School Ideas

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi...I'm new here and I'm also starting the college research process. I really have no idea what colleges I'd be competitive for with my current "resume". Do you think you guys can give me some ideas based on my stats etc for reaches, matches, and safeties? With regards to college, I'm not really picky. I'd like a small/medium size population, good faculty of course, nice campus, anywhere in the continental United States, wide array of majors (I'm undecided), regular or liberal arts doesn't matter, small to no frat scene, I don't care about the party scene, great academics, study abroad possibilities, etc. Thanks!</p>

<p>Gender: Male
Resident: Hawaii
Race: Filipino, White
School: Bad public
Rank: 1/275
Courseload: Hardest Possible
Major: Undecided so far</p>

<p>GPA w/ Freshmen:
3.96 UW
4.375 W (highest I could go with the APs my schools offered)</p>

<p>GPA w/o Freshmen
3.97 UW
4.5 W</p>

<p>Junior Year Courseload (hardest possible w/ 1st semester grades):
AP English Lang - A
AP World History - A
Band - A
AP Stats - A
Trig - A
AP Physics B - A
(Self studying AP US Gov, AP Comp Gov, AP Psych)</p>

<p>Senior Year Courseload (hardest possible; pending):
AP Eng Lit
AP US History
AP Biology
AP Chem
AP Calc AB
Band
(Online course in AP Comp Sci AB)</p>

<p>*SAT (Taken cold with no studying, just to see how I'd do): *
Total - 1960
Math - 680
Critical Reading - 660
Writing - 620 (9 Essay)</p>

<p>SAT2's (taking in June):
World History - expecting 800
MathIIC - expecting 750+
Physics - expecting 700+</p>

<p>ACT (Taken cold with no studying, just to see how I'd do):
Composite - 31
English - 28
Math - 30
Reading - 36
Science - 31</p>

<p>EC's
Band - Clarinet
- 7 years
- Private Lessons
- Hawaii High School Honor Band
- Hawaii All State Marching Band
- Marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in 2006, I will again in 2009.
- For frosh and soph years, I attended a high school that was named "one of the top 3 high school band programs" in the nation.
- Solo in my band's field show for Junior year.</p>

<p>Mu Alpha Theta
- Member
- I compete in the Oahu Math League
- Hopefully VP or Pres next year</p>

<p>Interact Club
- Member
- Hopefully an officer position next year</p>

<p>National Honors Society
- Member
- Hopefully an officer position next year</p>

<p>Awards (not much yet):
Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award</p>

<p>Obviously the passion for my ECs is music. I won't be majoring in music; however, I might play in my college's band if they need it or would allow it. Unfortunately, I just moved to this high school in the summer before my Junior year, so all the ECs I was doing at my old school were lost. Thankfully band carried over and I was able to continue playing.</p>

<p>In regard to my SAT and ACT scores, I definitely plan on retaking after I study. I was just interested in seeing how big a difference studying would make to my scores. </p>

<p>Thanks for any ideas!</p>

2

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/391156-guys-wat-schools-should-i-apply.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/391156-guys-wat-schools-should-i-apply.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It’s difficult for us to help you because we don’t know what you want in a college! Your criteria are so broad. There are lots of places that fit. If you could tell us some of your goals in college that would help. What subjects are you interested in, for example? Then we can think of schools that are particularly good in that field. </p>

<p>Anyway, I thought of Macalester when I read your criteria. But it’ll be a lot colder than Hawaii!</p>

3

<p>Elon comes to mind.
So does Vassar.</p>

<p>Johns Hopkins and University of Rochester could be good too.</p>

<p>All of the above have great academics, and some solid music facilities.</p>

4

<p>*Do you want large classes or small class sizes? *</p>

<p>Either is fine. No preference.</p>

<p>*Do you need a sense of community, or do you want to be lost in the crowd? *</p>

<p>I definitely don’t want to go to a large state school where you barely know anyone, so I guess a small/medium school would be a good fit. I don’t think I want to go to school in an urban environment though. Suburban/small urban/rural is good. Just not a massive city like NYC or something.</p>

<p>*Do you prefer a school that politically leans left or right? *</p>

<p>I don’t care. I haven’t really picked any political viewpoint yet. </p>

<p>*Are there any programs that are important to you that you want to continue in college, like cultural clubs, or anything that interests you? *</p>

<p>Nope, I was hoping to just go with whatever the college offered. Nothing really stands out that I really want to join yet.</p>

<p>*Do you prefer lecture or discussion? *</p>

<p>I like both. No preference.</p>

<p>I want to study abroad for a term at least. </p>

<p>Honestly I have NO idea what I want to do when I grow up. When I was a small kid, I wanted to be an architect. Then I wanted to be an engineer. Then I wanted to be a lawyer. Now I’m kind of interested in economics, poly sci, computer science, engineering. So that’s why I’m interested in a school that has solid programs in a wide array of departments.</p>

<p>Small background of my life: I’m the son of two navy officers, so I was born in Italy, lived in San Diego twice, Seattle once, Virginia for two tours, and now Hawaii. I’ve really enjoyed everywhere I’ve lived so far except Hawaii. </p>

<p>I guess to get some ideas of a college I’d love to go to: Stanford. Amazing campus, unrivaled academic opportunities, study abroad opportunities, small classes, large array of majors and clubs, etc..</p>

<p>And lol, I got mail today from Macalester. (Also from WashU and some others).</p>

5

<p>Try looking at Santa Clara. It’s like a smaller version of Stanford. Everyone I know who goes there loves it. </p>

<p>I’m also going to re-recommend University of Rochester and Johns Hopkins. They seem to fit all of your academic interests well.</p>

<p>Rice would be good too. </p>

<p>Then maybe Harvey Mudd, if you decide to go the computers/engineering route.</p>

6

<p>Would weather be a big deterring factor for you? If not, I’d suggest looking at Grinnell and Macalester, perhaps even St. Olaf. If you’re willing to head further east, check out Vassar, and if you can get the SAT score up, Brown sounds good. If you want to stay west, Stanford would be a massive reach (gotta get the test scores up). Look at Pitzer and Claremont McKenna.</p>

7

<p>Nope, weather is not a factor. I miss the seasons actually =[</p>

8

<p>Can you get your SATs up?</p>

9

<p>The open curriculum sounds like it was meant for you then. Get your SAT scores up, and look at Grinnell, Brown, Amherst and Hamilton.</p>

10

<p>How about Lewis & Clark? Small school with great study abroad, beautiful campus, supposed to be a good solid school academically.</p>

11

<p>I agree with Rice, Washington U in St. Louis, and Rochester. Hopkins may be a little too intense for someone who is not certain yet and wants to explore. It is also too urban. Oberlin sounds like a really good fit. How about USC? To me, the campus does not look too urban. Tufts and Northwestern may be good. Vanderbilt would be good, but might be too urban.</p>

12

<p>Skidmore might be worth a look.</p>

13

<p>Check out the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.</p>

14

<p>Northwestern offers astonishing range of majors, minors, certificate, and combined programs and has lots of music opportunities for non-majors.</p>

15

<p>if having a school with no frat scene is important to you then you may want to look at boston college. no frats here at all, and while were not in the city boston is right around the corner. about 9,000 undergrads.</p>

<p>if you can get your SATs up a significan amount you could look at columbia. its in NYC but still has a cute little campus of its own. i really liked the campus when i visited at least.</p>

<p>haverford is a small liberal arts school about 20 min away from philly. i dont think the frat scene is that big there. and most people say there are lots of parties if you want them and there are a big group of “nerds” who would rather not party on the weekend.</p>

<p>id also check out georgetown, duke, ucla, stanford, william and mary, UNC (even though it is quite large)</p>

<p>i think a good safeties for you would be fordham, a low/match could be villanova. you also might like lafayette or lehigh in PA.. not hear a big city but suburban. maybe BU (actually in the city but its not TOO overwhelming)</p>

16

<p>I was going to say Grinnell too. A great school with small classes, amazing facilities, 4 seasons, a tiny town, but a lot happening on campus. Students are academically serious but like to have fun. No fraternities, low emphasis on sports, but lots of opportunities to play whatever. Good music opportunities too. Since they like students from all 50 states and are looking to increase diversity, those things would be in your favor. Also being a male is an advantage at a LAC.</p>

<p>Your excellent GPA with tough courses would be appreciated, I think. If you can’t visit, learn as much as you can about the school (this goes for any small LAC) and be able to tell them why you’re interested in your essays.</p>

<p>My son is a student there.</p>

<p>Haverford, also an excellent school, has no fraternities.</p>

17

<p>hk, Since you’re so amenable to just about everything you’re going to have quite a range of options thrown at you. One point that you haven’t mentioned is your financial status. Will your family need financial aid? If yes, you do qualify for need based aid?</p>

<p>I’d take a look at Williams. It’s very selective, but your half/URM status may just boost you over the fence. Small college, excellent academics, insular campus in a profoundly beautiful mountain village, happy, active kids. No fraternities.</p>

<p>Williams has an excellent music program and many performance opportunities for non-majors. By the way, you should submit a performance tape with your application even if you do not plan to major in music. Small colleges are especially eager to recruit musicians who will participate in the various music venues.</p>

18

<p>People have made some great suggestions but unless your standardized test scores rise many will not be realistic.</p>

<p>In the small-medium category, with your current stats (and maybe a bit of a bump in standardized test scores) I’d second Grinnell, Hamilton, Oberlin, and Rochester. I’d add Colby, Bates, Colgate and Connecticut colleges as well.</p>

19

<p>I don’t know that I agree about the OP’s scores. Yes, by all means, he should take the SAT and or ACT . But, even with his CURRENT scores, I think he’d be a person of interest to just about any college in America because of his grades, rank, EC’s, life experience and URM status. No guarantees, of course, but his scores wouldn’t keep him out.</p>

<p>Having said that a balance of good matches and safeties is always good advice and the most selective is not necessarily the best fit. Financial aid may be important here as well.</p>

<p>In my opinion what hk needs to do is put together a shortlist of schools that meet his needs, assemble a strong application including essays, recommendations and supplemental music material, keep his grades up. I would put scores at the bottom of the priority list.</p>

20

<p>The OP is a strong all-around candidate but risks being lost in the haze of applicants to most of the very competitive schools people have listed (Brown, Hopkins, Williams, Rice, Northwestern, Mudd, Georgetown, Duke, Stanford). ALL are “reaches” but some should certainly be included in a list of considered colleges. These schools cannot be considered “matches” with his current profile. It’s unfair to him to suggest otherwise.</p>

<ol>
<li>His grades and rank may be excellent, but this is in the context of attending a “bad public” (his characterization of HS).</li>
<li>He is not a URM.</li>
<li>He has broad, strong ECs, but not one that stands out as exceptional enough to be considered “recruitable.” </li>
</ol>

<p>The only significantly modifiable part of his resume at this point in time (2nd term junior) are his standardized test scores (1 ACT “Taken cold with no studying”).</p>

<p>I’d add that the OP’s Hawaiian zip code may appeal to schools that recruit poorly from the state and this is something he should consider when applying to reaches. He has not mentioned if he is first generation to attend college or a Questbridge candidate - if so, this would certainly provide a significant boost to his candidacy.</p>