Starting to compile a college list...

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Alrighty... I'm a junior right now and am starting to put together a list of schools to apply to in the upcoming months. I'm fairly smart, but I don't try hard enough and thus as a result my GPA has suffered. I'm eligible for the GA HOPE Scholarship by .0192 points right now.</p>

<p>I'm looking for schools with Division One athletics (huge sports nut - want to be able to cheer my team on), good school spirit, challenging academics, and a good Greek scene.</p>

<p>I have a 3.4 out of 5.0 (weighted slightly - I've only taken one honors/AP), but hopefully it will be upwards towards 3.6 by the end of the year. Sadly, I go to a challenging prep school in Atlanta and this puts me in the 60-80 quartile of my HS class of 100.</p>

<p>My practice SATs have been from 1150 to 1280 (closer to 1900/2400 - writing is my strength). I want to pull them up to 1350, however.</p>

<p>I want to major in something like Communications, Broadcast Journalism, or Sports Management.</p>

<p>Here are the schools on my Naviance list:</p>

<p>BC (huge reach - legacy)
BU
Colorado College (not very interested, but it has always intrigued me with the block plan)
Georgia (in-state school)
Indiana
Miami (OH)
Northeastern
South Carolina
Southern Cal (reach)
SMU
Syracuse (I know it has a great communications school, but I didn't really like it when I visited)
TCU
Villanova
Wisconsin-Madison</p>

<p>Right now I'm leaning towards applying ED to Miami (OH) and hopefully being done by December. The Naviance scattergrams from my school say I could get in. Can anyone suggest me some other schools to look at/give me any advice/opinions?</p>

2

<p>Honestly, I think a lot of the schools on your list would be significant reaches. I'd cut back on reaches, and look for more true matches. I'd also cut out the schools you don't really like, and/or don't fit your needs. </p>

<p>If I were you, I'd narrow your current list to these:
-BC (yes, it's reach, but with legacy status, it never hurts to try)
-Villanova (the other reach I think you'd have a fair shot at)
-UGA
-Indiana
-Miami OH
-South Carolina
-SMU
-TCU</p>

<p>Then add a few others. Mizzou sounds like a good bet. Chapman could be a possibility...maybe Ithaca College (they're both D3, I think, but the sports teams are still pretty good).</p>

3

<p>What are your thoughts on BU and Northeastern? Do they not fit my needs?</p>

4

<p>They are probably too big of reaches. Though they might be worth a try. Try auburn, clemson, USC (south carolina), Ohio State, U of Alabama, LSU, etc.</p>

5

<p>Average GPA of a Northeastern admit from my school is 3.33 with a 1260 SAT. Not a reach at all.</p>

6

<p>Northeastern and BU don't have big sports or greek scenes.</p>

7

<p>Any other ideas?</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
Northeastern and BU don't have big sports or greek scenes.

[/quote]

That was my thought; they don't seem to be good fits.</p>