<p>Hey everyone, I saw the other reach thread and it sounded like a good question. So I was just wondering, do I have too many reach schools, or a good blend? Here are my stats and probable school choices:</p>
<p>SAT: 2190 (750 CR, 720 Math, 720 Writing)
SAT II: 800 Math 2, 750 Literature
ACT: 34 (I didn't take it with writing, I'm going to retake with writing this fall.)
PSAT: 221 (National Merit Semifinalist in Ohio)</p>
<p>GPA (through 11th grade): 4.596 W / 3.92 UW
Rank: 7/315</p>
<p>Senior Year Courses: American Gov't AP, Calc BC AP, English AP, Spanish AP, Physics AP</p>
<p>Extracurricular Activities:
P.R.I.D.E. (promotes diversity and awareness in school)
Key Club (community service events)
Yearbook - Editor of Academic Section
Tennis (JV 9th grade, I'm thinking about playing again senior year)</p>
<p>Volunteering: over 100 hours total
-through Key Club and P.R.I.D.E.
-Jewish Family Service Association (Summer 2005)
-Hillel @ CWRU - produced mailings to raise money for Hillel (Summer 2006)
-Citizen's Academy - tutored elementary school children in the city (Summer 2006)</p>
<p>My School Choices:
Brown
University of Pennsylvania
Yale
Wash. U in St. Louis
University of Michigan
The Ohio State University</p>
<p>I would say you have enough reaches, but are you confient in your safeties. That is, if you had to go there would you still feel excited about school?</p>
<p>Please take this constructively, but your ECs are lacking. GPA and SAT are fine, but those only get you through the door. UMich is a good match and OSU is a good safety.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know that my ECs are not great. I don't really have any leadership positions and unfortunately colleges seem to feel that if you haven't established your leadership and passion during high school you won't do that in college. Knowing what I know now, I'd love to go back to the beginning of 9th grade (or maybe even earlier) and pick a few main activities to stick with through high school. But I might be able to use my activity record in an essay, saying that I lack consistency because I haven't yet found my passion, and going to college will allow me to really discover my interests. Bottom line though, with senior year approaching and club officers already chosen, it's really too late for me to really hold any office.</p>
<p>Also, halopeno2, addressing your question, I think that I would be happy at any of my choices, safety schools included. The good thing about a school that isn't so competitive is that I could stand out more, probably be an outstanding student. If I went to an Ivy League school, I would just be one of the crowd. That said, I wouldn't apply to a university that I felt I could never be happy attending.</p>
<p>I think you are fine but just in case you might want to some safer schools.</p>
<p>Cavalier07, I like your optimistic attitude about your safties. "Big fish in a small pond!"</p>