Is this a reasonable list?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My list is:
Carnegie Mellon ED
Duke
Johns Hopkins
Harvey Mudd
UChicago
Case Western
Rutgers (in state)</p>

<p>I want to study physics and statistics. My gpa is mediocre, low A-, largely due to a ****ty freshman year where I was just really lazy and stupid. But Carnegie Mellon if I understand correctly, doesn't look at freshman year grades :D</p>

<p>I am retaking the SAT, and I think it should be close 2200, hopefully 2250.
I got an 800 on Math II and a 740 on Physics.
I also take a lot of outside classes at the local colleges.</p>

<p>Do you think I have a decent list? I don't really want to add many others to it, and I could be happy going to any of the schools on the list, but I would not prefer to go to Rutgers over the others. In the end, it would probably have to come down to money in having me go there.</p>

2

<p>You might want a match or two to go with Case Western </p>

<p>I don’t know if you can afford but Lehigh has good physics I believe</p>

<p>If you don’t like Rutgers you might want to see if you can find 2nd a safety you like</p>

3

<p>Your first 5 are very selective.
Excellent grades and scores are necessary but not sufficient for admission to those schools (especially #2-5, which are reaches for nearly everyone). Do you have strong extracurriculars? Do you expect to have excellent letters of recommendation? </p>

<p>Your first six are very expensive.
So, what about your budget? Will you be able to cover your “Expected Family Contribution” without borrowing more than the Stafford loan limits (<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/studentloans.jsp)?%5B/url%5D”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/studentloans.jsp)?</a> If not, find other schools that are more affordable or where you’d have a realistic shot at sufficient merit aid. </p>

<p>In any case, add another match or two (at least).</p>

4

<p>So would it be a good idea to add UIUC to my list, or are they still too selective? I’ll keep looking for safeties. I remember getting stuff from RPI as well as a free application, do you think I could get any money from them?</p>

<p>Personally I think my letters of recommendation will be really good; and as far as EC’s go, I think they are good, but from what I’ve seen on this website they pale in comparison. </p>

<p>I don’t entirely know my family’s financial situation since my parents are always fairly vague or act reassuring about it, we live comfortably but I just don’t know how much money I’ll end up needing to get through loans if I go to an expensive school.</p>

5

<p>“So would it be a good idea to add UIUC to my list, or are they still too selective?”</p>

<p>U of I is a really good school for engineering and the hard sciences. With a 2200 SAT score, you would most likely get in, but I’m not sure that would receive much merit aid.</p>

6

<p>UIUC, on average, meets less than 70% of determined need for those students who get it. That’s for all students. The rate for OOS students may be even lower. So again, you need to determine if you’ll be able to cover your EFC. Even if you can, UIUC may not cover the gap (if any) between your EFC and the full cost (~$40K/year).</p>

7

<p>If you don’t get into Carnegie Mellon ED, I really don’t think you can count on getting into the others (other than Rutgers) RD. I’d add some other less selective schools to your list - perhaps URochester, RPI, Bucknell, Lehigh, SUNY Binghamton, UWisconsin, UWashington, UIllinois, SUNY Stony Brook, UMD…</p>

8

<p>Ok thanks, I’ll look into some of those schools you mentioned among others.</p>