<p>Hey guys well i just got my National Merit letter today i don't know if i'm commened or semi-finalist, but it asks for 2 colleges and i'm really unsure of where i want to go or what schools to put down. Just looking for some general advice and direction thanks~
Stats:
GPA: 4.7
rank: 6/300
SAT old 1410
new 1960
AP's: Euro his (4)
this year: chem, us his, literature
next year: composition, American gov, bio, spanish lang.
activities: irish dance, on regional team which qualified for nationals,top ten out of dance school, lots of travel, and 6-8 hours of pratice per week; Girl Scouts (hopefully gold award), student leadership club at school, library volunteer and VP of teen advisory board to help plan and fund library programs; about 700 service hours currently, most likely silver knights canidate, art lessons with a local artist and summer assistant at his art camp for 3-4 years, choosen for leadership program at Valley Forge, most likely will do a summer program somewhere (also looking for advice on that too?)
I would like my school to have acessable activities in art and maybe dance/theater.I really want my school to be in the city or with in very easy and close traveling distance of one. Things i am worried about: are the top universities/colleges really that good or would i have a hard time keeping up in them and therefore making it harder for me to get into a nice grad school. Many of them seem intimidating i don't need extra help or attention but i kinda like the feeling of people actually knowing me and want to know if that is indeed true at any of these schools. As a person i'll admitt i'm a dork and i hang out with other dorks at my school but from what i have seen we're all a pretty cool bunch once you get to know us. I'm also worried aobut the preppy factor i do go to a private school where many people do have money but i really do not (about 30,000 - 5,000 for school) so far i've been able to find a nitch but my guidence counselor says that although many top schools put on a nice facade it'd might be hard for me to fit in there. So far i'll probably be applying to UF, and New College of Florida (instate) but Iam undecided aobut other places like U Chicago (sounds very tough), Barnard, Emory, Harvard or any of those places
Any suggestion on schools or Affordable summer programs would be a great help thanks again!~</p>
<p>I'm sure this question has been brought up many times in other threads, but does it really matter what two colleges you put down? I can't seem to decide either.</p>
<p>no i'm sure it dosen't matter much i'm sure you can change them later on from what i've read, but i was more wondering if i should just skip over top tier schools in favor of getting a little more favor at some of the other schools i'm looking at? and also just general advice about some good schools?</p>
<p>It makes no difference. The schools you choose at this stage won't really give you a nod because you mentioned them. They will put you on their mailing lists, etc, but it will not affect your admission one way or the other. So just pick 2 or skip it all together and don't worry about it.</p>
<p>Not a big deal to worry about, but i do remember some posts that referenced schools where scholarship money was attached to identifying them on the form. Maybe someone will be able to pin that down.</p>
<p>I heard that the two schools you list might look at you more favorably for being the top two choices of such a good student, so putting slight reach schools is probably a good idea.</p>
<p>As for scholarship money, that doesn't come into play until filling out the Finalist form Fall of senior year.</p>