<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>I recently sat down with my parents and we discussed my college choices for this coming fall.</p>
<p>We came up with:</p>
<p>Penn (ED), Duke, Tufts, Harvard, Wash U, Rice, Pomona, University of Washington, and JHU/UCB MAYBE. </p>
<p>I have interest in going into the biological sciences and following the pre-med track.</p>
<p>Briefly, my credentials are:</p>
<p>Top notch high school and in the district's "gifted program." Will have IB diploma by time of applying. </p>
<p>GPA: 3.98/4.0 UW 4.81/5.0 W
Class Rank: 7-8/340~ Top 3%
SAT: CR 800 M 770 W 720 (Essay 9) Total: 2280 (one sitting)
SAT II: Physics 750 and USH 750</p>
<p>I won't talk about EC's and subjective stuff, but just based on the numbers alone, what do you guys think of my list? I'm thinking it may be a bit reach heavy. Do you have any other suggestions? </p>
<p>Thanks so much :)</p>
<p>That looks okay, but I would keep the applications for a few safeties (WSU?) around if things start to look scarce come December.</p>
<p>What is your financial situation?</p>
<p>Hey noimagination,</p>
<p>Financial situation is pretty good I believe. We’ll apply for financial aid, but we’re not planning on receiving any. I believe the income bracket is too high.</p>
<p>Any suggestions on safeties or match schools for me?</p>
<p>Be aware that prestige isn’t terribly important for pre-meds, and med school will cost a lot. So going to a cheaper school and saving up wouldn’t be a bad idea, at least not as an option to keep on the table.</p>
<p>Are you a probable National Merit Finalist?</p>
<p>Off the top of my head, U Utah and U Arizona might be good safety choices.</p>
<p>Yes, I am a probable National Merit Finalist. Or, at least a semi-finalist.</p>
<p>And, great! Thanks. I’ll look at those schools.</p>
<p>Yelopen, what was your list? Do you have any suggestions for me?</p>
<p>And thank you so much noimagination. That list will be invaluable!</p>
<p>Hm. He deleted his post…</p>
<p>haha, sorry I couldn’t figure out how I wanted to word it so I just said “forget it” and deleted it.</p>
<p>Anyway, my list was:
Safety - UCI, UCSD
Match - UCLA, UC Berkeley
Reach - HYPSM, Dartmouth, Northwestern (because I auditioned for the music school, academically it would’ve been a match, I think)</p>
<p>Ah, okay. Great, thanks!</p>
<p>Would you suggest UCSD? My parents were talking about it the other day and I’ve heard good things from friends.</p>
<p>^ UCSD is a crazy good biology school. Are you a CA resident?</p>
<p>I am OOS. I’m from the Pacific Northwest…so it’d be a bit harder for me, right?</p>
<p>^ It is not a good bargain OOS. </p>
<p>On another note, you should be eligible for WUE: [Western</a> Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) | Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education](<a href=“http://wiche.edu/wue]Western”>Save On Tuition | Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE))</p>
<p>If you are applying to ucsd, you might as well pick a couple of other UCs, as all you have to do is check off a couple of boxes. With UCs as your safety, you should be fine. You might even be offered some money from one of them. My son was offered full tuition, merit based, from UCSB with similar stats.
I’m assuming you are a California resident.</p>
<p>oh, just saw the cross-post. I don’t think they give merit money to OOS students. You should apply to your state flagship as a safety.</p>
<p>Ah. Then paying that much for UCSD probably wouldn’t be worth it when I could probably end up at UW, right? (assuming safety school because everyone at my school with lower stats ends up there)</p>
<p>Yeah just go to UW. Why not Brown, Dartmouth, Amherst, or Northwestern? All very similar to schools on your list.</p>
<p>I don’t see why anyone would pay for UCSD when they could probably get some merit money from UW.</p>
<p>Also, are you sure you want to apply ED? Is it your clear first choice?</p>
<p>Yup! I’ve already met with the regional high school alum chair or w/e and we talked. Currently reading a book on Benjamin Franklin and his ideology and how that passed on to Penn and I’m lovin’ it.</p>
<p>Brown, Dartmouth, Amherst, and Northwestern were all considered at one point or another, but I thought I should cut down on the reaches…</p>
<p>Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend going to a UC if you’re out-of-state, maybe if it’s Cal or UCLA. And to be honest, by looking at your academic stats, you can get into a better school than UCSD haha. Assuming your ECs, essays, recommendations, etc. are up to par with your scores/grades, I’d say you have a decent shot at all of your schools except Harvard, which is a reach, as it is for pretty much everyone.</p>
<p>EDIT - I wouldn’t say Northwestern is a big reach. It’s definitely doable. I’m not so sure about the other 3.</p>