No idea where I want to go or what I want to do

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I'm now a Junior, and I've only looked at a very small selection of schools -- some are Columbia, the Cooper Union, and Princeton. I feel that I cannot get admitted to these schools, because I have no extracurricular merit (as I said, I have no idea what I want to do, making it difficult for me to commit myself to activities). My grades and test-scores are stellar: I'm taking 2 APs, have an A+ average, got a 750 and an 800 on two SAT IIs, and scored in the 99th percentile on the PSAT last year.</p>

<p>I don't know what I want to do, really. I'm interested in many areas, and these areas often change. I once thought I was geared toward math and science, but I've recently started to open up and become curious about history and philosophy. I spend most of my time either reading or browsing the Internet.</p>

<p>So, I think the logical thing to do is look at some very good liberal arts schools that fall just short of the name-brand-top-tier-elite school threshold. My family is very poor, and I cannot afford to go to college on my own. I will need a full scholarship, which I am confident I can attain, because of my academic merit and the recommendations my teachers can give. I was advised that since I have no apparent direction, looking at great schools with good core requirements/overall programs (and lots of good specialized programs) would be best.</p>

<p>I'm still going through a teenage crisis, so I often experience depression due to feeling internally pressured (about what I "should" be doing, not feeling accomplished, etc.). I sometimes tell myself that I really want to be a programmer, so I push myself in that direction, but since my enjoyment in the area fluctuates, I'm not entirely sure I'll stick with it (I would very much like to, however).</p>

<p>Please advise. :) How can I figure out where I should apply?</p>

<p>Bump. . . .</p>

<p>You should find out about NMSF next month. Look up Keilexandra’s thread about Scholarships for National Merit Finalists. Also look up the thread for Guaranteed Merit Aid. With your scores you would get a virtual full ride at Alabama.</p>

<p>Consider a Liberal Arts College. Since you have a diverse array of interests, it would be beneficial for you to have a few years of formal education in different fields. After taking different classes I’m sure that you’d be able to single something out, especially at the college level where classes are more in depth and require more dedication for you to really have success in them.</p>