<p>I'm back after posting a thread not too long ago. I've done a lot of visits over the last week and I'm back in the mode of trying to piece together my college list. By application time, I should have a 3.7ish UW GPA with mostly AP/Honors classes and I expect to get a similar score on the SAT as I got on the PSAT (216). Taking the Math II and Chem subject tests in a few weeks. Here's what I've found through visits:</p>
<p>Visited schools:
*Amherst - loved it, definitely first choice so far and worth applying to me even though I'll get rejected for sure (in early decision).
*Bowdoin - wasn't a huge fan, given how much of a reach it is I don't think it's worth applying.
*Brown - didn't actually visit, but I did a summer program there so I know the campus. Again, not sure if the pros actually make it worth the tiny chance of getting in.
*Colby - I was pleasantly surprised by Colby. I love the "feel" of the campus and the student body.
*Northeastern - I was a bit put off by the urban setting; I don't think I want to apply here.
*MIT - Same deal as Northeastern. As much as I said it was my dream school in the last thread, I clearly didn't know what I was talking about. Can't stand how busy and urban it is.
*Tufts - I liked it a lot, but I'm not quite sure why.
*Wesleyan - Same as Tufts. Just felt right for some reason.
*Williams - felt only a tiny bit better than Bowdoin, and just as much of a reach if not more. Not applying here.</p>
<p>So now my college list looks like this:
Amherst
Bucknell (haven't visited)
Carnegie Mellon (haven't visited)
Colby
Tufts
UMass Amherst (don't really plan on visiting but I live half an hour away so I could)
U of Rochester (haven't visited)
Vassar (haven't visited)
Wesleyan</p>
<p>Given how I reacted to other campus visits, do you think I'd probably have similar reactions to any of the ones I haven't visited? For example, Carnegie Mellon would probably be too urban for me and maybe Rochester as well. Also, as you can see, that list is heavy on reaches (Amherst, Tufts, Vassar, Wesleyan) and light on safeties (maybe even nonexistent). Can you recommend me some safeties similar to the colleges I already like? Thanks.</p>
<p>Assuming that you maintain a 3.7 and can get 2100-2200, on the SATs, none of the schools on your list is really impossible. Sure, there are places like Amherst, which is hard for anyone. But this is the kind of school that you’re trying to reach to.</p>
<p>Looking at Vassar’s data set, for example, I think your numbers fit right in.</p>
<p>Ok, some advice – visit more schools. Definitely visit U-Mass if it’s only a half hour away (It’s probably a safety school for you, but you should treat your safety schools with respect). </p>
<p>While you’re visiting Vassar – maybe throw in Bard College.
While you’re visiting Bucknell – maybe throw in Lehigh or Lafayette
While you visit U Mass – maybe look at Hampshire</p>
<p>Anyway, it seems that you’re right on track – you’ve decided that you don’t want an urban school, which is a good step in narrowing things down.</p>
<p>You might want to consider some of the midwestern LACs: Carleton, Grinnell and Oberlin. They are less preppy than those on your list right now, but also somewhat easier to get into. Grinnell also offers merit aid without financial need. If you are into music, Oberlin is a fantastic option, due the the associated music conservatory. Carleton has a national reputation among LACs comparable to Bowdoin, though again, less preppy.</p>
<p>Vassar is a great school, but it is in Poughkeepsie - an urban area.</p>
<p>Sounds like UMass can be a safety as long as you LIKE it and it’s affordable. Your safeties have to be affordable (with family funds, assured grant/scholarships) and you have to LIKE them.</p>
<p>Have you talking to your parents about how much they’ll spend? if they’ll spend $55k plus per year for wherever you go, then super. If not, they you need to carefully pick safeties…many safeties give lousy aid/merit.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s the tricky part. It’s easy enough to find a small college in the northeast with average scores much lower than mine but I have absolutely no idea how to tell if a college is good with financial aid.</p>
<p>To see how a college is with FA google their common data set and look at section H. It will show the number students with need, how many received FA and what % of need was met. Also you need to figure out your EFC. Just because YOU think you have need, the numbers may say something different.</p>
<p>Even if a school is SUPER with FA, that doesn’t mean that you’ll get what you want. A school may determine that your family has little or no need.</p>
<p>Have your parents do the NPCs for a few schools.</p>
<p>If your SAT has been accurately predicted by your PSAT, and you keep your GPA where it’s at, I’d say you’re good to call UMass-Amherst a safety. But tuition is around $12,797. That’s pretty pricey for in-state public, and only 67% of freshmen get FA</p>
<p>There are a lot of excellent LACS which are just a bit easier to get into so you may want to check into one or two of them. My nephew (who is at Wesleyan) also liked Skidmore. Some other good LACs are Lafayette, Franklin and Marshall and Dickinson in PA (and there are a bunch more). Union (NY) and Trinity (CT) are in more urban areas which you don’t seem to like as much.</p>
<p>So I’ve been searching a bit for safeties (in addition to UMass Amherst of course) and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about these 4 colleges, especially in terms of money: </p>
<p>Quinnipiac University (a friend visited and said it was awesome)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Ithaca College
Skidmore College (not really a safety as much as a low match but it looks nice).</p>
<p>Sorry to bump my own thread, but I haven’t been getting much feedback. With a college list of the following, how should I categorize them into matches, reaches, and safeties? I’ll make some guesses and you guys can tell me how far off I am:</p>
<p>Reaches:
Amherst
Tufts
Vassar
Wesleyan</p>
<p>Matches:
Bucknell
Colby (borderline reach?)
Connecticut
U of Rochester
Skidmore (borderline safety?)
SUNY Geneseo (will I get any financial aid at all?)</p>
<p>What state are you in? That could affect what public schools you want to apply to. If you’re looking for science/technology (judging by your subject tests), you should refine your reaches to include Cornell and knock off Wesleyan. If you want a liberal arts school, those are good.</p>
<p>I’m from Massachusetts. I’m not too picky about the major but I like the small/medium liberal arts feel so I don’t know how I’d handle Cornell. If I were to get into a college where it’s possible, I’d major in chem engineering but either chemistry or economics would probably be fine too. I’m not really deeply interested in any subject, but I know what I’m good at.</p>
<p>Cornell is located in a rural setting; you would probably like it as the campus is relaxed and spread out. Also, it is well-rounded, so there’s no pressure on you to pick a specialty (engineering, liberal arts, etc). But it would be pretty far. Does distance matter? If not, definitely apply. </p>
<p>Rensselaer is relatively close. So is Binghamton, but that’s an out-of-state public (financial aid would be difficult) and I’m not so sure about their variety of options (engineering is not too great there). Syracuse University isn’t far; that’s probably a match.</p>
<p>“it is well-rounded, so there’s no pressure on you to pick a specialty (engineering, liberal arts, etc)”</p>
<p>You must apply to a particular college at Cornell. It is possible to do an internal transfer, but you do need to pick a specialty before you apply.</p>
<p>I’m willing to go about 5 hours (driving) away from western Mass. The same friend (much lower GPA and test scores than me but we seem to be similar regarding what we like in a college) who recommended Quinnipiac visited Syracuse as a possible reach and said it was too big and urban for him. </p>
<p>About Cornell: It sounds good, but is it even worth applying since it’s so selective? With my GPA I think Ivies are out of the question. I know Amherst is even harder to get into, but it’s by far my first choice. Not sure about Wesleyan although I did enjoy my visit. You said Cornell was relaxed. Can you expand on that since it’s got so many students? How would it compare to the feeling of a liberal arts college?</p>
<p>Oh, I just thought I should throw in that some of the schools on your list want you to “show” interest. Bucknell, for instance, want to see that you have visited before applying.</p>