Please Help A Very Confused Senior! - Where to Apply?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So it's December and I still have no effing clue where I want to go to college. I figured I had another couple of weeks to decided, until I went on my schools website and realized that the last opportunity to submit transcript request forms is Wednesday...2 days from now. This, of course, means I have 2 days to figure out where I want to go to college. Wonderful.</p>

<p>Here are some of my stats:</p>

<p>Highschool - Very competitive charter school. Some of the highest IB test scores in the nation.</p>

<p>Academic Profile:
- GPA: 3.1-3.2UW/3.7-3.8W <----Long story, not reflective of the work I put into school.
- SAT's: 2050 as of now, at least a 2100 expected when Dec. scores come out. Because I did an awful job pacing myself on the December SAT, I have decided to take it again for the final time in January. Realistically, I can expect around a 2200+, (780-800M/700-750CR) as recent practice tests have verified.
- ACT's - none. Taking in January as well. Not sure what to expect as I have yet to take a practice SAT.
- AP's/IB':
*AP Comparative Government (4)
*AP US History (5)
*AP US Politics (4)
*AP World History (4)
*IB Lit SL
*IB Lit HL
*IB History HL
*IB Environmental Science
*AP Statistics
*IB Economics
- EC's - Nothing spectacular. XC, member of a couple clubs, ~300 hrs volunteer work, etc
- Rank: My counselor is an idiot and will not tell me, as she has a brain the size of an almond. My schools does deflate grades to some degree, so I would definitely expect it to be higher than the average 3.2 UW student.
- Work, etc: Meh. Worked at an architecture firm over 2 summers.</p>

<h2><em>Misc</em> - As I was saying with my SAT's, I really can expect a 2200+ when I retake it. When I took the December one, I kinda messed up with pacing myself, and completely lost track of time. During my practice SAT's, I had always had a timer next to me so I knew how much longer I had. Completely forgot to bring a watch, and the only clock was a tiny little thing I couldn't see in the corner of the room - kinda threw me off during the test. Anyways, difficulty-wise, I should be able to nail an 800M especially given the month I have to prep for the Jan SAT. So just sayin I'm not bsing. </h2>

<p>OK well I figure I'm probably going to end up transferring after two years to (hopefully) Vandy or Boston College, but here is my list of colleges I think I might apply to as of now:
-Tulane
-UGA
-Indiana U
-BU
-GWU
-UMiami
-UMichigan
-BC
-Wake Forest</p>

<p>So basically I need more safeties. I don't actually expect to get into BC, but I'll probably apply anyways (I kid can dream :/). I figure UMich and Wake are reaches as well, but whatevs. What are some other safeties or matches I should apply to? I'd like the school to be somewhat well known (but not necessarily prestigious), and although I'd prefer a smaller school to a larger one, I'm not really looking to go to some obscure 2000 student college in the suburbs of Nebraska. </p>

<p>Any ideas/tips/questions/etc would be gladly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>I didn’t go back and re-read your previous thread…</p>

<p>What is your state of residency?
What can your family afford to pay?</p>

3

<p>Might look at Holy Cross-top30 LAC with good academics and athletics. HC has nice campus 1 hour from Boston and has one of the best alumni networks for jobs and internships. Holy Cross is similar to Boston College as both are Jesuit schools.</p>

4

<p>jshain - GA
par72 - doubt I could get into holy cross with my gpa dude :P</p>

5

<p>What is your IB predicted? Kids in my school with your grades are applying to some similar schools with some others such as USC, Chapman, Bentley, Babson etc</p>

6

<p>One or two in-state public universities should cover your safety base, but the flagship may not be a safe choice for your grades. Check your GPA against Naviance (if you have it) for each school and against freshmen profiles to make sure admission is a sure thing for the one(s) you pick. At some (if not most) state flagships these days, the average entering GPA is much higher than 3.2.</p>

<p>Also consider, as a low match, a LAC outside the top 40 or so (such as Earlham or others on the Colleges That Change Lives list). These schools may give you better aid and almost certainly would offer smaller classes and more faculty attention than an OOS public where your grades would put you in the “likely” category.</p>

7

<p>We need more information!</p>

<p>What is your intended major?</p>

<p>What state are you in?</p>

<p>Are larger schools with honors colleges ok?</p>

<p>Do you want a spirited school with sports to watch or a more quiet campus?</p>

<p>How much will your parents pay?</p>

<p>And, what is your likely EFC?</p>

8

<p>tk21769: I am applying to the largest in-state university in my state as a safety. the average GPA for this school is a 3.7 - well above mine. however, this particular university is familiar with my school and it’s greater-than-average difficulty, and accepts students at a much higher rate than pretty much anywhere else. i know multiple ppl with similar/lower stats than mine who have already been accepted. i will also be applying to my state school as a safety - which i am fo sho in. also, i am not necessarily looking for a LAC - BC is my top pick because I loved the campus/students when i went there, as well as the academic program they offer (although not too strong in pre-med :/)</p>

<p>mom2collegekids - Not completely sure about my intended major, aiming for premed.
state = GA,
Yes, larger schools with honors colleges are completely ok (i may have been a little misleading in my original post - i do not mind larger colleges, just would prefer a slightly smaller one given the chance)
I definitely want a spirited school w/ sports, but also one that values academics (ex: vandy - work hard/party hard. too bad i don’t have a shot :P)
my parents will pay for whatever it costs. money should not be an issue.
efc - 100% covered by parents (hopefully, haha)</p>

9

<p>Are you male or female? If female, consider some of the women’s colleges. If male, many LACs are trying to keep their male/female ratios not too skewed female, so give some admissions advantages to males.</p>

<p>U. Pittsburgh also comes to mind.</p>

10

<p>OK so I’m kinda freaking out here, have to submit this thing tomorrow morning. Just went down the list USNews’s Top Colleges 2011 and picked like 10 below rank 50 as safeties/matches. So as of now I have like 25 colleges that I need to choose from. </p>

<p>I think what I’m going to do is just send transcripts to every single college on my list with an application deadline of January 1st or earlier. These inlcude:
-Boston College
-Boston University
-Wake Forest
-UI Urbana
-NYU</p>

<p>Then, later, I’ll just decided which ones to apply to. Does this sound like a good idea? My school website says we can start submitting transcript requests again once school get back in after winter break. At this point, I can send in the rest of my transcripts for:</p>

<p>GWU – January 10th
UMiami – January 15th
University of Michigan – February 1st<br>
Indiana (Rolling) – February 1st?
UGA – January 15th
UVermont – January 15th
UMaryland – January 20th
UConneticut – February 1st
Case Western – January 15th
UWisconsin – February 1st
Boulder – January 15th
Pepperdine – January 15th </p>

<h2>UC Davis – ?</h2>

<p>So basically I think I’m just going to send transcripts now, decide where to apply later. Seems like the safest option.</p>

<p>Any opinions?</p>

11

<p>It’s too late to apply to UC Davis. Their deadlline has passed.</p>

<p>I don’t think you’re going to get admitted to UMich, Wake, GW, BC, UIUC, or UWisc because of GPA.</p>

<p>Do you know if all of these schools use 2011 SATs? </p>

<p>*picked like 10 below rank 50 as safeties/matches. *</p>

<p>Which 10? It seems like with your GPA and your known test score, you need better safeties.</p>

12

<p>IU application takes almost no time. You could do tonight with little difficulty. Those going for merit scholarships have already applied, so honors college spots are tougher to get but not impossible. No essay, counselor rec is a simple form, recs are optional, teacher recs are optional, as is the personal statement. Don’t wait for that school when you could complete your part in 10 minutes.</p>

13

<p>The University of Connecticut is a school of choice for academically talented students. UConn has stood as the top public university in New England for 12 consecutive years.</p>

<p>Fall 2009 entering freshmen at main campus: 3,221
Average SAT score: 1212
44% were in top 10% of high school class
83% were in top 25% of high school class
49 valedictorians and 38 salutatorians </p>

<p>UCONN seems to be getting quite selective, with 83% in Top 25% of High School Class.</p>

14

<p>What;s your IB score?</p>

15

<p>“I am applying to the largest in-state university in my state as a safety. the average GPA for this school is a 3.7 - well above mine.” </p>

<p>How is this a safety??? You remind me of one of those kids who MAY get rejections to all the schools they apply to, if you’re not more realistic about your stats, in this instance your GPA. Having a D at BC I can say with a great deal of certainty that you will be a high reach given your GPA.</p>

16

<p>I do think you will find several good colleges that would admit you, but I don’t get a sense that you know what you want. </p>

<p>If that is the case, I think the default choice is the University of (your state). If you can keep your grades up freshman year, then you will have transfer choices and a better idea of which colleges would be a good fit.</p>

17

<p>mom2collegekids - yeah, I don’t expect to get into UMich, Wake or BC. Doubt I will get into GW or Wisconsin. But according to UIUC’s admissions statistics last year (kids with less than a 2.0 GPA got in, average GPA/SAT = 3.5/1920), I’d say I have a fair shot. Also, my safeties are definitely school’s I’ll get into. Easy state schools, etc.</p>

<p>jshain - My friend was accepted with a 2.5UW and 1940 SAT. Several people from my school who’ve already been accepted EA have lower GPA’s than I do. Also, like I said I don’t expect to get into BC - to be honest, I’m not really sure why I’m applying. Just really liked the school when I visited. And haha, don’t worry, I’m applying to some super-safeties that I’m 100% sure I’ll get into.</p>

<p>chazsf - yes, I have absolutely no idea what I want to be completely honest. I kinda figured a while ago that I’m probably gonna have to end up transferring. but the more I think about this, the more I don’t want to have to transfer. with my crappy GPA, I’d probably have to wait 2 years to transfer so colleges don’t pay much attention to my HS grades - which means I’d have to spend 2 yrs at one university and 2 yrs at another. i just want to settle the f*** down and enjoy college. ughhh, i hate all of this.</p>

18

<p>“And haha, don’t worry, I’m applying to some super-safeties that I’m 100% sure I’ll get into.”</p>

<p>Good! Your friends on CC want you to cover all your bases… just in case. We don’t want UGA to turn out to be “UGH” (?!*!!) in case the unthinkable happens. Also, make sure you have a safety school that is a financial safety and not just an academic safety. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

19

<p>The classic safeties for BC are Providence, then Fairfield.</p>

<p>Is football important? How about Syracuse?</p>

20

<p>I second Pitt as a possible safety/low match. Good pre-med options. Known for decent out of state aid. Rolling admissions. Not in the boonies. Your scores would be in the top 20% of their range.</p>