I am currently in the process of compiling a list of colleges I want to apply to!
My GPA is a little over a 3.0 UW, 3.3-3.4ish W with 7-8 honors classes
ACT- 30 composite, 35 English 33 Reading 27 Math 26 Science
Waiting on the June ACT results to come out to see if I topped 30! (Pretty certain I got from 31-33).
ECs-Played soccer for my school freshman + sophomore year, played piano since I was very young, school newspaper writer freshman year, spanish club, french club, yearbook club junior year, have had 2 jobs since last summer (20 hrs/wk), and some community service.
My common app essay will be AMAZING and my recs should be pretty good.
I live in Cincinnati, Ohio.
So in terms of colleges for me, I have:
Safeties: University of Cincinnati (I live half an hour away), BGSU
Matches/Low reaches: Ohio State, San Diego State (I NEED TO ADD MORE!!)
Reaches: ??? hm…University of Michigan? I don’t know…Am I reaching way too far to something completely unrealistic? 
As you can see I’m pretty clueless…
I’m looking to add (and maybe remove) schools from this list. I don’t want to go anywhere in the south (So, for ex., Rice, University of Alabama, Louisiana, etc). I think I’d be happier at a larger school though I’m not really sure. I would also like to attend a school with a beautiful campus and a good social scene, where people are connected and not doing their own thing. Money isn’t really an issue.
Any other colleges you suggest I add to my list? Also, are these good schools for me with my stats???
<<<
My GPA is a little over a 3.0 UW, 3.3-3.4ish W
<<<
that’s going to be a problem with reaches. UMich would be a high reach for that GPA.
I don’t think San Diego State is possible OOS with your GPA.
Why won’t you consider any southern schools? Many have gorgeous campuses, good social scenes, people are connected, and spirited traditions.
Can you afford out of state tuition?
If you check out my post “List Advice: North Carolina and South Carolina Based” you should find some matches. I have very similar scores to you.
Except my list is very much southern based. Why are you against going to school in the south?
Your GPA and ACT are a little low for the likes of places like UMichigan and SDSU imo. If you can get the ACT up to a 32, you’d be in a safer position admissions-wise. Do you know what you want to do/major in? With your stats, there are plenty of places in Ohio to look first before wandering out of state like Kent State, Miami University, Marietta, Notre Dame College, and Kenyon as a reach.
@mom2collegekids @ntk131998
What Southern colleges would you recommend for safeties, reaches, and matches for my stats? I’m just more liberal/democratic and the South just seems more conservative/republican.
@TheDidactic I’m not sure what I want to major in yet. Would you say Ohio State would be a low reach for me? I’d say that’s my top school right now. I’m not sure, in terms of reaches, what to add to my list (besides Kenyon College).
I could say that Ohio State is a high match/low reach, yes.
OK, so I have removed SDSU from the list. My list now looks like
Safeties- UC, BGSU
Matches/low reaches- Ohio State
Reaches- Kenyon College
I would like to add at least 2 more matches and maybe 1-2 more reaches to this list. Any suggestions?
Other reaches can be Case Western, Oberlin, and Denison.
Matches and low reaches can be Wooster, Xavier, and University of Dayton.
Schools in the Philly area are VERY good, and could probably be matches or safeties for you. Specifically, I’d recommend Drexel, Temple, La Salle, and Villanova. Very flexible as far as majors are concerned with solid reputations around the country. Drexel also has a fantastic co-op program that gives you REAL work experience while you’re still in college. I’d check it out.
@codemachine Thank you! I will.
My daughter had similar stats (3.1 unweighted, 3.7 weighted and ACT 31) as you. She looked at southern and west coast schools because the northeast was too competitive and she didn’t want the midwest. She ended up applying to one midwest school and that’s where’s she going in the fall. So don’t exclude entire regions.
Her schools were small liberal arts colleges, more like Kenyon in size although they aren’t necessarily in a tiny hamlet like Gambier. She was admitted to all:
UNC Asheville - Good school. Great city. Match.
New College of Florida - maybe reach, maybe match.
Hendrix college - It’s in Arkansas but don’t write off the state or the school. Accepts 80% but surprisingly good stats.
Eckerd - safety
Willamette - match on the west coast
University of Puget Sound - match also on the west coast
Cornell College - low match
@SlackerMomMD Thanks for your suggestions! I was actually thinking about applying to Tulane which is in the South. (which would probably be a reach?) Anyways, thanks so much. 
@sarajessica Are your course grades as erratic as your ACT subscores?
I agree with slackermomMD
in my opinion Hendrix College a true Gem! many people apply their preconceived stereotypes and never think of a school like hendrix which is a mistake on the students part. happy students, beautiful campus, supportive faculty and staff.
https://www.hendrix.edu/
<<<
@mom2collegekids @ntk131998
What Southern colleges would you recommend for safeties, reaches, and matches for my stats? I’m just more liberal/democratic and the South just seems more conservative/republican.
[QUOTE=""]
[/QUOTE]
While “the south” may be more conservative, colleges (and their towns) are not necessarily so.
On the flip side, some colleges that you are considering may be in “blue states,” but may be in conservative counties or towns. Most counties in the US are red…lol.
Most colleges are far more liberal than their surroundings. Even colleges in more conservative states will have a wide range of students and overall will be more middle of the road. Profs at most colleges will be more liberal.
Why Tulane? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great school. I’m just trying to get a handle on what you want in a college or university.
Looks at Ohio State’s scholars program. UNC-Asheville is a good suggestion. Miami University might be too close to home.