Starting college search... SOS

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm new to CC but just wanted to try this forum out. I'm going to start off by saying: I'm no A+ Student, but I really believe that I have the originality that sets myself apart from other applicants. </p>

<p>I think my background- the fact that I lived in Africa for 4+ years, am adopted from China, and am fluent in French- will really help me out (at least for the Essay/Interview part).</p>

<p>I got to a competitive high school, but am not in that 10th percentile. Here's what my classes on the transcript look like:</p>

<p>Freshman:
World History (A)
Physical Ed. (A)
Concert Band (A)
Honors Biology (A)
Geometry (B)
Honors French III (A)
Honors English I (B)</p>

<p>Sophomore:
Chemistry (C)
Honors Symphonic Band (A)
Honors English II IT Focus (C)
Honors Civics Art Focus (A)
AP World History (A)
Algebra II (B)
Honors French IV (A)</p>

<p>Junior (my grades so far for 1st semester):
Honors Psychology/Sociology (A)
AP French (A)
Honors Earth/Environmental Science (A)
AP Music Theory (B)
Honors Precalculus (B)
Honors English III (B)
AP US History (B)</p>

<p>As for extra curricular activities/groups
-Junior Class Council
-Tennis one year
-French Club Secretary
-French National Honors Society
-Marching Band
-Swing Band
-Pit Orchestra for the school's musical
-100+ Hours of community service by the end of the year </p>

<p>I am taking my SATs/ACTs later this spring but can imagine myself maybe around (at least) 1800? Not positive.</p>

<p>I'm not aiming for the HYPSM or Ivy's, but am looking for a fairly decent school, preferably in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. Since I'm just starting my search, I don't know too much yet about what I'm looking for except that I do not want it to be in a rural setting. I also know that a mid-sized school (around 2,000-10,000) would be ideal but I am flexible. Some schools I have been thinking about include Boston College, Elon University, Mary Washington. </p>

<p>I'm just looking for guidance, where to start, any help, CC?!</p>

2

<p>Cost constraints, financial aid likelihood, and state of residency?</p>

<p>Intended or possible major(s)?</p>

<p>Cost and academic suitability are the two biggest factors in making the initial cut. Note that if you are undecided on major, that imposes a constraint that the school must have reasonable offerings in anything you might major in. This is often a more restrictive constraint compared to selecting a school with a specific major, or small number of majors, in mind (unless the specific major is an uncommon one).</p>

3

<p>Fordham- Match
Tufts - reach</p>

4

<p>@ucbalumnus- won’t get a lot of financial aid… my mom looks good on paper (high salary + only one kid). I’m interested in the health/medical field so possibly biology as a major but it’s really too soon to tell. I would like to think biology is a major offered at most colleges/universities and also offers flexibility for future jobs. I live in North Carolina. I’ll apply to UNC but it may be a reach.</p>

<p>I’d like to Double Major in French (although it’s not a determining factor). Question: If I plan on taking a French class (101? Not sure) at UNC next year (my high school is close by), will that look considerably good on my transcript? Or will it just be another “thing” they look at.</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>Biology does not have good major-specific job prospects at the bachelor’s degree level. You should assume that, if you need to find a job at the bachelor’s degree level, you may have to take an unrelated type of job. This is because the huge number of biology graduates each year floods that job market.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys-4.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys-4.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Taking college courses while in high school should be a plus. However, if you have already taken French in high school, you may be able to start college French courses in a course more advanced than the beginner one.</p>

<p>As a North Carolina resident, you may want to consider the various in-state publics like NCSU and the various UNC campuses and other state universities.</p>

6

<p>Thanks, maybe I won’t try and major in bio afterall. And yes, definitely checking out the other UNC schools! One reason I want to stay on the East Coast… To stay close to family</p>

7

<p>It seems to me I have read Elon is in the middle of nowhere!
When you have test scores and a better idea of finances it will be easier for us to make suggestions.</p>

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<p>True, but it’s close to home and is becoming very popular around here!</p>

9

<p>Start at the beginning by getting a good overview of the admission process and how to select a college. Get a good guidebook such as the Fiske Guide or Princeton Review and start reading and browsing though the college descriptions.
Also useful for getting started:
<a href=“https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/[/url]”>https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/&lt;/a&gt; (also has a good college search tool)
[Prepare</a> for College | Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for-college]Prepare”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for-college)
<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/[/url]”>http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/&lt;/a&gt; - good college search engine that lets you download results into a spreadsheet
[Home</a> : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/]Home”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/) - this can help you learn more about career paths
[College</a> Admissions, Search, and Financial Aid Help from College Confidential - College Admissions, Search, and Financial Aid Help from College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/index.htm]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/index.htm)</p>

<p>Of course, CC is great for asking specific questions or getting feedback on your list. But you should start creating a list through your own research, and use CC to narrow it down.</p>

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<p>Good colleges, in mid-sized cities, 2000-3000 students, you could probably get accepted, but I don’t know about financial aid:</p>

<p>Clark U. in Massachusetts, Union College in New York, Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.</p>

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<p>Thank you both! My mom has the book Colleges that Change Lives and I know Clark was in it, so will look there! Will be back soon when I find out my scores…</p>

12

<p>Doesn’t UNC have a low cost public LAC at Asheville? You may want to consider that school.</p>

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<p>I toured Asheville a few months ago and really liked it. In state I’m applying to several schools: UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Asheville, and Elon for sure, and maybe Appalachian State (as a safety school). </p>

<p>If I got into UNC-Chapel Hill I’d go in a heartbeat but it’s really competitive in-state. Other than overseas I’ve lived in the South my whole life and wouldn’t mind searching up the coast.</p>

14

<p>-Swarthmore
-Wesleyan
-Amherst
-Boston College
-Georgetown
-George Washington
-Franklin and Marshall
-Bard
-Fordham
-John Hopkins
-Williams
-Duke
-NYU
-MIT
-UPenn
-Cornell
-Lehigh
-Bucknell
-Wellesley
-Tufts
-Lafayette
-Williams College
-Lewis and Clark
-Carleton
-Davidson</p>

<p>A lot of these schools are reach schools but they offer a lot of financial aid so you should still consider applying!</p>