I’m not really sure what to do now after receiving some of my EA schools. So far, I have been accepted to BC, Northeastern(honors), Pitt, and Penn State. I will be getting decisions from Ohio State and Villanova soon and I expect to get in, but I’m fine with my current options if I don’t for whatever reason. Financially, I got some scholarship money at Pitt and PSU is full price. I applied to full ride scholarships at Pitt and Villanova. Northeastern came out very reasonable, even less than Penn State, and BC’s aid package comes out later. I was also deferred from Georgetown.
With all of this in mind, would it be a good idea to add one more reach school for financial reasons? Northeastern came out reasonable, and I know some reachier schools will have even better financial aid. The problem is, I don’t have any top tier “dream school”(thank god!) or really any reaches in mind. Should I try for a “crapshoot school” specifically for financial aid or is it not worth it at this point? I would be happy to attend BC or Northeastern right now, but I know there could be better financial options as well.
When you say “crapshoot school”, I get a little worried you are referring to the ivies or top tier schools. What are your stats?
I don’t know much about FA, but I do know that you have to find your fit before looking at the money. Not all top tier schools are the same and can’t be equal dream schools. Do you have a full list or did you only apply to EA schools?
I would be very happy with your acceptances already! Congrats!
@penngirlpending@kobeman2000 Thanks! I am very happy with my results so far and am honored to get into such great schools. Heres my stats
Asian male, PA, business major(no hooks)
GPA: 98 UW, 100 W(4.0 UW on 4 scale for context)
ACT- 34
SAT: 1510/1600 New SAT superscored,1480 single sitting
SAT II: 720 Bio E, Math II and Lit in January for Georgetown
Rank- 2/100
Course Rigor- 7 APs, 9 Honors throughout high school, most rigorous in my school
ECs:
Tennis- 3 years- #2 singles on varsity team, club team, local tournaments, clinics etc
Tennis volunteering- summer volunteering at district clinics(75 hrs)
FBLA-2 years- treasurer(11-12)- 1st at regionals, ~20th at states
Model UN- 2 years- treasurer(12)- best delegate, 3 events per year
Students against destructive decisions(SADD)-4 years-treasurer(11-12)
Engineering competition-11-12th- Decent ranking placement at division/state levels
Recycling club- 9-12th- President(12)
National Honor Society
The problem is I have been more on the safe side for my list so far, applying to three safeties and mostly matches other than one reach(Georgetown deferred). That is why I want something along the lines of a low reach, but I don’t really know what would be a low reach for me. I have considered Penn which has amazing financial aid, but that is a very high reach. I have also thought about Carnegie Mellon as a reasonable reach for me, but I have heard their aid is not great. I have also thought about Lehigh which seems reasonable and has great FA, but I did not like it as much for some reason. Before EA decisions, my list was all EA/rolling schools and Lehigh RD, but now I’m not sure if I should just stop or add one/two last schools.
If you have the energy to put in another application or two, why not? Perhaps Dyson at Cornell? But it sounds like you are in very good shape. Congrats!
@MYOS1634 @“Erin’s Dad” Yeah, I’m not very interested in LACs. Looking more for mid to larger universities near cities. I would consider an econ major, but an undergrad business school would be strongly preferred.
@wisteria100@happy1@penngirlpending I have thought about Cornell actually, but the business school has a 7% acceptance rate and athletes take up many of the only 100 spots available… so that seems really unlikely for any non athlete. I’m still doing anything I can to improve my chances for Georgetown and hoping for the best during the RD round.
Some LACs (notably among those I cited) have a business program with Harvard Business school for their economics/social science majors. I thought it’d be if interest to OP especially since he’s likely get excellent financial aid.
Are there any universities with Econ that I should look into that has good placement for finance? Doesn’t necessarily have to be investment banking. Also, anything similar to Chicago which has a program for those interested in business even though they only have Econ?
@MatzoBall I’ve thought about it. I might actually apply there, but I’ll have to think about it a little bit more.
I’ve also thought about Cornell, but its a very small program with mostly athletes taking spots. It has a 7% acceptance rate, and as an unhooked person, it seems very unlikely.
Also, how are my chances for Georgetown in the RD round? I know EA is more selective, and the deferral letter said 10% that were deferred get in RD. I am taking more subject tests and may send a letter of interest later on. Georgetown is still my first choice and I’m trying to maximize my RD chances.
Sorry for continuously bumping this, but I had another question too. One of the big appeals of BC and Northeastern to me were it’s location in and near Boston. It’s a major city, but also has literally hundreds of thousands of college students. Are any other cities like this?
I would apply to Cornell, Penn, Duke, NU, Columbia arts and science. You have nothing to lose right now. You already have some great options. If you should get into one of those lottery schools it would just be bonus.
You have very good stats. I wouldn’t be surprised if you should get into few of those schools.