I'M SO LOST! Please Help Me Find Reaches, Matches, and Safeties!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I don't even know where to begin. Initially I've posted a couple of threads about college searching and I did compile a some-what decent list of colleges:</p>

<p>Reaches:
Wesleyan
Vassar
USC-School Of Cinematic Arts
NYU-Tisch School Of The Arts</p>

<p>Matches:
Occidental
Bard
Loyola Marymount University-School Of Film and Television
Chapman University-Dodge College Of Film and Media Arts
Kenyon</p>

<p>Safeties:
Bennington College
Sarah Lawrence College
Ithaca College</p>

<p>I don't plan on applying to all of these colleges. Maybe only 8 or 9. I'm worried about this list because I don't know if I have a great chance at these colleges, academically.</p>

<p>My Profile:
Intended Major: Double Major in Classics/Humanities and Film Production (Screenwriting/Directing)</p>

<p>GPA:3.3 UW, Hopefully by application time</p>

<p>SAT: Took first in June (1950). PSAT Score-189. Practice Tests Scores Ranges (2180-2290)-Will be taking again</p>

<p>AP Courses: (Frosh-Soph) Taken 4 so far (AP Chemistry, AP World History, AP French Language, AP Human Geography)</p>

<p>AP Courses: (Junior Year) Taking 4 (AP Physics, AP US History, AP English Language and Composition, AP Statistics)--Plenty of Honors Classes through the years as well</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities (most notable):
French Honor Society Officer (1 year), Crew (1 year), Beta Club (1 year), Link Crew Leader (1 year)--as you can see I didn't really start to get involved in my ECs till this year.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities (for Senior Year):
Crew, Newspaper Editor, Literary Magazine Editor, as well as other writing stuff</p>

<p>Awards:
None at the moment, but I'm hoping to win some Creative Writing Awards/Scholarships this summer as well as compete in some competitions (YoungARTS and Scholastic Awards).</p>

<p>Community Service:
Beta Club Hours, Volunteered at a nursing home. (200 + Hours)</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Worked at Win Dixie last year. Summer Job at Panera Bread--Working on a Summer Job at a Theater or Book Shop</p>

<p>I'd just like to know if the colleges I am considering FIT my academic profile. I want to be sure that I can get into at least 70% of the schools I apply to.</p>

2

<p>Frankly you are overshooting a little bit. For instance your hopeful GPA is in the bottom 25% for Kenyon. What can your family afford? What is your home state?</p>

3

<p>No offense…I wouldn’t consider Bennington a safety. It seems more like a match.</p>

4

<p>Your GPA seems really low for a lot of those schools, even if you can get a 2200+ SAT score. In general, you need to find less competitive safties.</p>

5

<p>You should probably ask your question here: [Visual</a> Arts and Film Majors - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/]Visual”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/)</p>

<p>For a major in the arts, the quality of the portfolio can be more important than GPA and/or SAT scores. You need to discuss your situation with people who have that kind of expertise.</p>

6

<p>Safeties:
Bennington College
Sarah Lawrence College
Ithaca College</p>

<p>These are only safeties if you know FOR SURE that you’ll get in AND that you know FOR SURE that you have all costs covered. Do you?</p>

7

<p>@Erin’s Dad All right, I figured as much. I haven’t really done any calculations on how much financial aid I could possibly receive or offer. I’ve really just been browsing through colleges that I think may fit my interests.</p>

<p>@Number88 OK. I actually listed Bennington as a safety because they had an acceptance rate of around 70%. I guess I wasn’t really factoring in $$.</p>

<p>@chaossakita OK. I thought the safeties I picked did fit my profile academically. The acceptance rates range from 65-75%.</p>

<p>@happymomof1 That’s actually what I did to generate this list I have at the moment. I just wanted an academic perspective of my chances.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids OK. I’m only half confident I’ll get into these safeties, but I haven’t really checked their financial aid oppurtunities yet.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for the feedback. I’d appreciate it if you guys could give me more advice on colleges that would fit my profile.</p>

<p>thanks :)</p>

8

<p>I like your list! I think that you have great test scores, and your GPA might just reflect a lack of grade inflation or the fact that maybe you are in a very competetive school with a bunch of geniuses. The fact that you were able to take so many AP classes as a junior reflects this. Your test scores show how you compare to students all over the country.
But in regard to other suggestions, check out Emerson College in Boston.
Also, are you aware that Tisch is even more expensive than the rest of NYU?</p>

9

<p>@Erin’s Dad All right, I figured as much. I haven’t really done any calculations on how much financial aid I could possibly receive or offer. I’ve really just been browsing through colleges that I think may fit my interests.</p>

<p>1) Ask your parents how much they’ll spend.</p>

<p>2) do the FA calculators…both the fed method and inst methods.</p>

<p>3) if you have a non-custodial parent , that’s another issue.</p>

<p>4) keep in mind that many schools do not meet need…even if you have need.</p>

<p>5) schools determine what your need is, not the family.</p>

10

<p>Hi Applebeam:</p>

<p>Have you looking into Temple University School of Communications and Theater? [SCT:</a> School of Communications and Theater | Temple University](<a href=“http://www.temple.edu/sct/]SCT:”>http://www.temple.edu/sct/)</p>

<p>or Drexel Westphal College of Media Arts and Design [The</a> Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design: Drexel University](<a href=“http://www.drexel.edu/westphal/]The”>Home | Drexel Westphal)</p>

<p>Both of these schools are in Philadelphia. With your grades and SATs I think you should get in.</p>

<p>What state do you live in currently?</p>

11

<p>Yes, I’ve actually heard of both colleges, but never really looked into them. I’ll definitely consider them. I live in Florida.</p>

12

<p>Occidental seems like a reach. USC seems also impossible.</p>

13

<p>^OK. Thanks for the honesty. USC really is one of my TOP choices, so even if my chances there are near impossible, I’d still like to apply to their film program just out of curiosity.</p>

<p>Oh, and I never stated it before on this thread but I’m a URM (I’m hoping that might help me just a little, it may not overlook my GPA but it could help)</p>

14

<p>bump bump bump</p>

<p>anyone?</p>

15

<p>My cousin was rejected from all the good UC’s, but was admitted to USC with a 3.70</p>

<p>She is a URM, lots of IB classes, started a charity in Jr High, golf, cheer, looks like a model, and interviews very well.</p>

<p>If you’re really interested in USC make sure you do the interview, attend many of the workshops, get to know staff, apply for scholarships, etc. Put your all into the school and you’ll have a chance! I think being a URM will help, but you really need to stand out more in order to get in with a low GPA.</p>

16

<p>Applebeam- since you live in FL and traveling long distance make sure you consider the ease/difficulty and cost of travel from your home town. Philadlephia is the 5th largest city in the US and has a major airport. It is a hub for US Air.</p>

<p>Philadelphia has a thriving arts community and should have many opportunities for internships. Here is a link to the Greater Philadelphia film office. [Greater</a> Philadelphia Film Office: Film and Video Commission](<a href=“http://www.film.org/film/index.cfm]Greater”>http://www.film.org/film/index.cfm) Philadelphia is also home to several film festivals including this one. [Philadelphia</a> Film Society](<a href=“http://www.filmadelphia.org/]Philadelphia”>http://www.filmadelphia.org/)</p>

<p>Temple is definitely the cheaper of the two schools but both Temple and Drexel do offer merit aid. One girl I know will be attending Temple on a full ride in the film school. I believe she has won several local film contests.</p>

<p>As someone mentioned that you are URM-it is also good to know that Philly is a diverse city. Temple is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation. Hope that you get a chance to visit! Let me know if you have any questions.</p>

17

<p>^OK, thanks.</p>

<p>If anyone else has any more advice please comment, I’d really like more feedback.</p>

18

<p>Have you checked into what your family can afford so we can give you some well targeted feedback?</p>

19

<p>Emerson College (MA) over 50k and not a great reputation for financial aid.
Many kids from our high school have to turn Emerson down because of this. </p>

<p>Certainly you can visit, apply and see what happens!</p>

20

<p>I spoke to my father about how much money we would be able to contribute to college. He says that money is extremely tight. Were in a situation where we don’t really make much but it would also be difficult to make much financial aid (at least he says). I’m really worried about money but I really don’t want to stay in florida, I want to branch out. Anyone have any advice?</p>