Narrowing Down Schools for a Typical Asian

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm new here, so don't kill me please :)
To save myself from too much hassle/anguish/trouble, I plan on applying to 5 or 6 schools. I'm interested in business/economics, but I don't want that to be the only factor in choosing a college. I come from a small college town with ~100,000 people, and as long as the school isn't located in the middle of nowhere, I'm fine.</p>

<p>I already know 3 schools I'm applying to, the other 2 or 3 are harder to narrow down from this tentative list:
-Cornell
-Duke
-Brown
-MIT
-WashU</p>

<p>I realize these are top-notch schools (I have safeties!), but any other suggestions are welcome. </p>

<p>Essentially, I want to compare these 5 schools based on strength of business/economics program, location (how accessible/comfortable college life is), financial aid packages, my chances of acceptance, overall campus life, etc. I think personal experience and opinions are more valuable than those silly statistics and whatnot from various websites.</p>

<p>Brief overview of stats (I feel like a complete prat/braggart rattling off these statistics):</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: #1, Weighted GPA: #6 from class of 450
National Merit Semi-finalist
SAT M: 800 R: 720 W:780
SAT Subject Tests: Math 2 790, USH 760
AP Calc 5, Env Sci 5, USH 5, Stats 5, EUH 4, Eng Lang 4
IB Math SL 7, Env Sys 6</p>

<p>Varsity tennis 2 years
Secretary of Student body (12), secretary (10 + 11)
VP of French Club, member of NHS/NFHS
Treasurer of science league at school, Secretary of statewide science league
Various 2nd, 3rd place trophies from science bowl (9,10,11)
2nd place regional science fair
Superior rating (3 years) in statewide French competition
Key Club 4 years, over 250+ hours
Math Student of the year (9 + 10)
National French Exam medals (2nd, 4th, 5th) for three years</p>

<p>Eh, I'm mostly strong in academics. I realize I fail in the whole "well-rounded" aspect of an applicant. Tant pis.</p>

<p>Anyways, any opinions/suggestions/whatever would be appreciated. THANKS</p>

2

<p>Asian male right?</p>

3

<p>Wrong! Ahaha I wonder if it's harder to get in as a female or a male...</p>

4

<p>Probably easier at MIT.</p>

5

<p>Each of the five listed schools have totally different personalities and campus culture. They are all great schools, so the real question is – which one is the best fit for you. Nobody can answer that question for you. If at all possible – visit the schools – arrange to spend an overnight in a dorm and get a feel for the campus and students at each school. It may not be the most convenient or economic choice – but remember you are looking at spending four years of your life at the school you choose.</p>

6

<p>Some of those schools are very different! Brown vs. MIT? Have you actually thought about what kind of person you are and how you would fit both socially and academically at these schools? Don't just pick schools because they're 'good', pick them because you'd be a good fit there.</p>

7

<p>After researching some more, I have eliminated MIT and WashU, leaving me with Cornell, Duke, and Brown.</p>

<p>Has anyone visited the campus of any of these schools (Cornell, Duke, and Brown)? If do, what was your overall opinion/experience of 1) the city 2) the people and 3) the classes? Any thing will be helpful...</p>

8

<p>Brown just seems random on that list. What do you like about Brown?</p>

9

<p>The open curriculum! And not because I want to avoid taking certain classes.</p>

10

<p>Well since you said you don't really want to be in the middle of nowhere, you may want to take Cornell of the list since it is basically in the middle of nowhere.</p>

11

<p>Why is the open curriculum such a deal-breaker for you?</p>

12

<p>There's more to Brown than that aspect though. It's quite different from the other universities on your list in many other ways, but if you like them, go for it.</p>

13

<p>I've been to Duke and Brown. I didn't like Duke at all but I had a great impression of Brown. But then again, I like MIT.</p>

<p>Duke has a huge campus with lots of trees in kind of a crappy location in a crappy city in NC. Most of the college life is on campus and revolves around sports and greek life. Seemed kind of homogeneous, not sure about the actual stats. Brown had a really liberal and accepting feel and everyone seemed really comfortable there. It had a central location in Providence and though providence is not the hugest city ever it's a great college town and pretty neat and quaint.</p>

<p>Personally, I feel like a good college experience should involve a great assortment of things to do off campus-- and being in/around a city helps facilitate that. I know at MIT I about split my free time between on-campus and boston/boston-area off campus and it's how I like it.</p>

14

<p>I've visited both Brown and Cornell, both when I was visiting colleges as a rising senior in HS, and as a goofy mellophone player in the Princeton U Band, and these schools are considerably different. Cornell has a large, state-school sized campus on top of a big old hill in Ithaca, NY, which is not the most isolated place in upstate NY, but its pretty close. The campus buildings are kind of a hodgepodge of architectural styles, and many people live off campus. I got the impression that most of the social activities take place off the main campus. Despite that, the campus and its surroundings are unique and appealing, if the weather is not inclement (as it often is). </p>

<p>Brown is also on top of a hill, but its in a small city, Providence. The buildings are almost all brick colonial excluding the auditorium and laboratories, and the campus is divided into lots of courtyards and walkways. People seemed to be outdoors a whole lot (I visited in May). The school also is close to an eclectic business district north of the main campus, and downtown Providence is not far. I'm sure most Brown students live in campus housing. There seems to be plenty to do in the city as well. Some of the facilities seemed to be a little dated, but agreeing with pebbles, students seemed very comfortable in that setting.</p>

15

<p>frutiaspice: Agreed, from what I hear, that's what turns a lot of people away from Cornell.</p>

<p>princessbell: It's not really a dealbreaker--it's more like something that intrigues and interests me. The other schools I'm applying to are less liberal-artsy, and I think I'd like to apply to a variety of schools. Besides, while I want to focus on business/economics, I would like an opportunity to take classes on something completely unrelated to my major.</p>

<p>aquamarinee: What "aspects" are you referring to? Hopefully, it's nothing too serious hehee</p>

<p>pebbles: Yeah, apparently Duke is a huge on sports. I've been used to that all my life (our town calls itself "titletown" and there are rabid gator fans everywhere....). </p>

<p>Nonetheless, coming from Florida, I will probably get a huge shock wherever I go because a cold winter here means below 40 degrees ahahaha.</p>

16

<p>tokyorevelation9: wow thank you for that really detailed explanation! mellophone? Is that a brass instrument? Sounds neat :O)</p>

17

<p>Yes, the mellophone is what I adoringly call "a fat trumpet".</p>

18

<p>If you want to stay warm, consider adding Rice.</p>

19

<p>Is Rice good in economics/business?
Texas seems so far away....</p>

20

<p>OP - if you were a "typical Asian" - you would be looking at attending community college.</p>