<p>Hi.
Just finishing Junior year.
Stats: High GPA(4.9 on 5.0 scale), lots Honors/AP's, ACT 34 (took once don't plan to take again), SAT 1 (superstore: 2210 or best one time sitting 2190), SAT II's : Math 750, Foreign Lang 700, History 690)
EC's: Class officer, 2 varsity sports(not planning play in college), couple of clubs, NHS, commended on National Merit, couple of awards, lots of volunteer hours
White, female, Northeast
Would really like a competitive school - have interest in neuroscience/psychology/spanish will likely apply arts/sciences/liberal arts.
Have looked at and liked: Princeton, Georgetown, BC, Hopkins, Penn
Not so much: Northeastern, Dartmouth, Amherst(too small)
Trying to make a solid list of medium size schools (near or quick access to a city). I am not liking remotely located small schools while there are some w/very high rankings - is this a mistake? I plan to do more visits this summer.</p>
<p>Help - how did you come up with final list?</p>
<p>There’s no “mistake” in what you like. Everyone finds their own fit and there are great schools in all types of fit.</p>
<p>One you might want to add to your “consider” list is the University of Rochester IF you like research schools. They do a bit with neuro/brain & cognitive, and psych and are medium sized in a city.</p>
<p>A larger school, but one you still might like and also with plentiful neuro options is Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Your stats would put you in merit aid range for both.</p>
<p>Talk to your parents about cost limits and financial parameters to put into net price calculators. Run the net price calculators to see where you stand on need-based aid. You may have to tailor your application list based on whether you can expect sufficient need-based aid at many schools, or need to seek out merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Be sure to find your safety school(s) first. They must be schools that you are certain to be admitted to, certain to be able to afford, have the academic programs you want to study, and which you like.</p>
<p>You can also think about Columbia, Barnard (small but tied in with Columbia), Tufts, Brandeis, Villanova, Vanderbilt, Emory. Wash U. As a safety consider schools like GW, Tulane, Fordham, BU.</p>
<p>And if you don’t like small schools/remote locations it is totally fine to take them out of consideration. You worked hard and earned the right to choose where you want to study over the next four years.</p>
<p>Just make sure the schools on your list or at least some of them are affordable options for your family.</p>