Please help me narrow my list of schools!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Any tips would be great because I have become a mess! and please be honest.</p>

<p>Statistics for my Application:
School: Public High school just outside of Philadelphia,PA
Gender: Female/White
Family Info: Live with my father & step mom, neither work.
None of my parents attended college/very little.</p>

<p>GPA: Weighted - 3.70 / Un-weighted - 3.30
Class Rank : 78/256
Major: Undecided (considering things such as Psychology,Biology,History)
Would love to do something with animals (equine or marine) or maritime history.
SAT: 1630 (retaking) ACT: Taking in fall</p>

<p>Courses:
9th - Honors English (92) / Honors Science (90)
10th - Honors English(92) / Honors Biology (80)
11th - Honors English (97)/Honors Chemistry (80) / AP Psychology (90) No exam.
12th - Honors Physics /AP Literature/AP Environmental Science/AP Government</p>

<p>Sports: Varsity track and Field,Equestrian.
Clubs: Art Club, German Club (cut), Student Council.
Volunteer: SS United States Conservancy, SPCA, Volunteer to work with retired horses.
Job: Worked with horses since I was 11 years old currently looking for another job.</p>

<p>Safety:
Albright College
Slippery Rock University
Immaculatta University
New England University
Penn State University
Delaware Valley College
Widener University</p>

<p>Match:
Temple University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Delaware
University of New Hampshire
University of New Haven
West Chester University
Arcadia University
Arcadia University </p>

<p>Reach:
Franklin & Marshall College
University of Pennsylvania
Drexel Univeristy
Dickinson College
Haverford College
Lafayette College</p>

<p>Other factors:
Academics,Housing,Financial Aid, Safety,Small class size, Involvement/experience,Job opportunities, CO -ED, diversity, great surrounding area (not in the middle of no where),Proximity to home (PA), Good food options, Transportation options, no extra costs (specially if the school is expensive).
I do prefer Urban/Suburban schools!</p>

2

<p>Penn State is not a safety for you.</p>

3

<p>I don’t think Pitt and Delaware are matches either - almost reaches with your scores. Also, UPenn is way out of reach.</p>

4

<p>Can you afford those OOS schools (UDel, UNH, etc) when your parents don’t work?</p>

5

<p>Definitely not UNH…all they will give is a grant that covers 2/3rds of the difference between out-of-state and in-state costs and that’s about it. Doubtful there will be much besides Pell/high need grants.</p>

6

<p>I would take out UPenn and Haverford as I just don’t think you have much of a shot to get in. I agree that Penn State (at least the main campus) is not a safety. Consider applying to school that are rolling right away – if you get into one or two you may be able to eliminate schools you don’t like as much.</p>

7

<p>I need to apply for financial aid (it is a must) and I would only be going OOS if I really love the school so the chances are low. I am just desperate for a good school in state. My brother actually goes to Penn State and said I do have a fairly good chance at a satellite campus if not main.</p>

8

<p>Yup, you have a good shot at a satellite campus. Be aware that most out of state schools wouldn’t really offer you much aid. </p>

<p>You can get into a good school in-state, you just gotta get those test scores up. Do you genuinely like all the schools on your list?</p>

9

<p>All of the schools on my list I have showed a great deal of interest in. F&M was a pleasant surprise I found them last minute this summer,thought nothing of it and went for a visit and loved it there. My only issue really is the snobby attitude in the higher end schools. Temple I loved since I started my college search and greatly admire all of the people I know who have come from there. I do plan to work on those test scores, I know I am so much better than that. Thank you guys very much. Any recommendations on what schools I should be looking more closely at?</p>

10

<p>West Chester has really gotten more popular lately - the average GPA for incoming freshmen is 3.5. Don’t count on it as a match. And I agree that Pitt is not a match and the only part of Penn State that would be a match is a branch campus. But since you’re not applying for a major like Business or Engineering, you might have a shot at Univ Park, if you put down that you’re willing to start in the summer. Although Penn State has lousy financial aid.</p>

11

<p>Does anyone know which US colleges have good equestrian teams? I have a friend whose daughter is a star (Olympic quality) equestrian and is looking for a US university with a top team. Location is not an issue. Any ideas? Thanks, Londondad</p>

12

<p>How about looking into a test optional school in PA? It might open some options for you.</p>

13

<p>Take off all of the OOS publics. They won’t be affordable. </p>

<p>How does your family live? Do your parents get disability or are they retired? When you fill out FA paperwork, schools will wonder how you live. </p>

<p>Include schools known for good aid…like Depauw and Loyola Maryland.</p>

<p>Again, take off all those OOS publics. Don’t waste valuable time/money/fee waivers on schools that won’t work. Those OOS publics will likely just give you a $5600 pell grant, a loan, and a big gap.</p>

14

<p>Londondad, you’ll be better off starting your own thread. People will just continue to answer the OP.</p>

15

<p>If you love horses then Slippery Rock would be a great fit as they have an equestrian center right on campus, well right on the edge. They do a lot of work with Special Needs kids with the horses. They are also so much more affordable than a lot of schools and the LLC dorms are amazing. For us they are cheaper than any in-state Ohio school.</p>

16

<p>georgia tech!</p>

17

<p>Here’s the list i would suggest:</p>

<p>Penn State University
Temple University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Delaware
University of New Hampshire
Dickinson College
Haverford College
Lafayette College</p>