Unrealistic College Lists.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>(My College List is below)</p>

<p>__</p>

<p>I need help with my college list. Trust me when I say, I AM CLUELESS. </p>

<p>STATS: African American female in a private girl's boarding school.</p>

<p>GRADES: I have As, Bs (mostly Bs) and I normally get at least one C a year. This year (11thgrade) I did not get any As in core subjects! I want to major in biology and do medicine.</p>

<p>TESTS: SAT: 640 Critical Reading, 600 Writing and 610 in math. I am going to take SAT II Math IC, SAT II Literature and the ACT in the fall.</p>

<p>OTHER: I travel a lot, I did interesting community service, I joined a lot of clubs, I have led clubs etc.</p>

<p>I want to go to a college in a big city in New York State, VA, NJ, NH...etc. My dad is too lazy to take me on tours so I am going to have to trust information from the internet, my nonexistant college councellor and information from college guides. Does anyone have any suggestions for safeties and mediocre universities to add to my list? Are my top universities a stretch? I don't mind going to an unknown college that is really good!</p>

<p>EARLY DECISION: Is it a bad idea to waste my early decision on an Ivy League (Dartmouth because my sister goes there right now) even though my stats are not looking too good?</p>

<p>I want to use the common application.</p>

<h2>FINANCIAL AID: I need like 75% aid! I may be able to afford maybe $10, 000 a year but even that is a stretch.</h2>

<p>(TOP 5)</p>

<p>New York University
Dartmouth College
Cornell University
Boston University</p>

<p>(5 MEDIOCRE)</p>

<p>George Washington University
Northeastern University (Early Action)
University of Richmond
Syracuse University
Vassar College
University of New Hampshire
Washington and Lee U.
Colby College
Georgetown University</p>

<p>(2 SAFETIES)</p>

<p>Fordham University (Early Action)
Pace University (Early Action)</p>

2

<p>The schools in your "mediocre" list are ANYTHING but mediocre. If you're considering them match schools, I would rethink your list a little bit. Most of the schools in that list are more selective than BU, and a couple of them are more selective than NYU. BU and NYU are great schools, but you'd have an easier time getting into them than into some of your "mediocre" schools.</p>

<p>Georgetown is as selective as many of the Ivies. It's probably your biggest reach on that list, along with Dartmouth. Vassar, Colby, and W&L are among the most selective and competitive liberal arts colleges. </p>

<p>That's not to say you have no chance at these schools, but admission to them is VERY competitive. They're a reach for just about everyone who applies, including students with high GPAs and SAT scores.</p>

<p>Pick up the US News College Edition. It gives the average SAT scores and acceptance rates for every school in the country. Take a look at the schools where your SATs fall within the average. That may give you a better idea of what would be a match school for you.</p>

3

<p>^^^agree
it is much easier to get into NYU and BU than it is for vassar, W&L, colby, and especially georgetown.</p>

4

<p>Yes I think you've got your mediocre list a bit messed up. =) Having said that, I'm going to say you've got a very, very, VERY low chance at NYU, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Georgetown. They're the big names on your list. And.. you do know that NYU's annual tuition is around 46k? Judging from your need 75% aid, it might not be the smartest move to apply there. =) Plus at any college in a large city, things will be more expensive.</p>