thanks, BackToReality. I will probably go to a Christian college. I still would like to know what secular colleges I would have a shot at though. One thing about my grades and course load is that they're definitely on an upward trend. I came back from Ireland mentally exhausted and deppressed and struggled through some relatively easy homestudy classes with Bs. Sophomore year, I was taking the equivalent of a few normal and honors courses at the high school, all As. This year I'm taking honors and dual credit college classes, all As.</p>

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<p>I think you need some reach schools on your list. Your test scores are great and being from ND is a hook. Try some of the top LACs. Look into amherst, swarthmore, davidson, haverford, wesleyan, middlebury. Dartmouth would be a high reach but probably a good fit for you too.</p>

<p>Christian colleges...I dunno, Pepperdine? Stonehill?</p>

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<p>Quick warning on Christian colleges...</p>

<p>You need to figure out what you want from the college. Some Christian colleges, like Wheaton, are Christian colleges at their core, other's, like Pepperdine and TCU from what I hear, are Christian colleges more in name than anything else. Pepperdine's better off than TCU (plus, Pepperdine's location is awesome). If you want Christian colleges I would speak to your own pastor and even local pastors of other churches whose theology you agree with to a good degree. Though, since your intended major isn't theology or bible, you probably won't have to be overly picky about who teaches you, but just letting you know that there're big differences between colleges, and there's more to them than selectivity rating. Hope that helps,</p>

<p>BackToReality</p>

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<p>Fish did i hear you say Dartmouth!!! lol</p>

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<p>With your music background and liberal arts interests, Oberlin and St. Olaf might be good matches. You sound like a match for a nice liberal arts college. If you are interested in Ivies, and are willing to go to a big city, try Harvard. It has lots of EC musical groups, and your quirky background, including being from a rural area in a rural state, would be a plus in admissions.</p>

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<p>Yes, you heard Northstarmom right, Harvard. If your scores hold up and you maintain an upward trend in grades you should be OK academics wise, and your background and home state will help, particularly with a well done application.
Since you have an interest in Christian colleges, take a look at Southern liberal arts colleges. Most of them are not "overtly" Christian like Wheaton, but will still have a large number of Christian students, giving an atmosphere that will challenge your belief and expand your experience, but still be supportive, not rejecting of your Christianity. Look at Davidson, Wake Forest, Furman, W&L, Vandy, Samford, Rhodes, Sewanee, B'ham-Southern, Mercer. Duke and Emory as well, although they are more secular, despite their theology schools. There is a wide range of selectivities in that list, some should give you very good merit money, I'm not sure want kind of scholarships Christian colleges will have, but some of these schools will give you significant money if your grades and scores hold up. They will also be anxious to admit a student from ND.</p>

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<p>You are from North Dakota! Wow! That is a state that it is hard for top colleges to find students from. The top colleges want all sorts of diversity, including geographic.</p>

<p>While you have a higher chance than most students do of getting into an Ivy, my question would be whether you'd enjoy that kind of atmosphere, which might be too liberal for your tastes. The Ivies, though, could be schools for you to check out.</p>

<p>Also what kind of a location do you wish to attend college in? Are you ready to try a big city or would you prefer a small town or rural area? Are you willing to go to a school outside of the Midwest?</p>

<p>Carleton is another college for you to take a look at as are Haverford and Swarthmore.</p>