Reach/ Target/ Safety?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I literally have no idea what school would be considered a reach, target, or safety school for me- help me?</p>

<p>I have a 3.73 unweighted and 4.333 weighted average GPA. My SAT is 2130. I take all honors and APs, by the end of this year I will have taken 8 APs. I have at least 500 volunteer hours and am involved in a lot on school organizations (NHS, school clubs, used to do sports)</p>

<p>Any opinions will be greatly appreciated! I know my description is pretty vague, I just want a ballpark. I am fine with any schools, but brownie points if they are in California! Thanks so much and I will totally clarify anything if needed!</p>

2

<p>This may be a helpful thread for you.<br>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/456743-how-build-college-application-list.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/456743-how-build-college-application-list.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Is a 3.73 some kind of A? What is you SAT section breakdown? Do you have AP exam scores? Do you have SATII scores? What is your approximate class rank? Are you a California resident? </p>

<p>As a non-Californian, I am no expert on admissions to California state schools, but I know that they calculate the GPA in a very specific way and that one’s “regular” GPA may be different.</p>

<p>It sounds like Stanford would be a big reach, Pomona and Harvey Mudd would also be significant reaches, and Occidental might be a match. Loyola Marymount might be a safety.</p>

<p>On the Claremont colleges, I’ve always had the impression that it is a tougher admit for Californians. I also don’t know how Claremont McKenna would fit it…I believe it is less reachy than Pomona and Harvey Mudd.</p>

<p>Really, more information is needed from you. (Including some idea of your likes and dislikes and ambitions.)</p>

4

<p>Your intended or possible majors will be important in determining which schools are academically appropriate for you.</p>

<p>Your cost constraints, if any, are part of the what goes in to determining whether a school is a reach, match, or safety. (A school cannot be a safety if you are not certain of being able to afford it.)</p>

5

<p>What do you want to major in?</p>

6

<p>I’ll add some more info - sorry it was so vague. I am a California resident and am looking to major in pyschology and go to grad school for occupational therapy. I don’t really care where I go for undergrad, just hopefully somewhere I might be able to get a scholarship. </p>

<p>SAT breakdown:
CR: 710, M: 730, W: 690.
SAT IIs:
English Literature: 630
Math Level II: 640
U.S. History: 690
APs:
English literature: 4
US and Euro: 3</p>

<p>I honestly just want a ballpark- whatever you think based on the information given. Thanks.</p>

7

<p>Well, San Jose State has an undergraduate occupational therapy major, but it is highly competitive to get into (it is the only state university in California that has that major). For fall 2012 freshman admissions, students needed a CSU eligibility index of 4600 for that major. The CSU eligibility index is calculated by CSU<em>GPA * 800 + SAT</em>CR + SAT_M.
<a href=“http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/admission/rec-1011.html[/url]”>http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/admission/rec-1011.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>San Jose State’s in-state cost of attendance is about $26,000 per year.
<a href=“http://www.sjsu.edu/faso/Applying/Cost_of_Attendence/[/url]”>http://www.sjsu.edu/faso/Applying/Cost_of_Attendence/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>What about UC Irvine?</p>

9

<p>“I don’t really care where I go for undergrad, just hopefully somewhere I might be able to get a scholarship.”</p>

<p>How big a scholarship do you need or want? Spend some time in the Financial Aid Forum and read the threads on guaranteed merit-based scholarships so that you can get a notion of what is available. Take a look at the threads there that discuss the various California state aid programs (Blue & Gold, Cal Grant, etc.), and visit [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) for an overview of how federal need-based programs work.</p>