<p>Friend's niece is a senior who has lots of reach schools and safeties on her list but no matches. A good student with a 3.7 average at a Catholic girls school with a 2010 SAT1 score, pretty even in the sections, honors, AP courses. Good strong ECs, but no hooks. Not sure of major, maybe psychology, wants possibility to go premed. Likes Tufts, NYU, Brown, BC, Holy Cross. Applying to local schools like Manhattan College, Manhattanville, Fordham (a good match, I think), as well as Salve Regina, Sacred Heart as safeties. Wants something within a few hours of NYC, has widowed mother They can pay full freight.Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Boston University
Northeastern University (a safer match?)</p>
<p>How about Villanova?</p>
<p>I did not look up stats of the typical applicant, but what about Trinity College, Connecticut college, Bucknell (might be too far for her, Boston might be further away).</p>
<p>I'd second Villanova - it's a beautiful school and sounds like a match for her. I'd also suggest University of Scranton, although that's really another safety. They put a lot of kids into med school.</p>
<p>How about Vassar, Sarah Lawrence, BU, Northwestern, Trinity, Quinnipiac, F & M.</p>
<p>IMO the reaches are too big, I don't think there's a sliver of a chance at Brown, Tufts or BC.</p>
<p>Does she really need to be within a few hours (drive?) of NYC? St</a>. Louis University might be a good match. We visited and I would have loved it for my son.</p>
<p>I would say Clark is a match and strong in psychology also.</p>
<p>Union College has an interesting med school connect to Albany Med and is a solid liberal arts school. Can get up to Albany by train too and it is not far from there....</p>
<p>I was also thinking Trinity (CT). How about Fairfield (CT)? Possibly Lafayette (PA).</p>
<p>Skidmore, Sarah Lawrence, Wheaton, Trinity, Villanova, Clark, University of Rochester, Ithaca, Syracuse, Lehigh, Muhlenberg, Drew, Union, St.Lawrence, Dickinson, American, BU.</p>
<p>Already a lot of schools on that list....wouldn't Holy Cross be a match, too?</p>
<p>Agree with suggestion of Union.</p>
<p>What about state colleges/universities ? (NY, CT or NJ?)</p>
<p>2boysima, reminded me, how about TCNJ? If she is really interested in med school, she might want to look at what Ursinus and Juniata have to offer.</p>
<p>I've not been focused on this enough yet to understand it- but how does one decide if something is too far a stretch? I was curious about Hmom5 saying Brown is a slim chance. I look at Brown's website and it seems about 40% of those accepted had similar SAT scores or less (similarly looking at those with a comparative ACT score (about 30), it appears 30% had lower scores).</p>
<p>Likewise for NYU, the mean SAT was just slightly higher and the average GPA was 3.77 (for last year).</p>
<p>Catholic University or Marymount, both in the Washington DC area. They both have easy access to public transportation that could get her to NY in a couple hours (Catholic would be easier than Marymount).</p>
<p>What about Smith or Mt. Holyoke? MA is only 3.5-4 hours away from NYC.</p>
<p>I agree that the reaches are real stretches. In part because I know who gets into those schools from this area and from her school in particular. NYU, Brown, Tufts, BC get many kids from the greater NYC area applying, and she has nothing compelling for them to take her. </p>
<p>I know another young lady who was not accepted at HC, BC, Villanova and Providence several years ago with stats slightly higher than this student. She did get accepted to Santa Clara, Loyola, Grinnell, Macalester. The Catholic schools seem to be tough on the girls in this area, as I know a number of males who got into Holy Cross with her stats. Still I don't think it's ridiculous for her to apply if that is what she wants. She should be aware of the odds, however. Her counselors have advised her that they are reaches. It's just that she really does not know the schools that are matches for her. She is well versed in the local schools and the name school, not the in between that are not right in the area.</p>
<p>The current student has some very strong, interesting ECs, but not ones where she would benefit the college. Strong music, strong non school sport. Very strong. </p>
<p>You have given me a good start on a list. Will talk to her aunt who is my friend. I appreciate everyone's input.</p>
<p>I've come up with Lehigh, Lafayette, Loyola-MD, Syracuse, GW-Mt Vernon Campus, Ithaca as well.</p>