<p>Hi, I'm a (white) senior at a small-town Texas school, and I'm feeling rather lost/panicked about my options. </p>
<p>I'm pretty liberal (very, by TX standards), and I would like an urban (or very near) school with a good English/Pre-Law record and a stimulating environment of intellectual freedom.</p>
<p>Rank: 2 of about 300, GPA (weighted) is about 103 (don't know 4.0 scale), ACT: 33 (34E, 28M, 36R, 34S)... National Merit SF; AP Scholar w/ Honor (expected)... </p>
<p>Not many great EC's: Band (9-11), NHS Pres, web design business, engineering club VP, Key Club, about 300hrs total designing sites for two non-profits...</p>
<p>Looked at:
Emory
Rice
UTexas Austin
Wash U St. Louis</p>
<p>I'm I out of my league with these schools? Any recommendations for matches or safeties?</p>
<p>Thanks... the web design business is only part-time... I'm interested in English, political sci, or another humanities major, primarily as a Pre-Law path. I really want the best school that I can get into for English and law/grad school preparation. I really want to hone my writing and reading skills (right now I do an internship at a newspaper to practice varied forms of composition)..</p>
<p>My family has a middle class income, so good financial aid is definitely a plus.</p>
<p>I'm not too concerned with location, but I find the some of the Midwest uninspiring (I think I'd be most interested in California, Texas, the southeast, the northeast)</p>
<p>Thanks about Fordham, I'll take a closer look... I think my number one right now is Emory (Rice may be second). I know a lot of factors are at play, but do I have a good chance there? How would it rank for me by match and admissibility?</p>
<p>I'd really appreciate any other match or safety ideas... </p>
<p>REACH: University of Pennsylvania (PA), Georgetown University (DC), Duke University (NC), University of California - Berkeley (CA)</p>
<p>SEMI-REACH: Johns Hopkins University (MD), University of California - Los Angeles (CA), Carnegie Mellon University (PA), Tufts University (MA), Vanderbilt University (TN)</p>
<p>GOOD FIT: University of Southern California (CA), Boston College (MA), College of William & Mary (VA), University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (NC), University of Virginia (VA), New York University (NY), University of Florida (FL), Wake Forest University (NC), University of California - San Diego (CA)</p>
<p>LIKELY: Pepperdine University (CA), George Washington University (DC), University of Miami (FL), University of Rochester (NY), Fordham Univesrity (NY), Villanova University (PA), University of Maryland - College Park (MD), Tulane University (LA)</p>
<p>SAFETY: Northeastern University (MA), Elon University (NC), Syracuse University (NY), American University (DC)</p>
<p>Aren't you almost definitely in at UT-Austin? Well above top 10%.
Madison is known as the Austin of the north -- or maybe it's the other way around. Madison is not like the rest of the midwest. Give UW another look if you need a safer school on your list.</p>
<p>Barnard in NY. Barnard has the intellectual life you are looking for, and if you don't like the all women enviornment, you can take your classes at Columbia, but live at Barnard, which is across the street.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for all the great ideas; I really appreciate the time you've given me... </p>
<p>Because my SATs are low, I'm concerned with schools that require or prefer SAT. Those ACTs are likely the only test scores I would submit (maybe APs??). Does that affect my chances?</p>
<p>rjkofnovi: I don't have anything against the midwest. I just would like a semi-urban environment, and I tend to associate the midwest with rural...</p>
<p>What about the Claremont colleges (specifically McKenna or Pitzer)?</p>
<p>Any other ideas for small-mid reaches, good fits, or likely/safeties?</p>
<p>Macalester is worth a look. Yes, Mac is in the midwest, but right in St. Paul, a few miles from the state capitol. Sounds like a fit with your political leanings and desire for an urban/semi-urban environment.</p>
<p>You are not out of your league. You must qualify for guaranteed admission at UT Austin. You will get into Rice and most of your others. I agree that University of Rochester sounds good for you. Tulane and Boston College, too. You should look at University of Chicago as well. Many Rice and Wash U applicants also apply to Chicago. Think about finances. If your parents do not have the tuition money, you may need to modify your choices.</p>
<p>Thanks.. I'm not sure how I'm going to pay for a private school, especially after the economic meltdown. I think it may be now impossible for me to get the loans necessary.</p>
<p>Are there any schools that would position me well for a top law school and still offer me reasonable financial aid?</p>
<p>I would take a strong look at UT Austin. You're automatically in (top 10%), and you wouldn't be applying for a major that's hard to gain acceptance to. (If you wanted to be a business major, for example, you'd get into the school but have to be considered separately as a business major.)
Austin is a lot more liberal than much of the rest of Texas.</p>
<p>Holy Cross and Bowdoin are very good SAT optional schools. Holy Cross is only 1 hour from Boston while Bowdoin is rural location. Both have great school spirit.</p>