<p>I think I'm really close to finalizing my college list entirely, and I'd really like feedback as to if it has a nice balance of schools (reach/target/safety) and any other opinions:</p>
<p>Me in a nutshell-male, white, new england, no real hooks, 2280 SAT (almost perfect cr/writing, 700 math) sat IIs in 730-800 range, 3.95 gpa, top 3% of class, very well-rounded with good leadership and many hours of volunteering (close to 400), varsity xc and track (won't be recruited for it though), instrument for 10 years, two A+s at upenn pre-summer college program (in microeconomics and introductory philosophy), several national awards in french, psat commended, national writing achievement award, and other basic academic awards</p>
<p>The List:
UPenn (ED)
UConn (EA)
Bowdoin
Colgate
Cornell
Georgetown (Legacy)
Haverford
Johns Hopkins
NYU (Legacy)
Northwestern
Tufts
Williams
Note-for all the schools i would be applying to typical arts and sciences if there are sub-schools (undecided major)
I know the number of schools is a bit daunting, but I'm okay with it and any feedback would be greatly appreciated...also if you want anymore info please let me know</p>
<p>why do you say i won’t need the others? And yes that is where i want to go. I wouldn’t say it’s leagues ahead of the rest, but i would be extremely happy there. My goal was to not get very attached to one school so the chance of rejection would not crush me so to be honest, I’d be happy at every school on my list except for NYU…my parents are making me apply there because we have 6 generations of legacy there and they donate heavily.</p>
<p>I’m not a UPenn expert, but you look well within range. And don’t apply to a school you don’t wish to go to. And I’m a parent, not a kid…Your stats and activities are almost exactly the same as my son’s, who will be a feb at Middlebury this year. He was wait-listed at Tufts, Amherst, Dartmouth, and Harvard, didn’t go ED because his first choice was Harvard…He didn’t have the community service, which you should highlight. I also recommend an overnight visit, and contacting any prof or activities advisor who you think might find you special, and making a pest of yourself.Make sure you don’t hang back , and let them know you REALLY want them…Good luck.</p>
<p>Why Johns Hopkins? It doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of your list. It’s an odd kind of place. Make sure that you’ve visited there and talked to people if you find yourself in the position of seriously considering it.</p>
<p>If you don’t get into Penn, I think you will be happy with some of the alternatives. With your stats, you’re a viable candidate for every school on your list. I would be very surprised if you didn’t get into Colgate and Northwestern, and I think your chances at Cornell are better than 50:50. Northwestern might be a nice alternative to Penn if access to a major city is important to you, and Cornell might be a nice alternative if you prefer to stay in the Northeast and don’t mind being in a small community.</p>
<p>Have you considered applying to the University of Virginia? You’re a reasonable candidate for admission from out of state, and many of the same people who like Penn and Cornell like UVa.</p>
<p>i visited and fell in love with the campus…also i’m extremely undecided with regards to my future major so it could range anywhere between english and economics…the school has a beautiful campus and is such a powerhouse in its academic programs, the sciences as well as the humanities</p>
<p>UPenn is a reach solely because most other applicants have similar impressive credentials. I think it’s a pretty good list. Are you actually willing to go to UConn if you don’t get in anywhere else? I assume your family can pay for NYU since they offer little FA.</p>
<p>Erins dad has the big question-- will you be happy going to UCONN if all else fails, or do you need to think of another safety? You look like a great candidate but we all know how crazy college admissions can be, and you might want to find one more less competitive place that you really like and will feel comfortable at. (BU, BC? You seem to like city schools, and Colgate and UCONN, your least competitive schools, are both very isolated.)</p>
<p>The one aspect about Penn that sticks in my mind is that switching from one school to another (i.e. A&S to Wharton) is as difficult as if you applying all over again. Just be sure you’ll be happy within whichever school you select.</p>
<p>PS: I’m guessing your “safeties” are those w/ legacy, esp NYU? UConn is no problem, but others are a big unknown for anyone (Bowdoin, Haverford, Williams).</p>
<p>I should think Colgate, Georgetown, and Northwestern were “safety-ish” with those stats. Why UConn at all? Why not Bucknell or Allegany or some other LAC where you’ll get better attention from teachers. You might want to look at the posts on schools with merit aid.</p>
<p>@zweebop: I have to disagree. The only thing that matters if you switch from the college to wharton is GPA. If your GPA is high enough, you will be able to switch.</p>
<p>I am not applying for any sort of financial aid. Also, my problem has been not being able to pick if i like city or rural so my list is a bit all over the place…im applying to uconn b/c its a good safety to have and based on SAT scores i will get into the honors program which is actually pretty prestigious and you get many more opportunities, advising, and attention. I believe that my two only true “safeties” are UConn and Colgate. The next up the ladder would be most likely Northwestern, and maybe Georgetown, but it can be very random as well. And at zweebopp-I am happy with CAS in UPenn as of now because I’m undecided, but as JML stated it’s difficult but it is almost solely based on GPA to transfer from CAS to Wharton. My biggest concern is what Erin’s dad stated was will I be happy if I only get into UConn and NYU and I don’t believe so, which is why I recently added Colgate which would make me potentially more happy, but I’m not sure to what extent.</p>
<p>I look at this list and see only one safety and a couple of high matches. I know you have strong stats, but I see this list being really top heavy. I’m very conservative when it comes to college admissions, and I don’t think Georgetown, Northwestern or even NYU is a given for anyone. Colgate’s acceptance rate was 24% – that, to me, is a reach for everyone, I don’t care how strong your stats are. </p>
<p>If you apply EA to UConn, and you are perfectly happy going there if every other school turns you down, then your list is fine.</p>
<p>Look to the midwest. You could get good merit aid, too. I would say Denison would be a low match. Earlham, Knox, Grinnell, Beloit would range from safety to match. Ohio Wesleyan is probably a safety.</p>