<p>I'd take off Clemson as it looks like there is little chance that you wouldn't get into one of your other schools.</p>
<p>How about Brown? World's happiest students!</p>
<p>What about ED/EA?</p>
<p>j07 - it is a pleasure to read your thoughtful and well-written posts. Please keep us here in the Parents Forum updated as you go through the process. We are really rooting for you.</p>
<p>Thank you jmmom...that means a lot to me. I originally started posting in the Parents forum because every parent that has responded to my threads is so much more well-informed and considerate than the regular threads, but since every '07 kid is stressing out right now I guess some snide comments and unconstructive criticism are warranted. </p>
<p>In terms of EA/ED...I would like to apply ED to Princeton but my parents won't allow me to because they want to keep our "financial options open." Additionally, my senior year courseload is pretty tough but my grades are pretty good, and I sort of want to reflect in my applications that I am taking on such a tough load (leadership positions, IB aka tough courses, varsity sport, and part-time job) in my senior year of high school rather than slacking off like a large majority of my peers (not those on CC though!!).</p>
<p>j07.. Start with your EFC..calculate and take a hard look at the liklihood you will have to pay every penny of it at some of your schools. Aim for some merit money if so by leaving in time this fall to write merit essays and ferret out merit ops.</p>
<p>I believe you when you say your strategy is to visit in April to compare top choices however, it is best if you can at least figure out if class size matters to you. Can you really go to school for four years with say 700 peers per class or do you want thousands. If you don't want large classes, than UT Austin is not your Safety and it is simply the college town you warmly appreciate. Find a safety of a smaller or mid size if you want a very personalized undergrad education. Even with your stats, you need two Match colleges who would most certainly be thrilled to have you. </p>
<p>If you test this well already verbally, you will likely test well on the LSAT. But law school is also full of people who are not going to like actually practicing law. My husband is a grad of Vandy Law. People who are highly trained in writing, reasoning, ethical debates and oral speaking are going to do well in the actual practice of law. Can you get that in a large school with your learning style? Some people can but many do best in a more personalized environment from ages 18-22. Law School is very grueling. You can major in anything that brings you joy and likely still get into law school so make your four undergrad years about your overall growth as a human being and as an academic. Seek out rigor and competitive peers in undergrad and you will be more prepared for law school. </p>
<p>Do you want full profs and no TAs and personal classes or do you want some Bigger school things. Keep in mind that schools like Dart and Middlebury are really truly nationally based with representation from every corner of the USA..is that enough to compensate for a quiet location? For many students it is. Your peers will be your universe. It is my belief that you should look for the peer group that lifts your heart the most and mental health atmosphere that makes you feel most alive. The rest will fall into place.</p>
<p>Your parents are wise on the ED. It is best when finances are a factor to limit yourself to RD, rolling, non-binding EA. Possibly SCEA if there is a school which interests you enough to do it and it doesn't restrict any EA's you want to do.</p>
<p>I strongly urge you to visit some campuses in your area, if only for a dress rehearsal as to how to dig a little deeper when you visit your colleges of choice. The whole experience can be distracting from your goal of identifying a good fit, which often comes down to the campus culture itself. </p>
<p>Also, I strongly urge you to have a couple more safety schools. You could wind up holding the bag if your one safety school does the unexpected, and chooses to pass on you. I know, it's unheard of, but let's not even take the chance. </p>
<p>Good luck and have fun with the process!
Jill</p>
<p>If I understand the Texas top 10% rule correctly, the OPs safety school CAN'T reject her. That's the law. How nice!</p>
<p>J07, a few suggestions:</p>
<p>West coast:
Second on the Claremonts. Go for Pomona and Claremont McKenna. Both good prep for aspiring law students. Both competitive but decent fin aid. Either one would give you a LAC choice (think "big fish, smaller pond"). LA close by but suburban setting. Strong Hispanic culture in SoCal along with many other ethic cultures. </p>
<p>Stanford. At the pinnacle for prestigious private research unis. Go for it! You'd probably love it; a lot of kids do.</p>
<p>East coast:
Georgetown. DC is a great city for an aspiring lawyer, and Georgetown is the place (hey, it didn't hurt Bill Clinton ;) ). You mentioned Notre Dame, so I suspect you at least would consider schools in the Catholic tradition. Very competitive; I don't know about fin aid.</p>
<p>University of Miami. Large state school. Can you see yourself in the SoFla culture? Weather is a plus for someone from Texas. You should apply for scholarships. <a href="http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,6802-1;8103-2;46175-2;46174-3,00.html%5B/url%5D">http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,6802-1;8103-2;46175-2;46174-3,00.html</a></p>
<p>University of Virginia. Again, state school, one of the very best. Excellent prep for law school. Beautiful campus. You'll learn more about Thomas Jefferson and our country's history than you ever thought possible. More moderate climate than the Northeast. Apply for the Jefferson Scholar. <a href="http://www.jeffersonscholars.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.jeffersonscholars.org/</a></p>
<p>Thoroughly check out the websites for all above.</p>
<p>You've got your safety in hand, you're happy with it and can afford it, so I say go for broke on your other choices. You've got great credentials and IMO should be thinking about putting your time into competitive scholarship applications. I don't think you need to apply to 10 schools more or less at random. Target the ones you think you'd like and where you'd probably fit well and concentrate on looking for scholarship money. You've got absolutely nothing to lose.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>J07:</p>
<p>Since your school sends a couple of students to Harvard and so on every year, it should not be too difficult to compare yourself with them and see what your chances might be for admission. A plus is that your school is known to Harvard et al, so these schools can evaluate your credentials, your school profile, etc... In other words, you are not applying totally blind, nor would the schools admit you blind, either.</p>
<p>J07, correction. I suggested U of Miami as a state school, but I think it might be private. It is large. In any event, it is known for giving good merit aid to qualified students, and I know some students who went there and truly loved it.</p>
<p>I would like to thank everyone for their insightful and thoughtful comments and advice thus far. My GC is incredibly overworked and would just like to send me on my way with a Texas Common App (we have our own for public state universities) and have me be satisfied with that.</p>
<p>I was thinking about University of Miami but I don't think I would enjoy the environment of Miami very much just based on personal preference.</p>
<p>I know there are extensive threads about this in other forums, but I was wondering...does anyone have suggestions for top-50 schools that would offer me merit-based aid?</p>
<p>Look up Sticky #3 at the top of the forum.</p>
<p>USNEWS Ranking of schools, based on cost of attendance after Financial Aid</p>
<p>Rank % receiving grants based on need ('05) Average cost after receiving grants based on need ('05) Average discount from total cost ('05) </p>
<p>Dollar amount is average AFTER grants, etc factored in.</p>
<ol>
<li> California Institute of Technology 53% $13,694 67% </li>
<li> Harvard University (MA) 49% $16,346 63% </li>
<li> Princeton University (NJ) 51% $16,917 61% </li>
<li> Yale University (CT) 42% $16,268 63% </li>
<li> Massachusetts Inst. of Technology 60% $18,587 58% </li>
<li> Stanford University (CA) 43% $18,767 58% </li>
<li> Dartmouth College (NH) 50% $18,804 58% </li>
<li> Rice University (TX) 34% $15,561 52% </li>
<li> U. of North CarolinaChapel Hill * 31% $14,464 47% </li>
<li> Duke University (NC) 38% $20,172 54% </li>
<li> University of Pennsylvania 41% $21,205 53% </li>
<li> Columbia University (NY) 45% $21,690 52% </li>
<li> University of Chicago 45% $21,977 51% </li>
<li> Cornell University (NY) 43% $21,757 50% </li>
<li> Vanderbilt University (TN) 38% $20,154 55% </li>
<li> Brown University (RI) 40% $22,356 50% </li>
<li> University of Virginia * 24% $17,906 47% </li>
<li> Washington University in St. Louis 42% $23,645 47% </li>
<li> Brigham Young Univ.Provo (UT) 29% $11,027 19% </li>
<li> Northwestern University (IL) 42% $23,674 48% </li>
<li> Emory University (GA) 35% $21,710 49% </li>
<li> Howard University (DC) 36% $12,222 44% </li>
<li> Case Western Reserve Univ. (OH) 60% $22,276 45% </li>
<li> Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. (NY) 70% $23,585 45% </li>
<li> Texas A'M Univ.College Station * 37% $15,084 40% </li>
<li> Tufts University (MA) 36% $21,735 51% </li>
<li> Univ. of Southern California 42% $22,709 49% </li>
<li> Lehigh University (PA) 42% $21,749 48% </li>
<li> University of Rochester (NY) 56% $23,478 45% </li>
<li> Johns Hopkins University (MD) 41% $26,118 40% </li>
<li> University of TexasAustin * 54% $19,248 31% </li>
<li> North Carolina State U.Raleigh * 43% $15,032 42% </li>
<li> Carnegie Mellon University (PA) 48% $26,234 39% </li>
<li> Clark University (MA) 54% $19,220 48% </li>
<li> Brandeis University (MA) 45% $24,631 43% </li>
<li> Pepperdine University (CA) 45% $21,205 50% </li>
<li> Georgetown University (DC) 37% $26,550 42% </li>
<li> University of the Pacific (CA) 64% $21,040 45% </li>
<li> Wake Forest University (NC) 33% $24,353 41% </li>
<li> Yeshiva University (NY) 43% $22,702 42% </li>
<li> Boston College 36% $24,279 45% </li>
<li> Worcester Polytechnic Inst. (MA) 68% $26,678 38% </li>
<li> SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry * 80% $20,981 11% </li>
<li> University of Miami (FL) 51% $24,507 41% </li>
<li> University of Georgia * 8% $15,901 39% </li>
<li> Illinois Institute of Technology 57% $21,254 39% </li>
<li> University of CaliforniaBerkeley * 28% $27,318 33% </li>
<li> St. Louis University 57% $23,923 35% </li>
<li> Syracuse University (NY) 52% $26,575 36% </li>
<li> Marquette University (WI) 52% $22,071</li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you so much lovetocamp...if I weren't so lazy I probably could have found that myself but you helped me alot.</p>
<p>While I know that financial aid is a HUGE concern in applying for colleges...could some parents possibly help me narrow down my list based on my very vaguely stated qualifications? I'm not sure about this but I don't think I have any matches. Is there any school on the list that I have a strong chance of actually gaining admission to? I was confident in my list until earlier today when going through old threads I have realized that it is probably better to have at least a couple matches than one safety and nine super-reaches.</p>
<p>Any and all advice would be appreciated. Thank you.</p>
<p>I'm thinking that Bucknell, Lehigh and Clemson could be matches. I don't know enough about USC, UNC-CH to classify.</p>
<p>Re the first three (at least the first two) - these are the type of schools where "demonstrated interest" is important. Since you can't visit, you want to find other ways to accomplish that. Make sure your Why this school essay shows real knowledge of the school. I would contact the Admissions offices to see if they have Alumni interviews in your area or do College Fairs or road shows in your area. Even if they don't, you will have made the effort. On their application checklists for whether you've visited/interviewed... etc, you can say that you tried but nothing was available in your area.</p>
<p>Umm..having gone to college at Furman near Clemson, I have to say it is not my idea at all of a match college for you whatsoever. Clemson students tend to be engineering oriented. Not where I would prepare for law school! While Furman put kids my year into Harvard, UVa, Vandy, Chapel Hill and other very fine law schools and often has Truman Scholars etc. Furman gives out a lot of merit money and like many good LACs wants to enroll a national student body.</p>
<p>Schools that are in the match category if you truly develop sincere interest and they believe you might come there...Emory in zesty wonderfully diverse capitol city Atlanta, Wake Forest is rigorous and in a town near two expressways does a fab job of law school placement and there are many Hispanics in the Triad now, UVa has great prelaw vibes but it is also more like an ivy for out of staters, ditto Chapel Hill and Ditto Wm and Mary..which would be like Rice without the great town, the conservatory of music and without Texans in high numbers.<br>
If you are willing to do a smaller liberal arts college, you may want to check out their high placement stats in law schools and there are some LACs short on Texans and hispanic students. Bowdoin has an incredible Poly Sci program. Washington and Lee is a great place to do prelaw prep and they have a weird pipeline to Texas families but might be struggling to meet goals with Hispanic students..their law school on the grounds is a plus as is Wake Forests just for feeling things out. I don't think you can underestimate the power of classes with full profs myself..these years are so crucial.</p>
<p>You should go after reach colleges but prepare for unpredictable rejections and waitlists as many students have to contend with random disappointment. Truly love at least two match colleges..give them your "love" in the search and know you would be happy at each of them. You need to think more about the kind of peer group you are seeking. As much as say Carlton does not meet your geographic criteria for instance..the students may resemble you and be quite adventurous. Do you know what kind of political mix you want in peers? What kind of economic mix? Read the college papers! Ask to have coffee with grads you barely know...dig to get past the PR and see what school will offer you a stretch in a setting you feel happy with.</p>
<p>j07,
Concerning visiting schools, haven't lots of schools (Amherst, Dartmouth, Williams, WUSTL, and many others) contacted you about fully paid flyins to visit them? As a high scoring Hispanic, there should be several schools that would have contacted you based on PSAT, SAT and other lists. It's kind of late now for fall trips, but there are also opportunities for fully funded trips after acceptances in the spring that you should be able to take advantage of.</p>
<p>j07, I understand you want to get out of state but you also say you would be happy at UT-A if it came to that financially or otherwise. So, I think you ought to at least make a trip to Rice if you haven't already. You probably have a decent shot there and you can still get out of Houston for part of your time there. I know of one Texan, Hispanic, stats a little bit higher than you, AP track,etc. She ended up at Rice in Poli Sci. Loved it. Spent one semester interning at a major firm in DC and another semester studying in Spain. This fall, she started Yale Law School. She didn't originally apply to any Ivies because she was going for merit aid and Rice gave her a good merit package. Vandy also recruited her heavily, even calling her after April 1st to offer her more money. WashU did fly her up in the Spring but did not offer her near the merit money that Rice or Vandy did. While Rice probably isn't a match because it does reject 1600, 4.0s with some degree of regularity, it probably is a reachy/match for you. If you do interim decision (Due Dec 1 I think), you will get an early answer and if it is a yes, then you would have both UT-A and Rice as backups if things didn't work out financially for you at the other schools. Plus, their need based aid is pretty generous for applicants they really want and you might be able to use that offer to help negotiate with other schools.</p>
<p>Joo7, you are in good shape, college list wise. You have an excellent school that is as sure of things as possible that you like as your safety. The rest is pure gravy. You can apply to where ever you want, the sky is the limit, and you do not need financial aid. On the other hand, if you do get money you can add those schools that give it to you into your matrix to decide what you would like to do the most when your acceptances arrive, and I am sure you will get a number of acceptances. One thing I can add is that since you are not going to visit the schools until you are accepted, you may want to replace Bucknell with Lafeyette. I don't think Bucknell has merit awards--they did not when my son applied there, though I have heard that they liberally define merit within need when they really want a student. Lafayette has the very lucratative Marquis Scholarship that you may well be in contention for and they are located very close to Lehigh (the schools are archrivals), so when you visit, if you visit, since I am pretty sure you will get in if you show proper interest, you can hit two birds with one stone.</p>
<p>I say keep your list as it is unless it seems like too much work and therefore apt to dilute the quality of each app. Then prune off the ones you like least. You are clear you don't want to work on your preference now, so don't waste any time doing so. Maybe focus on a few with merit aid to avoid the financial aid possible bad surprise. And spend some time on the individual college forums here to get a feeling for social life, etc. at each place. I find each forum actually does a pretty damn good job of reflecting its constituents - with the caveat that it has to be a fairly heavily frequented board.</p>
<p>Love it that I can say damn but not re****l.</p>