Okay, the list is coming along...but I still need a little help

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay, I think that I have some schools I'm interested in. I haven't talked to my CC yet (we start everything senior fall, oddly), but the list CAN change.</p>

<p>Here are my states:</p>

<p>GPA/Rank: N/A; my school (competitive private, sends many grads to top schools - no admissions rate under 17-20 for any school, including HYPS). No one in my grade has a 4.0.</p>

<p>Standardized Tests (all single sitting):
SAT I: 2400
SATIIs: Physics: 750 (retaking in October)
Math II: 800
French: 800</p>

<p>AP Scores (NOTE: school offers NO AP classes, but classes are at AP level. I will graduate with 8 or so, and have taken the most from my school):
Calc BC: 5
US History: 5
French: 5
Both Physics Cs: 5
English Lang: 5</p>

<p>Okay, those are my stats. Also, I have state leadership in some ECs (Latin), and state awards in others (math, Science Olympiad, Knowledge Bowl). Working on my Eagle Scout, should get it within three months if everything works out. I also play the piano (but not competitively) and have done community service working with middle-schoolers in math club, and four-year-olds at my church (total CS: ~100 hours)</p>

<p>Schools I'm considering:</p>

<p>Princeton
Harvard
Dartmouth
Duke - legacy through uncles, probably insignificant
Georgetown - legacy through mother (worked there), all of one side of the family
Stanford
Notre Dame
Tufts?</p>

<p>I'm having trouble because I think I should have one or two more safeties/matches. I'm considering Boston College, but I'm not too pumped about it. URochester just did not appeal to me, and the strong social activism at Brandeis was a turn-off too. Rice was great, except the location and isolation were not attractive to me (and the number of OOS students). My father went to UChicago GSB and loved it, but I'm not sure I would fit in there (I visited the campus).</p>

<p>I like residential campuses, with a sense of community (or at least a sense of union through the school). Strong academics are a necessity, and a student body that loves to learn but also has some focus on career (but is NOT too preprofessional). Also, huge cities (e.g. NYU) that detract from campus life are no-nos. Oh, for for academic interests: Math is big, and econ is appealing as well. But I have no definite major in mind (could conceivably go into engineering even if I don't have to apply for freshman year), but I'm NOT looking for tech schools.</p>

<p>Okay, so yeah... I'm just wondering what you guys thing. How should I classify those schools into reach/match/safety? I know my stats are good, but I want to make sure that I'm applying to schools I want to go to because I don't want to have a lack of interest hinder being accepted (specifically for matches/safeties). Are there any glaring problems with the list so far? Are there any logical choices to round out the list that jump right out at you? </p>

<p>I really appreciate any feedback, and thank you for any time you spend reading this and helping me.</p>

2

<p>You still need a safety. Notre Dame and Tufts could be considered matches, but everything else is a reach.</p>

3

<p>Georgetown would be a reach even with the huge legacy? I might also be applying to the A&S school, not SFS.</p>

4

<p>What exactly is your GPA?
If it is very high, I'd call Georgetown a match, but you can never count on superselective schools.
Your second paragraph suggests you might like Northwestern.</p>

5

<p>My GPA is 3.8-3.9 cum. I would be in the top 10%. In addition, my freshman year was lower. I have an upward trend, with junior year almost perfect. Discounting my freshman year, my GPA would be 3.9+, which would put me in the top few students of the class.</p>

6

<p>My guess is you might get into one of Harvard/ Yale/ Stanford but I wouldn't bet on it. Dartmouth and Duke I'd say you should get into one of these. I think Gtown is a match/ safe match, as are Tufts and ND.</p>

<p>If I were you I would also consider Northwestern, Amherst (small but 5-college area makes up for it), and Brown. To hedge the bet in case Gtown doesn't work out I would probably add Emory or Vanderbilt. Just in case.</p>

7

<p>^I was actually thinking about Emory/Vanderbilt, so I'm glad that I'm on the right track. </p>

<p>I wasn't sure whether I wanted to go to a LAC, but some (like Carleton/Williams/Amherst) are appealing because they're not too small, and have strength in math/science. I hadn't considered Amherst's location as an offset to its size, thanks for mentioning that.</p>

8

<p>Vassar! Apply there!</p>

9

<p>Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Swarthmore are all right outside Philly (though Swarthmore is a few minutes farther away than the rest) and members of a consortium, which makes it a bigger community. From what I've heard, the first two are more closely linked (lots of students intermingling by taking classes at the other and socially interacting), with Swarthmore being somewhat of an outlier but still included.</p>

10

<p>Congratulations on your achievements Baelor! Although I may not agree with everything you say you're certainly a first-rate student. I'd definitely add Cornell to the list. It has a good math, econ, and engineering programs for one and it has a relatively strong sense of community. For safeties you can add your in-state public. You may also want to consider CMU, but it may be a bit too techy for you. I'd also consider Vandy and Emory which will very likely admit you. I personally think you'll get into all the schools on your list except HPS, and with those you still have a good shot. I'd highly advise you apply EA to a place so you're sure you have a place at college by mid-December.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for the feedback everyone! I hadn't considered Cornell seriously because of the seven-college system, but I'll definitely check it out. I assume the "disagreement" is on a political basis? :p Great minds DON'T think alike, obviously!</p>

<p>It seems clear that I should check out Vandy/Emory. They piqued my interest at first, so I'm definitely do a lot more research on them. My in-state public is good (top 20, I believe), so I might apply. They accept almost everyone from my school, so I guess it's a safety. I'm not thrilled about the prospect of going there, but if I find another safety, applying to it won't be a problem anyway!</p>

12

<p>Bump...Looking for any more feedback. Particularly, whether my list is too top-heavy (I was thinking of applying to 8-10 schools), and additional safeties/matches (although the ones so far have been great).</p>

13

<p>WOW your test scores are amazing! I recommend you look at the Claremont colleges like Pomona or CMC. Also, Amherst or Williams might be a good fit (though they are very competitive). Safeties/matches could be Vassar, Northwestern, Tufts.</p>

<p>As for balance... your list DOES have a lot of reaches (besides the last two schools), but I think you have a very good shot at Gtown and Duke. The Ivies are pretty much luck of the draw. Maybe consider Johns Hopkins?</p>

14

<p>I second the Cornell recommendation. It seems to be a good fit for you. Very strong in math and econ. Best engineering program in the Ivies.</p>

15

<p>Thanks for the additional feedback. I'm glad to hear that my list isn't overly top-heavy. I definitely have a last-resort safety as my state uni, but would ND and Vandy count as safeties for me or not? I don't think I'll apply to more than two or three, so if those are fine, then a huge weight has been lifted (although I would like to investigate other schools anyway). Would Cornell be a high match/low safety? I'm wary of overestimating my chances, but I'm not sure how my chances at Duke compare to my chances at, say, Harvard.</p>

16

<p>Hi Baelor. Your list does look top-heavy, but with your record it's understandable that you should aim high. I think Cornell is a low reach/high match. Vandy, a match/high safety. Duke, a match. Georgetown, a match. I think you need an absolute true safety in there, that you should have no problem getting in hands-down, and with great merit aid that you should have no problem paying for (unless that's not an issue). Good luck baelor.</p>

17

<p>Baelor--</p>

<p>At this point, unless you have a strong preference for one of the other schools on your list, I would apply EA to both Georgetown and Notre Dame. Assuming you get into one of them by December 15th or so, you will probably find that you don't need a safety.</p>

18

<p>^Thanks for that tip midatlmom (and for the info chub). I'm actually debating whether I should apply to a safety I wouldn't mind going to but not really excited about (in-state) and applying Stanford SCEA, or applying to matches/safeties early instead. The advantage of SCEA is that I can whittle down my list (reaches included) for RD, but the disadvantage is that if I don't get in (especially if I'm not deferred), I need to rethink my list and safeties/matches. </p>

<p>On the other hand, applying to a match/safety (or several) early would offer security, but wouldn't alleviate stress because there are several reaches (not all, which may be surprising to some CC members who love prestige and nothing else) that I want to get into.</p>

19

<p>Bumpity!</p>

<p>Okay, could someone confirm this:</p>

<p>Princeton - Reach
Harvard - Reach
Dartmouth - Mid Reach
Cornell - Low Reach
Duke - Low Reach/High Match
Georgetown - Match
Stanford - Reach
Notre Dame - Match/Low Match
Tufts - High Match/Match
Vandy - Low Match/High Safety</p>

<p>Would this be accurate?</p>

20

<p>I'd say for you Tufts would be a Match/Low Match, but everything else looks about right IMO.</p>