Is this a good list of colleges?

I got a 31 on my ACT and I have an unweighted GPA of 3.98 on a 4.0 scale. I just want to know if these are good reach and fit/safety colleges, especially the fit/safety ones because I want to apply to colleges that I’ll pretty much have a guarantee of getting in. Also I’m planning on apply to 8 colleges. Is this a good number or should I apply to more? Thanks!

Reach

  • Northwestern
  • USC

Fit/safety

  • Purdue
  • California State University Long Beach
  • NC State
  • UC Boulder
  • Santa Clara University
  • University of Tulsa

Intended major? # of AP/IB or Dual Enrollment classes.

CSU/UC GPA? https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

What is your budget? Safeties need to be affordable.

I want to major in applied mathematics or mechanical engineering, I haven’t really decided yet. I’ve take 3 AP classes and next year I’m taking 4. According to the link you sent me my CSU/UC GPA is a 4.0. And I don’t have a budget

“I don’t have a budget” meaning you can afford Santa Clara without FA?

CSULB is a definite safety if your are in-state.
SCU is probably a Match/Fit but will be expensive.

USC could be possible if you bump up your ACT score a bit, 32+.

Cannot comment on the rest. Good Luck.

Thanks for your help! And by no budget I mean I haven’t been told a budget.

Asking about a budget should be your #1 priority. It makes no sense to apply to any college that is unaffordable.
Run the Net Price calculators on your choices, give the results to your parents and see what they say.
SCU is not known for giving good financial aid, so that is why I asked.
You have some OOS schools on your list and many will not give good FA, so you need to choose your list wisely if you have financial considerations.

in terms of difficulty to get in, I think you’re going to be okay! You understand NW is a high reach, so hopefully you like one of your Fit schools a lot! 8 is a good number, unless you need good financial aid (or are applying to specific degree programs such as accelerated ones or combined degrees, but you’re not so you don’t need too many apps!)

Purdue should be number 1 overall.
Tulsa is also a great school for what you are looking for.

I would adjust those two to number 1 and 2

@zobroward Oh, I didn’t list them in any particular order haha

Some of these schools will cost a quarter of a million dollars for a four year education. Start with the budget conversation with your parents. Run the net price calculator on each school website, too.

<<<
. And I don’t have a budget

And by no budget I mean I haven’t been told a budget.
<<<

Ok…imagine if a high school student created a list of 8 cars that he wanted without asking his parents how much they’ll spend on his car.

He creates this lovely list: BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Land Rover, and so forth.

What good will that list be if his parents can only pay for a used 10 year old Toyota?

You have a list of schools that give no or insufficient aid.

Do you want Spring 2017 to come and THEN you’ll find out that you wasted hours and hours on applications to schools that your family can’t afford or won’t pay for? What will you do then? Go to the local CC?

PLEASE ask your parents how much they’ll spend on college.

And…what state are you from?

Ok, I didn’t think this would be that big of a problem but apparently it is. Money isn’t a problem guys, I have it all taken care of, I guess I probably should have said that from the beginning but I didn’t think everyone would start freaking out about it. I just didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but thanks for your concern

@mom2collegekids I’m from Texas

@Magnanimous, what seems like freaking out to you is coming from posters who have seen many sad posts come April where students are admitted to their dream schools but can’t afford to go. Many parents don’t realize how much college costs have increased since their own college days or believe that their kids are so amazing that they will surely be given full ride scholarships. So while in your case it may indeed be taken care of, all too often costs become a major issue when it is too late for the student to seek admission at a financial safety or apply to a school where he’d be a candidate for merit aid.

@yauponredux Ok, I understand, I’ll definitely still do my research on the costs and I’m grateful for all your concern!

Any college is good as long as you study hard and get good grades. Obviously some are more competitive then others. I think these colleges are pretty good, I mean a few of them I don’t know. UK Minn is pretty good too…

<<<<
what seems like freaking out to you is coming from posters who have seen many sad posts come April where students are admitted to their dream schools but can’t afford to go. Many parents don’t realize how much college costs have increased since their own college days or believe that their kids are so amazing that they will surely be given full ride scholarships. So while in your case it may indeed be taken care of, all too often costs become a major issue when it is too late for the student to seek admission at a financial safety or apply to a school where he’d be a candidate for merit aid.
<<<

^^This

Also…in the spring, there are students who sadly find out that they aren’t allowed to borrow the amounts that they need. They thought that they didn’t need their parents’ money and thought they could just borrow what was needed.

We also see situations where the student thought that he could “apply to a 1000 scholarships” and win enough to pay for college.

PLEASE…ask your parents if they will pay $50,000 - $65000 per year on college. If they say, “no,” then ask them how much they will spend.