I’m currently a senior in high school and I’m thinking/doing all the college stuff seniors do around this time of year. And I’m feeling incredibly stressed out in every aspect–my list, my major, everything! Here is basically my stats:
Weighted GPA: 4.4 (10-12)
ACT: 34
SAT Math II: 770
SAT Lit: 670
SAT Bio: not taken yet
AP Lang & Stats: 5
AP US, Environmental: 4
AP Euro: 3
IB Diploma Candidate
ASB President (4 year member)
Varsity Cross Country and Track (3 years)
Hospital Community Service (100+ hours) (I have other community service as well, this is just my main one)
National Honor Society Treasurer
Best Buddies Club, Swing Dancing Club
Yale Model Congress
Job at local golf course, also worked a summer job last year
Tutor for middle school students
Miscellaneous : Girl Scout for 11 years, 2nd degree black belt in taekwondo, piano
Schools:
UC Berkeley
UCLA
Brown
Princeton
Harvard
Duke
Georgetown
Stanford
Boston College
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Oregon State
UNC Chapel Hill
So I really need advice:
Is my list too long? Too focused on “top-notch schools”? Enough safety schools?
how is financial aid at any of these places… my parents make money, but not enough to send me to an expensive school nor qualify for financial aid (around $130k annually)
Does applying undecided hurt my chances of getting in? I really don’t know what I want major in. I know I want to go to med school and eventually be a doctor, but I also know that I want to major in something I’m passionate about. I really like environmental sciences, or global health (is this a thing?), but I don’t know what these types of majors entail. I am also thinking about minoring in Spanish
Do I have a chance at these schools?
Anything else–regarding campus life, if you think I’d fit in, etc. would be appreciated! I’m the oldest, and my parents and I are really struggling in all these areas.
Undecided is totally fine! I don’t think your list is too long. What is your home state? California? I think you are a little reach heavy but your stats are good. Emory has a good public health program and I think it would be a match for you.
yes, I live in California. And I’m not terribly set on any of my high-reach schools, so I think that after a little research/input it would be narrow down… thanks for the Emory suggestion–I’ll look into it!
You have a ton of reaches. If you’re happy at OSU, then it’s totally fine to shoot for the stars.
UC’s want you to select a college and declare a major. I think it is better to declare a major that you are interested in (but make sure that the college you’re applying to has other majors you like just in case your current one doesn’t work out) as it makes you look decisive.
The 7 reaches you do have (Georgetown, Ivies, Duke, Stanford, UNC OOS) will have a ton of essays for you to write. Be prepared for that.
How involved were you at the Hospital? Besides that you don’t have anything that screams: I want do do health in the future.
At the end of the day, I would be happy at OSU. I also feel pretty confident about SLO, which is another school I would be happy at. And I’ve started most of the essays! So I am good on that front.
Regarding health care, I never really took an interest in it until this year. I am currently taking AP Bio and I am on the Volunteer Board at the hospital.
Cal Poly SLO will require you to declare a major and for the UC’s, if you plan to eventually study a competitive (impacted) major, you should try to get a direct admit since switching later on may prove to be problematic. You are a competitive applicant for Cal Poly SLO, UCB and UCLA but as stated in previous posts, you have a lot of Reach schools and need more Match schools. USC/UCSD/UCI/UCSB and/or UCD would be excellent choices since you are in-state.
It’s not a safety if you can’t afford it. Look for a less selective in-state option. You only need one safety as long as it really is safe (you are sure of being admitted, you are happy to attend, it offers what you want, and you can pay for it) - but some people like to have two so they know they will have a choice come April.
As for the others, some (Harvard, Princeton, Stanford) are extreme reaches. Your best bet is to pretend that they aren’t happening. Look at your list again - are you still happy with that list?
@N’s Mom Many people have more than one safety school as they are expecting merit scholarships. Unless it is automatic, you can’t tell how much you would get until you get the award letter or FA package. Safety should be affordable, but still can be cheaper.
$130K does qualify you for financial aid at many private colleges due to private colleges costing almost half that a year!
Remove UNC CH since it’s very hard to get into from OOS (only 18% seats can go to non-Carolina residents, which makes sense since they’re the ones funding the university. If you remove how many of these seats go to legacies and athletes, you’ll see that getting into UNCCH from OOS is about as difficult as getting into your reaches.)
Cal Poly SLO should be a safety but you may want to add another UC of your choice since UCLA and UCB are both extremely competitive and holistic, meaning: very unpredictable.
Oregon State is completely different from the others. Have you checked the odds of sufficient merit scholarships? Because you won’t get any financial aid there (it’s reserved to Oregon residents).
If you’re interested in med school, private colleges where you’d get a diversity boost and may get sufficient financial aid would include Rhodes, Connecticut College, and St Olaf.
