Searching for good matches in California

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm applying to all of the UCs except for Merced, Riverside, and Santa Barbara. I've been trying to find other (maybe private) schools to apply to in-state, but it's been hard to find one that would be a good match for me. I have no interest in going to a very religious school, and I don't want to go to school in Orange County because it's too close to home. Any suggestions?</p>

<p>GPA: UC 4.18, 9-12 W 3.91, 9-12 UW 3.76, upward trending
SAT: 2180, 740M/720CR/720W
APs: 5s on English Language and Calc AB. Currently enrolled in Lit, Chem, Stats, Gov </p>

<p>ECs:
-Mock Trial, 11-12, 11: witness, 12: lawyer/team captain
-Secular Student Club, 11-12, 11: treasurer, 12: president
-Coaching girls' soccer (outside school), 11-12, three seasons of coaching
-JSA, 11-12, 11: attended Fall/Spring State, 12: secretary
-French Club, 10-12, 12: secretary
-Creative Impulse, 9-12, 12: publicity chair
-Tolerance/Human Rights Club/GSA: 9-12
-Theater Club, 11, worked on a play (10 volunteer hours)
-NHS, 12
-Art Club, 12
-Guitar (outside school), 9-12; I've also taught myself four instruments (ukulele, cello, bass guitar, and piano) if that counts for anything</p>

<p>Awards:
-National Merit Commended Scholar
-Principal's Honor Roll, 9-12
-Distinguished Scholar, 10-probably 12
-Golden State Merit Seal, 9-12 (for standardized test scores)</p>

<p>EDIT: Forgot to mention- I would prefer schools that aren't extremely small or rural</p>

2

<p>Intended or possible major(s) and cost constraints? Those are usually among the main criteria with which students choose universities.</p>

3

<p>Occidental
The Claremont Colleges
University of San Diego
Azusa Pacific
Univ. Of Redlands</p>

<p>To name a few.</p>

4

<p>Right! I knew I was forgetting something, haha. I’m applying undecided since I honestly have no idea what to do for my major. I would be able to afford attending a UC but I’m looking for scholarships right now that would help me out if I decided to go to a more expensive school. So majors aren’t really an issue since I don’t have a preference for the time being, and money isn’t an issue as long as I can get a scholarship of some sort.</p>

5

<p>Being undecided does constrain your list of schools to ones with a selection of majors that you may want to go into. I.e. specialty schools would not be good choices.</p>

<p>Be aware that some majors, like physics and engineering, have long prerequisite chains so that you need to start taking prerequisite courses in freshman year if there is a possibility of wanting to do such majors without delaying graduation.</p>

<p>Since you cannot afford list price at every school, then you need to evaluate schools based on cost reach/match/safety (based on the likelihood of getting sufficient need and/or merit aid) as well as admissions reach/match/safety.</p>