Suggestion on what colleges to apply to

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hi! I'm currently just finishing up my junior year in high school, and I've been thinking really hard about college. I have visited USC, University of Minnesota, UW, GWU, Georgetown, UT Austin, Harvard, UChicago (legacy) along with a few others. I really value education and want to go to as good of a school as possible. </p>

<p>I got a 30 on the ACT (I did get a 35 on math but science held me down). I'm not planning on retaking the ACT, instead I want to focus on my applications. I think I'm a pretty well rounded student. So far I have 4 varsity letters (and 1 academic letter), have a gpa of 4.0 every semester of high school (23 A+'s, 13 A's, 3 A-'s) while taking mostly AP/honors courses. Along with that, I have published a research paper on GMO's, am VP of NHS, started an after school tutoring program at a local school, student ambassador, I spend hours organizing volunteering events and volunteering, I'm also active in many other clubs and leadership activities. </p>

<p>I'm also currently working on a research project with a private company and USDA and going to be working on hopefully publishing another paper from the findings. I do a lot of work with various economists (including interning) and attend many meetings and conferences. </p>

<p>Overall, I just have a great passion for learning and helping others and want to find the perfect environment for these passions to continue to grow.</p>

<p>I'm hoping to possibly double major in economics and business with a minor in international relations.</p>

<p>Some schools my parents and I have been thinking about are Cornell, Berkley, UCLA, USC, U of M, GWU, UT Austin, Georgetown, but I don't really know if I have a chance of getting into those school. My parents also think I should apply to Harvard and Chicago, and I would love to go there, but I highly doubt I'd get accepted there so I don't know if I should. </p>

<p>I'm really looking for a school that will give me a great education and opportunities in the field of economics (such as internships). One of the reasons I really liked the DC schools was because of how much opportunity there is to really get yourself out there and help build your future. </p>

<p>Any help or recommendations on what I can do to improve my chances or what schools I should apply to would be greatly appreciated! I would really appreciate as much feedback as possible. Thanks SO much:)</p>

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<p>Also, if anyone is willing to personally message or email me with more information or ideas, I would be very thankful!</p>

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<p>What is your home state and how much can your family afford? Class rank (that’s the most important consideration for UT)? To be honest Chicago and Harvard are extreme long shots with that ACT score, even with your impressive ECs.</p>

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<p>so, to be clear, UW = Wisconsin?
USC = U of Southern California?
U of M = U of Michigan?</p>

<p>You visited some schools? what did you think of them? what did you like/dislike? how would you fit at any of them? should we rule any of them out?</p>

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<p>@jkeil911‌ Sorry for not clarifying, but I meant University of Washington and University of Minnesota. From the schools I visited Georgetown, USC, and UT Austin were probably my favorite. I also did really like Minnesota though. However, Georgetown and USC are pretty hard to get in, and UT is very hard to get in out of state so that worries me. I really liked how they were in big cities with lots of opportunities. I could just really see myself there. I’m basically just looking for a good school where I would succeed (so I’m not planning on applying to Harvard o Chicago for that reason, I don’t know if I would be ready for that yet, though I probably wouldn’t even get accepted). Any other suggestions on where to look? Do you think Cornell and the California schools are a long shot (I’m out of state)?</p>

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<p>I’m sorry to take so long to get back to you. You slipped thru my bookmarks without my seeing your response.</p>

<p>You seem like an level-headed student. UChicago for economics would be exceptional, but if you don’t want to go thru the headaches I can understand that. That 35 in math is going to catch a lot of attention wherever you apply.</p>

<p>I can suggest good schools but neither I nor the schools can have much to do with whether or not you succeed. Schools can put opps in place, but you have to choose the right school and take advantage of the opps. A lot depends on you, OP, not the school. I’m sure you’ll do just fine.</p>

<p>So you’re looking for suggestions for universities, small to large city, no particular region, 4.0/30 (35M), very good ECs, econ and business double major with minor in IR. </p>

<p>I have two roadblocks: how much can your family afford? and why econ and business school as majors? Frankly, I don’t see you in a business school at all, but putting that aside why do YOU see yourself in a business school? I could see you getting a masters or phd some day, maybe from a business or policy school, but business school and econ and IR say “hold up here.” Economics departments are usually found, within universities, in colleges of arts & sciences, not in colleges or schools of business. That can in some cases make double majoring very hard because you would have to enroll in both arts and sciences AND the school of business (IR will be in arts and sciences, probably). You want to be an economist, you tell us, so why business school?</p>

<p>Please address my roadblocks, and I’ll start working on some more schools.</p>

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<p>Might look at Tufts and Holy Cross. HC offers many internships and has one of the better alumni networks.</p>

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<p>Are you a resident for any of the state schools on your list? Do you need FA? Does your family’s income even qualify you for FA?</p>

<p>How you will fund college (FA, merit aid, no aid needed at all) will dictate totally different options. </p>

<p>

You are aware that 30 is average or below average for the very selective schools on your list.</p>

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<p>@jkeil911 My parents are willing to pay for me to go almost wherever I want. That said, I still don’t want to make them pay a tremendous amount of money. We don’t qualify for financial aid, but I would be interested in getting some merit based scholarships if possible. For now, I am fairly certain on going into Econ (at first anyways, but that may change) as my parents are economists and I have had quite a bit of experience/exposure to it. I’m looking into business as more of a minor now (just because I find it very interesting). And I do want to go to graduate school for sure, hopefully a top school. So I need to make sure that I go to a school where I can succeed and do well to later get into a good graduate school as well. I also believe that building a relationship with my professors is very important. I also want to have time to enjoy college, be social, participate in various groups, etc, not just study 24/7. I’m from the midwest, and I’m not 100% sure how far out of the midwest I want to go yet. Thanks so much for your help! Sorry it took so long for me to respond but we have been traveling. Again, I really appreciate it. </p>

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<p>Ignoring the schools named above, I’m going to make some choices for you based on what I think is best for you :smiley: Just so you’re forewarned! Let’s say you major in econ, minor in IR and business because with econ you can do anything in IR or business (incl. getting a masters in policy or biz). Econ will give you the numbers background to succeed in either, and anyone who cannot learn policy or biz after that shouldn’t go into IR or business.</p>

<p>In this event, UChicago (31) goes to the top of the list. It lacks the business piece, but… Now I’m going to throw some small schools at you. Claremont McKenna (29) and the Claremont Consortium can provide you with all the grounding in econ and IR you could want. Hamilton (29), Colgate (30), Williams (30), URichmond and Colorado College (both 28; both have something called Intl Economics), and Trinity College (26).</p>

<p>And some larger possibilities. UWisconsin (26), Northwestern (30), Tufts (30).</p>

<p>The number in parentheses is the lower score in their Middle 50 for the ACT. There are some academic low matches, a bunch of high matches, and a reach. Some schools offer business, most don’t, but as you know I don’t consider that any great loss to one’s education.</p>