<p>My SAT Combined is: 2050 (school avg around 2010)
My ACT: 32
SAT 2 Math 2c: 800
Korean: 720
US history: 680</p>
<p>GPA: 3.53(unweighted)/ 4.1 ish weighted</p>
<p>rank: school doesn't rank, prob top 30%</p>
<p>I have great extra curriculars: Los Angeles Sheriff Dept. Explorer Academy Drill Instructor, Been in theatre for all my years in high school, captain (this year) water polo (varsity 3 years), captain (this year) swim (varsity 4 years).</p>
<p>Applying to:</p>
<p>USMA West Point
Washington University in St. Louis
Swarthmore College
USC
UCLA
UC Berkeley
UC San Diego</p>
<p>I'm looking for a place where I can be challenged. I need small faculty to student ratios. I also don't mind going to a small school.</p>
<p>I visited and want to apply to Columbia, but many people discourage saying that it might be a waste of time. I do understand that because my test score and GPA are not that stellar. </p>
<p>But yes, I really enjoyed the Columbia atmosphere...</p>
<p>I'm pretty much adaptable with anywhere. People also have recommended Northwestern and Vanderbilt. Anywhere else?</p>
<p>"I need small faculty to student ratios."
Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you but you're NOT going to get that at the UC's you mentioned during your first 2 years there.</p>
<p>I went to a liberal arts college in PA if you want a lot of time with your professors and a small class environment I would suggest Swarthmore; if not go to the others. You have a wide range of different schools up there I know nothing about the USMA I am sure they do not have TA's teaching their classes, but I am sure it is pretty demanding.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"I need small faculty to student ratios."
Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you but you're NOT going to get that at the UC's you mentioned during your first 2 years there.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>yeah, i was going to say....</p>
<p>i think swarthmore is very very reachy for you. you have very good ecs, but i dont think they make up for your gpa and sat scores. my friend is applying with similar stats, but she is native american. i would try for some schools similar to swarthmore, but less selective.</p>
<p>from the princeton review:
[quote]
Students who considered Swarthmore College also looked at:
Amherst College
Boston University
Brown University
Colgate University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Duke University
Hamilton College
Harvard College
Haverford College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
New York University
Oberlin College
Pomona College
Princeton University
Tufts University
Vassar College
Wesleyan University
Williams College
Yale University
[/quote]
</p>
<p>i would look at colgate and wesleyan, out of those. hamilton and haverford are also very good.</p>
<p>Yes, I don't really want to go to UCs but I'm just applying mainly for backup and other issues. </p>
<p>Yeah, I heard a lot about Swarthmore, and how difficult it is to get in. People at my school who had like 2300+ and were valedictorians don't get in. </p>
<p>Again thanks for the suggestions, hoping for more :)</p>
<p>trick, you should look at Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Hamilton, Kenyon. These are LACs that seem more in step with the personality of your ECs. Also, they are interested in attracting high achieving Asians with the appropriate fit.</p>
<p>EDIT: Sorry, I might have misread. Are you Asian?</p>
<p>Yes, I am asian. Isn't Amherst a bit harder to get into than Swarthmore? I was considering it for a bit, but one of my friends who is a valedictorian and has a high SAT score is also applying from my high school. </p>
<p>Yes, I know Amherst will also fit me better but it's just the grades and SAT/ACT scores that are pushing me back...</p>
<p>Pomona, yes, another great liberal arts school. I live in Southern California so it's not very far away. However, again instead of one person that is applying for Amherst there are like 7 people from my school applying there. But might as well try. </p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions! I welcome more! :)</p>
<p>trick, No I would say that Amherst, Williams and Swarthmore are about even in selectivity, even though the percentages are little different. There are two key points: one is that all three schools focus on fit, to the degree that if they feel you wouldn't fit with the personality type that they are looking for they will reject you even if your academic credentials are within their range.</p>
<p>The second point is that Swarthmore as a suburban school gets a lot more Asian applicants than Amherst or Williams. Same goes for Pomona. At the more rural New England schools, Asians are still considered URMs.</p>
<p>Your grades and rank *are * on the low-ish side for Amherst and Williams -- not totally unacceptable, but not a homerun either. However, being a high achieving ATHLETIC Asian may just push you over the edge. If there's a possibility that you could swim competitively, contact the coaches now.</p>
<p>Theater is also a very good EC for Williams and I believe Amherst as well.</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt sound good. Also, look at Rice. Swarthmore doesn't seem to fit at all- seems a mismatch. University of Chicago may suit you more. U Chicago has full tuition scholarships for low income people, if you qualify. Tulane gives really good financial aid. I think that you will be in at USMA West Point. USC has really good aid, so I would apply.</p>
<p>"U Chicago has full tuition scholarships for low income people, if you qualify"
Not quite correct. Chicago this year has a new financial aid program, enabled by a $100 Milllion donation from an alum. They also have 30 full tuition MERIT scholarshps, which are VERY hard to get- they go to truly exceptional students that Chicago wants to snatch from HYP, MIT, etc. Swarthmore and Chicago both don't fit the rest of your list, unless you are looking for very intense, highly academic, grade deflated, intellectual college experiences. There is less of the "typical" college experience at either of those 2 colleges, compared to the rest on your list. Johns Hopkins in also very competive once you are there, because of the "weeding out" there for many would be pre-med students.</p>