<p>I've been doing all of this pretty much on my own (no help from parents/counselors) and I'm having a little panic attack. Can anyone suggest schools I might want to apply to? I'm talking about good matches and safeties, and what I like to call "reasonable reaches." I'm a female, minority, looking to be a bio or maybe neuroscience major. Most probably bio though. I'll definitely be going on to either gradschool or medschool. I'd like to attend a mediumish to small sized school (around 5,000 or less). I like the idea of an open curriculum, which is why I've been looking at Amherst. I'm not a big partier and I don't want to be at a school where frats are the core of the social life. I want to go to a school that's academically challenging but still friendly and laid-back (to a degree). I don't do well with cutthroat competition and high pressure environments. Some of the schools I plan on applying to are: Stanford, Amherst, Williams, and Clark.
I would appreciate any other suggestions.</p>
<p>those are really hard schools to get in. I would suggest having many backups.</p>
<p>Yes, that's the main reason why I started this thread. I really need some backups!</p>
<p>University of Rochester</p>
<p>Smith would be a good match/safety depending on your GPA and SATs. It has a neuroscience major, small, tight-knit campus, all womens - no sororities, and an open curriculum. You can cross register with Amherst.</p>
<p>forgettable,</p>
<p>I think you're definitely on the right track in that you have a relatively clear idea of what you want from a school both academically and socially. You deserve some informed suggestions/answers to your query. So, could you please give us some more background? Info that might be helpful includes:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Your current GPA and SAT scores. (Although, I must say, many people on CC seem to overrate this.)</p></li>
<li><p>Your extracurricular activities and achievements. Have you done anything unusual? What are your interests, besides bio and neuroscience?</p></li>
<li><p>What your current high school is like.</p></li>
<li><p>Any special abilities/talents. Given your heading and your handle, it sounds as if you may have an interest in musical theatre. Are you a good singer? Actress? You also seem like you may be a good writer--which can put someone with just a "pretty good" GPA in the running at a top school. </p></li>
<li><p>Would you prefer a university or college? Are you OK w. the idea of a women's college? If so, that opens a number of doors for you. Wellesley comes to mind, as it has a research partnership w. MIT. </p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, I know you said you were a minority and that your parents are not helping you. Are you a URM? Are you a first-generation college applicant? Are you a first-generation American, for that matter?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Tell us more about you, and we'll be more helpful.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>pip-pip:
I'm really nothing special. Without actually stating what my GPA, etc. are, I'll just say that I am academically qualified to apply to selective schools. I have no talents to speak of. I have not done anything unusual, in fact, I don't have very many ECs at all. I invest myself a lot in community service and other than that I'm very studious. I have no interest in musical theater or any performing arts for that matter. I've been told I'm a fairly good writer, and I used to like writing, but I currently have no interest in it. As far as what I AM interested in, I'm honestly not sure. I know one thing for sure: I love the culinary arts, especially baking. High school hasn't afforded me much opportunity to explore my interests, so I'm hoping to do that in college. I definitely want to take a psychology course. I might want to learn Arabic. I'm not good at sports at all and I like to do things solo (sometimes) in terms of keeping fit. I'm not sure how I feel about women's colleges. I might consider applying to one (Wellesley, Smith, or Scripps) but I would prefer to attend a coed school. I'm not a URM and I come from an educated, upper middle class family. Both of my parents went to college and my father got his PhD from a 'prestigious' university. They are both naturalized citizens; I was born here. My current high school is very small and in the NorthEast MidAtlantic region. Honestly, I'm interested in knowing what schools might suit my personal and academic preferences rather than whether or not I will be accepted to the schools or what my "chances" are. I know that's an important factor, but I'm looking for safeties with decent/good biology depts. I'm fickle so I may change my mind later on, so I should probably attend a well-rounded LAC. I want a good undergraduate education where I am taught by professors who are accesible. I also don't want to be denied opportunities simply because I am an undergrad. As such, I'm trying to avoid large universities. Money is a moderate issue for my family. I hope I have answered your questions sufficiently.</p>
<p>If you like Williams and Amherst you might like schools such as Middlebury, Colby, Bates, or Colgate. They have similar locations, sizes, and jocky atmospheres. I don't know anything about their science offerings...just off the top of my head I thought of those when I saw Williams and Amherst. They are all (with the possible exception of Middlebury, depending on your specific profile) easier to get into than Williams or Amherst.</p>
<p>PS: Don't tell them that you're nothing special!! I'm sure you're very special, and besides, they don't need to know if you aren't!</p>
<p>Thanks sep092, your post reminded me that I should probably have included my geographical preferences. I briefly considered Middlebury and some of the other colleges you mentioned but ultimately chose to pass them up because I don't deal with extreme cold very well. I'm primarily looking at schools on the coasts.</p>
<p>Before you get your list together, have you talked with your parents about finances? How much are they willing to pay? How much is their expected financial contribution (You can estimate EFC using CC's estimator)? </p>
<p>Get some very specific figures from your parents because if, for instance, you have a high EFC, but your parents are only willing to pay $5,000 a year for your education, there are many places that only provide need-based aid that you needn't bother applying to.</p>
<p>Also find out if your parents have geographic restrictions on your college search. No reason to bother applying to colleges far away if your parents won't let you go there.</p>
<p>Unless you provide specifics about your GPA, SAT or PSAT scores, ECs, there's not much that we can do to help you. Your saying your "qualified" for schools like Amherst isn't particularly meaningful. People who score as low as 1600 on the new SAT may be "qualified" in that their scores probably are at the very bottom range of Amherst's SAT, but with such low scores at such a competitive place, they aren't likely to get admitted.</p>
<p>yes, we need at least basic gpa and sat scores and some major ec that ive done throughout your high school year. perhaps any sports or music or any club??</p>
<p>since you are looking at Stanford, Amherst, Williams, and Clark, i assume that your stats are superb. maybe some UCs..if you are cali resi.</p>
<p>Well if you don't like cold weather, then eliminate Williams and Amherst (and any other New England schools)...</p>
<p>I'm sorry I wasted everybody's time. I suppose I should change my question then: are there any schools that are known for their strong science programs, as in strong in addition to the rest of their depts? I'd prefer to not attend a Tech institute as I might change my mind when I'm in college. I've heard Tufts and Amherst have good biology departments?</p>
<p>Try a more LAC-research sort of school or a smaller state university. Look at Tufts, UVA, William and Mary, Davidson, Wake, Boston College...</p>
<p>If you are not getting much help from others for where to apply - I see no reason why you should be reluctant to reveal your stats anonymously so that others can help you..</p>
<p>If you devise a list on your own with no help - you may be stuck with too many reaches or too few reaches. - Anyways, it's your choice.</p>
<p>How serious are you about Arabic?</p>
<p>how about vassar</p>