Should I reach higher than these schools?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So once I recieved my ACT scores, reality had set in and I had to adjust my college search. </p>

<p>So I was just wondering if this is a good list of schools for me.</p>

<p>ACT: 25 Composite
GPA: 3.8
AP: Psych and Stats (next year)
State of residence: Illinois</p>

<p>Schools I'm considering:</p>

<p>Drake University
University of Iowa
Eastern Illinois University
Illinois State
Mizzou
Loras College
Kent State</p>

<p>Also, financial aid is a huge factor (family makes less than 40k/year)</p>

<p>Could I shoot higher like UIUC? ( my DREAM school)</p>

<p>Also, feel free to recommend any other colleges that you feel might be a good fit for me.</p>

<p>Any feedback is appreciated!</p>

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2

<p>Maybe I should mention that my major will be Journalism.</p>

<p>Bumpbump…</p>

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3

<p>Some students do better on the SAT than the ACT, and vice-versa. May be worth a try to see if you can do better on the SAT.</p>

<p>For financial aid, try the “net price calculator” in each school’s web site.</p>

4

<p>If Illinois is your dream school and provided you are instate I would say definitely apply your stats are not that far off. I dont know much about your course rigor but your gpa looks quite good. Also a 25 is not a bad ACT score and you are not applying to the engineering school at Illinois so it does not need to be super high. It is probably a low reach at best but I am unfamilar with the journalism school requirements. illinois is an expensive school I am not sure if you will still to able to afford it but I hope you receive some great financial aid, definitely apply it is a dream school that is definitely in your reach. At the schools you have so far on your list it looks like you would have the stats to receive some merit aid.</p>

5

<p>Thanks! </p>

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6

<p>UIUC ACT Composite: 26 / 31</p>

<p>UIUC will be a high reach, but you do have a healthy list of safety/match/reach schools.</p>

7

<p>Iowa will probably not be affordable to you unless you are an URM. COA for OOS is about $38,000 per year and they don’t give a ton of need or merit aid to OOS students. I am guessing the same applies to Mizzou.</p>

<p>Iowa State is cheaper and tends to give more aid. There journalism school is on par with U Iowa if not better. </p>

<p>Drake might be a good choice because of their access to the magazine industry in DES Moines. They do not meet full need though. Run their NPC to see what it looks like.</p>

<p>Every other school on your list would be a better choice than Loras unless it is very cheap.</p>

8

<p>Also look at NIU, which has a first-class (though underrated) journalism program.</p>

9

<p>Kent State also won’t work. $27K/year COA for an OOS student.</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the feedback guys! </p>

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11

<p>Bump…</p>

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12

<p>You should absolutely apply to UIUC if it’s your dream school. So long as you have a goodly number of matches and a couple of safeties, you have absolutely nothing to lose by trying for this school.</p>

13

<p>I agree, it doesn’t hurt to throw one in to UIUC. I’d also re-take the ACT in the fall (after practicing hard and maybe taking a prep class over the summer) and/or look into the SAT as an alternative (and also study in the summer and take them in the fall). Good luck.</p>

14

<p>Thanks!</p>

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15

<p>I’ve actually already taken the ACT twice. My first try I got the 25 and the second try it went down to a 24. Is it worth it to take it again?</p>

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16

<p>If you took it with no preparation, and if you’re willing to spend some serious time preparing for it, it might be worthwhile to have another try. Just to take it again without serious prep is probably not worth the trouble.</p>

17

<p>Dont just retake it without studying hard. You need to raise your scores if you want UIUC but you need to put in the time - good luck!</p>

18

<p>What is it about the ACT that is tripping you up? The SAT may be worth trying, especially if you study. If you are always scrambling to finish, then SAt is a better choice.</p>

19

<p>@MizzBee: It’s the reading that hurts me on the ACT. I love to read, but I do it at my own pace. I’ve been wary about the SAT because we have been tought (and preached) to about the ACT since 8 th grade. I’m worried that I won’t do so hot on the SAT because I know nothing about it.</p>

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20

<p>Probably not, unless you didn’t study before the other two tries and plan to do something different by the next time. Maybe try the SAT – you can get a book and try a sample test – it is really not that different from the ACT but some people do better on one than the other. Also a bunch of schools are now ACT/SAT optional but typically not he state schools which get so many applications.<br>
[SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional]SAT/ACT”>ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest)</p>