More match/low reach schools?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi everyone! I'm currently in the heat of my college search and it'd be great to learn about some more match and safety schools with architecture programs. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2000/2400 (R: 660, W: 670, M: 670) I will be retaking one final time this fall, hoping for a 2150+. I'm also taking the ACT with Writing this June (practice tests have me at ~32).
SAT II: Taking Math 2, Chemistry, and Physics this fall, assume 740+ on each.
GPA: 3.89 UW/4.20 W
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):School does not rank, but I've been told I'm top 8%
AP (Scores): Just took AP EngLang, expecting a 4+. For students like myself who don't major in a science, this is the only AP you can really take during your junior year.
Senior Year Course Load: AP Literature, AP Environmental Science, AP Calculus AB, AP Human Geography, AP Government and Politics, Architecture Studio II.</p>

<p>Major Awards:
Scholarship Award to attend Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Architecture Program
Possible Honorable Mention or greater in this year's National High School Architecture Competition</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (been active in all for 2+ years):
-Activities Board within the Architecture Major (President)
-Schoolwide Student Council (Officer)
-Slam Poetry/Spoken Word Club (Officer)
-National Honor Society (running for President)
-National Japanese Honor Society
-Japanese Club
-Urban Agriculture Club
-Junior State of America
...
-Created an online magazine for teens focused in architecture, art, engineering, and design.
-Will be participating in a joint-research architecture project with NJIT and the University of Calgary this fall</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience:
-Intern/Teacher's Assistant for my school's health teacher.
-Held two part-time sales associate positions since the end of my sophomore year.</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community service:
-2-time AIDS Walk NYC Participant
-Volunteer at a homeless shelter during Thanksgiving (10 hours)
-Will be traveling to Ecuador this summer to teach Architecture seminars to college students (80+ hours)</p>

<p>Summer Activities:
Pre-College Architecture Program at Carnegie Mellon
Volunteering in Ecuador
Preparing to be a groomsman at my sister's wedding</p>

<p>Other</p>

<p>Supplementary: I've been working on my portfolio for the past 2 years, it's gotten good feedback so far (8-9/10)
Country (if international applicant):
State: New Jersey
School Type: Vocational
Ethnicity: South Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~$70,000
Hooks: First generation, multitude of architecture EC's</p>

<p>--</p>

<p>I'd like to stay within the Eastern Seaboard but my parents would likely let me venture further if the aid was right, as trips home would be expensive. I'd also like to attend a school that has a focus beyond the arts. As it stands, my list is:
- Carnegie Mellon (Reach)
- Cornell (Reach)
- Wash U (Reach)
- Lehigh (Match)
- Drexel (Match)
- NJIT (Safety) </p>

<p>Any input would be much appreciated!! </p>

2

<p>I’d also appreciate some suggestions for safeties!!</p>

3

<p>What are you interested in studying? Architecture I’m assuming, or something else?</p>

4

<p>Yep! Architecture </p>

5

<p>@shawnspencer‌ </p>

6

<p>For safeties, Howard, Tuskegee, and Florida A&M are in the big automatic merit list at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/16451378/#Comment_16451378”>Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #300 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums; and have NAAB accredited BArch programs as listed at <a href=“http://www.naab.org/r/schools/search.aspx”>http://www.naab.org/r/schools/search.aspx&lt;/a&gt; .</p>

7

<p>@ucbalumnus‌ Thanks for the help! </p>

8

<p>One other thing to consider: since BArch is typically a five year program, if merit scholarships are for four years, be sure to set aside enough money to pay for the fifth year without the scholarship.</p>

9

<p>RPI and Northeastern. Especially RPI, they’re pretty flexible with their aid and they have a good architecture program.</p>

10

<p>Parsons would probably be a match or safety, if you’re more interested in design than technology/science. </p>

11

<p>@Violet1996‌ @woogzmama‌ Thanks for the suggestions! </p>

12

<p>If your family income is about $70K, how are you going to pay for college? Do you know how much per year your parents can contribute? Have you and your parents run the NPC for all of the schools on your list?</p>

13

<p>@Consolation‌ my parents have agreed to take on the majority of the loans, but the financial aid calculators at all of the schools put me in a financial safety zone if they’re accurate. NJIT is definitely my financial safety. </p>