Need help with college list

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello. This is my first post, so please forgive me if I neglect certain CC etiquette.</p>

<p>It's time for me to look at colleges but I honestly have no idea where to start. I plan on majoring in biology (specifically genetics) and/or finance, but even that is out in the open.</p>

<p>Here are my stats</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female</p>

<p>SAT: 2320 (CR: 800, M: 780, W:740. Essay: 11)
SAT II: Math II 800
Biology E 780
Physics 780
ACT: 34, I might retake this one because of a lowish science score in comparison with the others</p>

<p>School: Public School, one of the best in the state (but it's in Iowa...)
GPA: 4.227 (weighted), 4.00 (unweighted)
Ranking: My school doesn't do rankings but stated that if you had a GPA of 4.0, you were no. 1. My class has around 400 students.</p>

<p>AP Classes: Biology 5
US History 5
AP European History: Pending
AP Physics B: Pending, but I'm expecting either a 4 or 5
AP Psychology: Expecting a 5
AP Language and Composition: Expecting a 4 or 5</p>

<p>I plan to take these AP courses in my senior year:
AP Calc
AP Government
AP Macro/Microeconomics
AP Chemistry</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Graphic Design competitions
Student Journal Editor: also designed the t-shirt
Web/Design Editor for one of our school's news websites
Intramural badminton/basketball: I am the "designated" graphic designer for badminton
National Honors Society for 2 years
Quiz Bowl: I was also responsible for setting up our school's intramural quiz bowl program
Fashion Show Model: As a joke, but I pretended I was serious
Library Volunteering: 5 years, around 200 hours(?)
Video editing class assistant for elementary/middle school-aged students
Piano: 7 years
Band: 5 years
Unpaid Intern at a botany lab
Paid Intern: data entry/analysis for geology programs
Will be an intern at a different laboratory during my senior year</p>

<p>Awards:
Purple Ribbon Winner (highest in the competition) for graphic design and other second place ribbons
USABO Semifinalist
Multiple piano district and state awards
Placed in a quiz bowl tournament
Will probably be a National Merit Finalist</p>

<p>So that's it. I know some of my extracurriculars seem like I'm grasping for straws, but I just wanted to put out anything I could.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance because I'm definitely at a lost where I should apply. What would be a reasonable reach for me? Should I consider some Ivy leagues? I already have my safety chosen, but I want to know what other universities I could shoot for.</p>

2

<p>Oh and location doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s in the United States.</p>

3

<p>You have a few things in common with me, so maybe you will find my thread informative</p>

<p>people here gave me many good recommendations</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1352004-out-state-colleges-should-i-apply.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1352004-out-state-colleges-should-i-apply.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Thanks! I took a look, but I’m really not looking into a liberal arts college. Also, I don’t think I’m considering environmental biology, as interesting as it was to learn about, or engineering (physics was a pain in the butt for me)</p>

<p>Thinking back, I probably should have specified that. Anyway, I still appreciate your input. </p>

<p>Also, your stats look loads better than me. Best of luck to you!</p>

5

<p>You have good grades and strong extracurriculars. Here are some schools that I would apply to:</p>

<p>REACH
MIT
Cal Tech
Cornell
UPenn (they have a combined business and science program, I think)</p>

<p>MATCH
University of Michigan
Washington University in St. Louis
Tufts University
Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>LOW MATCH
Rochester
Case Western</p>

<p>SAFETY
Drexel
Pitt</p>

6

<p>Wow, I hadn’t even considered UPenn. I didn’t even know they had a dual business/science program. That one is definitely going on my list. Due to it’s close-ish proximity to my hometown, I think I will also consider WashU.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your list! I will hopefully compile it with some other CCers suggestions.</p>

7

<p>Here is the link for Penn’s science and business dual degree program:</p>

<p>[Bioscience</a> and Business at Penn - Life Sciences and Management at University of Penn](<a href=“Home | Penn Life Sciences & Management Program”>Home | Penn Life Sciences & Management Program)</p>

8

<p>You should add USC to your list and if you are a NMF and are accepted there you would receive a 1/2 tuition scholarship. They have an excellent Science/ Genetics program as well as a strong Business school, and encourage students to do double majors in Diverse concentrations with the Renaissance Scholars Programs. Their Honors Science and Humanities programs offers small class sizes , and are taught by the best profs at USC. </p>

<p>USC has the most NMF’s of any U except Harvard. It is also racially diverse and balanced. </p>

<p>Wash U is not a “match” for any top student, as the admissions decisions are very unreliable and they are notorious for wait listing top students[ unless they apply there ED] . </p>

<p>Michigan will charge you full tuition as an OOS student[ 50K+/ year]</p>

9

<p>I wasn’t expecting WashU to be a match, more of a reach to be honest, like you said. But due its proximity, I will try to apply.</p>

<p>Thanks for your suggestion of USC, I will add that to my list. I wasn’t really considering it before but you have definitely swayed me!</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

10

<p>What do you want to do with your biology or genetics major?</p>

11

<p>Might look at Duke.</p>

12

<p>How much does net cost matter?</p>

<p>If you are NMF, check this thread:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Your stats may also find some automatic full rides:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>Cost is not a huge one, but definitely a factor. I looked at the net price calculators at various colleges, and I wouldn’t have to pay a substantial amount.</p>

<p>The end goal with a genetics/biology degree is to become a teaching professor, but I do want to do some medical research in case that doesn’t work. Furthermore, I’ll probably have to do research anyway if I become a professor.</p>

14

<p>Also, what colleges have strong artistic and musical environments? Along with a science/finance major, I’d definitely like to continue with piano and clarinet (band) on the side.</p>

<p>Furthermore, I’d definitely like to take a course in graphic design, I wouldn’t minor in it, but I’d like to expand my knowledge of the subject.</p>

<p>Should I take a chance with HYP? Do my stats line up with those who normally apply to those schools? If not, what should I improve?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

15

<p>Also, what colleges have strong artistic and musical environments? Along with a science/finance major, I’d definitely like to continue with piano and clarinet (band) on the side.</p>

<p>USC:</p>

<p>Thorton School of Music</p>

<p>All students can audition to participate in the 15 ensembles/ orchestras/ bands/ groups
School of Cinematic Arts
School of Fine Arts
School of Theatre</p>