@snorkelmom I agree that at least one full ride is 90% gonna happen from one of the 4 schools if I apply EA, but those schools (SMU, Richmond, UMiami) are pretty much on the same tier as UF, with the exception of Georgia Tech. That being said, I’d rather attend UM on a full ride than UF. I just don’t think a full ride at UM is likely, with so little of them awarded and my URM status wielding little influence in the city of Miami 
I’d definitely spend some more time researching the actual environment and feel of those universities; I’m sure you can probably trash around half of your reach schools by looking at facts like “the heat of Huston” or the “religious nature of Notre Dame” or the “brown and antiquated plains of Harvard” or the “small and limiting/large and impersonal/pre-professional/stuck-up/miserably overworked with no life balance” schools and considering what factors may dissuade you. Just do some research and see what it looks like/what common concerns are. You have a lot of great options, and your choices offer great FA if you’d run and save the NPC results. Wish you luck.
@MON824 Thanks, I know I need to look further into these things (especially once I get acceptances), but I feel like some trivial issue with a school is a dumb reason not to apply. I feel I must, to see what aid I qualify for and to cast a big net out there. Do you get what I’m saying?
Apply to a couple matches/safeties EA and if the news is good, you can likely winnow your list and focus more on reaches at that time. But, yeah, you don’t want to apply to 20 schools. Research them and apply to those who interest you most with at least IMO 2 safeties and 3 matches (you can cut back if you get into 1 you really like EA and it works financially, too) and them focus on reaches. I wouldn’t apply to more than 15 and some might say that is too much.
I’m not sure you’ve grasped the concept of academic, social and financial “fit”. You’ve received a great deal of sound advice here. It requires more research on your part (no shortcuts) and a personal visit, in most cases, to learn more. Just plucking prestigious schools of a rankings list is not the smartest way to build a college list. If that’s your strategy, then be prepared for whatever comes your way next spring… there are lots of disappointed students on CC right now. They had too many reaches on their lists and the acceptances were not affordable.
Hamilton offers a top-notch Chinese program, with a strong a study abroad component:
https://www.chinainsight.info/education/general/231-associated-colleges-in-china-a-hidden-gem.html
Pomona is probably slightly stronger than Claremont in STEM, but if you really want to go to a CMC for STEM, Harvey Mudd is the best. You can take classes at the other CMC schools as well. Any hooks, you mentioned you where Hispanic which is an URM hook, so if you had another like first gen to attend college, or female for STEM, you’d have a good shot at some of the ivies, especially if you apply early. You don’t want to base your admissions strategy on assuming you’ll get into one as others have pointed out. If you apply early to an ivy, you won’t be able to apply early anywhere else, except public schools if you choose a SCEA ivy.
@snorkelmom If there’s one thing I’ve grasped through my time researching it’s financial fit. Financial fit is the reason why I might be applying to so many prestigious schools; they generally provide the best aid. That being said, I will admit that I’ve underlooked the importance of fit, though. Still, I feel that’s because I would be fine with most school environments. Open v core, I prefer open, but I also wouldn’t mind general ed requirements so much. Rural vs urban, I’m pretty neutral. I do prefer the south, but I recognize many good schools are in the north, so I’m not going to completely neglect that region. What else even is there to compare?
@AimingTop50 lol I don’t know why you called me out since I didn’t mention anything about Cornell in my comment, but no, Cornell is not a match considering that people with 1600s get rejected every year.
@lalalemma I was asking you a question…
I think with your stats and being an URM that you will be able to get into one of the very top schools. Matches and safeties are just a technicality in your case, but find schools that you would like to attend if for some bizarre reason you don’t get into your reaches. For matches maybe look at Boston College, Tulane, Northeastern,Univ of Rochester, Case Western and RPI.
I personally think that Cornell is a match for you based on your hook and stats, but better safe than sorry
@citymama9 Thanks for your advice. Yep, I got at least these ones (in order of difficulty): UF, Wake Forest, Emory, Washington and Lee, maybe USC.
Also UM, Gtech, SMU, and Urichmond if I’m not applying EA to H or P.
(I’d need to apply EA to UM and Gtech for full ride shot)
Like you, my daughter felt pulled in a thousand different directions when she was applying for the Class of 2019. She tried to balance fit issues, curricular interests, geographical preferences, and–crucially–financial aid considerations. Consequently, she exploited the Common App, the Universal App, and the UC apps to cast a wide net–a REALLY, REALLY wide net–in the application process. Crucially, the fact that she was applying for aid meant that each targeted school could see the other schools (or, at least, some of the other schools) to which she was applying.
I think that this had a large negative impact on her acceptances, especially to top liberal arts colleges that are very concerned with yield. Her applying to so many schools conveyed the impression that she wasn’t deeply committed to attending any particular one, and this–I believe–dissuaded some schools where she was at or above the statistical averages for GPA, SATs, etc., from offering her admission.
She also did not take advantage of applying EA, which–in retrospect–was a huge strategic error. She got into Cornell RD, but she was left wondering how her Princeton application would have fared if she had taken the EA route.
So here is my advice:
First, narrow your options! I know that it can be incredibly difficult, especially for students who need significant FA and are trying to balance out the possibility of merit $$ at lower- or mid-tier colleges vs. generous grant money at top-tier (but tough to get into) schools. Still, you need to undertake a winnowing process. Your applying to too many colleges will have a negative impact on how some schools perceive you.
Second, utilize the EA option! Don’t leave that bullet sitting in the chamber. Given the realities of the current admissions scene, it will represent your best shot of winning entrance to a dream/reach school. Again, deciding on which school to apply to EA will be difficult, since there are still many strategic factors to be weighed, as I’m sure you understand.
Good luck in your quest!
@MrSamford2014 Thank you for a very helpful contribution! I appreciate the advice. How many did she apply to, just wondering? And around what number do you think is too many?
I know, for sure I need to cut alot of schools from my list. My official list only has 11 schools but it has too many matches and only two reaches (Harvard and Princeton), no other schools above top 20, which is just bad.
Once I find out if I am NMF, I will surely cut a lot of the safeties and even some matches, as UF is guaranteed full ride!
You won’t know if you’re NMF until Feb I think so it will be too late for most schools, unless any of them are rolling admission. You can contact them when you know, but not sure how much of a difference it will make, they may have already decided. Also, they will assume you’ll get finalist as over 90% do.
You’re going to get different opinions, as you have, but I’d argue you have more than 2 reaches on your list given the schools you mentioned. Not trying to be negative, just pragmatic. Folks tend to overemphasize the weight of being hispanic, IMO. Just make sure you have really solid matches and a couple safeties that you would be happy with.
What’s your class rank BTW?
@theloniusmonk Yeah you’re right! I just realized they find out so late. We’ll if I apply to H EA, I will have to assume and hope for the best! I could still apply to SMU, though for a backup full ride.
@doschicos We don’t rank but I am I think in the top 3-10 at a pretty elite private HS, with around 230 kids total. We send plenty of kids to Ivies and top schools, but most of those accepted in the Ivies are not so impressive; they have legacy.
I’m not relying on my race to get in, either. I just don’t like the argument that a school with <15% acceptance rate is a reach for everyone. Sure, USC is not a safety, but I am WELL above the upper 75%. I like niche’s little tool.
https://www.niche.com/colleges/university-of-southern-california/
Once you have your stats filled, it compares you to everyone that’s applied to that school. Now, I’m better than 98% of applicants that applied (based on SAT and UW GPA), and it has an acceptance rate of 18%.
Yes, these stats are outdated. USC’s acceptance rate has dropped, and the applicants have increased in strength. It is true, too, that many other important figures are not considered, but I think the tool definitely helps paint a nice picture.
Even if I’m only in the top 5% of those who apply, 16% of the applicants are accepted. A reach, in my opinion, would mean maybe a 1/3 chance of acceptance. It could go either way if you’re lucky, but you will likely be rejected.
Looking at the numbers, that would make USC a match at the highest.
What do you think about this?
I don’t mean to come off as cocky, I just want to learn.
Well, if you go to an elite private HS with a track record of getting students into selective schools, than no doubt your college counselors will be knowledgeable. I’d go with whatever they think with the tools like naviance and such that they have on hand. They will be best at predicting your chances given your profile and your school’s track record. No one here can help you as much as they can.
Honestly, I don’t put much faith in tools like Niche. They are based on selective and self-reported data.
@AimingTop50, please make sure you apply to a good mix of target, reach and safety schools. I keep reading responses, including in this thread, that understate the difficulty of getting into a top-10 or even a top-20 universities or liberal arts college.
A safety isn’t a top-20 school - not for anyone. Yes, plenty of people can say that was the lowest ranked school that they applied to and they got in, but there are far more that did the same, either were denied or waitlisted everywhere and are now saying what do I do now as waitlists this year are closing out at unprecedented rates.
Regarding financial aid, all of the schools that are need blind and meet 100% of financial need, including Hamilton and Harvard, are going to meet your financial aid need. Yes, some do treat certain assets differently than others, but if you put in zero assets the NPC’s at those schools should be the same.