So I have about 15 colleges I’m interested into applying to, but as per request of my parents in regard to app fees, I need to narrow my list down to 12. Which colleges should make the cut? Which should I drop? Thanks so much! 
SAT: 1990 (will take again)
ACT: 29
AP: USH, US Gov, Comp Gov, Euro, Geography, Lit, Lang, Bio, Chem, Stat, Spanish, Psych.
GPA: 3.8/3.9ish
HS: Delaware
Varsity Tennis 3 Years, Varsity Swim 4 Years, Interact Club, Co-founded TFF (teens feeding future), Marching Band 4 Years, Concert Band 4 Years, Choir, Select Choir,
NHS (Vice President)
Speech & Debate (President)
Volunteer at local YMCA, local campaigns, and presidential campaigns.
Works as lifeguard
Interested in Political Science major, eventually would like to become an Urban Planner.
Current list:
UMiami
GWU
UC-Berkeley
UC-Santa Barbara
UDelaware
CofCharleston
American University
Temple University
NYU
VATech
UVA
UNC-WIlmington
USouth Florida
UWashington
James Madison
Any other info you need, just let me know!
Have you run the NPCs on all of these schools? Are the out-of-state publics affordable?
Quick four to drop: UC-Berkeley, NYU, UVA, and UC-Santa Barbara. The UCs are very expensive for OOS students. Berkeley would be a great place for grad school - its urban planning department is among the top 3. Why USouth Florida? Have you looked at U of Miami in Florida? If you want a decent west coast school for politcial science, check out Willamette in Salem, OR.
Run the NPC on all the schools to make sure they are affordable.
What about NYU makes you say I shoudl cut? And also how does UWash fall when it comes to OOS tuition? thanks!
You are on the lower side for both UCs, UVA, and NYU. Either closer to 31+ or 2100+ to be a legitimate candidate. Your competitive with the other schools.
Is price an issue? If so be sure the schools are affordable. Is there a true safety on the list that you could be happy attending? I agree that Berkeley, NYU, and UVa are probably out of reach with your current SATs.- maybe drop one of the reach schools (Berkeley and UVa are least likely IMO and if you need aid, NYU is notoriously bad).
Even UC-Santa Barbara? and yes, I was thinking about cutting UVA for that reason, but I wanted to include UC Berk and NYU as reaches, but are they too much of a reach to even have a chance?
As far as safeties go, I consider UNCW, CofC, USF, JMU, & VATech all to be safeties. I am thinking about dropping USF & UNCW, but I will visit those in the summer before I make my final decision. Thanks!
In terms of your reach schools, look at the class profiles, look at the Naviance from your HS and decide if they are attainable. Also is price is an issue run the NPC to see if they are affordable. Nothing wrong with including a couple of reaches on your list.
Berkeley… your SAT scores are lower than the median (around 2060), and they accept less than 20% of applicants. This is definitely a high reach. They give almost zero financial aid to OOS students.
NYU… your SAT scores are close to, but a little on the lower side of their median (around 2040) So academically, this is a reach. Also, they are very, very stingy with financial aid.
UCSB… your SAT scores are around their median (around 1900), so academically, it is a match (but they only accept around 40% of applicants, so a high match). They give almost zero financial aid to OOS students.
Just FYI about NYU–their aid for me was easily triple what I got from most other schools. Now those schools were very generous, but still. Their aid isn’t fantastic.