Reaches, Matches, and Safetys for me?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hello! I need some input from you guys! I read online it is good to apply to about eight schools. The list says 3 reach,3 match and 2 safety schools. I already have some options, and I'll list accordingly, but first let me give ya some background!</p>

<p>ACT: 26 (21 math, 23 science, 28 english, 33 reading, 9/12 writing) (I'm taking the test again April 24) Highest in my class of roughly 85
SAT: (I plan on taking Literature and Math subject tests, my test date is June 7)
GPA: 3.96 Unweighted, 4.19 Weighted
Activities (brace yourself): Color guard 3 years (captain 1 year), Art club 3 years (will be 4 with a hopeful officer position), FFA 2 years (JV Sentinel 1 year)(I also attended a Leadership camp that I was selected for due to outstanding quality) Math Club 1 year (will be 2 and hopefully an office!) Beta 1 year (due to relocation, would have been 4 otherwise) Boy Scouts 2 years (Captain of Venturer color guard 1 year) Scholar Bowl 3 (will be 4) years (JV captain 1 year) Prom Committee Junior Year, WYSE team 1 year (would have been 4, but, I switched schools) Speech Team 1 year (will be two) and hopefully NHS 1 year. I also volunteer for my church at bible school, and I collect cans in the winter for the food pantry on my own. I have been selected for an internship at the local paper this summer which I have accepted, and I had a job in a restaurant until I injured my shoulder on the ice this winter.
I will have 2 years of Advanced english classes next year, andddd I have a HUGE, rigorous course-load for this year and next year. </p>

<p>The colleges I have in mind are as follows:</p>

<p>Reaches: Vanderbilt University (it's only a reach due to my ACT score.)<br>
Matches: Alabama University, Southeast Missouri University.
Safety: None.</p>

<p>So, as you can see, I am looking for two suggested reaches, one suggested match, and two suggested safety schools. I prefer something kinda close to Southern Illinois, but I'm willing to apply to a couple outside of 3 hours away. </p>

<p>I appreciate any feedback y'all give! It means a lot to me! </p>

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<p>As long as you have a safety you like, don’t aim for a certain number of schools to apply to. Don’t bother applying to schools you likely won’t be able to afford or thrive at just because you want x number of reaches/matches. I’ll probably only apply to 5ish schools, for example.</p>

<p>That said, there’s nothing wrong with asking for more suggestions, I wasn’t criticizing you. And perhaps there’s better reasoning to the 8 school advice than I realize. Also, it would help to know what you intend to major in.</p>

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<p>I intend to major in Communication Studies, either minoring or double majoring in some type of Journalism. I understand exactly where you are coming from on the number thing too! I’m just worried about my acceptance since I come from a small town with limited resources, AP classes, and opportunites. I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can to ensure acceptance somewhere that I will like and not “settle” for. :)</p>

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<p>Wake is the obvious choice since it’s similar to vanderbilt and test optional </p>

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<p>Potential safeties if you have a low price limit: <a href=“Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #300 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #300 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums;

<p>More potential safeties if you have a higher price limit: <a href=“Updated list of schools with auto-admit (guaranteed admission) criteria - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1562918-updated-list-of-schools-with-auto-admit-guaranteed-admission-criteria-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You can also try the SAT, as some students do better on the SAT than the ACT.</p>

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<p>Truman State has communications majors, low cost, and automatic scholarships for your stats, so it can be a safety if you like the school and can afford it after applying the automatic scholarships.</p>

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<p><a href=“it’s%20only%20a%20reach%20due%20to%20my%20ACT%20score.”>quote</a>

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<p>But you have to bring it up considerably… and don’t think for a minute that “holistic” admission means that low standardized test scores will be overlooked. It is the one way colleges have of comparing students across the wide variety of environments they come from. So if you want a shot at Vanderbilt, you have to get your ACT score up. In 2012 the ACT composite range 50% range was 32-34. You really want to be above the 50% midpoint if possible, so you really need a 34 to have a very good shot there, IMHO.</p>

<p>Agree that Wake is good because it is test optional, and Truman State is also a good option. The Truman ACT 50% composite range was 24 - 29 in 2012, so your current score still a bit under the 50% mark. But if you are retaking it, you can turn Truman into a “likely/match” school.</p>

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<p>I understand this intparent. I know my test score won’t be overlooked. I’m not ignorant, I’m just hopeful I can bring it up considerably since I am taking the test again. I have been prepping constantly. The reason I made a 26 may not be completely environmentally caused, but there was bad weather, I was unable to have accommodations and our testing center was experiencing problems with the furnace in the middle of a snow storm. I know I can do better, especially with the practice. Another thing is Vanderbilt won’t eliminate me based only on my ACT score. If I have an outstanding application otherwise, I could just as easily be wait listed. I know it’s a bit of a reach right now, but it’s my dream school. I understand rejection is realistic, but admission is just as well. I have family on the “inside” who has given me constant advice about Vanderbilt for five years. I am visiting, interviewing, and applying early admissions. I didn’t need advice on why my reach school was actually a reach, because I already knew that.</p>

<p>Wake is a bit far for me though. Truman I will research. Thanks for the advice everyone! I am so grateful for your time.</p>

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<p>Lol… yes, they WILL eliminate you based on your ACT score if it is low. I have no idea why you would think that they wouldn’t. If your “inside” relative is telling you otherwise then they are misleading you. And waitlisted… well, it feels good, but it isn’t acceptance. The odds of getting in off a waitlist are very low. And if you come out here asking for advice, expect to get it. Your comment that it is “only a reach due to ACT score” shows a lack of understanding of how important those scores are. Now if you can bring your scores up, it is a more reasonable school for you. By the way, that “brace yourself” sort of rubs me the wrong way – your ECs are good, but not spectacular – all seem to be internal to your school, no accomplishments at a statewide level that I noticed. But you still have a couple years to go, I think, so you may have some by then.</p>

<p>You haven’t mentioned finances, are they a non-issue for you? Have you run the net price calculators with your parents on the schools you are interested in? Some parents SAY money is no problem, then when they see the expected cost of attendance they are shocked. So best to do that early with them before you spend too much time building your list. Also, students are sometimes surprised to find that while their parents COULD pay for expensive schools, they don’t want to. If you plan to apply early to Vanderbilt, it would mean you would have no chance to compare financial aid packages.</p>

<p>If you do bring your scores up, have you looked at Wash U as another reach? And you mention an interest in journalism, University of Missouri seems obvious given their strong journalism school.</p>

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<p>Okay, if you’re here to criticize me, just leave. I understand where I stand. My ACT score isn’t THAT low. Students have gotten in with 26s, 27s, 28s, 29s, and 30s. I wasn’t trying to be smart when I said “brace yourself,” I just meant there were a lot. I don’t need people to run me down the road, I can do that on my own, thanks. My parents are very involved in my decisions, and I talk to them constantly about college. I wouldn’t apply if I knew they weren’t okay with it, which is why I probably won’t attend U of Alabama.</p>

<p>Anyway, I don’t think you can really judge my chances accurately unless you are or have been in my situation, or are an admissions counselor there or attended with a low ACT score IMHO. When I posted this, I wasn’t looking for judgment, just a suggestion based on an academic fit. This gives me a chance to research a school that fits me academically to see if it also fits personally. </p>

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<p>3.96 GPA and 26 ACT collects automatic scholarships at Truman State. Let’s hope that automatic scholarships come with automatic admission.
<a href=“http://www.truman.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CombinedAbilityChart-13.png”>http://www.truman.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CombinedAbilityChart-13.png&lt;/a&gt; ($2,500 Combined Ability Scholarship)
<a href=“http://www.truman.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/NonResidentMSEP2013-14.png”>http://www.truman.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/NonResidentMSEP2013-14.png&lt;/a&gt; ($4,000 Non-Resident Scholarship)
Truman State is not that expensive to begin with:
<a href=“Tuition & Costs - Truman State University”>http://www.truman.edu/admission-cost/cost-aid/tuition-costs/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thank you @ucbalumnus‌ . You have truly been a great help! I’ve been looking at Truman all night!</p>

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<p>As has been mentioned, be sure to talk to your parents about what they are able and willing to contribute. Run the net price calculators on some of your prospective schools with them so that they are not surprised in April about what colleges may cost.</p>

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<p>Last year, Vanderbilt took 223 kids off the waitlist. They don’t list how many were on the list to start with, but it’s not impossible.</p>

<p>@KJO‌ are you familiar with the Common Data Sets released by many (most?) schools every year? Google “common data set Vanderbilt 2013” and scroll down to section c. This will give you a lot of useful info, not just their admission rates, but their scores and what they look for and how they weigh each part of an application.</p>

<p>I think it’s great you have a plan to raise your ACT. This data will give you some targets to shoot for. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Sorry, I have to agree with intparent, your ACT score IS that low for Vanderbilt. If you don’t raise it substantially, you would be wasting the application fee as well as sending test scores. I can’t see anything in your application that would give you ANY chance of admission. Not trying to be mean, just realistic. You came here for advice, you can’t just tell posters to go away because you don’t like what they have to say. </p>

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<p>I’m not saying go away because of that. I’m saying go away because that’s not what I’m asking about. I’m asking for advice on other colleges to apply to that are Reaches, Matches or Safety fitting me. Unless you are an admissions counselor don’t tell me I have zero chance. I’m not here to hear how little chance I have. I’m here to hear about other schools that fit me. If I wanted to hear about my craptastic ACT score, I’d post “Tell me about how craptastic my ACT score is!” Not, “Recommend schools for me!” Vandy is my dream and I’m not giving up on it until I get the rejection letter. ;)</p>

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<p>OP, the students with low test scores that get admitted usually have a “hook” that I don’t see in your credentials. They are recruited athletes, URMs, kids of prominent donors (very big donors), people who have done something quite spectacular from an EC perspective, or maybe from an area that brings geographic diversity (eg, Alaska, not Illinois). Don’t criticize posters who are trying to explain to you how admissions works – we know a lot more about what admissions officers are looking for than you apparently do. </p>

<p>I am glad to see that you are looking for a range of reach/match/safety schools, though. That is a smart move on your part.</p>

<p>Regarding your parents and college costs, just because you have been talking about college does not mean they have faced the financial realities of it and can meet them. Every spring we see students and parents out here who somehow thought they could work it out, then are shocked at the actual cost of attendance they are expected to pay. The Net Price Calculators that were added to all college websites are a huge benefit in avoiding this problem, and making sure you only apply to colleges you can afford. Your parents may not know about those calculators, as they haven’t been around for a long time. You should know, though, that they will often underestimate your cost of attendance if your parents are divorced, have a small business, have any trusts, or own rental real estate.</p>

<p>You want to make sure you have a financial safety; a sudden change in your family’s finances or the general economy means you need your safeties to be affordable for sure, someplace where you are almost sure to be admitted, and someplace you would want to attend. For many students that is an in-state public school.</p>

<p>Have you taken a practice SAT test? Some students do better on the SAT than the ACT – if your next ACT score doesn’t improve enough, you should consider that.</p>

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<p>Why aren’t they okay with it? You might get more suggestions if your criteria were clearer. You are looking to study communications and journalism. Do you have cost constraints, and what are they? What kind of environment do you want – size of college, rural vs. urban vs. city? How far is “too far away” – are you trying to stay within a one day drive or something? Are you okay with colleges north of you, since all the your choices on your list so far are more southern schools?</p>

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<p>Have you considered Rhodes College? What about Guilford - they’re very generous with merit aid, and do non-binding Early Notification, with free applications. Look at the “Colleges That Change Lives” website: they have a number of colleges, with a range of admissions statistics, and some are test-optional. I would definitely advise you to begin exploring test-optional colleges. If your scores go up, then you won’t have to worry, but you will have more attractive options if they don’t. My son’s first set of scores was lackluster, albeit not disastrous; both his SAT and ACT scores rose significantly last fall, and that improved his outlook. You can’t count on that happening, though. </p>