Hello there,
I am an almost twenty year old future undergraduate, who completed her school education in Germany, despite being an american citizen. I made the decision to apply for college in the US and found a bunch of schools that I’d love to apply for, however they are almost all reach schools. (JHU, Princeton, Brown, Amherst)
As the likelyhood of me getting in is very slim, I am looking for schools that are a good fit for me, that are also in my range.
Here my stats so far:
Nationality : American
Intended Major : Premed, Psychology, Neuroscience
GPA: My Abitur GPA is 1,8 out of 6, which according to the WES translates to a 4,0
Course Load: Advanced Biology, Mathematics, Advanced English, Chemistry, English, Politics & Economy, French, German, Religion, History, Art
Class Rank: 50/277 (However at my school it is very difficult to be under the top 10 as it is highly competitive. In Germany everybody who wants to go to college has to go through the Gymnasium, and it is almost impossible to earn a 1,0)
ACT : 29 (26,25,33,33) (I am retaking it, I took the September one without much practice, and want to get those math scores up)
SAT II: Will be taking Biology and Math II
EC:
Completed a voluntary social year in a hospital (Gap Year)
Interned in the Hyperbaric Medical Center in Sharm El Sheikh
Member of the Conversation Class
Succesfull in dressage (nominated for the state junior team, 2. in my age group for the regionals)
Very interested in Politics, especially in Foreign Policy(I’d love to take some IR courses)
Volunteering at a refugee camp
Experienced with GIMP and Photoshop
Fluent in German and English, mediocre skills in French (I can read it and understand a lot, speaking is a bit more difficult because I didnt put much effort into it)
I am mainly looking for schools on the east coast, as my father lives there.
Thank you so much in advance!
Try running the Supermatch engine on the left side of this page. How much can your family afford?
With those test scores, none of the reach schools are even vaguely likely. Take a look at the Common Data Set, Section C for each of those schools (google it). That gives you the academic profile of the admitted class. Anyone in the bottom quarter is highly likely to have a hook of some sort, which you don’t.
It would also help if we had an idea of what you can afford (very important) and what your criteria are besides an east coast location. Mot good schools will have International relations, psych, bio, chem (pre-med isn’t a major), etc…What about the size of the school? Small liberal arts college? Big state U? In between? Urban/suburban/ college town? Is the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and New England all okay? Do you want to continue your dressage?
“With those test scores, none of the reach schools are even vaguely likely. Take a look at the Common Data Set, Section C for each of those schools (google it). That gives you the academic profile of the admitted class. Anyone in the bottom quarter is highly likely to have a hook of some sort, which you don’t”
No I absolutely agree! The reason that I have them on my list is that I usually score 32 + in practice tests, and I am quite confident that I can improve at least 1-3 pts on my next one.
“It would also help if we had an idea of what you can afford (very important)”
I am in the fortunate situation that we can afford a lot, and my father has agreed to fully support me, although I’d prefer schools that are not too pricey.
“and what your criteria are besides an east coast location. Mot good schools will have International relations, psych, bio, chem (pre-med isn’t a major), etc…What about the size of the school? Small liberal arts college? Big state U? In between? Urban/suburban/ college town? Is the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and New England all okay? Do you want to continue your dressage?”
I would not see myself as a very urban person, but it would not be a deal breaker for me to go to a university in the middle of the city. One problem I see is that I will be quite old for a freshman (I will turn 21 by the time college starts), and that I see myself very mature for my age. I do not necessarily need a college that has a huge partylife.
I would prefer the Mid-Atlantic, New England Area. Continuing Dressage also would not be a deciding factor for me.
I’d probably rule out most small liberal arts colleges. The lack of grad students and the more ‘nurturing’ environment is probably not good fit with a freshman who is already 21. By year 2, you’ll be the oldest student on campus. If you got your ACT up to say 32, then there are a number of good options. Urban schools come in two flavors - those that have a defined campus and those that don’t. In DC, Georgetown has a defined campus and George Washington doesn’t. In NYC, Columbia has a defined campus and NYU doesn’t. It sounds like an urban school with a defined campus might appeal to you - or one in the suburbs. The plus of a more urban environment is that you can get away from the undergrad college scene when it gets old - and find other social milieus off campus.
But there are plenty of great options in smaller cities in the NE and Mid-Atlantic. Georgetown and Columbia (still very selective, by the way). Tufts, Brandis and Boston University in MA. Carnegie Mellon in PA. The state schools are often very good (UMD, UVA, William & Mary, etc…) These schools are still very selective and there are many great options that are less selective. I’ll let others fill in the gaps here. For each, you need to check the Common Data Set, Section C to see how your stats shape up against the other applicants and read up to see if the school is a good fit in other ways.
All will provide a very solid education in your areas of academic interest.
Wondering about your GPA translation. A 4.0 is a perfect GPA.
Take a look At Mount Holyoke. The school has a very good reputation in the sciences and in international relations. They also have a strong Division 1 in riding program. They have a program for “older” students but you are too young for that. South Hadley itself is isolated, but is close to Northampton and Amherst, MA.
Which state does your father live in? In-state status is often determined by the residency of the parent, so you may have a lower cost state college available to you. Once you leave the Washington-Baltimore-Philadephia-NYC-Boston route you will be off convenient trains and stuck with bus or car transport. I suggest that you also look at schools in the southeast and midwest which are an easy, short flight to see your dad.
You should aim to get your ACT to the 33-35 range, use a tutor or tutoring service like prepscholar (online) if you want quicker results. Look at colleges which have an attached medical school if you want cutting edge research opportunities. You are already mostly there with two 33’s. Also make sure to take the ACT with writing as it will be required by some of your schools.
Some of the better schools in psychology are the Ivy leagues, Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill, Wisconsin. Hopkins (Baltimore) is another good choice.