Recommend some good target colleges? Quite a bit to read here...

College Search & Selection
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<p>Thanks for taking the time to read all this! I know it's a lot.</p>

<p>Here's the thing: I have a list of colleges which I want to apply to, but I'm getting very conflicted. I decided I don't want low-matches or safeties (I have UT Austin for that), nor do I want high-reach schools (a waste of money and time), so I'm asking y'all to recommend some good target schools.</p>

<p>Stats:
- ACT: 33 (33 Eng, 34 M, 33 R, 30 S)
- SAT: retaking in Oct with a projected 2150
(I got 2020 the first time around with a 670 R, 740 M, 610 W, but I didn't study at all.)
- SAT II: 740 Math I, 780 USH
taking Math II in November for UC Berkeley, will study for 780-800
- All Pre-AP core classes; 4 APs jr year, 5 or 6 APs sr year
- Rank: #7 / 580
- GPA: 3.85 UW / 4.4 W (Got 3 Bs first semester in 9th grade, all As after that) </p>

<p>EC/Volunteering - weak point:
- Yearbook & Newspaper as photographer (all 4 years)
- A few minor photojournalism awards
- Art (photography) in 9th grade. Won 2 awards on a local-level. Got to a state competition. I "dropped out" post-9th grade, after changing schools, but I plan on being active for my senior year...
- Key Club (international service club, largest in our school): Historian 11th grade, President 12th grade
- Photography Club (second-largest in school): Treasurer 11th grade, some officer position in 12th grade
- Animal shelter volunteer (~10 hrs / mo, started late jr year)
- Member of my county's Youth Democrat Association (started late jr year)
- Academic Challenge (2 years), Academic Decathalon (1 year)</p>

<ul>
<li>Looking to go into the math or social science field. </li>
<li>Female (may be an advantage in math-focused schools)</li>
<li>From TX</li>
<li>Decent public school</li>
<li>Middle Eastern and Pakistani.</li>
</ul>

<p>I'm looking for urban locations and/or places with good opportunities (internships, etc). I want prestige and good academics with a great campus and amenities. I really want a college that has a "studious" vibe with intelligent and eager students. I want a subdued (not nonexistent) party/frat scene. Nothing too conservative or too liberal; if a must, I prefer a lean towards liberal - though my idea of liberal may be skewed as I'm from TX. My family's income is low so I need a university that is capable of providing good financial aid (I think most good private universities are capable; just double checking). Mind, if my acceptance chances are good and the University's great, I can take out an interest-free loan through a wealthy relative, but it's honestly a last resort.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>Hmmm…some/many of these are more reach-y, but not out of this world:</p>

<p>Northwestern, Rice, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago…for LACs, Carleton, Swarthmore, maybe Smith if you’d be interested in a women’s college…just some to start with!</p>

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<p>NYU is very urban and has a lot of internship opportunities. It’s a school worth considering</p>

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<p>You mentioned Berkeley, but it gives very little financial aid to out of state students. Most out of state public universities are not generous with financial aid (though Virginia and North Carolina may be exceptions, and Alabama is trying to attract good students with merit scholarships), though some (e.g. Minnesota, Virginia Tech, and Cal Poly) have lower “full list price” than many others.</p>

<p>Some of the schools that are super-reaches for everyone (e.g. Stanford) are generous with financial aid for those whom they do admit.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Economics?</p>

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<p>@CaliforniaDancer Thank you! A lot of those are on my list. I was on the bar about U Chicago being too unlikely, but it is probably my top school at the moment.</p>

<p>@chaosakita Thanks! I considered NYU, but their finaid isn’t the best. I may give it a shot if I have space for an extra college.</p>

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<p>@ucbalumnus Ah, I was going to mention that! It’s still only a possibility for exactly the reason you mentioned. However, my dad really likes the school (a rarity; he likes Harvard and MIT and he thinks the rest are extremely easy to get into) and it’s brilliant for Economics. Economics is indeed on the top of my list for majors as it encompasses both, but I’m leaving my options open.</p>

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<p>Carnegie Mellon</p>

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<p>^ I’ve gotten that one a lot! Thanks :)</p>