• GPA: 4.0
• New SAT: 1510 (760M + 750CR)
• SAT Math II: 710
• SAT Chemistry: 700
• Calculus AB AP (4), Chemistry AP (4)
Senior Year Courseload:
• Statistics AP, Calculus BC AP, Computer Science Honors, English Honors, Psychology AP, Physics AP, Philosophy Honors
Extra-curriculars:
• Three great leadership positions, plenty of community service. Committed myself to one school organization for my entire 4 years that really stands out.
(I’m a white gay male, if those things mean anything.)
I really like and am already applying to Northeastern University. Drexel will be my backup. But my Ps are making me pick a reach school to use my ED on. My current favorite reaches are:
• Brown
• UPenn
Yes, I need to expand the list. I don’t think I’d have any chance in either of those, even though my SATs are in the 50th percentile for both. Have another great-city college you think would be a good reach for me? Please let me know.
Philly is definitely not a great city either and is actually a bit of a dump. How about Emory, Columbia, UChicago or Hopkins? I also really like Pittsburgh, so maybe CMU? Good Luck.
No’s:
• I don’t really want to commit to Tufts. I would likely get in without using ED.
• I looked at it, and I don’t like Swarthmore.
• Emory isn’t in a good location for me.
• Johns Hopkins. I’ve already seen it. Not for me.
Yes’s:
• I really like Providence’s area. But do you think I have any decent shot at Brown?
• Columbia, same as above. I like it a lot, but do you really think I have even a 20% chance?
• UChicago, I’m considering that now. I know nothing about the area, or my chances.
Maybe
• USC. I don’t know how I’ll ever convince my parents to let me go to the west coast. It looks like an amazing school, though.
Any more advice on using up my ED would be greatly appreciated!
Let’s be clear: going through RD at any selective school that offers ED is brutal. Ten times as many applicants are competing for 50% (or less! See Northwestern for example) of the spots. Yet kids keep wasting their ED chance on lotteries called Ivies, then spending sleepless nights as they are wait listed at “mere” safeties and low matches in RD. From what you write about yourself here and in your previous threads, you want to go to Northeastern with aid. Your stats are okay for the Ivies but absolutely nothing to distinguish you from 8,000 others chasing 900 spots. Putting off Northeastern or Tufts for a lottery isn’t good strategy.
@Oregon2016
You’re right. If I was putting off Northeastern for some lottery, then I’d be a fool.
But I’m not. I still would love to go to NEU. My rents just want me to take a chance in the Ivy lottery too. I started this thread to see which school would be the best “lottery” for me.
Why must you pick an ED? Why not apply to all 3 of your “Lotto Yes’s” and have the ability to choose if you do get in?
The problem with ED is what if you get in, with little/no aid, and Tufts or Northeastern offered you a great package - you would be forced to decline. Sure, ED is a boost, but they are all still a lottery pick even with ED - why make that level of commitment to a school when you aren’t even sure which one you want to make the commitment to, and the chances are still low?
There are very few scenarios where using an ED on a school you aren’t 100% sure is your true #1 makes sense - I don’t think this is worth it.
I agree with the above comment. However, if you can afford your ED schools, I’d say why not go for it? I know that both Brown and Penn are great schools for people in the LGBTQ community (Brown maybe more so). Good scores, but your ECs (although only briefly noted) aren’t unusual among Ivy applicants. In fact, most Ivy applicants will, almost undoubtedly, have better ECs that make them stand out. While leadership in school looks good, it seems like you don’t really have any ECs outside of school besides community service (whicheveryone does). Writing interesting essays may make up for the lack of ECs but don’t count on it. Good luck!
100% Penn ED - don’t listen to the haters, Philly is a fantastic city!! Thriving, vibrant, food, music and a gayborhood! Seriously it is a foodie paradise and all kinds of live music venues that are affordable. Its easy to get around and with the exception of North Philly (where you wouldn’t be going much anyway) is very safe. It is rapidly gentrifying (much to some neighborhood’s dismay) by Brooklyn urbanites that are being priced out of Brooklyn… and Penn is the #1 LGBT friendly school! I think you have a decent shot at getting in ED.
second choice according to my gay son, would be Columbia for you…
Also your sat is great! Ok so your subject tests 710, and 700 might seem low to you but trust me if you keep the 4.0 UW GPA then the subject tests will not be a factor
@runswimyoga
Thanks for the reply! Since you brought it up, I looked it up and found many people claiming that Brown is the gayest Ivy. I’ll trust you on this one.
I really do need the city atmosphere that you’re describing. I’d have my thin odds stretched thinner with C, so it looks like UPenn is it. I’ll see how I like them both when I tour them in a few weeks.
I think when Penn was ranked the #1lgbt friendly school, it was more for programs the university offers, (lgbt resources, teachers, school administration and students support things) than for sheer number of lgbt students… so you may be right about Brown. We don’t really know a lot about Brown. Although son said for the Ivy’s, he has always heard Yale for sheer numbers… keep in mind though that Yale and Brown have a smaller student body than Penn.
If you are looking for numbers, son says hands down NYU is “mecca”. (Esp considering its location in the village-double mecca). But NYU is very expensive and doesn’t met 100%need financial aid like the ivy’s do. That location is incredible though for things to do…
He also said to tell you when you visit the schools to go on tinder -not for dating -but for actually talking to/texting lgbt students so you can get the real scoop and info. He said he did this and it was very helpful- Omg ??? anyway best of luck!
@suzyQ7 I just read the Penn 2016 admissions website. Penn still offers ED, not SCEA. Where did you hear that rumor? Best not to post statements like that without verifying.
@coterie Penn, Brown, Columbia, & Northwestern, & Chicago are all good reach choices if you want ED and urban. But ED should be for a school you really like, so visit all schools you are considering before you make that ED commitment.
Apply EA to Northeastern so you will get an answer before Christmas. You have a good shot at a merit scholarship there.
What do you want to study? Picking a college is not just about high test scores & being LGBTQ friendly. Penn, Brown & others are going to ask you to write about what you want to study and why at their particular school.
I personally would not bother with any of the SCEA urban schools (like Harvard & Yale) unless your college counselor suggests that you have a strong chance. I hate throwing applications to those schools just so they can reject kids.
Your visits should help you decide. If your parents can afford those top private schools, I agree that you should apply ED to one.