<p>My stats are:
Competitive private school (New York)
~92% GPA ('Most Rigorous Schedule', 6-8 APs by graduation + many honors courses)
2160 SAT
Subject Tests: 750 Math II, 730 French, 630 U.S. History
AP Exams: English Language (4), French (4), U.S. History (4)
Looking to study finance and/or management in college</p>
<p>List of schools I'm applying to:</p>
<p>Current "match-ish" schools:
NYU Stern (first choice)
BC Carroll
USC Marshall</p>
<p>I like to pretend that UCLA and UMich are "ballparks" but they're probably reach schools for OOS applicant like myself.</p>
<p>Any other schools that I should be heavily considering?</p>
<p>Will you be needing financial aid? (From your current list, I certainly hope not!) I think you have a good chance at UCLA and a decent chance at Michigan. Here are some more suggestions:</p>
<p>All of these would be high to low matches for you with ND and CMU probably a low reach. If you apply to UCLA, you might also apply to UCB (very high match or low reach).</p>
<p>Both UCB and UCLA are hard to forecast without knowing your UC GPA which focuses on Soph and Jr years. I think they’re both reaches. And as jshain said, I hope you don’t need FA. Texas focuses on class rank so if you’re not in the top 10% it will be tough.</p>
<p>My school does not have Honors Sections in many courses that we are required to take (i.e. for Sophomore English and History, there is no advanced level section). Therefore I don’t think my UC GPA would accurately reflect my academic standard.</p>
<p>UC GPA. A concern for all applicants. Unfortunately I’ve seen many good private shool kids be rejected because the UCs don’t understand the difference between good private and average public.</p>
<p>Your scores are high for top UCs, so it’s worth it to apply.</p>
<p>Our school has had a fair number of students apply to UCs in the past couple of years. The college counselors at our schools have tried to make an effort to associate themselves a little more with them. Hopefully UCLA and UCB are a little more acquainted with our school profile.</p>
<p>Also how are UCs faring in terms of their policy towards OOS students?</p>
<p>They are taking more and more because of their budget crisis. They continue to cut back on classes, so be aware you will probably pay that $50K plus for 5 years to get all of your classes to graduate making it more expensive than almost all private colleges.</p>
<p>*Also how are UCs faring in terms of their policy towards OOS students?
*</p>
<p>OOS kids need higher GPAs than instate kids do. However, since the UCs want full pay OOS students to help them with their budget woes, they like accepting OOS students. As long as your parents are willing to pay the $50k+ per year to go, you have a good chance.</p>
<p>*Finances/money is not a concern for me. *</p>
<p>Is that because your parents have said that they will pay full freight for wherever you go? or is it because you’ll take out student loans to pay?</p>
<p>“They are taking more and more because of their budget crisis. They continue to cut back on classes, so be aware you will probably pay that $50K plus for 5 years to get all of your classes to graduate making it more expensive than almost all private colleges.”</p>
<p>Jeez. Is this really the case? If so I might consider some slightly-less appealing schools if my decision letters is favorable.</p>
<p>“Is that because your parents have said that they will pay full freight for wherever you go? or is it because you’ll take out student loans to pay?”</p>
<p>The former. My family is financially well off for the most part.</p>
<p>Being able to AFFORD to pay for colleges and having it make financial GOOD SENSE are two very different things as I’m sure you understand. My son loved UMichigan, and I could afford to send him there, but it didn’t make good financial sense since we live in CA.</p>
<p>Here’s my take on the UCs from what I’ve seen so far:</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Cal, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. So far, after 2 semesters, he’s had no problem getting his classes. During his very first semester he was in the last group to register. Unlike many school’s class registration practices, Cal does not set aside a certain number of spots, per class per registration week, for late registrants per se. One of his pre-req classes was full when he went to register BUT they opened up more spots within a few days-- on numerous occasions. As far as OOS versus in-state. I am of the opinion that the loyalty really is with CA residents and taxpayers first and foremost. That is not to say that it hasn’t shifted somewhat because it has. But, like mom2ck pointed out, OOSers need better stats than in-staters therefore CA residents have the edge all things being “equal”. They like the increased monies they receive from OOS students, but not at the expense of denying well-qualified CA applicants admission, imo.</p>