<p>I have several reaches and safeties in mind right now, but I can't exactly get a grasp on what schools would be considered matches for me. I'm obviously looking for suggestions, but more than that I'm trying to get an idea of the level of schools I should be looking at for matches.</p>
<p>The numbers:</p>
<p>GPA: Unweighted/Weighted - 3.6/4.4 overall; 3.7/4.9 Junior year
SAT I: 2030 (1300/1600); will be retaking in October.
SAT II: US History 790; Biology M 770; Math II 610; taking Physics in November.
AP: US History 5; Biology 5; English Lang/Comp 5
Senior courses: AP World, AP Euro, AP Lit, AP Physics, AP Calc AB; taken every honors class for required courses available throughout high school.
Rank: Won't know for about a week or so, but I'm pretty sure I'm on the borderline for top 5% in a class of ~500.
Trends: Unweighted, freshmen year was my strongest (barely beats Junior); weighted, Junior year is my best. Both ways, Sophomore year was my weakest, I have no excuses to offer.</p>
<p>Other:</p>
<p>-White/Male
-Intended majors: Physics, History
-Don't know how my high school ranks, but it usually sends several people to top tier schools every year.
-Essays: don't know about the others, but my common app essay got a pretty good commentary from my English teacher, who won state teacher of the year and we're working on making it even better. Definitely unique.
-Letters of Rec: Have two teachers already on board; one of them has a door covered in special recognition letters from top universities (Hopkins, MIT, Dartmouth, and others) where he recommended students in the past.
-Major EC's are weightlifting, Chess Club/Team, and a part-time job (all of which I'm pretty dedicated to). Besides that, I'm also involved in a NASA-sponsored astrophysics research program through a local research university (not saying which for privacy purposes). This included a summer session and regular research work throughout Senior year.
-Applying for financial aid.
-More interested in research universities than LAC's, but I'm staying open-minded.</p>
<p>Once again, I'm really just looking to get an idea of what schools I should consider to be matches. Any suggestions would be nice, but I'm keeping that goal in mind. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Schools like Bucknell, Lehigh, Colgate come to mind. You didn’t specify large or small. University of Connecticut. George Washington. Your SAT II scores are pretty high. You might take a look at schools that will accept SAT II’s in lieu of SAT I. ( I know that Middlebury does this.)</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions, but again, there’s no point in posting my EFC or specific aspects of a school I want. I can find schools I like and can afford on my own; what I can’t do is judge whether or not they’re a match in terms of getting in. But if someone could tell me what sort of schools I can consider to be matches (again, in terms of getting in, not whether or not I want go there) then I’ll have an easier time judging schools I’ve seen that I like.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s my fault for posting details that aren’t really necessary. In that case, sorry for the misunderstanding. I will look into those suggestions though.</p>
<p>there’s no point in posting my EFC or specific aspects of a school I want. I can find schools I like and can afford on my own; what I can’t do is judge whether or not they’re a match in terms of getting in. But if someone could tell me what sort of schools I can consider to be matches (again, in terms of getting in, not whether or not I want go there) then I’ll have an easier time judging schools I’ve seen that I like.</p>
<p>I realize that you’re new to all of this, so you may think that there’s "no point in posting my EFC or specific aspects of a school I want. I can find schools I like and can afford on my own; what I can’t do is judge whether or not they’re a match in terms of getting in," - but that is not true, nor is it how you should go about figuring out what schools will work for you - acceptance-wise, affordable, and fit.</p>
<p>We can see that you have good stats, you’re interested in History or Physics, you prefer research universities over LACs, and that you’re applying for Financial Aid.</p>
<p>With the above info and your financial situation, we can recommend schools that NOT ONLY you will likely get accepted to, but also will work out for you financially.</p>
<p>Do you have any idea how many kids say that they are applying for FA (because they need the money) but then find out that they won’t get any aid or enough aid???</p>
<p>WHY would you want us recommending schools (and possibly loving them) if you’ll find that they won’t be affordable???</p>
<p>WHY wouldn’t you want us to recommend schools that will work for you in all ways??</p>
<p>I understand that you’re trying to also help me find a school that I can afford and that I will fit into socially, but I can do those parts by myself. I’ll repeat this: I didn’t make this thread intending to get suggestions of schools to apply to.</p>
<p>I’ll try to explain this as clearly as I can. People on CC always talk about how you should have safeties, reaches, and matches - safeties being schools where you can almost definitely get in, reaches where your chances are somewhat slim, and matches, which are somewhere in between. The only purpose I had in making this thread was figuring out exactly what I should a consider a match in that context alone. </p>
<p>For instance, Hitch123 mentioned Colgate, Lehigh, and Bucknell. Based on my application, should I consider these safeties? Reaches? Or matches? Since they were mentioned, I’m assuming Hitch123 thinks they’re matches, so I’ll look into them. But if they’re too expensive or I don’t like the social scene, I obviously won’t apply to them. But then, at least I’ll be able to look at the statistics of their classes of 2014, and I’ll know what kinds of schools Hitch123 thinks I can consider a match.</p>
<p>Look, I don’t know if there’s still a miscommunication here, but you still don’t seem to understand what I’m saying. I don’t need someone to compare my EFC to the price of a university for me. If anything, that’s for me and my parents to do. We’re perfectly capable of it.</p>
<p>But I will acknowledge that maybe you can help me pinpoint a few schools that fit me in other ways. I’m sorry if I came off sounding arrogant or like I don’t want your help. I admit I could have phrased myself better, and I do want your help. But I would also appreciate it if you didn’t write me off for handling this process a little differently than you would.</p>
<p>This is from a past thread. I hope it’s helpful.</p>
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<p>Also, I realize there’s a risk that I’ll fall in love with a school I can’t afford. I’m not the kind of person whose entire world would be crushed if I couldn’t go to the school I want just because of money, and since I obviously can’t prove that to you, you’ll just have to take my word for it. It isn’t your job to protect me, anyway. If it’s any consolation, I’ve already become obsessed with a school that I know I won’t be able to afford, but hey: at least I’m smart enough to be looking for other options.</p>