<p>Chapman University
Pepperdine University
Univeristy of San Diego
Santa Clara Univerisity
Seattle Pacific Univeristy
Whitman College</p>
<p>Stats:
Junior, looking to start college Fall 2012
UW GPA: 3.9, taken a few AP and honors courses
Taking the SAT in 3 weeks, based off PSAT and prep I am estimating around a 1900-2000, and I will retake early fall if needed.
Extracurriculars:
National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, President of Junior Orthopedic Guild (Volunteer work for children's hospital), a few sports teams, lots of volunteer work through church/youth grop and younglife, and some work experience from 2 different jobs. </p>
<p>I am most likely interested in either business or psychology but thats subject to change, and the cost of the university shouldn't matter much in my final decision. I live near Seattle, and am looking to attend a smaller school maybe in California which is clear from my list, but I am open to recommendations not on the list.</p>
<p>Have you visited any of the CA schools on your list or any other CA schools NOT listed?</p>
<p>I visited all the CA schools on my list minus Santa Clara, and liked them all a lot. There were some pros and cons to each but I could see myself being happy at any of them. I also visited UCSD and UCLA, but I decided a smaller-mid size school is what I’m looking for.</p>
<p>don’t mean to break it to you, with a 1900 or even 2000, UCLA wouldn’t be an option. From these though try pepperdine or santa clara. Both great schools.
Decide if you want to be in SO Cal or the bay. Both areas are greater, but if it was my choice, I’d choose Santa Clara.</p>
<p>Why not just apply to all of them? haha. Are you considering any others?</p>
<p>@impersonations: I know haha thats why I took UCLA off my list. Thanks for the input, I am going to look further into Santa Clara because its the one I’ve done the least research on. </p>
<p>@Suburiboy: I’m most likely going to apply to all of them but because I don’t really have a clear favorite or number one choice as of now I’m just looking to get some input or maybe get recommendations of similar schools.</p>
<p>I am most likely interested in either business or psychology but thats subject to change, and the cost of the university shouldn’t matter much in my final decision</p>
<p>If you major in psychology, does that mean that grad school is in your future?</p>
<p>And, since you say that cost shouldn’t matter “much” in your final decision, does that mean that your parents will pay $50k per year no matter where you go?</p>
<p>mom2collegekids, thats the dilemma I’ve been thinking about which is why I’m probably leaning more towards business/looking into other majors. And basically my dad has made it clear he will completely fund my undergrad education, no matter how expensive, but I still would want to go somewhere that is pretty generous with financial aid.</p>
<p>*And basically my dad has made it clear he will completely fund my undergrad education, no matter how expensive, but I still would want to go somewhere that is pretty generous with financial aid. *</p>
<p>Well, if your dad can afford to pay for wherever you go, then that would strongly suggest that you won’t QUALIFY for financial aid…even at a school that is “generous” with aid. </p>
<p>Aid is based on need…even at the most “generous schools”. So, even Harvard (which is one of the most generous), wouldn’t give aid to a student who comes from a family that won’t qualify for aid.</p>
<p>Does your dad know how much college costs? Make sure that he knows that privates are costing $55k per year. Believe me, many kids are told by their parents that they will pay, but then when it’s too late, the parents learn how much college costs these days and the kids are stuck with unaffordable schools. So, just be sure, make sure your dad knows that he’ll be paying $55k per year.</p>
<p>That said, if your dad will pay for wherever you go, then your list sounds good!</p>
<p>Oh sorry I meant to say merit based aid in my last post, thanks for pointing that out. </p>
<p>Yeah my dad went with me on the trip to see USD/Pepperdine/Chapman and met with all the admissions counselors so he is fully aware of all the expenses, he’s the one who recommended I look into Pepperdine in the first place.</p>
<p>Oh…good…as long as your dad wasn’t misled by college fast talk that they give away millions in aid and your dad doesn’t think you’ll get some.</p>
<p>Well, if you want merit scholarships, then you need to get higher scores. Take the ACT as well, because you might do better on that.</p>
<p>Yeah, I am doing prep courses and seeing a tutor before my upcoming SAT, and depending how it goes I can retake it early fall. I will look into taking the ACT as well, its far less common to take it where I am from, thanks for the input.</p>
<p>take the ACT, it’s easier 
no free response and science isn’t bad at all.</p>
<p>Sobound15- When you say that a 1900-2000 would prevent UCLA from even being an option, that’s definitely not true. I got a 2000 and was admitted to UCLA. One must take the entire application, ECs, etc into consideration.</p>
<p>I might still apply for UCLA as one of my reach schools but I think it would definitely be a lot less likely for me to end up going there than the ones I mentioned in my opening post.</p>
<p>My brother didn’t get in UCSD with a 4.5 GPA (with like 6 AP classes at least) and 2050 SAT. On the flip side, he had very few extracurriculars. Your ECs are very impressive, but I don’t know if that’ll be enough to counteract your scores. Berkeley, LA, and SD are getting wayyy more competitive than they used to be a couple years ago.
I know Santa Clara isn’t as competitive. Can’t say much for the other schools. Don’t know much about them.</p>
<p>*When you say that a 1900-2000 would prevent UCLA from even being an option, that’s definitely not true. I got a 2000 and was admitted to UCLA. One must take the entire application, ECs, etc into consideration. *</p>
<p>You are an instate student. The req’ts for OOS students are higher. </p>
<p>UCLA gets enough OOS student applicants with higher stats.</p>
<p>And, I don’t think the OP is from an unusual state…which might help with admissions.</p>
<p>profoundquiet I am talking about U of San Diego a smaller private school, not UC San Diego. USD has a higher acceptance rate and slightly lower SAT/ACT ranges than UCSD.</p>