Tips and Tricks for a Newbie

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, I'm new to all of this and if you have seen this thread a thousand times or it is in the wrong forum, I apologize. I'm a rising senior and basically I need some help for what colleges I should be looking into. Here are my credentials.</p>

<p>GPA-4.166. .5 extra for honors classes and 1 point extra for APs
Attends Top 50 Catholic High School
In top 10% of class
All honors or AP classes</p>

<p>Rounded grades for each class for last 3 years
A/A+ History
A-/B+ Math
B/B- Sciences
A/A- English
B+/B Foreign Languages
A Fine Arts (Band)
Future Classes
AP Physics C
AP Psych
AP Lit
AP Calc BC</p>

<p>AP Grades
AP Lang/Comp-4
AP Chem-2 (I know, I'm ashamed)
AP US History- Dunno yet. But I'm very confident my score will be a 5, possibly a 4.</p>

<p>ECs-Section Leader of a top 10 nationally ranked Marching Band
Member of State Champ Symphonic Band
Math Team (State Finalist)
Frisbee Club
Bowling Club</p>

<p>Recommendation Letters- 1 from US history AP and 1 from Pre-Cal teacher</p>

<p>Now, my top choice is U of Chicago, but I know that is a stretch. But I am also willing to go to my state school, Indiana University. My question for you is what are some colleges I should look at that are not shoo-ins, but are not Harvard/Yale material? I am interested in a social sciences major (Pol Sci, History, possibly Psych) Thanks a lot for your help.</p>

2

<p>What about SATs/ACTs? Subject tests?</p>

3

<p>My apologies. ACT-29, but I'm taking it again. It was a really bad testing day. I think I can raise it to a 31 or a 32.
No SAT or Subject Tests.</p>

4

<p>You know, I should post this in the correct forums now that I know the site better. Thanks anyway.</p>

5

<p>Check the requirements for any schools you MIGHT be interested in so you don't find yourself short of admission requiremnts (specifically SAT IIs). Did you take ACT with writing? Does your state offer Sept. test for ACT?</p>

6

<p>Tufts, Wesleyan, Swarthmore. Not easy to get in, but easier than HYPSM.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the advice, but not too interested in a liberal arts college. Should have been more specific. Keep em' coming!</p>

8

<p>You don't want liberal arts?
Do you want state university recommendations then?</p>

<p>I would give all the info you have. Your exact scores on Math, English, Reading and Science on the ACT for one.
What was your PSAT and breakdown for that? People can get an idea of what the admissions folks will be seeing.</p>

<p>What do you want to do with this major? Be a psychologist? Law school?</p>

<p>What precisely do you want? Urban school? Rural? Doesn't matter? Size of student body-- >10,000? <10,000? Any state?</p>

<p>Be very specific if you have preferences. If none, then be very specific when you say you have none in that area.</p>

<p>My d isn't interested in your majors, so I can't advise you on schools, sorry. But I have read many posts like yours, and you have to be specific.</p>