Need some advice

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm going into my senior year this fall, and so far have an accumulated GPA of ~94 for all of high school; around a 90 for freshman and sophomore year, and then roughly a 96 for all of junior year with harder classes, including an A+/100 average in AP Chem (my school switched to numbers part way through the year). My school doesn't do ranks but my counselor ensured me if I have a 90+ average I'm in the top 25th percentile.</p>

<p>My scores:</p>

<p>ACT - 32
Math - 34
Science - 35
Both English - 30
w/ Essay - 28
Sat I - 2180
Math - 760
CR - 650
Writing - 770 (perfect MC and 8 essay)
Sat II
Math II - 730
Chemistry - 790
PSAT - 205</p>

<p>I think if I retook the SAT's I could do better, I didn't study as much as I should have and I was sick for the test, but then scores would be coming out right around ED time, not to mention the scores I have now aren't terrible. Next year I'll be taking 4 AP's including Calc BC and Physics C, the hardest classes my school offers.</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars -
-Math League in 9th and 10th grade and maybe next year
-Military History in 9th grade (probably not worth including)
-French club 10th-12th, will hopefully have a position next year
-National Merit Scholar - probably not a semi-finalist with a 205 but don't know yet
-National Honors Society as of 11th grade
-Planning to do volunteer work this summer, haven't started yet though
-Hopefully will get an internship as well, but it seems less and less likely now...
-Worked for 6-7 months waiting on senior citizens, stopped to focus more on school</p>

<p>I'm sure I want a major in the physical sciences, and this year I've grown to like chemistry quite a bit, although I don't want to rule physics or chemical engineering out (perhaps astronomy or astronomical physics, too). I'd definitely prefer a more educational rather than research-oriented environment (high professor accessibility is a big point) as LAC's generally seem to offer - although for chemistry, I've heard undergrad research is important - as well as a smaller size. An intelligent, liberal environment is very appealing to me too, and a good campus with good facilities is of relative importance.</p>

<p>Schools I've been considering include Cornell (the chemistry department in particular has a very good program), Northwestern University, as well as some LAC's with good science departments such as Reed, Pomona and Harvey Mudd (both reaches probably), and the University of Chicago. Prestige is also important to me, although the LAC's have the appeal of sending the highest percentages of grads to phD programs. I know some of these schools are far away, but staying closer to home would definitely be preferable (although somewhere with nice weather would also be nice...), and I also have the safety to fall back on the University of Rochester where I'd have free tuition (dad is a professor).</p>

<p>So can anyone give me some advice? I want to make sure I'm making the right decision in colleges, but I don't feel like I have a good bearing on different colleges I'd like to go to. Any help would be appreciated.</p>

<p>edit: Forgot to mention I'm a white male from Rochester, NY with a double legacy at cornell.</p>

2

<p>Other than the ones you’ve already mentioned, LACs that tend to do well in the sciences include Wesleyan and Carleton.</p>

<p>Your list so far looks strong academically, but have you given much thought to what you want your college experience to be like? Do you want a bigger school or a smaller one? One closer or farther away from a city? Are you interested in Greek life, hate the idea, or can tolerate it as long as it doesn’t dominate social life? What’s your situation financially (do you think you’ll qualify for need-based aid or can you pay $50,000 a year? Are you very interested in getting merit-based aid, in which case you would have to look at schools that are less selective and where you would be one of the best in the class)?</p>

<p>Rochester is a very good option. It’s free and has strong science departments. I know you may not want to stay quite so close to home, but definitely consider it.</p>

3

<p>In terms of school size, I think small schools have certain appealing aspects as well as unappealing ones. City size/Greek life/financial aid are not of particular relevance to me, as I hold other qualities to be of much more importance.</p>

<p>As you mentioned too, Rochester is a good, free option, and close proximity to home is actually not such a problem with me. I wonder though, how a degree in chemistry from a school like Rochester (with very good grades I’d expect) or Reed (which doesn’t do grades and wouldn’t have much research) compare to one from Cornell, which has a very good reputation as well as prestige? The U of R actually appeals to me in numerous respects - as does Reed - but I want to make sure I’ll have the same opportunities farther down the road.</p>

4

<p>Reed has grades. As to U of R v. Cornell post-graduate opportunities, I don’t think a degree in chemistry from U of R would limit any opportunities for you down the road. If you would be happy and do well at U of R, attending U of R seems like a no brainer!</p>

5

<p>We’re basically twins in regards to our academic interests, so I’ll be waiting to see what schools other people suggest.</p>

<p>Personally, I’ve been looking primarily at Cornell, Yale, Wesleyan, Rice, and UT (the last two due to their close-ish proximity to home).</p>

6

<p>“Reed (which doesn’t do grades and wouldn’t have much research)”</p>

<p>As up noted above, Reed does give grades, but students don’t see them unless they ask, and the culture is not to ask. </p>

<p>All seniors are required to do masters-level research (part of the required thesis) in order to graduate. This is likely part of why Reed’s future PhD percentages are so high, including top ten overall and in six science categories.</p>

<p>[REED</a> COLLEGE PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]REED”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College)</p>

7

<p>I was thinking the University of Rochester before I even saw that you can go there for free. It is a great college, and as you know, has a very good national reputation. I also love their curriculum which allows you to sample many courses with a minimal of required courses. If you like UR, want to be in Rochester and don’t mind going to school where your dad is a professor, I would go there in a second. You can’t find a better deal than a nationally ranked university for free. Good luck!</p>