Place Me

What types of schools should I apply to?
As in selectivity. I’m interested in biology, my guidance counselor gave me a ridiculously long list of different schools with most- very selective like Northeastern, Tufts, and UNC Chapel Hill. I narrowed it down to 28 schools so I’m wondering what selectivity I have the best chance for?

My stats: I have 32 hours of community service (but I’ll have 52 by graduation - NHS requirement)
I’m a member of National Honor Society - GPA requirement of 3.7, and volunteer hour requirement of 30 hours.
I’m in 4 clubs and I’m extremely active in 2 of them.
(I also plan on entering French Honor Society next year)

I have an award for excellence in a water project from a science fair, and just enrolled in another science fair.
I’ve conducted two independent research projects.
I have one published DNA sequence and one mRNA sequence in the National Center of Biotech Information (NCBI). I did this as part of the Waksman Student Scholars Program with Rutgers University, so I am a Waksman Student Scholar (basically molecular biology and biotech research on a potential biofuel source).

My GPA is a 3.93 (W and UW? - or at least that’s what it says)
My school doesn’t do ranking.

I’m in two APs, US History and Language
I’m taking three next year: Stat, World History, and Biology
One class that stands out is three years of Honors Research in Molecular Genetics

I have a rec letter from a teacher I’ll have all four years (Bio & Honors Research teacher), and my AP US History teacher (as well as advisor of one of my clubs).

My SAT score (for the new one) is projected to be above a 1200. My english percentile for the PSAT was 95th - overall PSAT was 88th (math section gives me anxiety but I’ve been doing tutoring for the past few months and taking practice tests).

Stick around 25-35% acceptance rate.

Hard to say without definite SAT scores, but the schools you listed are reaches. Match schools for you are probably ones ranked 40 or higher on us news (although it’s far from exact). If you’re in state for UNC you have a decent shot. If out of state, it’s a pretty big stretch.

I assume you are from NJ based on the Rutgers note. Make sure you have Rutgers and TCNJ on your list.

You want a mix of selectivity. You want a third of the schools where you are about the 25th percentile grades and test scores of admitted students. You want a third to be where you are about middle to 75th percentile. And you want a third to be schools where you are easily in the top 25th percentile (safety schools) that you like and can afford.

Congrats on your excellent grades.

Hopefully you are taking your SAT soon.

Test Date Normal Deadline Late Registration Online Score Release

May 7, 2016 * April 8, 2016 April 26, 2016 May 26, 2016
June 4, 2016 * May 5, 2016 May 25, 2016 June 23, 2016

You may consider taking the ACT as well. Take a practice test or diagnostic test to see how you do. You may do better on the ACT.

ACT TEST DATES
June 11, 2016
September 10, 2016
October 22, 2016
December 10, 2016
February 11, 2017
*
April 8, 2017
June 10, 2017

Here is a link to the Princeton Review portion of their site to research colleges. You can put in a range of test scores and grades to get your reach, match and safety schools. Your safety schools are ones where you will be a top student, and are will likely accept you and give you money. You can also filter by state, majors etc. Grades and test score filters are under academics on the left.

http://www.princetonreview.com/college-search

Helpful book to buy, checkout, or read in counselors office. http://www.amazon.com/Colleges-Edition-College-Admissions-Guides/dp/0804126305

Here are a few that might fit as match schools.

Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

15,196 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Northeastern, Best College Newspaper, Best College Radio Station,…

Pennsylvania State University–University Park
Pennsylvania State University–University Park
University Park, PA

40,742 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Northeastern, Best Alumni Network, Best Athletic Facilities,…

Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

21,786 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Southeastern, Future Rotarians and DAR, Green Colleges,…
Florida State University
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

32,948 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Southeastern, Best Alumni Network, Colleges That Pay You Back,…

Elon University
Elon University
Elon, NC

5,903 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Southeastern, Best Career Services, Best College Dorms,…

University of Colorado–Boulder
University of Colorado–Boulder
Boulder, CO

27,010 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Western, College City Gets High Marks, Colleges That Pay You Back,…
Drexel University
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

16,896 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Northeastern, Green Colleges, Least Accessible Professors,…

Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

41,828 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Western, Colleges That Create Futures, Colleges That Pay You Back,…
Indiana University–Bloomington
Indiana University–Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

38,364 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Midwestern, Colleges That Pay You Back, Green Colleges

Michigan State University
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

39,143 Enrolled

Best Midwestern, Green Colleges, Top 50 Game Design: Ugrad
College of Charleston
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC

10,468 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Southeastern, College City Gets High Marks,…

Loyola University Maryland
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD

4,068 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Northeastern, Best Athletic Facilities, Best College Dorms,…

The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa
The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL

31,958 Enrolled

The Best 380 Colleges, Best Southeastern

University of Oregon
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR

20,538 Enrolled

Duh… There is also a college search database here.

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/