Is my college list ok?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello :)
I'm going to be a senior this year and I've been looking at colleges a lot lately, and I have a list! :)
It's pretty finalized, but I would still like you expert CC members to help advice me!</p>

<p>Background: I'm a US citizen, half American half Malaysian and I study at an American International school in Hong Kong</p>

<p>SAT: 600 CR Math 740 W 690 (essay 9)
Taking in Oct hoping for 660 CR, 800 M, 740 CR (essay 11)
SAT II: 750 USH, 730 Bio M
Taking Math II in Nov hoping for 750+</p>

<p>GPA: 3.90
Freshman Year (Sem1/2)
English: A+/A
Bible: A+/A+
Algebra: A/A+
Biology: A/A
History: A+/A+
PE: A-/A-
Chinese: A+/A+
(Sem 1) Computer: A+/(Sem 2) Journalism: A+
Choir: B-/B
3.88/3.90</p>

<p>Sophmore Year (Sem1/2)
Lit Survey: A+/A
Bible: A+/A+
Honors Algebra 2: A+/A+
History: A/A
Honors Chemistry: A+/A+
Chinese: A+/A+
PE (Sem 1) A-/(Sem 2) Health A-
Media(Sem 1)A+/Graphic Design(Sem 2)A
3.96/3.96</p>

<p>Junior Year (Sem1/Sem2)
HonorsAmerican Lit(Sem1): B
Bible: A+/A+
HonorsGeometry: A+/A+
HonorsPre-Calc: A+/A
AP Bio: A/A
AP USH: A-/A-
Photography (Sem 1): A/Graphic Design 2(Sem2): B+
Yearbook: A+/A+
3.83/3.86</p>

<p>Senior Year:
Physics
Chinese
AP CHEM
AP STATS
English
AP CALC
AP PSYCH
Bible</p>

<p>I'm taking a total of 6 APS but that's considered ALOT for my school. Most people take at most 3</p>

<p>Job Experience:
- 3 weeks at Law Firm (Summer 2011)
- Oct 2010 - Present: English tutoring at English Tutoring Center
- 1 week at Architecture Firm (Summer 2011)
- 2 weeks at High School's Summer school as TA
- A few weeks at another English tutoring center
- (looking for an Engineering firm, eating lunch with this Engineering guy next week to look for jobs :))</p>

<p>Clubs:
Leadership:
- Fundraising Club Treasury (Member G10, Treasury G11-12)
- Global Issues Network (Member G11, Marketing Director G12)
- Christian Fellowship Club (Member G9-10, President G11-12)
- Class President (G10)
- Photography Class Editor (G11)
- Youth Group's Dance Group (Leader G9-12)
- Youth Group's Fellowship Leader (G9-12)
- Youth Group's Magazine (Creative Director (G9-12)
Clubs: Dance Club (G9-12), Roots and Shoots (G11-12), Debate Team (G11-12), Basketball (G9-10, Varsity: G11-12), Track and Field (G10, Varsity: G11-12), Girls Ensemble (G9), Muse Magazine (Writer/Designer G10-12), </p>

<p>Teacher Recs: Math teacher (I've been top of his class for the past 2 years I've had him. He always writes AMAZING comments on my report card). Chemistry Teacher/Global Issues Network leader: I worked with him at a service trip in Cambodia and he really liked me :) Plus I'm a leader in his club next year && I'm really good at Chemistry :)</p>

<p>I'm hoping to pursue Engineering at these schools. Help rate target/reach/safety
Rice University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Notre Dame (EA)
University of Southern California
Northwestern University
University of Miami (EA)
Hong Kong University (law instead of engineering)</p>

<p>I have yet to find safety schools b/c I need financial aid my family's EFC is probably close to 0... :S So it's hard to find needblind full need schools that I know I can safely get into. Suggest some?</p>

2

<p>Rice: Reach
U Penn: High Reach
Notre Dame: Reach
USC: Target
Northwestern: High Reach
Miami: Target</p>

<p>Another need-blind/full need school that would be a high safety/low target for you is the University of Rochester. For the most part, though, schools that are need-blind and full need are among the most difficult in which to gain admission (ex: Ivy League, Northwestern, Rice, etc.) Another approach (that would give you some safety schools) is applying to state schools that offer hefty merit aid.</p>

<p>Here’s a list of public schools that offer relatively good merit aid (for which you would likely qualify):
-University of Minnesota
-University of Missouri
-University of Florida
-University of Georgia
-University of South Carolina
-University of Alabama
-University of Arizona
-Arizona State University
-University of New Mexico
-University of Iowa
-Louisiana State University
-Indiana University
-Purdue University
-University of Louisville
-Ohio State University
-West Virginia University
-University of Pittsburgh
-University of Connecticut
-Binghamton University</p>

<p>These private schools also have good merit aid programs:
-Case Western Reserve University
-Boston University
-Northeastern University
-George Washington University
-Tulane University
-Drexel University</p>

3

<p>thank you! :)</p>

4

<p>I think I’ll add Boston U as a safety?</p>

5

<p>Glad I could help! BU would be a great safety for you to add to your list.</p>

6

<p>would you sat that UIUC would be a match or a reach? I know that they are highly ranked in engineering, so I fear that it’ll be hard to get into.</p>

7

<p>A lot of those flagship publics listed do not offer merit awards in anything remotely like what you’d need to make them affordable.</p>

<p>For example, IU’s top OOS merit award is $9,000 per year - which leaves a gap of $33,000 per year.</p>

<p>If your family can’t afford to contribute much for college and you’re not able to claim residency in any American state, you need to look mainly at schools that meet full need, because even a small gap will be unbridgeable. There’s no such thing as a safety school for that, though, because all schools that meet full need are highly selective.</p>

<p>Look for places like the University of Alabama as a safety - UA has very good merit aid that you’d likely be eligible for.</p>

8

<p>Since you have expressed an interest in engineering programs you might want to take a look at schools such as Union (in New York) and Lehigh (in Pennsylvania).</p>