I'm not sure where I'm going (literally). So chance me.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I'm a junior at a competitive CA HS (somewhere in the top 150 nationally). I'm interested in schools with an "intellectual" feel and actually love learning. I'm planning on majoring in International Relations, but I don't really know what I want to do as a career and I'm not attached to any particular college (I guess I'll go wherever I get in?)</p>

<p>If you could point me in the right direction in terms of where to apply and where I could get in, etc., I'd really appreciate it.</p>

<p>GPA: UW: 3.76 W: 3.84
Rank: 125/610
SAT: 2070 (M: 600, CR: 680, W: 790, 11 on essay)</p>

<p>APs: European History -- 5, this year taking US History and French, next year Gov and World.</p>

<p>Honors Classes: Humanities, World History, American Lit, Freshman English</p>

<p>SAT IIs: Taking French and US History in June</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (I know they're kind of scattered):</p>

<p>Cross Country (JV, I'm not very good): 9, 10, 11
Track: 9, 11
Fundraising director of STAND: 11
Piano: 10, 11 (I haven't been playing long so I don't know if I'll put this, but I really love it)
Newspaper: 11
Member of JSA: 11
ASB spirit commissioner: 9, 10</p>

<p>Schools:
UCSD
USC
UCSB
CSU Long Beach</p>

<p>Reach schools I may or may not apply to:
UCLA, Cal, Johns Hopkins, UChicago</p>

2

<p>Easy chance for you to get into UCSD, USC, UCSB and Long Beach. Nice chance for the other as well–though UChicago is quite more competitive than the others. </p>

<p>For “intellectual” schools, i’d suggest you look into Reed College.</p>

3

<p>Also consider Carleton, Grinnell and Oberlin as intellectual reaches. Your numbers are a tad low for matches to intellectual schools, but it’s a plus that you target them. Your writing score bodes well for essays.</p>

4

<p>^ Yea Definitly look at Carleton if you can stand the cold. I live in MN and it seems like you have a better chance out of state (even though they say it doesn’t matter) because they want national attention and a more diverse student body in terms of location. Very “intellectual” school, too.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for your input.</p>

<p>One thing about LACs and less-well known schools is that I’m not made of money and if I’m going to go to an expensive school I want it to be well-known (like USC). Location is also a big factor (sorry, Minnesota).</p>

6

<p>“Well-known” together with “intellectual” limits the possibilities. Then the question is well-known by whom? Grad schools know LACs very well. Some LACs guarantee full-need financial aid for four years.</p>

7

<p>I won’t qualify for financial aid, I’m certain of it. However, I have a brother who needs to get through college, too, and my parents can’t fund two private college educations, which is why my list is heavier on the state schools and I’m probably only going to apply to one or two private schools.</p>

<p>Thank you, though. I’m planning on applying to grad school, so that’s good to know.</p>

8

<p>If a family’s Expected Family Contribution (re FAFSA calculation) is being completely absorbed by one sibling, other siblings have an effective EFC of zero. Your financial aid may be higher than you think. May be. ;)</p>

9

<p>Thanks, but my brother is younger. My parents are thinking ahead, you know?</p>

<p>Any more chances? :)</p>

10

<p>I think you have a very good chance at most of those schools.
The only exceptions would be Cal, Chicago, and John Hopkins. At the rate things are going maybe UCLA as well. </p>

<p>You said a competitive CA school so I’m gonna take a guess and say University High because one of my childhood friends goes there =).</p>

<p>Do you have an idea of what you want to major in yet?</p>

11

<p>Nope, I’m in San Diego. :)</p>

<p>But thanks! I’m want to major in International Relations, focusing on Europe with a minor in French. But I don’t know what I want to do with it, haha.</p>

12

<p>I’m bumping this :)</p>