Matches and safeties? Warning: I rambled.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey there. I'm a (homeschooled) junior planning to apply to these schools:
UChicago
Tufts
Carnegie Mellon
Brown
UNC (instate)</p>

<p>UNC is the only school that is more of a match than a reach. I have a 3.9 unweighted GPA, 2280 SAT score, and 730/770/800 subject test scores. I plan to take five AP tests this year. I did dual-enrollment this year, but the program is very restricted; they only offer us classes like bio for non-majors, Art Appreciation instead of Art History Survey I, but the classes are very enjoyable so I take them anyway and do the rest to equal an AP course by myself. Based on what I've read on ECs, mine won't make or break me; I'm heavily involved in the local arts scene, I work, I interned, I design websites, I'm traveling abroad this summer, I assist a prof with research, I volunteer, and I lead a tutoring seminar. I haven't cured AIDs, but I love what I do and can write passionately about it.</p>

<p>I'm really fascinated by human-computer interaction, interface design, and the intersection of the arts and sciences. CMU's BXA program really works for me in this regard--I'd like to do interface design + English, for example. But I know CMU is pretty unique. So, for simplicity's sake, I'll probably want to do some combination of compsci + English/anthro. I'm also interested in colleges that allow you to create your own major.</p>

<p>I'm not too picky about location besides not wanting somewhere extremely hot. I'm way more concerned about finances. I've calculated my EFC, and it's accurate, but there is no way we can give a penny more. If the school has notoriously bad FA (NYU, you slattern), I'd rather not spend my $75 on applying and would prefer to just leave it out of the equation entirely. There are many LACs that I kind of love but feel will be too limited in course offerings, like Carleton and Grinnell. A student body of 4-8k feels like a nice sweet spot, but if it's really exceptional and they can swing me some excellent FA then I'll look into anything.</p>

<p>I like a nerdier/artsier crowd, but I'm not too concerned about finding a whole school of them. I like diversity. If it's even relevant, activities I'm interested in are newspaper, radio, and club horseback riding.</p>

<p>tl;dr I need safeties and matches that will throw money at me and provide courses in HCI/interface design and/or allow me to create my own major.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading!</p>

2

<p>You obviously know what you want in a school, which is very good! Here are some schools to consider:</p>

<p>Macalester( dont know much about financial aid)
UW-Madison
University of Michigan( good english and engineering programs)</p>

<p>Thats all I can come up with at the moment</p>

3

<p>Some of the cheaper out of state publics may be worth looking at for safeties if you can afford their list price (e.g. Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Massachusetts Amherst, Stony Brook). But your various in-state publics are more likely to be safety candidates. Check the net price calculator at each school.</p>

4

<p>The schools on this list will meet all of you need: [Which</a> Colleges Claim to Meet Students’ Full Financial Need? - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2011/02/16/which-colleges-claim-to-meet-students-full-financial-need]Which”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2011/02/16/which-colleges-claim-to-meet-students-full-financial-need)
It’s a great starting place. </p>

<p>I have similar interests and stats as you. Besides the schools you posted, I really liked Swarthmore, Reed, Vassar, Wesleyan, and JHU.</p>

5

<p>I don’t believe in Matches for students with your stats who require FA. If you are happy with UNC, then I personally think all other apps can be reaches. With many reaches meeting full need, I’d focus attention there if I were you.</p>

<p>Based upon your interests, you may want to consider Cognitive Linguistics. Only a few UG programs exist. I personally love The Claremont Consortium in CA. Pomona & Pitzer have a Ling program. The consortium is 5 neighboring LACs in walking distance of each other. You can cross register which provides many choices. Pomona meets full need without loans. Pitzer meets full need but includes loans. The Consortium provides a wides social scene than found at a stand alone LAC. The location can’t be beat. I definitely think a nerdy/artsy type would love it.</p>

<p>Franklin & Marshall in PA also has a major that may appeal to you, Scientific & Philo. Studies of the Mind. </p>

<p>Pitt would most likely provide large (up to full tuition) merit to you. Pitt does permit some cross registration with CMU. I do not know the details of the cross registration.</p>

6

<p>OP, it’s very unlikely you’ll get $ thrown to you by UMich - their merit aid is extremely selective. I don’t know what kind of FA you think you might get (based on traveling abroad and club horseback riding I would think not much). Are you by any chance a NMSF?</p>