<p>You live in Jupiter? Damn!!! Um, I think you might like Drew, a.k.a. the university in the forest, I'm not saying it's a bad school, that's just Drew's big selling point, sort of how premed is to JHU,I believe it's their one program that's recognized on a national scale, so if you're remaining in polysci, that's find, but if you're venturing off into other departments, I'm not sure of the strength or national recognition of that program will be.</p>
<p>Look at Drew for yourelf, phenomenal political science department with some of the best off-campus programs and good affiliation with Wall Street and the U.N. in NYC. Their program is unique because of the numerous oppurtunities in NYC; Manhattan Island is so close that participating things like Wall Street Semester program are easy and red tape-free.</p>
<p>And I shouldn't give you the impression that nothing else at the school is good, it's comparable to American University, ver similar. Drew has a good med school and is great for economics...if you like American, than I'd take a look at Drew as well.</p>
<p>I don't know, I would just think with a smaller enrollment, they'd have more need-aid money to offer me than larger private universities, since my EFC is like $1,500 lol, I'm not in the best financial situation.</p>
<p>I just figured, Holy Cross is ranked like 30th in the country for LAC's, and Clark is like 65+ for national universities, and has lower admissions stats (SAT's, etc)</p>
<p>Time to get to work on those essays for colleges you are sure to apply to. Go to the Common Application at least..read a lot of winning essays to get a feel for your many options and get some drafts written. Your essays really matter and your senior caseload is already going to be demanding.<br>
Attempt the inevitable version of 500 words on Why BC or Why BU and you will see what must be done. You have to dig in now on each college offerings and personality and really see if you are a match. Time to focus heavily on reading those college newspapers and getting to know the quirky and unique things about your favorite schools and where you might contribute. Rather than fishing for more ideas here, go to Barnes and Noble and get a cup of java and thumb through Harvard Schmarvard. He has high opinions about many schools you might get into. He has lots of good advice...then take a good look at Fiske's Guide to colleges, take the free Counselor O Matic at Princeton Review, take the Academic Index thing posted on CC as a tool, take a practice free Meyers Brigg online to get a feel for your temperament, set aside one morning to rise at 7:30 and take a practice ACT exam in a book and then after lunch look up all your mistakes. Do it again next week, only this time pick up your pace. Getting test ready and essay ready is important before you are slammed with your heavy courseload. Many schools will send you free DVDs on the colleges. Don't wait till fall to struggle through essays and college test prep. If you write your Why College X essays now, you will know what to say to your references. You want to present them with a list that makes sense, is ambitious but connected to your reality. Pick two safeties, two matches and two reaches and get started on their essay's. See how you feel after that cranks up...maybe College Y no longer appeals or you had lots of enthusiasm for College Z. Use you remaining summer hours wisely.</p>
<p>I'm impressed. My S was at the Post Office on some deadline days with final drafts of essays hot off the home presses and just barely kept himself out of postmark purgatory.</p>
<p>^ Hehe, yeah, my one benefit, is that I've done as much as is available to me already, and won't be rushing anything at all. I've decided against ED at GW, only because I contacted their Financial Aid dept and found out that even if they don't meet my need-aid, I would still have to attend, and even if I could somehow get out of that, I'd presume it would be at the cost of their $500 deposit, and I don't have money like that.</p>
<p>So, I wanted to know, do you think it wise to apply ED to any of my slight reach schools, provided that they give generous need-aid?</p>
<p>Also, out of curiosity, are there any school's that meet my specifications, that I would have a chance at, but only for Early Decision? I only ask because I could replace Holy Cross with another reach school, seeing as I only have two true reaches, if that. Unfortunately, I'm fairly certain I have a 2% chance of getting into G-Town and the only reach school in mass is Harvard, and I have a 0.003% chance of getting in there, so I suppose that would leave some LAC's in the Northeast, unless I'm missing some big school's that I would have a chance at if only ED....any opinions?</p>
<p>I know Brandeis is a fine school but I have no personal data. I know several docs lawyers business men and women from Richmond and I know three current students. They just upped their tuition by a huge amount. But they have the endowment to cover it for those in need. You can't choose your schools just out of a book. If you are in Florida, keep in mind that Richmond has many DC PA Middle Atlantic people and still has a Southern traditional vibe which is a bit conservative but they also deliver big time in the classroom and are very generous. I read about the installment of their new chaplain who is very ecumenical..she invited leaders from every church to join her. I know two Catholic students but it is a Protestant place. Frats are big there because they are in a surburban area in Richmond and it takes ten minutes to get downtown by car. Send off for their free DVD...ask all your schools for them.</p>
<p>You will not get in just on essays alone..so get that ACT thing going as it is the last factor you have that could still change that you have power over. I know you have it in you! You seem a bit unsteady re realizing that full rides are hard to come by, and I want you to have good options. Many kids have parents who will drive them all over tarnation to look around and I know this is a difficulty for you. So do what is within your control. In fact, get totally onto that testing game and then see what your last ACT exam score says to you re ED or throwing yourself into the April first crowd.</p>
<p>I think you would be happy at Wake, which has a spirited and active student body. Wake Forest's current SATs for 2009 are being stated as average of 1380, higher than your ACT correlate. You don't have any SATIIs (right?), most successful candidates have several with high scores in the 700s. Go to the website and type in common data set and read the Gold and Black, search for Class of 2009 article. You are only so so as a candidate there even if you have a hook and wonderful recs unless you up your ACTs and ace all your fall courses (Faline has a theme there for you called give 100% effort to upping your standardized tests which you should not have taken without any prep last year!!). Wake is a very good school and I know many current students and grads..tough atmosphere but personal and also has many Middle Atlantic kids. Merit money goes to people with 1500s plus a talent. You are not competitive for UVA or Chapel Hill in my opinion without great SATIIs and APs and such, and it seems to me you did not get good advice as a junior on this. The pool that applies OOS is expected to be in their top quartile unless you have a major contribution to make. Do five ACT exams at home and check the answers and take the first one offered. ACTs take stamina and speed. That score can change your profile and plans, so stay flexible.</p>
<p>Duffman, just take a moment, pretend you are valedictorian, varsity athlete at national level and have published your first sanata...now think, you're overqualified for everything...</p>
<p>what is/are THE schools you WANT to go to? (All other factors aside, including admissionsand finance) I know you have atleast a handful of dream schools.</p>