In need of help!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am the first in my family to be born in America(parents from poland) and I am sort of clueless as to where I should look to apply. Also I am a junior.
UW GPA: 3.900/4.000
W GPA: 4.031/4.000
Top 10%
AP Classes:</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
AP World History</p>

<p>Junior Year
AP Calculus BC
AP Language and Composition
AP US History
AP Government and Politics
AP Statistics</p>

<p>IB German(school doesn't have german level 4)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:
JV soccer 9-10, potentially varsity senior year
JV volley ball 9-10
Potentially Varsity Volley ball 11-12
Student Council 10-12
Ski Club 10-12
Help a local consignment shop that donates all proceeds to helping family with aids( working on making a website for them)</p>

<p>Senior year planning on taking at least 5 AP classes, 6 if schedule allows for it. Or potentially calculus 3</p>

<p>My SAT score was 1750 in my sophomore year but I only took it for practice, I did not study at all and am currently taking a SAT Class and hope(fingers crossed) to get somewhere in the 2000-2100 range now that I know some of the tips and tricks!</p>

<p>ACT: have not taken but planning on getting somewhere in the 30s</p>

<p>Gender: Male</p>

<p>Income: Single mom 100k+
(Paying for college is not a large issue)</p>

<p>I have a very large interest in Math and Science, particularly brain development. I am not sure what I want my major to be as of now, but any school with good science or math will definitely have something I want. </p>

<p>I am not to picky about location as of now, if its a good school I will go there no matter the location.</p>

<p>I really just want to know what level of schools I am going to. If I apply myself junior and senior year, increase my SAT score a lot, and pick up some more ECs I am hoping to apply to at least one Ivy league school but then again I have no idea if I would have any chance.</p>

<p>I can post any other information need as well if that would help clarify things!</p>

<p>Any Input at all would be greatly appreciated!!
-Worried Highschool Student</p>

<p>P.S- I have the ability to apply for my polish citizenship since my parents are both native to Poland, would that increase my chances at all?</p>

2

<p>Polish citizenship would be useful if you intend to apply to any European universities. It will not help you get admitted here.</p>

<p>Where you can be admitted is primarily based on your GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Where you can attend depends on what your family actually can afford to pay. Often there is a big difference between what the college/university expects and what the family can afford. You need to be certain that at least one place on your list will definitely admit you and will definitely be affordable. Your HS guidance counselor can probably help you with the definitely admittable list. You and your mom need to identify the affordable ones. Sit down with your mom and run the Net Price Calculator at the websites of a couple of your home-state public Us and at a couple of not-Ivy colleges/universities so that you get a ball-park notion of what your family might be expected to pay. Have a couple boxes of tissues available and the adult beverages of her preference. There may be tears.</p>

<p>There are scads of places out there with good math & science programs. Once you identify the amount of money your family can pay, and you have an estimate of what some colleges and universities will expect you to pay, you will know whether to chase merit-based aid or need-based aid. For reading on that topic, see the threads stickied at the top of the Financial Aid Forum.</p>

3

<p>wait,you’re taking AP Calc BC junior year? AND Statistics?</p>

<p>your GPA is very good. your rigor is very good. your SAT can be improved. your ECs are okay.</p>

<p>let’s go with what you have rather than what you wish you had in SATs and ECs. you could apply to schools that don’t require test scores like the SAT. there’s a list of these floating around CC. you have a whole bunch of SUNYs that would want you and that are strong in the sciences. then there are all those large state unis in the south, many of them with honors colleges and many associated with research hospitals and grad programs (characteristics many science majors find attractive) that are desirous of 4.0 OOS students and willing to pay for them; there’s a list for these, too. </p>

<p>If your SAT score jumps above 2150 or 2200, then you can take a look at very selective schools that are strong in the sciences: Cornell is a possibility b/c you’re in-state, maybe some of the other ivies as reaches, wesleyan, brandeis, and others might find your personal history intriguing. </p>

<p>the possibilities among the very selective schools are various, but instead of thinking about these schools right now work on getting the SATs up. Focus on the math and critical reading, and then when you regularly test score in the 700s in these areas work on the writing section. if you can develop a leadership position for yourself on an EC, that would help, too. Good luck.</p>

4

<p>Bur or borrow a good college selection book such as the Fiske Guide to Colleges and start doing some reading. Read the intro chapters, then browse the college descriptions to find ones that sound good to you. It is a good way to start the process…</p>