Recommended colleges for me?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So... Um, I'm pretty much undecided, but I'm most likely going to pursue BME. I'm dead-set on getting my doctorate degree, if that makes any difference. So, I'd like to go to a school with engineering, naturally, but doesn't restrict you to it (as many often do). I want to do some soul-searching in college, especially since I'm going to graduate school anyways. I'm currently looking at Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, and Swarthmore.</p>

<p>The most important factors for me are intellectual freedom (I don't want to only take math/science classes, even though I'm geared toward them) and a bright, curious student population. I honestly hate being at the top of my class, because it doesn't motivate me to do better. I want smart peers, not just academically, but sagaciously.</p>

<p>Also, is it okay for me to major in a science, rather than BME if I plan on studying it in grad school? Or is it best if I start off in engineering?</p>

<p>Anyways, thank you for your time! The following are my stats, so you can get an idea of what my matches and reaches are, etc.:</p>

<p>-Academics-
GPA: 4.0 unweighted (4.6 weighted)
APs: Physics B (5), Chem (5), Calc BC (5), Engl Lang (5), and U.S. History (5).
Currently taking AP MacroEcon, AP Gov and Politics, AP Stats, AP Eng Lit, AP Bio, and AP Environmental.
SATs: Reasoning (2270), Math Level 2 (800), Physics (800), and Chem (730).
Rank: 1 out of a class of 586
Notes: I've taken a class over each of the past two summers at a community college (Spanish II and Humanities 101).</p>

<p>-Extracurriculars-
*Internship with my mother's company regarding biomedical research (not all that great haha)
Track and Field Sophomore year (JV)
Cross-country Junior Year (JV)
*Claremont Youth Symphony Orchestra (Junior (2nd Chair) and Senior Year (Section Leader))
*Concert Band/Wind Ensemble (All four years)
Volunteer Work at Elementary Schools (Junior and Senior Years, very light amount)
National Honor Society (Sophomore through Senior; Parliamentarian Senior Year)
Eyes Around the World Club (Junior and Senior Years; Commissioner of Activities senior year)
Academic Decathlon (Senior Year; Director (teacher) of Economics)
Video Game Club (Senior Year; Secretary)</p>

2

<p>Engineering is a wonderful degree to have, but it doesn’t leave you much room in your schedule for exploring. Of course, most engineering programs do require physics and chemistry so you would take some science. I encourage you to explore the “academics” section of the school websites. You can compare the requirements for a degree in engineering vs a degree in biochemistry or biology.</p>

3

<p>Fair enough. :slight_smile: Thanks for the reply!</p>

<p>Actually, I just thought of another question… Does it matter if you get a B.S. or B.A. or B.S.E. in engineering for graduate school? O_o And could you please recommend some schools for me? :D</p>

4

<p>Your list only has schools that fall into the category of “a reach for everyone” due to the low admissions rates. It is easy to suggest others that meet your needs such as Duke, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Columbia, etc, but you need to ensure that your list includes a safety also. Do you have any of those that you have not listed?</p>

<p>As to which undergrad degree you need for grad school. It does not matter which designation is given if your school only offers one. However, if your school offers both a BA and a BS it is preferred that you get the BS if you want to go to grad school in that field. As you plan for grad school it is also important to get some research experience while an undergrad.</p>

5

<p>O.P.-I agree with cltdad, while you certainly have the stats to get into all of your choices, it doesn’t mean you actually will. You should definitely add a couple of good safety schools, and if cost is an issue at all, some financial safeties as well.</p>

6

<p>All your schools are super reaches.</p>

<p>where are your matches and financial safety schools?</p>

<p>Is money an issue or will your parents pay whatever the school expects them to pay?</p>

7

<p>My suggestion is to scatter as wide a net as possible - by that I mean apply to lots of top schools. You are in the 50/50 range at a lot of top schools and to get through you are going to have to send lots of apps. In some ways this will serve as a safety net. If I were you I would apply to the reaches you have listed plus some reaches/ high matches like Penn (Reach), Amherst (Reach), Northwestern, Rice, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Cornell, and others. To be safe add Michigan and a place like Emory.</p>

8

<p>You look great for top schools, but what are your safety schools?</p>

<p>(FWIW, I think you would like an undergrad physics major more than an undergrad engineering major.)</p>

9

<p>Oops, sorry! I’m currently doing the Questbridge program, so it only has top schools and it will (hopefully) take care of my financial situation.</p>

<p><em>sigh</em> I guess my safeties would be UCLA and UC Berkeley, and, as you guys said, Duke, Rice, and Cornell would be the in-betweens. Thanks for the help everyone! :)</p>

<p>And what are some good financial safety schools, though? Sorry for my endless stream of questions, but I can only apply to the afore mentioned schools, so if I don’t get in, money is a massive problem (hence why I qualify for the program). I thought that Duke, Rice, and the other semi-Ivies (or just Ivy equivalents) had generous financial aid?</p>

10

<p>UCLA and Berkeley are NOT safeties for anyone. You have no assurance that you will get into either school.</p>

<p>Your safety is a school that you know FOR SURE that you’ll get accepted to and you know for sure that you’ll have funding for.</p>

<p>So, pick a UC that you know you’ll get accepted to as your safety. Are you assured for a few UCs???</p>

11

<p>Are you in state for UCLA and CAL? I would be shocked if you did not get into both in-state, in my eyes they are almost safeties. But to be safe it might be worth sending an app out to Michigan now. Its rolling so you won’t need safeties when you get in (likely before January).</p>

12

<p>Ah, sorry! XDD Yeah, I’m in-state. I have a few friends who got into both, and I fairly confident I can get in… Michigan in Ann Harbor, right? And yes, I neglected to mention UCSD, as well. Sorry if I sound too cocky/dreamer-ish! And thanks again, all.</p>

13

<p>I honestly believe here is almost an absolutely zero chance you’d be rejected from either UCLA or UCB, let alone both. But UCSD is a great “safety.” I would really send a number of apps out, for you I think its the best strategy.</p>