Please help me come up with a list of reaches/matches/safeties!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I’m posting this because I’m in a bit of an odd situation. I’m from a rural area and most of my classmates will end up going to the state’s flagship school. My counselors don’t have too much helpful advice to give me because that’s what they’re used to working with. </p>

<p>I’ve been comparing my stats to the information on the college websites and trying to gauge my chances myself but that’s pretty difficult. I was hoping that the wonderfully helpful and intelligent people on this website might have some suggestions or thoughts! Any and all input would be much appreciated. </p>

<p>Personal:
White, female, disabled, from a rural area.
Rising senior.</p>

<p>Stats:
GPA: 4.0
Rank: At the beginning of junior year, I was fourth.
SAT: 2170 total - 780 CR, 760 W, 630 M (yeah, I know, gotta bring that math up!)
AP: 5's in Euro, U.S., and Eng Lang. 4 in World. 2 in Biology. I’m taking Eng Lit and Psychology next year.
Service Hours: About 800+ as of this past May.</p>

<p>ECs:
- CLUB: Quiz bowl (9, 10, 11, 12)
- VOLUNTEER: Editor for a local publishing foundation (9, 10, 11, 12, inc. summers)
- VOLUNTEER: Volunteer docent for two museums in Washington, D.C. (11, 12, inc. summers)
- VOLUNTEER: Regional coordinator for Amnesty International. I was also a member of the student group at my school for a year before it was disbanded. (11, 12)
- WORK EXPERIENCE: Columnist for my local paper – my columns run twice a month (11, 12, inc. summers)
- OTHER: Accepted & attending a workshop at the Washington Post – only about 10 students accepted (12)
- OTHER: I am one of 20 high schoolers from my state to be accepted into a “head start” program at my local college – basically, I take classes there in the evenings. I will have taken six courses there by the time I graduate high school (18 credits). These credits are separate from my high school GPA. (11, 12, inc. summers)</p>

<p>Awards, honor societies, etc.:
- National Honor Society (11, 12)
- National English Honor Society (11, 12)
- National Math Honor Society (12 – first year of its existence at my school!)
- Departmental award for German (9, 10, 11)
- Departmental award for English (11)
- School award for meritorious/volunteer service (9, 10, 11)
- Qualify for National Merit Scholarship – I’ll hear back about that in September!
- AP Scholar with Honors</p>

<p>Basically, I’m not quite sure what schools would be good matches for me because my counselors only have experience with the state schools. Even though I’ve spent years researching schools, I still feel like I’m shooting in the dark. </p>

<p>I'm interested in East Coast schools that have very strong history or English programs (preferably history). Any suggestions?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your time!</p>

2

<p>Have you used the SuperMatch feature on this site? It’s actually very useful, from what I’ve seen. At least give us an idea about what you want in terms of size, urban/suburban/rural, and things like that. You’ll be competitive at a lot of schools, but you need to tell us what you want.</p>

3

<p>- Qualify for National Merit Scholarship – I’ll hear back about that in September!</p>

<p>Congrats!! What was your PSAT?</p>

<p>I think some of the top LACs would be good reaches for you…</p>

<p>Swat
Williams
Amherst
Middlebury
Wellesley</p>

<p>For matches and safeties…</p>

<p>Do you know how much your family will pay? Most safeties don’t meet need (some give merit scholarships) and some matches don’t meet need either.</p>

4

<p>bruno14: I haven’t! I’m going to use it right now.</p>

<p>Due to the nature of my disability, I need a school that is more urban in nature (I can’t walk too far between classes/dorms/etc.). There are some rural and suburban schools that are just fine for that, but most aren’t.</p>

<p>mom2collegekids: I got a 224!</p>

<p>I’m not sure yet how much my family can pay, but my mom makes about $60,000 a year (father’s not in the picture) and my two sisters and I are financially dependent on her. A lot of that $60k goes toward my medical bills as well. So yeah, I’d need a lot of financial aid. :/</p>