looking for good match...midwest

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I was wondering if anyone could give me a suggestion of a small-medium sized college in the Midwest that I should consider. I am pretty sure that I want to apply to University of Chicago and Loyola, as well as probably Knox College and maybe Dominican University, but my mom thinks that I should look at some smaller liberal arts colleges because they would be more likely to offer scholarships and/or merit-based aid in addition to financial aid.</p>

<p>Here are my stats:</p>

<p>School: all girl's, Catholic, college preparatory school
Curriculum: IB (International Baccalaureate) full diploma candidate (3 HL, 3 SL + TOK, CAS, and Extended Essay)
HL Biology (A- ish average)
HL English (A)
HL History (A+)
SL Math (A+ and A-)
SL ITGS (A I think)
SL Spanish (A)</p>

<p>Class rank: 1 (out of 91)
GPA: weighted, 5.0 scale = 4.74
unweighted, 4.0 scale = 4.0</p>

<p>ACT: 34 composite, 35 English, 35 reading, 35 science, 29 math
SAT I: 2170 composite, 760 writing/English, 720 critical reading, 690 math</p>

<p>ECs:
National Honor Society (running for either president or VP)
International Thespian Society (running for secretary) + two plays a year (musical and drama/comedy)
Spanish Honor Society
Quill and Scroll
Newspaper (applying for Co-Editor-In-Chief or Assistant Editor)
Yearbook (assistant editor)
Chamber choir (audition-based)
Liturgical choir
Scholastic bowl team (captain)
Math Mentors (executive board member)
possibly Science Mentor
Tutoring</p>

<p>Church choir
Church handbell choir
Church cantor (plus I help with cantor training and go to music conventions, workshops, etc.)
Volunteer with animal shelter</p>

<p>I think that's it. If anyone could give me any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Check out <a href="http://www.ctcl.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.ctcl.com&lt;/a> - it's the website for Colleges that Change Lives (as defined by Loren Pope), and you'll find many excellent midwest LACs to check out. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Grinnell, Macalester...</p>

4

<p>Oberlin, Grinnell, Macalester, and Carleton Colleges all come to mind. You could also try St. Olaf's College and Denison University along the lines of likely/safety schools.</p>

5

<p>Northwestern and Michigan.</p>

6

<p>Wash U. in St.Louis.</p>

7

<p>Grinnell, Kenyon, Trinity University in San Antonio (not an LAC, but worth looking into), Colorado College, DePauw, Kalamazoo.</p>

8

<p>Trinity University is an excellent school (my friend goes there), but Texas is most definitely not in the midwest!</p>

9

<p>Check out Michigan-Ann Arbor. It isn't small or even medium...heck, who am I kidding, it is gargantuan! But given your stats, I think you could get a pretty hefty merit schorlarship.</p>

<p>Other schools worth considering:
LACs
Carleton College
Grinnell College
Macalester College
Oberlin College</p>

<p>Universities
Northwestern University
University of Chicago
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Notre Dame
Washington University-St Louis</p>

10

<p>Reaches: Michigan, University of Chicago, Nortwestern
Matches: Notre Dame, UW-Madison
Safeties: Illinois-UC, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State</p>

11

<p>acarta07, I would like you to explain to me how UMich could possibly be a reach for the OP? I originally said that Michigan was a match, but after looking at the OP's stats compared to UMich's average stats, it's clearly a safety school.</p>

<p>UMich average unweighted GPA 25%/75%: 3.6-3.9
Gigidaisy's unweighted GPA: 4.0 (This is well above the 75th percentile)</p>

<p>UMich's average SAT: 1900-2160
Gigidaisy's SAT score: 2170 (Slightly above the 75th percentile)</p>

<p>UMich's average ACT: 27-31
Gigidaisy's ACT score: 34 (Once again, greatly above the 75th percentile)</p>

<p>Gigidaisy also have some nice EC's, which are probably above average at Michigan. Gigidaisy is the valedictorian! Some people on this site truly believe that one must cure cancer or found a 100 million dollar enterprise, in order to even have a shot at admission. Just look at the above stats. Kids are getting into Michigan with 3.6's and 1900's. The OP is above the 75th percentile in the two most important factors in admission at Mich (GPA and Test scores). Therefore, I am going to have to say that the OP has an 85% chance at being accepted at the University of Michigan. I see absolutely no reason for them not to admit you. People need to start being some realistic on CC and actually compare the OP's stats to the college's admitted students' stats. Your perceived notions of the credentials that a student needs to be admitted are ridiculous. It's just sickening that I see perfect students on this site, and people saying your a reach at this school and that school. HYPSM might all be reaches for a perfect student, but a state school where 47% of applicants are admitted is a reach?!!?? You people need to take your head out of your a**** and be objective and evaluate one's chances honestly.</p>

12

<p>Based on primarily your numbers (since it's quite difficult to judge how the adcoms will view your ECs), Northwestern and UChicago would be a few high reaches that you might consider.</p>

<p>I would recommend U of M and UW-Madison, and possibly ND, as matches, but the former two are very large state schools so they may not be what you're looking for.</p>

<p>Try Grinnell and Carelton; I have friends who go to both and love it there. I'm not exactly sure how the two LACs stand in terms admit difficulty, but you should consider them.</p>

13

<p>Michigan is not a reach for this candidate. Neither are Chicago or NU. Valedictorian, 4.0 unweighed GPA and 34 on the ACT. I'd say Michigan is a safe match and Chicago and NU are reachy matches! LOL!</p>

14

<p>CASE (Western Reserve University)</p>

15

<p>valedictorian out of 91 students. I agree Michigan would be safety or a match for her. She's obviously a very competitive student, but with a 2170 on the SATs neither Northwestern nor Chicago can be a match. Then again, it's hard to actually define what a match is and a reach is. Perhaps it would've been better if she hadn't taken the SATs because her ACTs are higher.
Nonetheless, I'd say she's got a good shot at her reaches too, whatever they actually are.</p>

16

<p>i agree with all of the above- but 1/91 isnt ALL THAT impressive-- its very good but come on-- 1/465 at my school-- way to go GMAC</p>

17

<p>The 34 ACT is much better than the SAT score. They will use that for her file.</p>

18

<p>Yo. G-Mac ain't gonna be the val. The val is gonna be ga*, no doubt, but giv that nod to D-Ress. Both are gym class heroes in Coach P's class, though.</p>

19

<p>A few good schools that haven't been mentioned: Lawrence U (up to $15k), Beloit (up to $14k), Hope (up to $17k), Antioch ($15k to full tuition), College of Wooster (up to $22.5k), Cornell College (up to $20k), and Kenyon ($10k up to $22.5k).</p>

20

<p>You really should drive up to Lawrence. They have a couple of Summer admission Days. They have fantastic financial and merit aid. They give lots of credit for 5s and above for both SL and HL classes which allow you to do more exploring classwise over your 4 years there. They allow and encourage non-conservatory students to participate in the music programs. You have guaranteed student on-campus housing for all 4 years, with upgrades in the type of housing as you advance. You can study abroad, participate in small classes, enjoy a friendly varied student body in a trendy, small city environment. Lovely campus. So check it out.</p>