<p>I'm a junior in high school and I really need help picking out matches and safeties.. I have my reaches down, tell me what you think would be good schools for me :)</p>
<p>So far I want to apply to
-Princeton
-Dartmouth
-Georgetown
-Penn
-Amherst
-Harvard
-NYU
-Notre Dame
-Cornell
-Lehigh</p>
<p>would all of these be reaches for me? I know for a fact schools like Princeton and Harvard are total reaches, probably unreachable reaches.. but would Cornell, Lehigh, and NYU be reaches? Maybe matches? I NEED safeties!! Thank you!!!</p>
<p>--Academics--
GPA unweighted: 3.96
In the top 10% of my class
All honors and APs.
Total 5 AP Classes for the next two years
Taking 2 APs independently
SAT's (as of now) CR: 750 W:710 M:770
Just took PSATs, I think I did really well, hoping to be a National Merit Scholar or something close to that</p>
<p>--Extra Curriculars--
Varsity tennis team freshman year
Record: 51 wins to 5 losses
Second singles freshman and sophomore
Player of the year Sophomore year
1st singles Junior year
Captain junior year</p>
<p>Show Jumper (equestrian)-Professional license at 17
Train horses
Qualified for Marshall and Sterling Finals
Unfortunately before going to finals, I had to get rid of my horse so that my family could afford to send my 10 year old brother to a special school for dyslexic children. I gave my 50,000 dollars in prize money from riding to him so he could go</p>
<p>My biggest thing at the moment is changing my state law for dyslexia and making it recognized as a learning difference. I have been working on this for two years with a learning specialist and a lawyer (graduates of Penn). My mom is friends with a journalist at Fox News and I have a space reserved to go on air with Mr. O'Reilly. </p>
<p>President and founder of the Operation Smile Club and County chapter
Math League- competitively.
National Honor Society Member
Tutor kids at the local elementary school in math, reading and spanish.</p>
<p>I'll be going on a three week medical mission to India and Pakistan for Operation Smile in february, then thailand and china for the summer for conferences and missions.</p>
<p>Cornell is always a reach. NYU and Lehigh are matches for you, IMO.</p>
<p>For things more on the safety level, maybe consider Tulane, Bucknell, Brandeis, Emory, Wake Forest, Connecticut College, Kenyon. Personally, I’m really paranoid about safeties-- about four of the schools I’m applying could probably be considered safeties for me but I’m not risking “almost definitely” getting in, so I applied UMass. While the schools I listed are definitely appropriate as low matches/high safeties for you, a good idea is always your state flagship or, if there is no flagship, a state school.</p>
<p>Until you have test scores, it’s hard to predict for you.</p>
<p>Have you asked your parents how much they will pay for college? If not, do so. You need to know what your financial situation is. Many match and safety schools do not give much aid.</p>
Aren’t these test scores? However, if you took the SAT a few years ago (my kids did that, taking the SAT in 7th grade), they probably won’t count for college apps. I think they have to be within the last 4 years or something like that. Not sure about that time at all. In any case, you will probably do even better, though there isn’t much room to go up!</p>
<p>Given your academic record and your personal story, you have a chance pretty much anywhere. Of course the HYP schools are iffy, but only because they accept such a small percentage of people. Your stats stack up fine already, and presumably your test scores will only make you more competitive. The only meaningful advice you can get on here in this regard is to apply anywhere you want, make sure you have safeties (Lehigh would qualify as a safety for you, but you need more), and as M2CK says make sure you know what is affordable and what isn’t, since money sounds like it is an issue. If you do get into the top schools, many have guaranteed no loan program, but they may think your parents can afford more than your parents think they can. That is why is is important, especially with an academic record like yours, that you have schools where you will pay little or nothing. You just have to find out which these are.</p>
<p>You have insane hooks. Lehigh and NYU would probably be matches. As for suggestions for safeties, it’d help if you could explain what you like about the schools currently on your list and what you want to study/major in.</p>
<p>But just based on the list, I would suggest University of Rochester as a low match/higher safety.</p>
<p>I think Cornell, Lehigh, and Notre Dame are matches, roughly 50% chance of getting in. NYU is much more likely, almost a safety but not quite, which means it isn’t.</p>
<p>Notre Dame has non-restrictive Early Action, so you could apply EA and if you get in, it’s your safety. </p>
<p>Other true safeties - they will not reject your properly completed application no matter what - are Boston University, University of Pittsburgh, McGill University, Ohio State Honors, Wisconsin-Madison, and Tulane. </p>
<p>Pitt, Wisconsin and Ohio State are rolling, Tulane is Early Action (I think rolling in practice), so if you use one of those, you will have at least one admission in hand before Christmas.</p>
<p>the student is a junior. Is she graduating early??? I didn’t think so, but maybe I missed that.</p>
<p>oops…sorry I missed the SAT scores… I saw the PSAT mention and for some reason thought those would be your first scores.</p>
<p>Obviously, there are tons of schools that will admit you. But, for a safety to be a TRUE safety, you need to be certain that you can afford it. And, since you’ve mentioned the financial situation associated with your younger brother, finances may be an issue.</p>
<p>" I gave my 50,000 dollars in prize money from riding to him so he could go."</p>
<p>Will this income generate a 2010 Tax Return for you with a large amount of income?
If so, it will be considered! Be prepared to write letters to all Financial Aid Offices of schools you are applying to, that this is “One Time Income” & will not be happening again.</p>
<p>If this should be the case, it is best to point out that you will not have the time to be competing for large Cash Equestrian prizes while you are enrolled in college.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies!! I’m currently a junior :)</p>
<p>Well i’ve only visited Princeton and Penn. I really like a diverse school, laid back yet traditional… I’m not really sure. I like culture and a very international school. I’m pretty laid back and go with the flow myself.</p>
<p>If this helps… my one grandfather graduated from NYU and the other from MIT. great grandfather went to Amherst. Parents did not go to college.</p>
<p>I know, the money situation is so confusing, but we have just heard awesome news. My parents are fighting for my brother’s education (he’s nine) because he has severe dyslexia and cannot learn the way the public schools teach. Long story short, they are sending him to a ridiculously expensive (like the amount of college) school. After hiring a lawyer and stuff, the state is reimbursing us the money we paid for tuition. So I will be getting my money back, but it’s going directly to my college fund. My high school also gives out insane scholarship money. Last year the class of 2010 received 19.6 million out of 200 kids!! My class is much more competitive than 2011, they’re estimating us around 26 million, and we have 180 students in our grade. Of course, I don’t want to be thinking I will be receiving scholarship money, but hopefully I will get a little. With the scholarship money (hopefully!) and the reimbursement from the state, my parents say we’re in good shape to pay for my college :)</p>
<p>I don’t get those scholarship numbers, that’s over $100,000 per kid. But in any case, that is great news that your money situation is so much better. It opens up everything for you. Your original list is excellent. I would still add one or two more true safeties, but only because you want to be 100% sure. The overwhelming odds are that you will get into 3+ of the schools on your list.</p>
<p>*My high school also gives out insane scholarship money. Last year the class of 2010 received 19.6 million out of 200 kids!! *</p>
<p>I think you’re confused. It sounds like the students at your school were awarded $19.6 million in scholarships FROM various universities…not from your high school. </p>
<p>Every year, my kids’ high school posts the multi-millions in scholarship awards as well…that money is from colleges…not the high school.</p>
<p>Fallenchemist…also, those are likely a cumulative number of all scholarships offered that year…including scholarships from colleges the students chose not to attend.</p>
<p>livelylegend - I think you have a great shot at NYU, and almost certainly you will get into BU, if all your stats hold up and there is nothing surprising in your record. There are tons of schools that could be safeties for you now that you are in a stronger situation financially. Among strong academic schools, Tulane has already been mentioned, there is also U Miami (Florida). Tufts and Boston College are not safeties exactly, but you would have strong odds of getting in. Lehigh is almost a safety with your stats. Between all these schools, you will no doubt end up with numerous options.</p>
<p>thank you fallenchemist! it’s quite a relief to know that if i get into any of these schools, money won’t be inhibiting my chance of going. i think i’ll be applying to NYU and BU, I’m hoping BU will be my safety. How many schools in total do you think I should apply to? I know some people have applied to as little as one (which I don’t find to be too wise…) and as many as twenty (I can’t handle that many apps, lol). what would be a good number of schools to apply to?</p>
<p>Hmmm, these days I think 8-12 is a good number, and seems to fit your situation. I would say pick 6-8 from your “I really like these best but they are hard to get into” list, then 3-4 from the “I like these and I will almost certainly get in” list. Should put you in a fine position.</p>
<p>FYI, just because your family can afford any school now doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply for merit scholarships at schools that have them. Money is money, and you never know when things can change for your family besides. Obviously we all hope not, but life is unpredictable.</p>