<p>Hey, I know it's late in the process, but I am looking for 1-2 solid target schools for me to tip off my finalized list of schools. I'm looking for a variety of schools in every sense of the wordgeographically, culturally, size, public/privateand I'm not sure what I want to do yet (though Econ, Film/Communications and Journalism are some prospective paths), but I do know that I want a school that will challenge me academically, yet still be socially engaging.</p>
<p>My stats are:
GPA: 4.0 UW
Rank: Top 10%
ACT: 33 (35 superscore)
ECs: very solid, a lot of leadership
Recs: to my knowledge, excellent and thorough from both teachers and counselor
Essays: very unique and well-written</p>
<p>So far, my list is looking like this:</p>
<p>Safeties:
*University of Washington
*Tulane University
*Boston University</p>
<p>Target:
*University of Southern California
Northwestern University
*Wesleyan
*Chapman University - Dodge Film School</p>
<p>Reaches:
*Washu
Columbia
*Dartmouth
Pomona
*CMC</p>
<ul>
<li>means already applied</li>
</ul>
<p>I appreciate any suggestions you guys have! Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>Have you looked at the book “Colleges that change lives”? Good suggestions for much of what you cited. I’ve heard from a few college students that Washington University in St Louis is wonderful; challenging academics, supportive, good social network.</p>
<p>Colleges don’t superscore the ACT; they just do it to the SAT.</p>
<p>NU should be on the same level as WashU.</p>
<p>Tufts, Rice, and Vandy all seem to be good targets. And, unlike Dartmouth and Columbia, those targets have much less random-seeming admissions outcomes.</p>
<p>Northwestern and WashU are both targets for you. I think that you can definitely get in with those stats because I’ve seen many people last year get in with ACT scores in the low 30s like 30-32…</p>
<p>I think Chapman is probably a safety school with your stats.</p>
<p>have you looked at LMU?</p>
<p>Are you instate for UWash?</p>
<p>For a school to be a safety, you have to also be certain that it’s affordable. Will your parents pay for wherever you go? If so, then awesome! If not, then you have to make sure that your safeties are affordable. </p>
<p>Some schools are superscoring the ACT…not sure which ones though. (I guess it’s only fair…lol)</p>
<p>Yeah, Chapman itself is a safety, but I’m applying to a major within the film school, which is more selective.</p>
<p>And yes, I am instate for UW, so that makes that a great financial safety. I’ve applied for full-ride scholarships at both of my other safeties, but even if I don’t get those (the chances are always slim), I am still expecting to get a good amount of merit aid.</p>
<p>After seeing your guys’ comments, I realize that NU and WashU are both reaches (maybe less of a reach then some of the others, but still a reach nonetheless). Out of all of your posts, I saw some new ones that I’ll check out: Tufts, Rice, Vandy, Swarthmore. Does anyone else have any suggestions?</p>
<p>Oh and after researching, I’ve found that a few colleges such as WashU, Wesleyan and Tufts do in fact superscore the ACT. Maybe that will help me stand out a little more in the applicant pool!</p>
<p>I second whoever said Tufts. For Tufts, make sure you have good essays (From what you said, it seems like it). Yet also be aware that Northwestern and Tufts had the same acceptance rates last year (as in the year 2009) despite Northwestern having more applicants than Tufts.</p>
If not, then you have to make sure that your safeties are affordable. </p>