Recommended Matches and safeties for potential Math major? Help with college search.

College Search & Selection
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I have a preference to stay close ( for my mom) however this preference is overridden in a situation between a reach and a match, and maybe between a low match vs high match decision(mom would understand in that situation). For example, If I were accepted to UChicago and MIT, though I would prefer the surrounding area of MIT (and some would argue it is more prestigious) I would certainly choose UChicago first because it is in state. I intend to be a math (general) major, so I look for a strong and enthusiastic math dept., but I also require music programs such as a concert band and orchestra. I would prefer a smaller undergraduate class and am not apposed to attending a UG only school. However, this is not a make or break preference, I would not hate to go to a larger school. I truly despise constant warm weather ( probs minority here ) I must experience all 4 seasons or else I will most likely hate my life. I’d prefer a more academic centered school, without the “rah-rah” of college. Similarly, I would prefer a school that has, at least, limited care for athletics, as I really don’t care. The smaller the city the better generally. Though extremely rural towns can get boring, not many upper tier colleges are in overly rural towns. I just generally want to avoid a huge city.

To sum up, I will divide my filters by level of importance.

Considered, but low priority: Size of class (preferably smaller), Rah-Rah level (preferably less) Substance free housing/ Reasonable drug safety ( My mother wants this, but I’m convinced I can handle myself to stay substance free)

Reasonable importance: Location(close to home is preferred, in IL), Strong college town, Size of city/town ( pretty much anything but a large city or an overly rural town)

Very important: weather (4 seasons, prefer to lean to the colder side, Is it silly to have this here?) Strong class( I prefer peers who are just as smart or smarter than I, I learn the most this way, I would not be satisfied In a school where I was WAY above average.) Strong research opportunities in mathematics, Academics must be the university’s first priority

Must have: Strong Mathematics Dept./program, Music groups/opportunities(concert band and orchestra, (I guess it doesn’t have to be DIRECTLY related to the college, but I could not go without playing in a music group), Coed ( I simply would not go to a single gender school)

“All of the above text was copied from one of my previous posts. If something i said doesn’t make sense, that’s why.”
Thanks

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No one can give you matches or safeties without your stats. Why aren’t you writing your own posts?

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@elena3142 I can’t believe I forgot to include stats.
ACT 34 (34e36m32r34s) gpa uw 4, school does not weigh wgpa probably around 4.35-4.4
I think you misunderstood the statement at the bottom. What I have there was typed by me, just as a comment on another of my own posts.

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If your school does not weight GPA then you don’t have a WGPA. You can’t just pick your own system to convert.

How much can your family afford? A safety must be affordable.

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@“Erin’s Dad” About 25k or so each year or so max(pushing it)
The system I used weighs honors classes at 4.5 and AP at 5, I figured it is a fairly common system, but your comment is correct.

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What about UIUC? In state affordable and a great school.

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@elena3142 I am definitely considering UIUC. I would consider it a safety school. Though I would prefer to avoid a school that large and in cornfield territory, the location is just too good (close to home). The price is also good; the academics aren’t bad either.
I don’t think I want to apply to more safeties (there will be lower matches of course, just prefer to avoid more schools where I have a 80+% chance) I am currently looking for matches. Places where I would have a 30-60% chance.

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Well 25k can be on the low end for OOS tuition so you’d have to look for schools that offer merit aid, OOS scholarships, and of course you should know if you can qualify for a decent amount of federal aid.

If you need merit aid, generally your looking at schools where you’d be at their top ten percent as far as your stats. Don’t measure your self up to what percentage the school excepts. Often big large public schools will admit a larger number and there is weeding out that happens.

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It is hard to say your chances without knowing more, but I would look into Michigan. It has a great math program, has all four seasons (overall colder weather), awesome music opportunities, excellent student body academically, offers substance-free housing if you want it, relatively close to Illinois, strong research opportunities (Michigan’s UROP program is renowned and my academic advisor said that many other prestigious institutions have based their own undergraduate research programs off of Michigan’s model), and the college town is AMAZING.

Things you may not like: There is a huge RAH-RAH factor, but I guess it is possible to avoid it. Also,your class size will be large, but you can make it “smaller” by applying to the various awesome Living Learning Communities.

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You need a safety besides UIUC – it is a match, There were stunning rejections there this year, even in state.

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@intparent what rejections are you talking about? CC users?

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@yikesyikesyikes it seems like umich will be unaffordable for me :(, my mom liked the school, me not so much, but I was ok with it.

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Yes, CC users.

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UIUC is getting increasingly competitive. Do you know if you’ll be receiving large amount of need based aid? Or will you be competing for merit aid primarily?

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How about Case Western?

It’s in the Midwest, smaller, in a med sized city, offers good merit aid, has a strong academic reputation, 4 seasons, research for UGs is strong.

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@proudpatriot case is on my watch list (colleges i’m considering) I was going to consider it a safety, But it seems many CCers would disagree. Is it wrong to call it a safety?

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Have not submitted FAFSA @elena3142

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Well yes, of course not, you can’t yet. But do you know if your families in a position that you will qualify for a large amount of need based aid?

If you don’t know, do some research and talk to your parents. Net price calculators on schools can help give some indication but they are not 100% reliable.

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My son graduated from Case with a math major. I don’t think it’s really a safety but more of a match but it hits all your points so you should consider it.

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“To be considered for federal student aid for the 2016-2017 award year, you can complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) between January 1, 2016 and midnight Central Time, June 30, 2017. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by midnight Central Time, September 23, 2017.” Fafsa.ed.gov So unless I’m misunderstanding something, you can. But I am a First gen college noob sooooooo.
@elena3142
So to give a guess on Need based aid:
Since my parents are small business owners, the net price calcs are iffy. I am set to get good amounts of need based aid at those school who offer good amounts.