Just starting the college search...

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've got a few colleges already on my list. Mainly: Columbia, Yale/Harvard, NYU, JHU. Maybe UPenn. My parents are encouraging me to apply to Ivies, but I feel silly applying to them when I get the feeling that I'm not even close compared to most of the applicants -in terms of EC's and awards-. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>PSAT: 2340
SAT: 2360
GPA (after sophomore year - junior year's isn't calculated, since I think my school only uses final year averages - this is what happens at most schools, right?): 4.92 W, 4.19 UW (Right, I know an unweighted can't go past 4.0, so I honestly don't know how this happened. My GC passed out a copy of my high school transcript earlier this year, and this is what it had.)
Grades:
freshman year: A's (honors Eng, accel algebra II, concert band, PE), A+'s (French II, honors bio, world history I), A- (PE, speech)
sophomore year: A's (honors Eng, honors chem), A+'s (accel geometry, honors French III, journalism I, web design, world history II, health), A- (PE)
junior year (semester 1 averages): A-'s (AP Eng, APUSH, AP Bio, physics, PE), A+'s (honors French IV, accel pre-calc)</p>

<p>Schools only look at final year averages, right? So if I get a B but pull it up to an A next term, all colleges will see is an average of A-?</p>

<p>I'm interested in schools with very good undergrad programs (thus Yale). I'm interested in majoring in biology and minoring in English.</p>

<p>I prefer urban/suburban schools with medium populations. I really want small classroom ratios because I'm most comfortable in those learning environments. A New England location is preferable (especially around Boston), but schools farther down but along the East Coast are fine, too.</p>

<p>I'm an Asian female, if that helps.</p>

<p>I'd just like a general list of colleges that I can check out and narrow down from. So that I at least have a starting point.</p>

<p>If you need more info... Here's my tentative senior year schedule:</p>

<p>AP Modern European History
AP Calc
AP French
AP Eng
AP Chem
honors anatomy & physiology OR honors French V*
PE
honors Modernism</p>

<p>*This isn't the typical language class. It's more like a culture class, kind of like the honors Modernism course. It focuses on art, music, and literature, not so much grammar and vocabulary.</p>

2

<p>Columbia University
Yeshiva University
University of Michigan
Duke University</p>

3

<p>Swarthmore, Haverford, Kalamazoo, Mount Holyoke, Oberlin, Wellesley, Amherst, Grinnell, Bowdoin, Williams, Bryn Mawr, Allegheny, Smith, Beloit, Knox, Hampshire, Bucknell</p>

<p>Johns Hopkins, U Chicago, UVa, Yale, U Penn, Columbia, Princeton, Brown, U Rochester, NYU, Tufts, Brandeis, Cornell</p>

4

<p>Your grades and scores are fine, but the Ivies also put a lot of emphasis on ECs. You can shoot for the top schools, no doubt. Ivies are not a sure thing for anybody, though, so have backups. NYU, JHU, Chicago, Rochester, Cornell should be no problem for you.</p>

5

<p>Princeton is one of the best ivies for undergraduate education! It is primarily focused on the undergrads, and that just can't be beat. It's also a medium-sized, suburban school on the east coast with small class sizes (freshman seminars and the like). Definitely check it out.</p>

<p>BTW, I love your name. I was Persephone for Halloween. :D</p>

6

<p>Thank you so much for the input. (: I'll definitely be checking those out.</p>

<p>Thanks, glinda (you wouldn't happen to be a fan of Wicked, too, would you? xP). Demeter is one of my favorite Greek goddesses.</p>

7

<p>demeter, </p>

<p>I would consider applying to JHU with English 'tied' with or ahead of Bio; my understanding is they "need" humanities majors & "need" women.</p>

<p>Your stats are superb-- but again, it is never a sure thing. </p>

<p>You should spend some time identifying a couple of very good matches and safeties that give you what you want. You would probably get merit aid at a school like Grinnell. Maybe Vandy or Wash U has the flavor you want? Maybe Rice, Tufts, or Emory? All would be great matches for you. As for a safety, something like Michigan, BU or Syracuse could work.</p>

8

<p>i would take a look at bowdoin, too.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for the heads up, SBmom. I really appreciate it. (:</p>

<p>I've gotten mail from Rice and Emory, but unfortunately, I didn't pay them much attention. I'll be sure to check them out, though.</p>

10

<p>Tufts, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, Barnard, Columbia, Brown.</p>

11

<p>Brown for sure.</p>

12

<p>Might want to add Holy Cross very good in both biology and English majors. HC is going to build a $65 million science building and plans to offer more merit aid. Location is 1 hour from Boston and this year's applications were up over 40%.</p>