Is this list pretty much done?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a junior and I'm trying to form a list of colleges that I'm interested in so I can start planning visits and figure out which schools I'll apply to later this year. I'll post my info and the list of schools I'm interested in. Tell me if you think one should be removed or if there are any other schools I should consider!</p>

<p>Safeties
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Matches
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Northern Illinois University
Ball State University
James Madison University
Reaches
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Rutgers University
Boston University</p>

<p>Right now I am planning on becoming a pediatric physician assistant, so I would most likely major in Biology and do pre-med. Minoring in German and/or Music. I live in Wisconsin.</p>

<p>Academics
- 3.84 UW GPA (hoping to bring this up a little bit!)
- 3.98 W GPA
- Rank: 14/335
- AP classes: AP Human Geography (4), AP US History (3), AP European History (taking currently), AP English Language and Composition (taking currently)
-Honors math, science and English courses</p>

<p>Test Scores
Practice ACT: 28 composite (all the subscores were between 27 and 29, hoping to get at least a 30 in April)
PSAT: 183</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
-National Honor Society
-German National Honor Society (Treasurer)
-2015 Class Board
-Color Guard with Marching Band (Co-Captain Junior year, will Captain Senior year)
-Pit Orchestra
-Jazz Band
-Baton twirling organization (nine year member)
-Assistant baton twirling teacher for recreation department
-Tennis
-Track and Field </p>

<p>Volunteering
-Helping at fundraisers for baton, band and track
-Tutoring German students after school
-Marching in Memorial and Veterans Day Parades</p>

<p>Awards
-Several German speaking/writing awards at the state level
-State baton twirling team member award
-Milwaukee Brewers academic achievement award</p>

<p>Sorry it's so long! Thanks! :)</p>

2

<p>Bump</p>

3

<p>The list is a little pessimistic, I think.
It really depends on how much you can improve your ACT & GPA, and what you do on SAT IIs (If you want to take them at all!); but I think you are in a good track and will have better chances at your Reaches list. (especially Rutgers)</p>

<p>I don’t have any specific suggestion, but I think (depending on your financial ability) adding couple really competitive private high-reach schools (e.g. UCB, Brown, Johns Hopkins) won’t heart.</p>

<p>Don’t remove any of your safeties. Its always good to have some real in-state safeties.</p>

4

<p>My list is pessimistic in that I haven’t done enough ECs or don’t have the grades? I’m a little confused by what you mean.</p>

5

<p>So if I were able to get my ACT up to a 31 (which is comparable to a 2100, right?), I would have a better chance at getting in to UNC and University of Michigan? </p>

6

<p>It’s possible. There’s nothing easy about an OOS getting into either one of those schools, but I like them as reaches. I like your list. One question I have is about money: do PA programs regularly support their grad students or are grad students pretty much on their own like med students? If they are unsupported, you might want to go into grad school with as little debt as possible and that may mean in-state schools. </p>

<p>What fadaee might mean by pessimistic others might think of as midwest reasonable ;+). It may be that fadaee thinks you could have more schools on your list that are difficult to get into or more prestigious. I think this is the most reasonable list I’ve seen in some time and I wish others approached CC with more reasonable expectations.</p>

7

<p>“My list is pessimistic in that I haven’t done enough ECs or don’t have the grades? I’m a little confused by what you mean.”</p>

<p>I mean it in a good way! Your stats (grades, ECs…) are fine. With a better ACT, you can get into more competitive schools.</p>