<p>I’d probably prefer the atmosphere of an LAC, but the limited course offerings are a problem.
Anyway, I don’t fit in at most places because I’m very shy and this tends to alienate people. If I tried to pick schools based on fit, I’d end up romanticizing them so much in my head that I wouldn’t end up being happy once I got there. </p>
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<p>I’m worried he would explain it badly. He doesn’t know the story the way I do, obviously, and he doesn’t seem to know much about admissions at selective schools because people at my school don’t usually apply to colleges that reject people.
I asked him if he used a fill-in-the-blank form letter for his recommendations, and he said, “No, but I probably should.” So he thinks it’s just a formality.
Right now it’s just a couple sentences I wrote in the Additional Information section, about foster care and living with my grandmother.</p>
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<p>I will probably be a National Merit Finalist, so I would get a full-tuition scholarship from Alabama or Northeastern. Ohio State seems affordable based on the net price calculator.
Michigan, UIUC, and Chicago probably won’t be, but I want to apply anyway because I’m overoptimistic and hope that maybe things will change.
Case Western apparently gives good merit aid and they might let me live at home because I live in Cleveland. I have to ask.</p>
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<p>I won’t get much need-based financial aid, even from schools that meet full need. My dad has a lot of savings/assets but he’s never supported me financially and says he isn’t going to help me pay for college. My mom says he’ll probably end up helping (hence the “maybe things will change” thing above), but I have to operate on the assumption that he won’t.</p>
<p>Case Western actually had an acceptance rate of 39% for this year. But, if you apply there you must show interest as they wait listed many students with high scores such as yours - presumably (and probably rightly so) thinking they were using Case as a safety…</p>
<p>CRD- I remember reading the Case Western Reserve University RD decisions class of 2017 and many high stat applicants were shocked they had been wait listed…they claimed showing no interest and only applying because it was free…I don’t know how to link a thread but you can probably find it with a search…there were a couple threads and I was also kinda shocked at some of those wait listed… Is you naviance tied to just your school?</p>
<p>It certainly couldn’t hurt…visit and keep reminding the right people of your interest- your regional admission rep, the rep visiting your school (if different), your interviewer…
Good luck!</p>
<p>It is good to visit anyway. My son really liked Case and said the interview was pretty easy. He applied EA and getting those first few acceptances from schools he really liked helped ease the stress.</p>
<p>Also, check the admissions portal frequently. Lehigh has been reported to consider that in determining “level of applicant’s interest”; others may consider that also.</p>
<p>Lehigh clearly likes campus visits. But that’s not always the defining part of “interest.”</p>
<p>HH, if you are close enough, by all means visit. It’s too important to skip. Go to an info session and see if you can intro yourself to the rep. If you’re shy, figure out in advance what to say or how you might answer an obvious question. But, interest isn’t just about this- it has to do with how you convey in your app and supp, that you know the school and know it works for you. I can’t pull up the Case supp, but a good example is the traditional Why Us? question. A good answer is not generic.</p>
<p>Looks like not. Only for the pre-professional. But, that supp does have several questions about your contact with the school. (I only just got a glimpse at the supp. Now I see what you meant about no chance to say much.) You’re interested in STEM?</p>
<p>Many state schools operate on a first come, first serve policy. Once seats are filled based on a number admissions is given that it can accept, Einstein would not get accepted. I’ve known some kids in majors like engineering or nursing who had great stats get shut out of those programs. It’s a well known fact that Penn State, for instance, looks at three numbers for acceptance, Test scores, Class rank/gpa, and the date your application is being examined. Someone who would be accepted in October might well be hard put to be accepted in March. </p>
<p>UMichigan is really not a safety school for anyone OOS unless one applies early, using it as safety AFTER the acceptance is in hand. In that way, a lot of competitive schools can be used as a safety. You apply EA or rolling, and once you have that bird in hand, you can go to town. Whether the school is Georgetown, or NotreDame with very low accept rates or your state U with a 50% accept rate or an open enrollment school, once the acceptance is in hand, it’s a safety for you if you can afford it.</p>