<p>Hi all!
I'm currently a High School Junior and college is definitely stressing me out. As of now, I have a 32 on the ACT but I'm working to bump that up to a 33 or (hopefully) a 34. For my freshman year, I got all A-s with the exception of 1 B+ and one A same thing goes for Sophomore year (all honors classes both years). Junior year was a bit harder, however. My school only offers APs to Juniors and Seniors so my grades suffered a little as it was my first experience with them. As of now, I have 2 A-, 3 B+s, 2 of which are APs (hopefully I will get a 5 on each and the rest of the classes are all honors). Just as a note, my high school is a top school in the U.S and getting straight As is practically unheard of. As for extracurriculars, I'm the head and founder of two clubs as well as a member of another two. I've played the guitar since I was 8 and am part of a group at my school. I also am a member of two varsity sports and am interested in the arts and have taken many extra art classes. During the summer, I intern as a research assistant in Namibia, and I work as a soccer coach at a camp for Namibian kids as well. I'm very interested in biology specifically ecology and zoology; the summer job had a strong ecology focus and I started the science club at my school. I also won the biology award at my school. I was selected to be part of an extra science class at my school for those who have a passion for science and excel greatly in it. I also went to a two week intensive bio-technology course at my school. This spring I'm also trying to get started a Science tutoring program with a middle school in the area. My college counselor recommends I look at schools like Skidmore, Dickinson, Grinnell, Union, Colgate and more. My parents and peers seem to think I should look at more difficult schools to get into like Tufts, Bowdoin, Pomona, Middlebury, Dartmouth and so on. My college counselor is pretty inexperienced and doesn't have the best track record at my school but I still value her opinion greatly, I'm just confused! What do you all think? Do I have any chance at the harder schools or should I just stick with my college counselor's safer list? Any advice would also be greatly appreciated!
thanks!!</p>
<p>Don’t apply to Skidmore! I was accepted to Brown and Northwestern and wait-listed at Princeton, but I got wait-listed at Skidmore. I think they try to increase yield by not letting in people like you and me, who will get into much better schools!
But speaking as someone who freaked out at the last second about getting into either a music school or an Ivy League and added 2 more schools, just go for the more competitive list! Both the “safety” (Skidmore) and Tulane, which I thought was more attainable than my other schools, wait-listed me. You won’t get rejected at all of them, and throw in one you know you’ll get into that you love. Based on what you’ve said, one or many of the competitive schools will accept you.</p>
<p>ahhh! I’m a junior freaking out about college too, lol.</p>
<p>Well, from what I’ve heard, dont put all your eggs in one basket (all reaches) and dont dream too small (no reaches). So definitely take both take both sides into consideration. Take a few schools that you like from your parents/peers list and a few that you like from your counselor’s list and like two safeties you like.
Voila! A nice college list. :)</p>
<p>The key is finding places you like and think can help you/make you happy in the future, not just because someone said so. I mean, after all, YOU’re the one who has to go to that college; pick ones you’d be happy at, right? </p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>