<p>I'm looking for a couple reach and a couple good match schools that best fit my goals. I want to attend a fairly prestigious or at least well-regarded university. I don't mind small schools or large schools, but I don't want to be a ridiculously small town with no social scene, or a ridiculously large school that also has a big student to teacher ratio. I don't want all of my classes to be lecture halls filled with 200 other people. Speaking of the social scene, I'd like to be in a somewhat competitive, intellectual environment, but still have a fun college experience. I'm mostly interested in sticking around the mid-west or going east. I'm the cold weather type =P I plan on double majoring in english and theatre, but I don't want to go to an arts school. If I change my mind I want to have a lot of options for majors. I haven't decided 100% on what kind of career I want after graduation, but some of the things I've considered are teaching high school English/theatre, working for a newspaper/magazine (not really as a journalist, perhaps an editor..maybe even get involved in publishing), or trying to find work as a paid actor. English has always been the subject I was naturally good at, so it seems like something I could do well in, but I don't really know what kind of career a B.A. in English could help me get.</p>
<p>Here are some stats:
3.9/4.0 unweighted gpa. Ranked 9/413 at a less than wonderful high school. We only have 5 AP classes, I've taken 4 (AP Lang Com, AP Lit, AP US Hist, AP Calc). Decided against AP Gov. We have no AP science so I've taken bio I, bio II, chem, chem II, and physics. Four years of German. 2030 on my first SAT (600 math, 730 verbal, 700 writing). Retaking it in November hoping to improve math. Have not taken SAT Subject Tests or the ACT yet.</p>
<p>I've already applied to Indiana University and Valparaiso University as safeties. </p>
<p>I apologize for the double post. My internet was acting up and I couldn't access the site until it was too late to even edit one of them. Sorry :)</p>
<p>There are so many schools that would fit for you. You need to start checking out college guides and researching the colleges' websites. Pick an area you like & research schools in that area. Or pick something you would like to do at school & research based on that. For example, if you'd like to be around Chicago (vibrant acting/music scene), look for schools nearby. If you want a good theater program, find schools with good theater programs that also have other options in case you change your mind. You really need to narrow your focus in order to come up with possibilities.</p>
<p>My daughter began by thinking she wanted one thing, but in the process of researching, she discovered something else was important to her. Then, as she began staying overnight, she found a campus "vibe" that she wanted. It is all a process of research & figuring out what fits. Go to the library & find some college guides (or spend a couple hours checking them out at Borders). Read about the well-knowns & the little-knowns to find out what intrigues you. Go home & check out some websites. Look at student life, etc. Have fun!</p>
<p>Northwestern University would be a very good low-reach for you. Prestigious, medium sized school, just outside Chicago (cold weather!), awesome English, Theater and Journalism programs, top-ranked, independent daily student newspaper. Lots of stuff to do on and off campus. The social life here isn't famous or anything but we know how to have fun :) Also a fairly large greek scene if you're into that.</p>