Trimming College list--suggestions?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a senior who has been casually skimming college confidential forums over the last couple years, but I've only recently gotten super serious about making my decisions. (Yes, shame shame.)</p>

<p>I am a National Merit Semifinalist.
ACT 34
SAT 2220 (M: 650, CR: 800, W: 770)
GPA: 3.87 unweighted
I am a primarily Honors/AP student.</p>

<p>I plan on majoring in Economics through a Business school or CAS. I will be going to grad school after college, according to my current plans.</p>

<p>I am very academic, but I like to have a good time and do not want to go to a super competitive, all-work-no-play school. I also do not want to be in a rural area. And, Southwestern, Macalester, and CMC are all on the small side. I prefer more mid-range (5,000-15,000). </p>

<p>Good financial aid is important. I have some savings, but not enough for $50 grand a year. </p>

<p>I'm looking more for opinions on what would be a good fit from my list than for additional suggestions. I will visit these places after I am accepted.</p>

<p>I have/am definitely apply to:</p>

<p>University of Missouri (My dad works here, so I could attend with a discount. I've already been accepted. Safety; I would be content to go here.)
Macalester College
University of Pittsburgh
Yale
Wheaton, IL (My parents are making me apply to a Christian college--I do not want to go to one.)</p>

<p>I am strongly considering:
Claremont McKenna
Carnegie Mellon
University of Alabama (An additional safety school. They have good National Merit money.)
Southwestern University
Washington University in St. Louis
Northwestern</p>

<p>Other schools I am interested in:
UChicago
UNC-Chapel Hill
Columbia
Vanderbilt</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any input!</p>

2

<p>Out of the reach schools you’re considering, Claremont McKenna, Northwestern, WUSTL, UNC-CH and Vanderbilt sound like they would suit you. I think they all offer merit aid as well, which is a plus. UNC doesn’t offer very good need-based aid, though.</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon and UChicago don’t sound like what you’re looking for at all. I’d probably take Columbia off as well.</p>

3

<p>University of Virginia. Fits your description almost to a tee, is one of only two public schools to cover 100% of need of out of state students, and has an amazing business and commerce school, as well as a strong economics department in the college of arts and science.</p>

4

<p>It does seem like low reaches are missing from your list. It also seems like the 34 is more impressive than the 1450----will you submit only the ACT? With a 34 Dartmouth seems like a possibility and slightly easier to get into than Yale although still a reach, of course. Rural may not be such an issue for you if the place itself is fairly large. Northwestern and UVA seem like good ideas. What about Boston College which is supposed to be excellent for business? Tufts?</p>