Hello everybody, I was wondering what safety schools I should apply to. Here’s my “application”:
ACT: 32 (35 E, 31 on rest, 10/12 W)
UW GPA: 3.87 out of 4.00
Senior Classes: AP Gov, AP Comp, AP Lit, Calc BC, French 5 H(planning on taking AP test), AP Bio, Investments, and 2 gym classes (because I saved all my gym prerequisites till senior year like an idiot, i cri)
Other AP classes, scores in parenthesis: AP Macro(4), AP Chem(3), AP Psychology(4), APUSH(4), AP MIcro
ECs:
DECA
Project manager for IT Innovation cup
Volunteer at Camp Munroe(essentially a daycare for mentally disabled children), 140-150 hours
Volunteer in Research Lab at UNMC, 140-150 hours
Orchestra, first violin, but fifth chair
French National Honor Society
NHS
Achievements: High honor roll, 1st place at state DECA, placed in top 20% at International DECA conference, 2nd place at IT Innovation Cup, AP scholar with Honor(I think), and QB Finalist(not sure if I can only apply to partner colleges, but I’m pretty sure there’s no restriction on where I can apply even if I am a finalist)
Recommendations:
Teacher 1: Chem H teacher/Homeroom teacher, we’re pretty tight so I don’t think the rec letter was too bad, 7/10 or 8/10
Teacher 2: DECA mentor, super nice, we aren’t too close though, so maybe a 6/10 or 7/10?
Essay: usually I’m pretty bad at writing, but my common app essay is decent. It’s pretty much about my background and how I had some important epiphany about the values of education and stuff. Not too sure how I would perform on writing supplements though.
I really want to go into economics or something business related.
I’m a QB finalist, but a lot of their partner schools are very selective and I am doubtful that I will get accepted to one of their partner schools with what I have listed above, so I was wondering if anybody could recommend any safety schools, thanks.
What reaches and matches are you applying to? It’ll help us find schools that might be similar in some ways but with a higher admission rate. Any preferences you can give e.g. size, region, urban, rural, suburban, would be helpful.
Do you want to study business as an undergraduate, or would you be more likely to major in economics and not pursue many direct business courses, other than perhaps in accounting?
I’m really indifferent on a lot of that stuff, but I would prefer the college to have a smaller student population. And anywhere out of the midwest is fine with me. For the college match I ranked UPenn, Uchicago, Stanford, UVa, and Emory. Thanks
For schools with strong economics programs, these analyses can be useful for generating ideas. Some nicely rated departments are at colleges that are not extremely selective (from IDEAS, available online): “US Economics Departments”; “Economics Departments at Liberal Arts Colleges.” Brandeis, though quite selective, could be an option for you.
Colgate, Hamilton - would be matches for you.
Safeties need to either guarantee a full ride for your stats or be 100% need colleges - are you a boy or a girl? Is your EFC 0 or can your family afford room&board?
You want to target 100% need (or-close-to100%) colleges where being Asian means you’re URM.
Those would include Colby, Carleton, College of the Holy Cross , URichmond (all reaches); Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson, Connecticut College, St Olaf, Skidmore (match); Loyola Maryland, Wooster, Beloit (safety).
QB applicants should rank half national universities, half liberal arts colleges - those who rank national universities only often don’t get matched.
As a boy, you can’t apply to the Seven Sisters… too bad.
However, as a boy, you’re a preferred applicant to many LACs - cf. list above. USE THAT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
Beside Hamilton and Colgate, which should be on anyone’s list who is serious about economics, you should apply to Berea; Babson, Bentley, and Bryant; Occidental.
You can also look for colleges that offer full-ride scholarships based on stats.
Full tuition can be had - automatically for your stats at Temple, UAlabama Tuscaloosa… and by competition at College of Charleston or USC Columbia (great business school with lots of options and three Economics tracks).
At ALL of these, demonstrate interest (ie., email Admissions, ask to be put in contact with someone in Economics; fill out the request info form; ask about DECA related clubs.)
I also forgot to mention my SATII scores:
Math II: 750
US History: 620 <---- I gave up on studying a week before and took that L, don’t judge
Also, my class rank is 18/481
This discussion has been dead for awhile, but if anyone has other suggestions that would be helpful, thanks.
When you say that your parents can pay <$5k, is that their figure, or is that your FAFSA EFC? What colleges believe you can afford is often quite different from what your parents think they can afford.
@woogzmama that’s not their figure. It’s literally an estimation of how much they could cover for tuition. I haven’t filled out an FAFSA yet, I think that starts January.
