<p>I was wondering if anyone could advise me into more schools I could look at applying to. I'm looking to go into the sciences, but I can't be more specific than that; I just don't know what science is for me. I'm looking for schools with broad, strong science programs mostly.</p>
<p>Reaches:
Stanford
Brown
Cornell
UPenn</p>
<p>Matches:
UVA
UNC-Chapel Hill
USC</p>
<p>Safeties:
Virginia Tech (I'm in Virginia)</p>
<p>I'm not really looking for an enormous 20k+ people school either (I would take VA Tech off my list for that reason, but it's strength in sciences makes it a good safety for me).</p>
<p>Are there any colleges you guys can advise me to look into a little further? I'm not really attracted to the UC system because I'm OOS, but other California schools are fine. For the most part, unless a school really stands out, I'd like to be in California or the east coast, to stay close to family. Thanks to all that respond!</p>
<p>Duke is similar to Stanford and Penn in some ways, plus in the locale. Columbia is similar also (Ivy and all) but maybe not that good a fit. Michigan also, but might be too big.</p>
<p>You know I looked at Duke, and academically I think it's perfect, but there are a lot of aspects of Duke that make me think I wouldn't fit in there, and so I don't think it would be worth the money to attend. I might get a stellar education, but I don't think I would be happy there. Michigan I've thought about, and will likely look at more in-depthly, but it's a little far for my taste. Columbia I've also eliminated for other reasons. Thanks for your help, I really should take a better look at Michigan. It would be less reachy than some of the schools on my list and I know it's a very strong school.</p>
<p>You should add Harvey Mudd to your list (probably a reach). it's in so.cal., has small number of students (2000/below) and has great science programs (also very prestigious)</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd might be a little out of my reach, but you're right I should take a little closer look at it. After all, I seriously doubt I can get into Stanford but I still have it on my list. Thanks kevinc!</p>
<p><em>going against your guideline</em> a UC could still be worth a shot...i say this becaues UCSD has one of the stronger science programs in California, and even the US. the school really embraces and appreciates the sciences. the students are sometimes said to be almost too studious and involved with their academics, particularly in science and engineering students. beyond that, i can't say whether or not it fits your criteria.</p>
<p>my advice is forget about ucsd (or any other UC). UC schools are a great deal in-state. You're attending one of the top U's in the country (or at least a very good one, depending on campus). For the assertive student who is willing to steer her/his education its wonderful.</p>
<p>However you can get FAR more for your money somewhere else if you're not a CA resident. You're going to pay almost $41K a year to attend!! For that much money you could attend any private and get smaller classes, personal attention from profs, a faculty advisor, regular contact with a counselor, and so on. There are plenty of schools that can give you all that AND a strong science education for what you pay to attend a UC.</p>
<p>I also want to add that if you're thinking of science as a career, you should be thinking seriously about grad school. Which means you need to think seriously about research oppportunities since that is a KEY to grad-school admission, and the larger schools (esp. the publics) may not be very good for undergrads in that respect. There is a poster here on CC who just got into grad school (molliebatmit). She has a blog at MIT and she writes
[quote]
You do want to get involved in research early. Some students wait until their senior year to get involved in a project, at which point they need to start applying to graduate school and thinking about graduating and stuff. I got started the summer after my freshman year, and I think it was a really good decision. At MIT, you can start UROPing as early as freshman year (although many labs like you to have taken a lab class before you descend upon their expensive lab equipment). Importantly, you want to get really involved in a project -- some of my friends at other schools have had "research positions" where they washed glassware; washing glassware, although useful for the lab, is not going to get you into graduate school. See <a href="http://mollie.mitblogs.com/archives/2006/01/grad_school_adm.html%5B/url%5D">http://mollie.mitblogs.com/archives/2006/01/grad_school_adm.html</a> and look for her posts on CC).
<p>I don't think you've checked it twice if Stanford and Brown are on it but you think Mudd is out of your reach! This is a useless thread without stats.</p>
<p>Stanford and Brown are pretty big reaches for me too.</p>
<p>Stats are:</p>
<p>3.848 UW, 3.935 W (+0.5 for each AP, +0.0 for honors)
Taken most rigorous schedule available (4 APs, 9 honors)
Senior year schedule contains 6 APs, 1 honors</p>
<p>SAT I: 730-800-770 (1530/2300)
SAT II: None taken yet</p>
<p>EC's are pretty standard stuff: VP of Science Honor Society, VP of Science Olympiad, focus in drama throughout high school (5 mainstage productions and 4 one act plays through junior year), member of NHS + Spanish Honor Society + Math Honor Society, Bausch and Lomb Science Award, other smaller awards, stuff like that</p>
<p>Rice U might fit you well, and has a higher acceptance rate for out-of-staters. Great sciences and engineering, balanced gender, lower sticker price, 1:5 faculty/student ratio, 2800 undergrads, lots of research, fun-loving down-to-earth kids, balance of fun/work, residential college system, beautiful campus, lovely part of Houston w/ light-rail system in front.</p>
<p>I've heard good things about Rice, but for the most part I want to stay in the east or be in California... Oh woops, I forgot to mention that in the beginning. I have a lot of family in California, so I think I'd be comfortable being there, but other than that I want to stay on the east coast.</p>
<p>"If you apply for Harvey Mudd early you are definetely in, its not as hard to get in as other LACs or Brown."</p>
<p>Not necessarily true. By the standards of USNWR, HMC is the most selective LAC based on entry statistics. HMC accepts a large % of applicants but that is because there is preselection in the applicant pool. By no means take that to mean that the school is hurting for more students... 1490/1600 avg SAT score makes it pretty unlikely for a mediocre to well-trained student to gain acceptance to this institution.</p>
<p>If Mudd were a color, it would be Brown. If Mudd were an Ivy-League, it would be dirt.</p>