TCNJ!!!
What kind of HS are you from? Is it a highly ranked NJ school that sends kids to the super elite schools or is it more in the middle of the pack? Unfortunately, that will make a difference. You have good stats as you know. I think you got a good list from Prezbucky but I assume that you have already done some visits or at least met with the reps that come to your school. Does your school have naviance? Where do kids get in? Perhaps consider some of the women’s colleges as well.
What is on your list? As a rising senior in mid-July, hopefully you have some idea of where you want to apply. Coming from a typical NJ HS I would imaging the college talk has been going strong this spring. If not, get visiting and show interest.
Good luck!
Do some reflection and think - why do I like Columbia so much? you had solid praise for it in another post.
If it it something besides the prestige of the name then visit some other similar city schools?
size? location? population?
you say that these things don’t matter to you - but they should and probably really do
your scores are strong enough to allow you some solid choice but get our there and visit other schools
where have you been and why did/didnt you like that place?
When you have the sort of interests that can be met pretty much anywhere, it may be a good idea to make some arbitrary rules about how to eliminate colleges. My older son focused solely on good comp sci departments in places where the weather doesn’t get too hot and muggy. My younger son was Mr. Goldilocks not too small and not too big - so he wanted something in the 3000-6000 undergrad range. He left Vassar on his list in case in April he changed his mind about LACs being too small. (It’s a good size at 2900 or so.) He wanted a campus - so NYU and GW were eliminated. Urban was okay, but he wanted large green spaces and he preferred residential neighborhoods. He hated the small rural campus we visited. He knew he didn’t want a college dominated by Greek life. He didn’t care about sports. He likes to watch soccer, but that’s about how far his interest in sports goes. He wanted some place that seemed intellectual, where kids talk about ideas after classes. It turned out where he ended up talked more about politics than he liked (partly because he disagreed with a large portion of kids on one particular international issue), and might have preferred a more geeky nerdy atmosphere with kids playing video and board games. He found a small group who indulged him. I’ve known kids who eliminated colleges because they didn’t like the bathroom set up.
Finally most important find a safety you’d be happy to attend- better find two. It doesn’t have to be your state college. Both my kids got merit aid at colleges that were very strong in their field even if they weren’t tops in everything.
@yikesyikesyikes Thank you! I may have a few questions as the “application season” comes closer. (August onward)
@bopper That is already on my safety/equal-chance list!
@mom2and I’m a male student though! Haha! My high school is a pretty well-known school in central New Jersey. Overall, our students get into high ranking and top universities. (2 Harvard admissions and 1 Columbia in the Class of 2016) The matriculation is generally good though, so school name shouldn’t be a problem… Probably won’t carry as much weight as Stuyvesant or Lawrenceville Prep. though. We have naviance. I’m using it to plot recommended schools and look at the students admitted as well as denied. As for the last thing, I’m not really sure about the schools on the list! I have only heard top university names before and am pretty naive to other universities available for undergrad. Which is quite a shame, because you’re right…I should be more cognizant about a list for potential colleges.
@swampdraggin
I love Columbia because of most of the things available at the school. The Core Curriculum intrigues me, the campus is essentially an oasis in the metropolis of New York City, the professors are wonderful and the city-life is just wonderful. The facilities would be a great place to pursue my interests. I did a few programs here in the summer and adored everything about the undergraduate programs here. Even the labs are beautiful! I also visited Brown and Rutgers…
Brown – I didn’t like the campus as much. It’s pretty cramped and too hilly for my interests.
Rutgers – The math department is amazing! But I feel that the campus is also not to my taste.
I’m visiting the University of Chicago next week. Northwestern was wonderful though.
THE BIG THING ABOUT COLUMBIA THOUGH:
Affiliation with Harlem Hopsital, a facility with the same patient-base that I wish to help in my adulthood.
@mathmom I’ll keep that in mind! I seriously don’t mind the surburban/urban/rural sort of thing. I mean, walking is fine in the city and suburbs…and driving in the rural environments doesn’t bother me at all. But I will take that into account! Colleges are basically your homes for four years regardless. Might as well make sure I love the entirety of it, right?
@Metanyanya - Since you mentioned you’d like to continue fencing, you should read this thread about college fencing recruiting:
If you have questions about your fit at NCAA fencing schools (there are only about 45) based on your fencing experience, skills, and results, I’d suggest posting a question in that thread, as that may help narrow down your choices considerably. Coach support can help you with certain selective colleges, but you’d need to be contacting coaches right now if you haven’t already.
Four of the five schools you mentioned originally (all except Dartmouth) have NCAA teams. Columbia is currently the #1 team in the country, and is filled with National Champions and Olympic hopefuls.
HERE IS SOME EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT ME IN TERMS OF PREFERENCE AND STUDENT INFO:
Male / 1440 N SAT - 2100 O SAT / Urban Suburban and Rural / Private / No preference on religious association / Medium and Small / GOOD SCIENCE PROGRAMS / HOSPITAL AFFILIATION / Asian / ~$75K for annual tuition / Dual-Majoring (Science & Philosophy) …anything else that is vital? I can’t think of anything
@stencils Thanks for the guidance! I shall take a look at the thread because I truly love fencing epee and would like to foster that skill in college.
Doesn’t Rutgers have one of the top philosophy programs in the country? So even if you don’t love it, it would probably be a good safety for you. I don’t know much about pre-med stuff, but are all hospital affiliations equally available to undergrads?
Re: post #9
@Metanyanya, yes all three are superb research universities and have a medical center nearby (Pitt has several practically on campus).
Where do you want to end up after college? Sometimes it’s good to go to college in a state where you want to live so that you can make those “good ol’ boy” connections.
"I feel that my calling is to be a physician in low-income areas and help communities of people that are impoverished. "
- So, from my understanding the goal is to be accepted to the Med. School. If so, my advice, do not spend family resources on UG, attend at the cheapest place for you, on full tuition Merit or close and negotiate with parents to pay for your medical school instead. Medical Schools do not care about the name of your UG. Believe me, it is nice to be a part of about 16% of the medical school grads who graduate without student loans. Also, your UG academics will not make much difference at the medical school, that is why they accept any majors, anyone your heart desires, including but not limited to such remote ones as graduates from the Conservatory of Music (just an example). The focus of medical school admission is on college GPA, MCAT score, medical ECs and somewhat social personality in about this order of importance. You will find the opportunities for the medical ECs at absolutely any college, including those universities that do not even have their own medical schools, or Hospital affiliation. Any in-state lowest ranked public college will have an awesome opportunities for the medical ECs.
One private UG that is recognized for both, strong pre-med program and very generous Merit awards to top caliber students like yourself is Case Western. I am not familiar with many others. But, again, strong pre-med program is not necessary at all, it is just a cherry on the cake, more or less. On this path, it is going to be entirely up to you to achieve your goal, no place will help you with that. I take it back for just one aspect - strong pre-med committee is extremely helpful in the medical school application cycle.
Additional advice is to be flexible about your sport at college. Some could do it, many others could not combine it with the harsh requirements of pre-med. Just be ready to drop it, if you start feeling overwhelmed as your immediate goal will be to get an A or very close in every single class.
@mathmom I believe it does! But from my understand is that it isn’t the greatest in sciences. That’s what I’ve heard from some alumni that is.
@tutumom2001 Overall, I want to end up working in neighborhoods that are in desperate needs of doctors. Neighborhoods like what I’ve seen: Harlem, Newark and Irvington. Living is a different aspect. I want to live in the city.
@MiamiDAP I’m willing to drop the sport if necessary! And your post introduced another aspect of the ultimate goal of medical school for me. Maybe undergraduate isn’t important…however, I still want a school that will prepare me for the rigor of medical school in terms of the curriculum.
Mods - please remove the personally identifying info. The poster should not have been asked whether he attended a specific HS.