<p>I know this is kind of frowned upon, but I'm going to apply to a lot of colleges this year, mainly because my parents don't mind paying the app fees; I think they're just curious to see where I'd get accepted. However, I've realized that, with my stats, my list includes only reaches and some matches.</p>
<p>Any suggestions of safeties and maybe some matches?
I want a school with either an International Relations/Studies or International Business/Finance/Economics major.</p>
<p>Stats: 4.0 uw/4.4 w, Valedictorian, 2220 SAT, 30 ACT, 4 APs last year, 5 more this next year, 2 college-in-highschool classes next year (English and French). </p>
<p>Not too many EC's, just some that I've stuck with for a long time and to which I am very devoted: classical piano (12 years + competitions/awards), Habitat for Humanity volunteer (160 hours), church youth group, school newspaper copy editor, work as teacher's aide at local daycare.
Some various awards, nothing too snazzy.</p>
<p>My reaches include:
Georgetown (SFS, EA)
Middlebury (ED, probably)
Penn (long shot, I know)
U Edinburgh
U St. Andrews
JHopkins
UChicago
Vanderbilt</p>
<p>University of Santa Clara could be considered a safety for you. I imagine they will look highly upon Habitat for Humanity as an EC. Seattle University is even more of a safety.</p>
<p>If you like Middlebury I would strongly advise Dartmouth. The two are very similar and Dartmouth has incredible resources (Rockefeller Center and a program with LSE) for those looking to go into politics/international affairs. Not to mention an incredibly loyal student body, a tightknit community, amazing language and study abroad programs, and an awesome social scene.</p>
<p>I have some good news. University of Edinburgh and University of St Andrews are matches, if not even safeties. For the bad news, McGill would be a reach.</p>
<p>In regards to St Andrews and Edinburgh, prospective students apply to read specific subjects that each have different acceptance requirements. With your stats, Edinburgh would be a match/safety accross the board for international relations/economics. St Andrews would be a match/reach for economics and a definite reach for international relations.</p>
<p>McGill has an accept rate of 57%, with average SATs in the 1300s and an average ACT of 30. Its not that selective, especially compared to a Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>McGill is a match, primarily because they love admitting Americans, who pay much higher tuition than Quebecers and Canadians. Plus, McGill doesn't care about her lack of ECs compared to some.</p>
<p>If anything, ECs are your limiting factor. Yours are not bad, but there will be kids who will have the same scores as you with more ECs. However, you are a strong candidate, and I expect you'll get into at least one of your reaches, but who knows which ones.</p>
<p>American U and George Washington U would be good safeties. U Maryland may be good. LACs like Macalaster, Kalamazoo, and Ohio Wesleyan would be safe. Some of them have very good year abroad programs.</p>
<p>MATCHES:
Occidental
Vassar (high match-reach)
Colgate (high match-reach)
McGill
UBC
Boston U
Macalester</p>
<p>SAFETIES:
Whitman (Legacy- Dad)</p>
<p>I think the reason that I can't find too many safeties is because my list is a bit more realistic than those of most kids asking to be chanced.</p>
<p>Also, I will be applying for financial aid- I live with my mom (divorced single mom) who also supports my brother's college expenses (not too much, he got a big scholarship from U of Arizona); she makes about $40,000 a year as a flight attendant.
I know that the Canadian schools give out minimal, if no, financial aid; then again, their tuition for American kids is significantly lower than that of most colleges and universities here. We could probably do loans/take out on our house if I decided to go to McGill or UBC.</p>
<p>Thanks for any suggestions- I'm still looking for safeties! I'd love your feedback on this new list.</p>