Need some low matches

College Search & Selection
1

Would like some suggestions for low match/high safety schools for my junior son.

Stats:
ACT 35
PSAT 1480
GPA 3.85 (uw), 4.35 (w)
Rigorous courses (on track to have 11 AP & 11 honors)
Solid ECs but nothing spectacular or unusual
Rec’s and essays should be very good

What he’s after…

  • Mid-sized school (6,000-10,000 undergrads or so)
  • Unsure of major - pondering History, Pre-law, Pre-med
  • In or near a city
  • Smart kids in a cooperative/collegial environment
  • Doesn’t care about big time sports
  • Interested in fraternities, eating clubs or similar
  • Likely east of Mississippi
  • Not too conservative
  • College budget likely OK for all his choices

Current short-list…
Yale
University of Chicago
Wash U
Vanderbilt
Emory

Rhodes
Centre
Univ or Tennessee - Knoxville

First 5 I describe as “he’s got a ticket to the lottery” Last 3 are more safeties.

Other suggestions, esp. a “match” with high likelihood of acceptance? Maybe GWU and/or American in DC?

Comments on current short list?

Thanks all!

2

It’s slightly smaller than his target, but maybe the University of Richmond?

3

“In or near a city”

These Newsweek articles may suggest some ideas: “The 25 Most Desirable Urban Schools”; “The 25 Most Desirable Suburban Schools.”

4

Miami
Tulane
Boston University
DePaul
Villanova

5

Lehigh?

6

Tufts, U of Rochester

7

Northeastern and Brandeis come to mind. College of William and Mary would also be a good option that would be a pretty solid low to normal match.

Yale and UChicago will be extremely high reaches for anyone. Wash U and Vanderbilt are definitely possible. Emory seems closer to a match than a reach to me.

8

Tulane, U Richmond, U Miami. All great schools with excellent merit aid for top students like your son. U Alabama would be a really good financial and academic safety, and the honors college and special honors programs there are great.

9

@JerryTN

I think BU, NEU, and GWU fit the bill
what you’re looking for in terms of location, superb education, and size.

It’s not east of the Mississippi but Tulane otherwise fits what you’re looking for- and it’s in the Big Easy! Who wouldn’t want to go to school in a city like that or visit a child often who goes to school there.

I agree with @zarlot. You’ve got good possibilities Emory and Wash U. For the latter school, show them some love. Demonstrated interest helps. Ensure you visit sometime between now and the fall. You’ll love the campus.

10

Tulane, GW, BU, BC, Brandeis, Northeastern, UMiami, URichmond, Fordham.
You also might want to page through the USNWR rankings – not so much for the rankings themselves but it is a good list of schools and you can pretty quickly see if any other places look like they could fit the bill.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities

11

Actually, Tulane is just a few blocks from the Mississippi, and technically, it is to the east. :slight_smile: Your S would need to show interest, though. They are big on “fit” over just stats.

12

I think American University & GWU would be good matches.

Seconding UMiami, BU, Fordham, & Northeastern.

13

Tufts fits your description of what he’s looking for but it isn’t a low match. Acceptance rate last year was just under 16% and they just announced that it will probably be lower this year bc they received more applications. It’s probably a low to medium reach for him, mainly because of the way you described his ECs. I do think he has a strong shot at Emory.

14

Thanks very much for the suggestions and comments. Keep them coming!

15

I second the suggestion of William & Mary. Assuming that money is not going to be a problem, American and GW are probably high matches. If your school has Naviance, take a look and see how other students from your school have done for those (and other) schools.

While not in the range of the student population that you mention, check out Davidson College in Davidson, NC (outside of Charlotte); it seems to meet most of the other criteria that you list.

Also, speak to your school guidance counselor about nominated scholarships; the Belk Scholarship at Davidson is a full-ride scholarship, and your son’s statistics would make him a good candidate for it (assuming that he is nominated by your school). Saves more money for graduate/professional school afterwards.

I’m guessing from your moniker that you live in Tennessee?

16

A bit further west, Pitt, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Butler

Also check out Stevens in Hoboken.

17

@gandalf78 Yes, from Tennessee

Thanks all for continued ideas. We’re researching today!

18

Any college with a 35-40% acceptance rate will be a low match.
What’s your budget - do you need merit scholarships or have high financial need? (Have you run some NPCs and know your EFC?)

19

Would like some further suggestions for low match/high safety schools - and comments on current thinking - for my junior son.

We have found previous replies very helpful. As you you’ll see below, they’ve guided some of our research and visits. Thanks!

Some Stats:
ACT 35
PSAT 1480. SI 222 in TN – should make National Merit Finalist
GPA 3.85 (uw), 4.35 (w)
Rigorous courses (on track to have ~11 AP & ~11 honors at a very good high school)
Solid ECs (Eagle Scout?, leadership, internships, lots of volunteering for causes he cares about, job, etc.) but nothing spectacular or unusual
Rec’s and essays should be very good
“Quirky” white male from Tennessee. (Is Tennessee valuable geographic diversity anywhere?)

What he’s after…

  • Mid-sized school (6,000-10,000 undergrads or so). Mom & Dad like smaller.
  • Unsure of major - pondering History, Pre-law, Pre-med … Wants to change the world
  • In or near a city
  • Smart kids in a cooperative/collegial environment with great teaching
  • Doesn’t care about big time sports except as it contributes to school spirit
  • Interested in fraternities, eating clubs or similar
  • Likely east of Mississippi
  • Not too conservative. “Preppy” is fine.
  • Steers clear of places he considers “engineering schools”
  • Not a big fan of hot weather

College budget likely OK for all his choices (IF we can trust Net Price Calculators). Of course, merit is always a good thing!

Current thinking…

Big reaches (for almost everyone)
Yale – Visited and loved it
University of Chicago – Visited and loved it
Brown – Visited. Son liked. Mom & Dad didn’t

Reaches
Wash U – Visited and like a lot
Vanderbilt – Visited and loved it. Would their love of high stats make it a match?
Emory – Maybe a match?
Davidson - Considering

Match
Northeastern – Visited and loved it. (Mom – Not so much)
GWU, American, Richmond, William & Mary, Wake Forest - Considering. Any of these more of a safety?

More Safety
Centre – Visited and liked it
Univ of Tennessee – Knoxville – State flagship. Know it well and like it.

Off the list …
Rhodes, Tufts – Visited. Just didn’t feel it
Alabama, Oklahoma – Looked into. Good merit but just too big
Tulane, U of Miami – Too hot
Georgetown – Turned off by competitive “vibe.” Unfair or inaccurate?
Duke, Carnegie Mellon, Butler, Boston U, Boston C, Villanova, DePaul, LeHigh, Rochester, Brandeis, Fordham - Looked into. Nothing triggered excitement. Revisit any?

Other suggestions, esp. a “match” with high likelihood of acceptance? Think we are done building the list?
Comments on current list?

Really appreciate those who take the time to reply. Thanks!.

20

Johns Hopkins
Brandeis (too bad he didn’t like, I have several friends there who love it)