Is this college list balanced?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Keeping it relatively short and sweet:

GPA: 3.8 UW, 4.4 W
SAT Subject Tests: Took Lit and US History yesterday, aiming for 700+ but realistically more likely to end up with 650+ on both
ACT: 31 C (35 E, 28 M, 33 R, 28 S) and 8/12 essay; retaking aiming for 32+ in June
APs: US History (5), taking Psych and Chem tomorrow (expecting a 4 or 5 on Psych and just hoping not to get a 1 on Chem)
Class Rank: Top 10%
Senior Class Schedule: World Religions, AP US Gov, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, Honors Spanish 4, Journalism
ECs: NHS, Service Club, Varsity Bowler, Elementary School Tutor, Girl Scouts, Student Government Officer
Hooks: none
Location: midwestern USA

Some financial need but more likely I’ll have to rely on merit aid; thankfully, parents willing to contribute up to 30K a year (if I remember correctly).

Colleges I’m Thinking About, Prospective Major, and Application Type:

Northwestern (journalism, RD)
Brown (psychology or English, RD)
Dartmouth (psychology, RD)
WUSTL (psychology, RD)
UNC Chapel Hill (journalism, EA)
Oberlin (English, RD)
Kenyon (English, RD)
American U (journalism, RD)
Lehigh U (journalism, RD)
U of Alabama (journalism, rolling)
U of Iowa (creative writing, rolling)
Marquette U (journalism, rolling?)
Ohio University, Athens (journalism, rolling)
Miami of OH (psychology, EA)

Any suggestions for colleges are welcome, as is feedback/constructive criticism! :slight_smile:

2

Reaches:
Northwestern (journalism, RD)
Brown (psychology or English, RD)
Dartmouth (psychology, RD)
WUSTL (psychology, RD)

Matches
UNC Chapel Hill (journalism, EA)
Oberlin (English, RD)
Kenyon (English, RD)
American U (journalism, RD)
Lehigh U (journalism, RD)

Somewhat Safeties but not guaranteed
U of Alabama (journalism, rolling)
U of Iowa (creative writing, rolling)
Marquette U (journalism, rolling?)
Ohio University, Athens (journalism, rolling)
Miami of OH (psychology, EA)

3

@TomSrOfBoston thanks a lot! If it changes anything, I’m instate for at least one of my safeties and two of them have decent relationships with my high school. Would that have any impact on their status as “somewhat safeties?”

4

If you want to be a journalism major, are you looking at Syracuse, Mizzou & BU? All three are more generous with merit aid than, say, Northwestern, and are ranked in the same league for JO (but are slightly easier to get into than Northwestern). I’d also throw in a recommendation of UMD as a possible match/safety for JO, as well.

5

If you want a shot at your reach schools, I would consider improving your EC’s. Can you do something this summer that shows your interest in writing? I think you will need to immerse yourself in activities that show your passion and help you stand out.

6

Reaches:
Northwestern (journalism, RD)
Brown (psychology or English, RD)
Dartmouth (psychology, RD)
WUSTL (psychology, RD)
UNC Chapel Hill (journalism, EA) IF OOS

Matches
UNC Chapel Hill (journalism, EA) IF IN STATE
Oberlin (English, RD)
Kenyon (English, RD)
Lehigh U (journalism, RD)

Safety (maybe shorten this list to your top 2)
U of Alabama (journalism, rolling)
U of Iowa (creative writing, rolling)
Marquette U (journalism, rolling?)
Ohio University, Athens (journalism, rolling)
Miami of OH (psychology, EA)

Chance back- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1773882-accept-waitlist-reject.html#latest

7

LordSwag has UNC correct- OOS is a low reach for you OOS.

And as a parent that just went through this, here is some frank feedback: I think Kenyon is a high match/low reach, and your most of your reaches are really unlikely.

I would say the best school that you are most likely to get into will be Oberlin. WUSTL would be a nice surprise. I predict a WL at Kenyon and WUSTL. Rejection at your other reaches.

ECs are not going to help you now. The best advice I can give you is to find match schools that really interest you and figure out a way to 1) express interest, 2) demonstrate fit. Kenyon is tough since they do not have a supplement but you need to figure out a way. Put A LOT of work into your common app essay and supplements.

If you are near WUSTL, visit a few times and try and meet your regional admissions rep and make a connection with them. Same for Kenyon.

If you really need merit aid, your matches need to be a lot lower in the rankings. Take a look at Ohio Wesleyan, this might be a great option for a match/safety that would be acceptable and would give you merit aid. Make sure your safeties are schools you would be happy to be at (I know this is difficult).

Don’t take this the wrong way, I am just giving it to you straight based on the handful of white (northeast) girls that I know that look as good or better than you on paper and did not do well in the 2015 cycle. I thought they were great applicants and were going to get in to Kenyon, Oberlin, Smith, etc, but did not and will be attending the state flagship. There is just so much competition from across the country these days.

Also if you need merit aid, it really doesn’t matter if you get in to a school like Kenyon, they don’t give out much merit aid and it can be painful to realize you can’t go to your top school because of finances.

8

Reaches are too high. Kenyon was very selective this year. 23 percent admit rate. I would limit myself to three reaches and realistic ones at that. D was in 2015 cycle with a 36 ACT and 11 APs. Also Midwest, white reasonably wealthy. You are actually competing for about 25 percent of admission spots after you account for URM, legacy, athletes and males. Reaching out to admission officer and really showing potential schools your intersest is important

9

I think your reaches are a bit too ambitious. That ACT needs to move up.

Also, you say your parents will pay $30,000 which is quite generous. However, you must find out your EFC for each school on your list. If the EFC is $55,000 and your parents pay $30,000, you can’t afford the school. If your EFC is $28,000, then you are good to go.

Your list of schools doesn’t strike me as being generous with merit money. You may need to rethink your list if you require a merit scholarship.