<p>I'm an incoming senior who is moving from Nevada to Washington after 3 years of high school...so my senior year is in a brand new school. Moving is stressful enough and I could really use some help in narrowing my search on colleges. I'm mainly interested in Environmental/Biological/Ecological scientific research or anything Anthropological/Historical research. I have a strong interest in Medical studies as well but I'm not sure whether I want to pursue it or not.</p>
<p>My UW GPA is 3.5 and W is 3.8-3.9. I've taken all Honors courses since 10th grade, and 3 AP classes as well (passed all w/ 3's.) I plan to take 4 more AP classes in my senior year. My SAT is a 1690/2400, haven't taken the ACT yet. (Planning to re-take SAT and take the ACT in Oct.) </p>
<p>My ECs aren't that spectacular, not into athletics nor into music. I've volunteered 3 Saturdays a month at a local cat/dog adoption shelter, and during the summers I would foster feral cats off of the streets into adoptable pets; I did this from 6th grade up until last year due to moving back and fourth. Spent 3 years in Multi-Cultural Club and was very active in it, hosting 'Culture Week' during various months during the school year, hosting Spirit Weeks and making/selling food during lunches. I've also helped my grandparents out at their church dinners/organizations, and I also make jewelry to sell. I plan to get a part-time job during my senior year.</p>
<p>Not looking for a religious-affiliated school, or one in a location where it snows 9 months out of the year. Not looking for a party school at all. I'd prefer the location to be in a town/city where history and culture is prevalent, so I can go out and explore and discover; can be across the country for all I care. I hope that's enough information, I can provide more if needed. :D </p>
<p>tell us how much your parents have promised you each year to help pay the way. if you haven’t had that talk with them you need to do so before you start applying or else you’re wasting time and money. </p>
<p>we need to know how much if any need- and/or merit-based aid you need in order to recommend colleges. if you need no aid, if you’re what’s called full pay, then that helps a lot.</p>
<p>Those are quite different aims, in many cases, so we’ll need to come up with schools that do both, that have perhaps good grad and u/g research in both arenas. Two schools that come immediately to mind are William & Mary and UVA, but without knowing your financial situation it’s hard to recommend them. They would both be reaches as your SAT now stands. Temple is another possibility; it would be a high match at this point because of your interest in sciences.</p>
<p>Somewhere in your moving summer you need to find time to study for the SAT. and find time to have The Talk. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. No, I haven’t discussed that much with them but definitely will try to bring that up in a conversation soon. I will definitely be applying for merit and need-based aid, due to only one parent having a job right now and with him making less than $100k a year. </p>
<p>Definitely going to carve out some time for the SAT; we should be moving within the next week or so, which gives me what’s left of August and September to study.</p>
<p>It could be that your family is a tweener, making too much money to get need-based aid and not enough to pay for college yourselves. Some schools might offer you some need-based aid, but the merit is going to be thin at most schools because of your stats. Hit the books every day for as little as 15 minutes, but every day. Some days you’ll have time for two or three 15 minute sessions. Every day.</p>
<p>Look at the public universities in Washington State. Based on your stats and likely cost constraints these are the realistic source of matches and safeties for you. University of Washington is a reach, and Washington State is a likely safety.</p>
<p>Do you think by raising my SAT to a 1900, will that help me in terms of finding more schools within my range? I know I can do it because I know what I need to improve on (most of it on Math…).</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice; WSU is going onto my list for potential, and I’m sure when I get up there I’ll definitely ask around for more schools to look at.</p>
<p>Raising your SAT to 1900 will certainly increase your chances at University of Washington and may open up merit award opportunities at some private universities.</p>
<p>That sounds like something I need…welp, time to get some books for that!</p>
<p>Thank you. ^^</p>
<p>Go to the SAT forum and look for the Xiggi and Silverturtle methods posted on the pinned threads at the top.</p>