<p>Hi! I'm looking for colleges to apply to that are matches/safeties. Things to note:
* I had a really messed up family situation starting from the middle of sophomore year through most of junior year which is my my grades plummeted. (Missed a lot of school- explained in Additional Info section of Common App.)
* I would prefer urban/suburban with proximity to a big city.
* I am definitely looking for financial aid, in particular merit aid (the usual upper middle class situation...). I am lucky to be a National Merit Semifinalist, so hopefully that'll help.
* I want to major in international relations/affairs and eventually work in public international law.
* I love snowy winters, so California might be unbearable. D:
* I have no free Saturdays to take SAT IIs so I'm looking for schools that will accept ACT w/ W in lieu.</p>
<p>Stats:
GPA (W): 4.3 frosh, 4.0 soph, 3.4 junior (4 Cs in AP classes...it's going to hurt?) = 3.9 cum
Rank: 40/330 = 12%
SAT: 740 CR, 760 M, 800 W = 2300
ACT: 34
Ethnicity: Asian
ECs: Tons of leadership in music & poli-sci related ECs</p>
<p>The downward trend and huge discrepancy between GPA and test scores is why I'm confused about where to look. I'm a very lonely dot on Naviance...</p>
<p>Please help? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance! =]</p>
<p>Thank you for the links! They are very helpful =)</p>
<p>I’m afraid that my poor junior year grades will prevent me from getting Finalist status. Any other schools that would be both an academic and financial ‘safety’ for me?</p>
<p>Ask on the National Merit forum if your grades will interfere with you being a finalist. I think a good essay and a good rec from your school explaining the issue will smooth this over. For what it’s worth, my D1 has a few C’s, a common situation at her school even for NMSFs, and is fully expected to advance to finalist status. D’s and F’s might be a problem. </p>
<p>How much can your family afford to pay each year? </p>
<p>In addition to scouring the National Merit thread, I would suggest IMMEDIATELY applying to the University of Pittsburgh, which has rolling admissions. There is no IR major per se, but there is a similar program available to undergrads in the honors college. You’ll get a relatively quick response, which will then give you an early read on if you need to tune your safety/match expectations up or down. Applying early is an advantage in rolling admissions school, both for admissions and for merit aid. Another possibility is UMaryland College Park; as a NMSF you get to apply for free. Apply by Nov. 1 for early (non-binding) consideration.</p>
<p>Take a look at Macalester, and urban LAC in Minnesota. Your Cs in Junior year will hurt, so make sure you and your guidence counselor explain the situation. Being a NMF may help you get merit there. As an Asian, you are a URM, so that also helps. Macalester has as strong international focus (and 11% of the student body comes from abroad). I don’t believe they require SAT IIs, so you won’t need to take the ACT for them.</p>
<p>Grinnell, a rural LAC, might also be a good choice-but it’s academically a bit more competitive and I know you didn’t want a rural location-but they have excellent merit aid if you qualify.</p>
<p>Thank you for the tips about the free applications at Macalester and UMD! I’ll definitely look into both. =]</p>
<p>@ST - Thankfully I have no Ds or Fs. Just some Cs. It’s reassuring that your daughter with similar grades is expected to advance. I guess I can relax and just hope for the best! Good luck to your daughter as well!</p>
<p>Also, my parents can probably spare 10k a year (which is barely enough for room and board), but they don’t really seem to want to contribute anything. I’m paying for all of my applications out of my own pocket, which is why I’m scoping around for free apps and financial safeties.</p>
<p>Any other schools with great financial aid that would be a fit for me?</p>
<p>You can try asking schools for fee waivers for the app fee, though with high income it’s not guaranteed. You’ll still need to pay to send your scores.</p>
<p>If you are male, search out schools with a larger female population. In the DC area, I’m thinking American (GWU will probably be too expensive, even with NM money) and Goucher. USC loves NMFs but may still be too expensive even with half tuition. </p>
<p>I’d also suggest starting a new thread with your significant characteristics in the title. Something like “high stat low GPA poli sci major looking for merit aid safeties with snow” is a lot more compelling than the generic “please help suggest matches/safeties” :)</p>
<p>:D that would have been a better title, lol.</p>
<p>Never heard of Goucher, but I will look into it. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m have been steadily reading through the “links to auto/guaranteed merit schol” thread, and I’m definitely considering some new schools. This is good for now. =)</p>
<p>:D that would have been a better title, lol.</p>
<p>Never heard of Goucher, but I will look into it. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m have been steadily reading through the “links to auto/guaranteed merit schol” thread, and I’m definitely considering some new schools. This is good for now. =)</p>
<p>I think your scores aren’t as bad as you think. You should be able to get into a lot of schools in the 25-75 range of the NATIONAL universities rankings. I wouldn’t stoop as low as Macalaster or Goucher.</p>
<p>^ Informative, do you do any research before you post??</p>
<p>Stoop to Macalester? #26 in US News LACs rankings? Their 25%ile SAT is 1930. In comparison the #25 National U is UVA with a 25%ile for the SAT of 1840.</p>
<p>OP, definitely look at the NMF listing. Denison (about 30 mins outside Columbus OH) offers full tuition which would leave about $10K to pay for room and board. That looks like a weighted GPA. What were your UW GPAs?</p>
<p>USC has been mentioned - USC would not be a safety for this student, and probably not a match (and there is not typically a *great deal *of snow on campus…). In addition to the downward trend, USC uses UNweighted GPA in admissions statistics and the average UNweighted GPA of accepted students is 3.8. The OP would need to state his/her UW GPA to get a better picture.</p>
<p>On the other hand, including USC as a reach might not be a bad idea. They offer 1/2 tuition to NMF as well as excellent need-based financial aid (though this OP may not qualify for any need-based aid). Several ski resorts are near enough for a weekend trip [Sports</a> and Recreation // SCampus 2010-11](<a href=“http://web-app.usc.edu/scampus/sports-and-recreation/#skiing]Sports”>http://web-app.usc.edu/scampus/sports-and-recreation/#skiing) , and there is something special about kicking off your flip-flops on a 75 degree December day and heading for the slopes .</p>
<p>No, he doesn’t. I have never seen a poster with a more mismatched name. He is consistently completely misinformed, and appears to be a high school student who lives in a bubble.</p>
:)</p>