Please go through my college list

College Search & Selection
1

<p>OK, so I've made a list of the names of some colleges I'll be applying to.
I would like you to give me some basic advice.
Tell me if it would be a reach/match/safety.
Also please tell me some safety schools I should apply to.</p>

<p>Maybe you should know. I plan to do something in engineering
Class Rank #1
SAT 1990
GPA ~ 3.77-3.8/4.0
SAT 2 Gave the Math Level 1 and Biology-M this December</p>

<p>I want to apply only to universities in CA or the North-East.</p>

<p>Applied:
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UCSD
UCSB
UCD
UCI</p>

<p>Planning to apply: ( i;d like advice with this)</p>

<p>Purdue University- Wes Lafayette
UT Austin
Harvey Mudd
USC
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech
Worcester Polytechnic (WPI)
UMichigan Ann Arbor (maybe, because it's too expensive)</p>

<p>What do you people say. And what about safeties.</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
I want to apply only to universities in CA or the North-East.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If that's the case, cross off:
Purdue
UT Austin
Rose Hulman
Georgia Tech
Michigan</p>

3

<p>I want to apply only to universities in CA or the North-East.
But still I'm applying to others. I just hope I can get good answers quickly, so I get on with the tougher part of getting the apps ready.</p>

4

<p>Make sure the places you are applying accept the Math Level I and don't require the Math Level II.</p>

5

<p>Does your school offer any AP classes and have you taken them? Also what's the breakdown of your SAT? Because if you're looking at engineering/math/science schools, they're going to be more interested in your math score.</p>

<p>Also the math level I test is not nearly as relevant as the level II to most schools. Some don't even consider the level I.</p>

<p>Also something to consider is which schools interest you and you think you'd fit in at. Michigan, UT, Tech, Purdue, and USC are all mega schools, whereas Harvey Mudd, Rose, and WPI are smaller. You've got a wide range of geography and rural/urban environments to consider too.</p>

6

<p>Because you said you "Gave the SAT Math 1" I wonder if you are international. (In the U.S., you "take" an exam, not "give" it.) Being international will affect your chances.</p>

7

<p>you should apply to RPI IMO, it seems to fit in with your other schools</p>

8

<p>I'd like to see SAT score breakdown (i.e. math, CR, and writing) before I suggest anything. The math and CR are most important...1600 scale figures, please.</p>

<p>At the moment, though, Cal B might be quite a reach, as would UCLA, Mich, and Mudd.</p>

<p>Is GPA weighted or unweighted? Also, what A.P.s (and A.P. test scores)?</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
I want to apply only to universities in CA or the North-East.
But still I'm applying to others.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I get what you're saying, but honestly, that seems kind of foolish to me. Why spend application money on schools that don't fit your needs?</p>

<p>For example, you could trade out a few that don't fit and add other schools such as Cal Poly and RPI.</p>

10

<p>UC requires 2 SAT subject tests and Math I is not accepted.</p>

11

<p>OK.
I am a U.S. citizen, born in CA, but my parents shifted out of U.S.A. due to some financial problems(my dad got spinal herniation.had to do bed rest. mom couldn't work because i was young. pension was too less. living costs were high.), but I'm going back for college.
SAT Reasoning
Critical Reading 680 93th percentile<br>
Math 660 88thpercentile
Writing 650 90th percentile</p>

<p>do percentiles even matter.
Anyway. So since I'm going to settle in a place from scratch. Geography is not much of a problem. But as I said, I'll prefer CA the most, because most of my family friends/relatives are there. Or the North-East. Still I'm applying to a couple of schools here and there.
In SAT 2 I took this December, I took Bio-M, and Math level 1.
I also took math level 2, but it went VERY bad. Missed like 25 questions. Felt sick. Didn't know what to do.
Since I moved out of USA, I didn't get any academic counseling here. Couldn't prepare properly for my SAT's. and didn't even know what GPA was or how it was calculated until the end of my junior year.
My gpa in grade 9 was 3.57, grade 10- 3.75. grade 11- 4.0/4.0
i don't know what weighted unweighted GPA is.
I took AP English language got a 3 (school taught it)
took AP Biology got a 5 (100% self-study. can u believe it)
since there's no academic counseling, I counsel most of the students now since i've done so much research. also guide teachers in teaching esp. the biology teacher. this is twisted and weird, but true.</p>

<p>anyway, since i was at a disadvantage, there are almost no opportunities here that I can avail for ec's, but i still have them.</p>

<p>I'm taking AP economics (micro/macro) this year. (could u believe it, i gave the teacher the book for it)
i'm taking ap chem and ap calculus bc as well. ( on my own, 100%. still i hand in a few assignments to the school so they would have it wirtten on my report . Weird)</p>

<p>I'm just teling u all this extra stuff to tell u how i'm at a disadvantage.
i believe i could have performed much much better if i was still in usa. do u think universities would take this into account? and give me a bit of leeway . how do i notify the universities of this.</p>

<p>i plan to do first 2 yrs of college in a nice good competitive college. once i adjust a bit, and if i start performing well ( i believe i will) i plan to transfer to MIT.</p>

12

<p>which country do you currently reside in?
Also if you are dead on applying for engineering - DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR MATHS 2 C scores.
Because they are considered very seriously for Engineering.
My advice- don't apply for engineering.Apply undeclared or for Biotechnology.
This will greatly improve your chances seeing you AP scores.
PS- are AP's offerred outside the U.S.?</p>

13

<p>Yes AP's are offered outside the U.S.
My school is approved by CITA
CITA</a> Site - Home
i'm currently in pakistan, because somethign here interested my parents.
i already applied to teh UC's all of them with undecided or engineering (electric/computer)
. i 'm trying to apply as undeclared/undecided for as many i can</p>

<p>i would really appreciate help because 4 days are left to edit my score recipients for my dec sat scores.after that i'll be late.</p>

14

<p>apples if you add the score recipients for hich you have to pay after monday-
is there a delay in CB's sending the scores?</p>

<p>ps- my situation is exactly like yours.I Live in India ,and am an american citizen.</p>

15

<p>apply to university of texas at austin (its good for engineering and not that strict)</p>

16

<p>You should know that it's even harder to transfer into MIT than to be accepted as a freshman:</p>

<p>Transfer Students</p>

<pre><code>* Total number of transfer students who applied: 269
* Total number of transfer students who were admitted: 17
</code></pre>

<p>Make sure to have a good backup plan if you decide to try it.</p>

17

<p>The UC campuses do not accept Math I as a subject test.</p>

<p>The CalState system does not require subject tests.</p>

<p>Although the application deadline has passed, some CalStates are still accepting applications (the sooner, the better). You can find out which ones at:</p>

<p>CSUMentor</a> - Apply Online - Status Report</p>

<p>No one should count on being accepted to MIT as a transfer student.</p>

18

<p>The UC application had an option in which you could leave the SAT Subjects part blank, but tell them that you understand that it possibly * could * affect your admission decision.
OK, but what about safeties now.Can the universities I mentioned in my first post be my matches? Which should I apply for as safeties.</p>

19

<p>Well.....an interesting basket of apples. First of all.....since you live in Pakistan you will be paying out of state tuition to ANY state university in the United States unless you have some illegal hook you plan on using. It doesnt matter that you are a US citizen. Residence is determined by where you live and for how long. So, that being the case why are you bothering with large state schools? The tuition will be similar as that of private schools and private schools frequently give better financial aid. Your scores are good, but not super. So focus on schools that are MATCH schools, not prestigious big name reach schools. In my humble opinion that means schools not likely in the top30. But schools DEFINITELY in the top100. If California is your interest because of weather and where you were born, then look at PRIVATE schools in California. I would strongly suggest University of San Diego, a catholic school that is highly regarded and has a gorgeous campus. Pepperdine. Santa Clara University, a Jesuit school that is highly regarded. Occidental College is also well regarded in Los Angeles. </p>

<p>In the northeast, which makes sense for travel reasons and so forth, there are hundreds of schools that would snap you up. I dont know if you are considered a foreign application because of your residence, or whether you are a domestic application for citizenship. But let them figure that out. The bottom line is your scores and grades. Have you looked in the southern United States? You have scores that are not out of reach for Wake Forest, Furman, College of Charleston, Elon, Richmond, Loyola Md. You are a bit of a stretch for Davidson and Emory but they may be worth a shot. You are clearly a stretch for UNC and Duke and UVa. Forget them. American University and George Washington in Washington DC may take you...so consider them. In Pennsylvania you have Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, Bucknell, Dickinson, Haverford...all within your reach....though Haverford is a slight reach for you. Drexel is okay for you too. </p>

<p>Syracuse, Fordham, Manhattan, Marist, Canisius, etc in New York are good fits academically for you. NYU may take a look so that is worth applying to. BU and BC in Boston. Providence in Rhode Island. The Ivy League is a stretch. Bowdoin and Bates may look at you.</p>

<p>Be proud of your scores. There is nothing wrong with them. You are clearly a very good student and will do very well in college. Focus on what KIND of college you want instead of its geographical location. Focus on factors that are important to you: social, academic programs, dorms, sports, student faculty ratios, perhaps weather. Its all about "fit", not prestige. Its MUCH better to be happy and thriving than be at some school that has a big name and you are unhappy possibly. Not to say that the top30 wouldnt work out well for you. Wake Forest is a great school and they LOVE diversity there and your scores fit in nicely there. </p>

<p>But I dont know why you want to attend a LARGE california state school if you are clearly an out of state applicant and would have to pay out of state fees. Ditto for Michigan. Its a superb school, but its HUGE! And its VERY cold there in the winter....snows ALL THE TIME. </p>

<p>Good luck and I hope that helps.</p>

20

<p>That was very helpful! Thank you so much catfishin.</p>

<p>I don't want a university that is religiously affiliated. So USD, Pepperdine, Santa Clara University is simply off the list.Wake Forest doesn't have engineering.
Still thanks for the help</p>