<p>I'm another concerned senior student worried about being realistic regarding college. I've been on the threads lately asking for advice because I've found that my college list is very hectic. I'm trying to define the list in these few days...and today I went to my guidance counselor asking for any recommendations of targets (and good safeties). I recently took off 2 schools (Suffolk and Syracuse) b/c of practicalities- I decided I would automatically go to UCONN before either two, so I didn't think it logical to keep on my list)...however now my list makes me nervous thinking of worst situation possible.</p>
<p>My List as of now:
Ursinus
UCONN
Fairfield
BC
Colgate
Columbia
Harvard</p>
<p>SAT Superscore 1920; CR: 630 M: 640 W:650
GPA: 3.7
NHS member for 2 years
Extra-curricular activites: Wrestling, St. Lukes Lifeworks (volunteer), Animal Welfare Club, Free Thinkers (sort of a discussion group), Theatre, TAB- town teen library board</p>
<p>Minority- Hispanic (and some diversity is important for me)
First Generation
Lean to the left- definitely interested in politics and activism of sorts, but the schools doesn't necessarily have to be so intense as long as there is interest shown
Live in CT, so I'm looking at schools in the New England region, maximum of about 4 hrs away</p>
<p>Aid is important, since I believe I qualify for FA but merit based is also great. My EFC said $1000.</p>
<p>Any recommendations welcomed...and would be so appreciated. If any other information is helpful, I'll post gladly and quickly.</p>
<p>Thanks again...and sorry for filling up the boards =/</p>
<p>Just thought I’d mention, I’ve been given good suggestions for reaches, but I’m afraid to aim any higher. Do you think it’s worth it if I added certain reaches to my list, or is that a crazy notion? xD</p>
<p>Well since your a minority and first generation, although your SATs are low for HYP, you might have a shot as well as Brown and Darthmouth. Also, a friend of mine went to Columbia because he was from a rural area (in case you are) and how about NYU and Tufts?? they are both really good schools.</p>
<p>Is UConn generous with low income in state students? If it is and you like it, you’re fine and all the others can be reaches. Other than the bottom 4 on your list which are significant reaches, your list does not appear to have financial safeties as the others don’t meet need.</p>
<p>With an EFC of $1000 and Hispanic status, you might look at more schools that meet need that are not as competitive, and/or have a dirty of Hispanic candidates, giving you a leg up. Schools like St. Olaf.</p>
<p>Hmm…well I’m kind of hesitant to add any more extreme Ivies b/c of the intense competition. However, I’ve heard that Cornell is technically the “easiest” to get into, and my parents loved it. I haven’t visited it, but it seems like a nice school…but I don’t know if I want to get my hopes any higher haha.</p>
<p>I ruled out NYU because I don’t want something directly in the city, but my friend told me to apply to Tufts. But again, comes to problem regarding high reaches…eeekk.</p>
<p>I’ve talked to my parents and they’ve agreed they’re willing to pay for my four years at UCONN (hopefully I’ll be able to pay them back soon), so I’m pretty content with that. However, like you said, I don’t really have any financial safeties to apply to, or ones that simply meet need if accepted. Do you think I should look into any specific ones? However, I would want them to be in the New England area.</p>
<p>I think where you need to fatten up is not at the top or bottom but in the middle. Trinity, Bates and Colby sound good.</p>
<p>Have you taken any AP or college courses? What is your class rank? Harvard and Columbia look unrealistic for your scores. There is no harm in applying, but if you want to keep the number of apps down, consider swapping one of them out for a reachy test-optional school (such as Bowdoin). </p>
<p>The Ivies are generous with need-based aid, which is what you should be looking for (rich schools that meet 100% of need with no loans). They grant little or no merit money.</p>
<p>I completely agree, except that I would drop both Harvard and Columbia and swap in two reachy test-optional LACs. I doubt that your scores are good enough, even as an URM, to give you a decent shot at your super-reaches, which is unfortunate, because that is where the money is. If you were willing to consider going to the midwest, you might find schools that would really want the diversity you would represent and give you more money. You might want to look at some of the schools in Pennsylvania, at least, which are within 4 hours of parts of CT.</p>
<p>Your class rank and the difficulty of your course load will also matter, though. Is your 3.7 weighted or unweighted? Does that represent an A- at your school? Do you have mostly As on your transcript, with a few Bs, or is it half and half? Have you taken any APs and honors classes? What have you gotten on your SATIIs?</p>
<p>An additional impression that I have of your resume is that your EC’s are a little thin, which may affect your chances at the top-tier schools on your list.</p>
<p>Cornell may be worth adding, though, or substituting for another Ivy. But I agree that the middle is where you are lacking. What about Trinity and Hamilton? Boston area—maybe Brandeis? Wellesley IS a good idea. Maybe another Pennsylvania school more selective than Ursinus----Bucknell or Lehigh?</p>
<p>I have a 3.7 weighted, 3.65 unweighted as of end of junior year which is about an A- in my schol. Course wise, I’ve taken up to Principles of Calc (accelerated each year until this), French for 4 years, and this year I’m taking AP Spanish (native). I’ve also taken the “normal” science classes (Bio, Chem, this year I’m taking Physics) but science is not my passion. </p>
<p>I can elaborate on my extra curriculars. I think it’s more important to invest my time in the areas I’m truly interested in, rather than being a member of multiple clubs and not being an active member. </p>
<p>-DAWG- Darien Animal Welfare Group for 4 years
-St. Luke’s Lifeworks- as a HW helper in the neighboring town to underpriveleged kids for 3 years, volunteer each week
-Free Thinkers Group- open discussion group, talks about anything and everything from philosophy to modern day problems, 3 years as well.
-NHS for 2 years; to be a member you had to apply and show good leadership qualities, volunteer work, and maintain grades.
-Wrestling Team as JV 103 weight class, joined as a junior and am continuing this year.
-TAB the Teen Advisory Board for our town for 2 yrs
-Scattered volunteer work at Stamford Nature and Museum Center (events)</p>
<p>I’ve recently been looking into Holy Cross. Do you think it’s more of a high target?</p>
<p>I’ll definitely take a look at the recommended. I think right now my exploring list includes Holy Cross, Trinity, Colby, Bates, Wellesley, and perhaps Hamilton, though I think I had decided to not apply there b/c I’m applying to Colgate hmm. </p>
<p>I’m also interested in a few in Penn. I’ve heard about Lehigh, Lafayette, and Muhlenberg specifically, but I’ve heard showing interest in the school is vital. Would it be too late at this point?</p>
<p>I know applying to the two ivies can be almost pointless, since it’s crazy to think they could accept me over a much deserving person with excellent grades and SATs etc, but like you said, I don’t think it hurts by now. I only have some money to lose, and a lot to gain. However, I’m going to check out the test optional schools since I’ve never really looked before.</p>
<p>Thank you all again so much! You’ve been a better help than my guidance counselors…but can’t blame them, they’re swamped.</p>
<p>With an EFC of only $1,000 you are going to have to be careful about where you apply.<br>
If a school has a price tag of over $50,000 then you better be in the very top of their applicant pool or you may end up being gapped by quite a bit.</p>
<p>The schools others and I have recommended are need blind, so the OP would not have to worry about being tapped and does not need to be top of pool. As a Hispanic I don’t think she needs to worry about being top of pool anywhere and she’s not looking for merit aid anyway.</p>