<p>I need recommendations of schools that would possibly fit me.
I have a 3.68 weighted GPA; mostly honors/AP classes; a 29 on the ACT (I have not taken the SAT; nor do I have immediate plans to); and potentially 3 excellent letters of recommendation. I have what I would consider somewhat above-average extracurricular activities; if it is necessary to elaborate concerning these, I certainly can. Most of them involve music; none involve athletics. I consider myself (as do virtually all of my instructors over many years) an excellent writer; the essays, I suspect, will be of a highly favorable nature. I am in the top thirteen percent of my class and my grades correlate to a very strong upward trend.
I live in Chicago, Illinois and attend a public secondary school.
My primary choice is the University of Illinois; other than the obvious, my concerns are primarily financial. I would prefer a smaller school, but I have capped the tuition at 28,000 dollars, which excludes a great deal of potential matches. Hence the majority of the schools I have been researching are public institutions.
I have no geographical reservations regarding schools.</p>
<p>If you qualify for need-based aid, then there's no reason to cap the tuition. Most private schools do give need-based aid, so you shouldn't rule them out altogether just because the original price seems too high.</p>
<p>Also, there are plenty of second or third-tier private schools that give merit aid, which would be possible for you to get regardless of your need-based aid.</p>
<p>Arettinger, some very good schools under or near your cap are SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Geneseo and St Mary's College of Maryland (not affiliated with any religion, named after the town it is located in). It is the Maryland public honors college.</p>
<p>I hear good things about Binghamton's reputation, but nothing but negativity regarding most other factors concerning the SUNY system.</p>
<p>arettinger-lol; I'm from NY so am particularly sensitive to the bleak reputation of SUNYs...Bing attracts a LOT of highly intelligent and talented students as does Geneseo...and I think about $20,000 for out of state room board and tuition?</p>
<p>I am actually very interested in Binghamton and Geneseo.
My mother was very good friends with a Spanish professor at Binghamton who absolutely loved it.</p>
<p>I live about half an hour from SUNY Geneseo and I second Muffy. Geneseo attracts a "LOT of highly intelligent and talented students." I'm not so sure about Binghamton, simply because I don't know many people who attend. A number of my friends attend Geneseo -- all of whom are amazingly smart.</p>
<p>Good luck, arettinger!</p>