Is my list full of the wrong colleges?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay, so I feel unhappy with my list of colleges. I feel like I'm aiming too high with some and too low with others and I really don't know what sort of college is realistic for me to get into. My GPA is a 3.4 UW (on a 94-100 A, 85-93 B scale, my school doesn't weight for AP or honors) and top 12% of my class (weighted for AP and honors). My ACT is a 33 (35 English, 35 Reading, 34 Science, 27 Math, 8 Writing) and I've taken the SAT Literature and US History tests and I'm waiting on a score. I'm also signed up for the Biology test, but unless I find a good way to review, the score for it is looking pretty bad.</p>

<p>My extracurriculars are Junior Classical League (state officer), Drama Club, Academy for Young Leaders (anti-drug group that visits middle schools), Teen Court, and a couple others. I'm a member of National Honor Society until Christmas if my GPA doesn't go up to 3.5 (looking like it might. 3.75 for the semester so far). Nothing too unique or amazing.</p>

<p>I've taken pretty much all honors and AP classes except in math, which I only went up to Algebra 3 in. I've taken up to AP Latin. I'm white and my parents combined income is around $50k (cost is a bit of an issue. Good financial aid is nice). I'd rather not go too far out of my region, but if I had to, I'd be willing. I also don't like partying, so I prefer colleges without much of it (yes, I realize IU is on my list).</p>

<p>I'm considering a double major in Economics and Art History, but that's subject to change.</p>

<p>Colleges:
University of Virginia
Rhodes College
Transylvania University
Centre College
Berea College
Indiana University</p>

<p>Do you feel like I should strike any of these from my list? What do you suggest to replace them? Thanks.</p>

2

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

3

<p>and what do you look for in a university?</p>

4

<p>I live in Kentucky. Ideally, I’d like a place not too conservative, not much partying, with good study abroad opportunities. I like diversity. As for size, I prefer a smaller college with access to a city, but small isn’t really a necessity. Larger is fine as long as it’s a good school. I would like a campus culture, not a place where the college only exists for the classes.</p>

<p>Also, interning opportunities are nice, so places with good art museums, theaters, and businesses are a plus.</p>

5

<p>You might want to look into Tulane.</p>

6

<p>you might want to try some other selective schools that meet full need and are also need-blind.</p>

<p>Brandeis University
Holy Cross
Haverford College
Vassar College</p>

<p>and your app would become MUCH more competitive if you made the top 10% of your class. but even still, your Kentucky location may lead some strong schools to overlook the rank. the KY location will help most at north eastern liberal arts colleges.</p>

7

<p>ChoklitRain:
It’s possible that I’ll make the top 10% at graduation, but I’ll already have been accepted or rejected by then, right? So isn’t my rank pretty much locked in now? Sorry if that’s a dumb question.</p>

8

<p>i’m not sure how your school does rank. at some schools, it updates every quarter or every semester. ask your counselor how your school’s system works. </p>

<p>if it can’t change until the end of the year, try to get some junior year grades changed. it’s worth a shot.</p>