<p>1480/2260 34
98 weighted gpa (my school does not give unweighted. I have all As)</p>
<p>Harvard
Stanford
MIT
UChicago
Northwestern
Johns Hopkins
Amherst
Boston University or Boston College (visiting both, not sure which I'll like better)
Brown University
Vanderbilt
Tufts
My in-state public</p>
<p>I know that getting an acceptance to these places requires more than just good numbers, but do you think that my list is reasonable? I would like to get into the majority of the colleges on my list. Yes I do realize that Amherst does not really fit in with the rest of the schools.</p>
<p>Also my application will kind of play the hippie card (outdoor activities, sports, service etc). Would that hurt me at urban schools?</p>
<p>Anything that will help you standout will definitely help you. Remember, admissions tend to try to create a very diverse class with many different interests. No just one singularly bland student body. That would be boring. Quirkiness might be a plus, depending on how you execute it and how it is percieve by the reader.</p>
<p>Reaches</p>
<p>Harvard
Stanford
MIT
UChicago
Northwestern
Johns Hopkins
Amherst
Brown
Vanderbilt</p>
<p>Match</p>
<p>Boston College
Tufts</p>
<p>Safety</p>
<p>Boston University
Instate Public</p>
<p>Tell us, What do you plan to study in college?</p>
<p>If you have a few matches and safeties that you would be happy to go to then it's not lopsided. You have the stats to apply to those top schools. You do know most of those ivies do not have good CS programs, right? Why not Cornell if you are interested in math and CS?</p>
<p>I've chosen most of the colleges on that list based on location and general feel. I hope that that won't end up biting me in the butt! Cornell just doesn't appeal to me for some reason. It is a great suggestion though. Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>I know that Brown's computer science program is weak. Which other schools stand out?</p>
<p>It is a strange list. I think you will have a hard time to write "Why ___" essay. Don't put this list on your application. Not sure if you should put down CS as a potential major on your application either.</p>
<p>Actually, Tufts is likely to be more of a reach than Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Tufts admission rate for 2007-08 was 30.3 percent for men and 25.6 for women. Vandy's was 33.8 percent for men and 32 percent for women. While not as "reachy" as the Harvards, Stanfords and Browns on your list, any college that admits so far below half of its applicants (in the one-third or less range) has to be regarded as somewhat of a reach for even well-qualified applicants. A match-reach at least. </p>
<p>Not knowing what your list of ECs or awards are or what your counselor and teachers will say about you, it's hard to speculate on whether your list is lopsided or not. You could be wildly successful or terribly disappointed. As long as you really like and can see yourself being happy at one of your safeties, you can take your chances and hope for the best.</p>
<p>What is the "general feel" that you mention you are looking for? I would agree with oldfort that your group of colleges seems unusual. </p>
<p>Re Vanderbilt, something happened last year with their admissions (opening of their new Commons first-year dorms?), but their applicant pool spiked and admit rates went down to low 20s (though still low 30s for ED). Also, re their computer science, another poster (midmo) has written a lot on her son's very good experience at Vandy.</p>
<p>I think that the list is a little top-heavy, but that most likely, you would do well with it. Look at University of Rochester. George Washington and NYU are somewhat similar to BU, and for you they are all safeties.</p>
<p>Actually, Brown has a very good undergraduate oriented CS program, especially for graphic applications. I do think Brown is weaker than schools you listed except MIT and Stanford.</p>
<p>You number is good but Tufts and BC should not count as match. You probable need more match. May I suggest that you add Case Western, Rochester, and Lehigh to your list.</p>
<p>Wow thanks for all of the advice guys. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I realize that these colleges are not all similar. I guess the problem is that I could be happy almost anywhere. I have visited Northwestern and UChicago. I definitely preferred Northwestern's campus. I loved being lakeside. Northwestern is definitely high on my list. I love Chicago (the city). UChicago had a very different feel from anywhere else I have been. I thought it was neat. I think that I could be happy there.</p>
<p>So to sum it up, I'm not really looking for a "certain feel" to a college. I like colleges that have their own "feels." Wow this is vague. I am attracted to colleges that excite me. While very different from some of the other colleges on the list, Vandy excited me too. I'm also from the south so I want to have one college on my list that is a little bit closer to me.</p>
<p>The thing that really connects most of the colleges on my list with the exception of Amherst (it has an extracurricular advantage for me) is their proximity to big cities.</p>
<p>I'm not Catholic so I'm a bit hesitant to look deeply into more Catholic universities like Fordham and the others that were suggested. Should I not be worried about this?</p>
<p>I'm definitely going to check out some of the colleges that y'all have suggested. I visited GW and while I liked it, I did not like it enough to justify the cost. I guess I need to look up their financial aid reputation. (I've pretty much decided that I'm either going to go to a top 20 school or go to a school for free and spend the money on graduate school). </p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm not Catholic so I'm a bit hesitant to look deeply into more Catholic universities like Fordham and the others that were suggested. Should I not be worried about this?
[/quote]
My son would not apply to BC or Fordham either. Only you can decide whether you are comfortable with a Catholic university. If I were you, I would noy worry about it. But my son would think that I had to be crazy. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>
[quote]
most of the colleges on my list with the exception of Amherst (it has an extracurricular advantage for me) is their proximity to big cities.
[/quote]
If you like cities, I would definitely suggest that you add Rochester, Brandeis, Case Western, Syracuse, George Washington or Macalester as your match.</p>
<p>In post # 12, i wrote
[quote]
I do think Brown is weaker than schools you listed except MIT and Stanford.
[/quote]
I meant to say I DON'T think Brown is weaker than schools you listed except MIT and Stanford. Sorry about it.</p>