<p>I'm 17 years old. I'm a senior in high school. I am hoping to get suggestions about colleges based on my information. My GPA is 3.69, and I got a 25 on the ACT; I plan on taking the ACT at least two more times. I'm looking for schools that offer history and/or pre-law majors. I would like to go to school in one of these states: Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., or Louisiana.</p>
<p>Tell us a little more. Do you want a large or small school? City or more remote? What are your outside interests? For pre-law you can actually major in anything. Many schools do not have a formal pre-law major.
Glad to help.</p>
<p>Adding a few more questions to Momofwildchild's list: will you need financial aid? How would you describe yourself? What type of campus culture are you looking for --- and what type would be a total turnoff (i.e., Greek-oriented or no, preppy or no, artsy or no, nerdy or no, big partiers or no, etc.) And, finally, have you visited any schools or do you have any schools already on your list --- if so, which schools and what do you find attractive about them?</p>
<p>You've got a start on picking college, but you've got quite a ways to go before you can decide. You've already mentioned locations & prospective majors, but there's MUCH more to picking a college than that (virtually every college will offer a history major, almost none have a major called "pre-law"). Both Berkeley and The Claremont Colleges offer a history major and are in CA, but I don't think most people would consider them substitutes :-) </p>
<p>What you need a systematic approach to picking colleges. There are about 3,000 4-year colleges in this country. You'll probably get names from only about the most popular 50 or so on this forum, but that doesn't BEGIN to scratch the surface. Really it depends on how important this is to you, and how much effort you're willing to devote to it. Since its only the start of August you have plenty of time to do a thorough search, but its only going to happen if you want it to.</p>
<p>Here's what I recommend:</p>
<p>1) Learn whats out there. Get 2 or 3 books about college admissions since each author has a different point of view. Start with a book by Loren Pope such as "Colleges that Change Lives", and a second book.</p>
<p>2) Set expectations. This means having your parents fill out one of the financial aid estimators to see what they are expected to contribute, and see if they can/will do that. This means evaluating your stats critically and choosing colleges that are realistic and not dreaming of the same set of Ivy's and top LACs everyone else lists.</p>
<p>3) Investigate. Visit nearby of various types; a large U, a smaller U, a LAC, an urban school, a rural school. Talk to people, take the tour. Find out what you prefer.</p>
<p>4) Set criteria. With the info you've gathered in step (1-3) put together a list of what you're looking for. What type school? What type of students does it attract? What activities do you want/dont-want at the school? A big-time sports program, for example? A large studies-abroad program? The chance to take music classes? The better informed you are about what you're looking for, the easier it is to recognize it when you see it. </p>
<p>5) Select. Get one of the books that lists hundreds of colleges. Read thru and find colleges that provide what you want. Pay particular attention to a safety and matches. Then blow one pick on a reach. Most students do just the opposite; they fill out a list of reaches, then try to pick a safety and a match or two. Just look at some threads on this forum to see what I mean.</p>
<p>6) Check it out. Visit the schools if you can when its back in session, preferably overnite. Ask the school to put you in touch with current students home for the summer in your area. Read the school paper online, look for live-journal entries by current students, etc. Try to build a picture in your mind of whether you'd really be happy there. This is also a time to use this forum; asking about schools YOU picked rather than hoping somone will pick them for you.</p>
<p>So there it is. 6 steps you have time to do this summer. Or you can pick more or less by chance from the suggestions you get on this forum. Its really all up to you.</p>
<p>I'd like to go to a small to medium-sized school, close to a city. I was thinking of majoring in history. I enjoy reading and swimming.</p>
<p>I will need financial aid. I'm okay with all of the atmospheres state except for the partying; I want to go to a school where it will be easy to focus. I have not yet visited any schools, and I am in the process of narrowing down my college list now. I was describe myself as being hard-working, studious, but a bit indecision; that's why I need your help!!!</p>
<p>Thank you mikemac; your suggestions are very helpful, and I greatly appreciate your time.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your time and help!!!!</p>
<p>as far as illinois goes u can probly get some good safeties Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, and a good match might be UIUC still might be a reach at ur current ACT</p>
<p>university of mary washington in virginia</p>
<p>I'm not sure what size city you want (very large, small, etc.) but here are three possible private colleges if you can qualify for need based aid:</p>
<p>-Clark University near Worcester, MA., mid-ACT range 22-27. We saw it last month and were impressed.</p>
<p>-Goucher College near Baltimore/Wash. DC, mid-ACT range 25-29.</p>
<p>-Univ. of St. Thomas, in a pleasant/quirky section of Houston, Tx. (where I live) a Catholic school but its student body is of all types, good liberal arts emphasis, don't know the ACT composite but SAT range is 1040-1240, which should be in your ballpark</p>
<p>I am curious why you chose those particular states....</p>
<p>Clark, Pitzer, Washington and Jefferson, Allegheny, St Lawrence, Union</p>
<p>Three private schools in California that you may want to check out are the University of San Diego (USD), Loyola Marymount, and Santa Clara. Each has a good reputation and is generous with financial aid.</p>
<p>First of all, thank you so much for your suggestions!! My boyfriend and I sat down together and came up with that list of states so that no matter where we applied we would have the chance of going to school with or near each other.</p>
<p>Be sensible. You boyfriend is not choosing your college, you are. And your parents should have something to say about where you go to college; they may want you within a half-day's drive, for example. They are footing the bill, aren't they?</p>
<p>Hi katierheath - you mentioned that your interested in schools in NY. What state are you from? I'm a big advocate for the SUNY system as I am applying to mostly SUNY schools and will probably end up at one. Many on this site are going to disagree with my recommendations but its really up to you. The SUNY system has 64 campuses everything from community colleges to highly selective universities. I also know about some private schools in new york. However you mentioned you were interested in recieving financial aid. If you are from NY the SUNY schools are incredibly affordable and even if you aren't you may find that you like some of the schools. If you are interested at all feel free to post park me or IM me at Modormouth.</p>
<p>Add the University of Redlands, Whittier, and Chapman to the schools worth checking out in California. All three have nice history departments. Other possiblities in California: Mills, the University of San Francisco, Dominican U, and St. Mary's College of California.</p>
<p>Other possible schools in the states you specified in addition to the good suggestions already made:</p>
<p>McDaniel College (MD), Loyola (MD), Washington College (MD), Gettysburg (PA), Juniata (PA), Ursinis (PA), Villanova (PA), Wheaton (Mass), Loyola (LA), Austin College (Texas), Hartwick (NY), Hobart & William Smith (NY),Southwestern College (TX), Lake Forest (IL), Knox College (IL). Add in Beloit in Wisconsin -it's close enough to IL.</p>
<p>If you insist on only applying to schools in the same states as your boyfriend is applying to schools in, keep in mind that states like Texas, California, New York and Illinois are HUGE. It is very possible you could end up in the same state but still be HOURS from each other.</p>