Looking for a balanced college list

College Search & Selection
1

My First Post :slight_smile:

I was recommended by a friend that on this site many can offer some good advice on colleges above and beyond my GC.

I am a rising senior and will be applying to colleges starting this fall.

I have visited both smaller and larger schools and based on my visits I would prefer to attend a college closer to a city and over 5000 undergraduates. The larger the better.

A little about my numbers:

My GPA is currently at 3.65 unweighted. I have taken a total of 20 high school courses. 3 AP Courses (AP Statistics, AP European History and AP English Language), 5 Regular Academic Classes (Spanish 2 and 3, Calculus (pre-requirement to take AP the following year), Intro to Microsoft Office and Band) and 12 Honors Courses (All core classes except for my 3 AP courses have been honors).

My senior schedule is 5 AP Courses (AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP English Literature and AP US History)

My ACT score- C: 29, E: 27, M: 28, R: 32, S: 30 (single sitting)

No SAT score

No SAT subject tests

My ECs: Not very good by CC comparisions

NHS: 10, 11, 12
Quiz Bowl: 9, 10, 11, 12
Key Club: 9, 10, 11, 12
Science Olympiad: 9, 10, 11, 12
Band: 9, 10
Varsity Tennis: 10, 11, 12
Over 100 hours community service volunteer with local hospital
Lifeguard employment with the local YMCA
Tutoring weekly middle and high school students in our district

No special awards or great leadership honors to list

Currently, I am undecided for major. However, I am leaning toward Animal Science, Zoololgy or Biology.

My parent’s household income is just under 100,000 and they believe 25,000 is the max they can afford.

My state is PA. Most of the students in my school want to attend Penn State or Temple. My parents already said Temple is out.

My list so far:

Alabama: Safety (I believe has out of state scholarships and IF I can get to a 30 ACT I earn more)
Pittsburgh: match
Penn State: match
NC State: match
University of Florida: low reach
Ohio State: low reach
University of Rochester: low reach
University of Virginia: High Reach (dream school)

What other options would some of you recommend? Remember, I am really undecided for major. I just haven’t decided what field to enter.

2

Sorry forgot to include ranking: Not great 25 out of 236.

3

25 out of 236 is not great? Are you one of those people that wants to be in the top 5?

4

@nasa2014 I was told that you really need to be in the top 10% ranking wise for many of the schools I am looking at with my ACT and GPA.

Do you think different? Will my ranking not hurt my chances?

5

With the schools you’re looking at currently, your class rank is fine. It’s 10.5%, I guess 11% if you’re rounding up. Sure your ACT and GPA aren’t the highest but they still are good. Definitely study over the summer and get the ACT up. A 31+ is more desirable. Your EC’s are also good. Don’t compare yourself to all those kids that get 2400’s and have found a cure for cancer.

Have you looked at smaller private schools in PA such as Alvernia, Arcadia, Elizabethtown, Wilkes, West Chester, LVC etc.? Or do you desire that big college feel? Those smaller PA schools (Because there are a BUNCH) can serve as safeties.

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@TheDidactic I truly prefer colleges with over 5000 students: Big College Feel per say.

I really like Pittsburgh and Ohio State. I am looking for more colleges like those that would fit both my credentials (reach/match/safety) and expense (25,000 per year after financial aid).

7

Bump

8

Have you run the Net Price Calculators for the out-of-state schools? Half of your list might be unaffordable.

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Yes net price calculators for all are affordable, but I am really looking to expand my list.

Any suggestions?

10

Boston U, George Washington U, Rochester Tech, Syracuse. Check affordability.

11

Bump.

Am I missing any schools?

12

Case Western Reserve.

13

if 25,000 is the maximum your parents can afford then all the publics outside of PA are unaffordable. These include NC State, Univ of Florida, Ohio State and Univ of Virginia. Univ of Rochester is a high reach for you. I recommend that you identify 1-2 safeties. These are likely to be instate publics one notch below Penn State.

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@fogcity.

I already checked the net price calculator and Ohio state, NC State and Virginia would be affordable.

I am interested in finding maybe some privates I am missing.

15

It’s hard to be helpful who you post contradictory information. With an income of $100,000 and the statement that 25,000 is the “maximum” your parents can pay how is Ohio State possible? See:

http://undergrad.osu.edu/money-matters/tuition-and-fees.html

You would do well as an OOS student to the Columbus campus to stay under 50,000. Public universities are unlikely to give OOS students with “good” but not exceptional stats scholarships. The same observation applies to the other OOS publics on your list.

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@fogcity Ohio State is very generous to OOS students.

http://undergrad.osu.edu/money-matters/scholarships.html

Currently, I qualify for 15,000 in scholarships. It’s not automatic but likely.

After just running the net price calculator the website says my estimated price is 24,592

Unless the website is not accurate it seems that Ohio State is below my limit. I just need to get the scholarships I qualify for.

But, just because Ohio State “seems” in my price range I want to apply for other schools of the same or better level that I could be a candidate for acceptance. Just trying to ask for help in finding those possible schools.

17

If the needed-for-affordability scholarship is likely, but not assured, then tOSU may be counted as a low match, but not a safety. This assumes that admission to the school and your major is assured or likely (at many schools, popular majors have higher admission thresholds).

18

Bump