Recommendations on where to apply? Also Unique EC

College Search & Selection
1

Hi all, I’ve looked at too many of these threads and I’m not sure where to even begin looking. I don’t like doing this type of stuff but I just need help.I am a junior. I live in upstate NY, am a white male, and am wanting to go to california for college. I want to major in environmental sciences, really want to do something with renewable energy resources in the future. Any thoughts.

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown):1480
ACT (breakdown):33
SAT II:Not yet
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):NA
Weighted GPA: idk but I have a 96.5 with strong upwards trend (98 between sophmore junior years)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
AP (place score in parenthesis): APES (5) AP World (5) AP Chem (predicted 5) AP Physics (predicted 4) AP Lang (predicted 5), AP Calc AB (predicted 5) AP Psychology (Predicted 5)
IB (place score in parenthesis):NA
Senior Year Course Load: Idk but probably 5 APs- Macro, Micro, BC Calc, Bio, Lit, self harp study and APES T.A
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None (This scares me lol) I might be getting NMSF tho

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
-Trained on the folk harp for 12 years now- it is my job, community service, and my passion. Have played at notable art galleries and venues within my area.
NOTE: Because I’m a folk harpist, not a pedal harpist, I could never join big-scale youth orchestras or participate in big-level competitions, That stuff is all reserved for pedal harpists… Idk if that’ll hurt me
-Partnership with a Top 25 University with a community outreach program I started this year. We also recieved substantial grant money. Program is to inspire underpriveleged kids to love science by performing science experiments in the inner city. Have a solid group of 15 members, all top science students at school. We’ve done a couple of “shows” with a plan to do 5 more next year (11-12).
-Speech and Debate (9-12): Have qualified for states twice, as well as Qualifications to National Tourneys (NCFL and NSDA once each)… captain next year of group of 40 kids or so… Also won districts and league in my event.
-JETS team (10-12) National qualifier this year, captain next year.
-Habitat for humanity (9-12): I’m vice president, most likely president next year, have organized a 5k and again this summer and raised some money.

  • Quizbowl 4 years
    -Environmental Club (pres next year): 3 years
    Other less relevant stuff

Job/Work Experience: harp has been my only form of employment, have made around 5,000 bucks looking like i’ll make more this summer. I’ve tutored a little too.
Volunteer/Community service: 500 hours… 300 harp (I play in a group with 7 other harps and we’ve played at like every nursing home lol… this also includes my own stuff), 100 church, 75 inner city program, 25 misc.

Summer Activities: Nm but harp so far, this summer working with Cornell on plant science.

Schools I am considering already:
Cornell
Berkeley
Northeastern
UC San Diego
Bowdoin (maybe)
Stanford…(don’t roast me please lol)

2

What can you and your parents pay/year for college? Are you eligible or in-need of financial aid?

3

Im gonna need aid… that’s why UC’s ik are probs a no go @Gumbymom… any schools youd recommend

4

You are correct that the UC’s will most likely be close to full pay at $60K/year to attend. You might want to look a Pitzer/Pomona and Claremont McKenna colleges (3 of the 5 Claremont Consortium) which has an excellent Environmental Analysis program. They are private LAC’s which may give decent FA.

http://colleges.claremont.edu/ea/curriculum/

Also look at Santa Clara University although their FA is not usually great.
https://www.scu.edu/cas/ess/

5

@Gumbymom alright will do! Could you chance me at the colleges I listed… Disregard money for now

6

You are a very qualified applicant, but other than the UC’s, I do not feel qualified to chance you for the other schools. I would also add USC to your list since they offer 1/2 tuition for NMSF’s.

7

Work hard! You’ll be a great candidate for Stanford!

8

Bump

9

I think you’re good for all the schools you listed, but Stanford might be a slight reach (but they like quirky applicants, so you have a shot!). IDK if you’re able to participate, but the YoungArts competition has a music (including harp) category that you might be interested in. Best of luck!

Chance me back? http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1968508-chance-me-for-selective-top-schools-ill-chance-back.html#latest

10

Bump… I’ll chance back!!!

11

Your list looks really and good well rounded are you are definitely not a run of the mill “competitive” applicant! What are your safeties/matches?

12

@jf09199 Thanks- honestly if I don’t make a top environmental school, im gonna attend a SUNY school for full ride( they’re completely free for in-state apps making less than 100k!!!)

13

honestly you have a great chance!!! don’t think that stanford won’t accept you because they will! i honestly see it! i don’t know a lot of great engineering schools but try usc

14

@softiestudies woah thanks! I feel like usc is a little too much of a party school for my liking, plus i think it would be too big for my taste. But I’ll definitely consider it!

15

You do sound like Pitzer to me.

As a more affordable college in your region, apply to SUNY ESF. My cousin went there and it really is a hidden gem.

Science + Music = St Olaf in many people’s minds.

16

Seconding St. Olaf.

17

@Harpguy2022 - You appear to be an excellent candidate for just about any school! You can Chance yourself by Googling any school you are interested in, along with the phrase: Common Data Set 2016. You will see a LOT of data, including the Freshman Admissions, which profiles the stats from the incoming class. You want your stats to be above the 75th percentile, for the best chance of being admitted, and earning merit scholarships. In the C Set you can also see which criteria they consider “Very Important” “Important” and “Considered,” etc. AND there is info, further down about Financial Aid.

Search the Internet for a list of schools the meet 88-100% of need. Or just “Meets need.”

Lastly, work with your parents to complete The Net Price Calculator, for any school you are interested in. They are getting more and more accurate, each year. Especially if there are a lot of detailed questions (they’ll be similar to the questions you and your Parents will have to answer on the FAFSA & provably the CSS Profile, in the file.)

18

Bump

19

Occidental
http://www.oxy.edu/california-environment-semester

20

SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Stonybrook.