<p>I am rather at sea with this whole college search thing...its very much not a big deal at my high school, and I have a feeling that my parents' expectations are completely unrealistic. </p>
<p>SAT scores (I've taken both the old and the new SAT I's but not yet any subject tests (I know, I know, poor planning)</p>
<p>800 v, 690 m
800 cr, 660 m, 700 w </p>
<p>GPA (at an incredibly not competitive high school no APs, I've taken all Honors courses- highest offered)
4.5 w, 3.8 uw (rank 1 or 2 out of about 120)</p>
<p>EC's</p>
<p>Girl Scouting (this will be my eigth year) earned Silver Award (second highest award)
Community Service (I've been a nursing home reader for four years and have been involved in very many community events)
Band (does this cout as an EC?) I won the Instrumentalist Magazine First Chair Award (no idea if this is any good)
National Honor Society (11th and presumably 12th grades)
Math Team (9th grade- back when I was still good at math)</p>
<p>Work
I did summer filing work at my mom's agency in 9th and 10th grades
I've worked anywhere from 16-30 hours a week at my current job for over a year as a kitchen aide in our local hospital (the pay is very good but it really isn't very educational). I have been "promoted" to a part time shift supervisor</p>
<p>Looking for a Liberal Arts College of not much more than 5,000 students. Area wise I really don't care- probably a suburban campus would be best.
Hoping to concentrate in psychology and neuroscience. (Oh, and I'm a white female.)</p>
<p>Since there haven't been any replies, I'll be the first replier. Your SAT scores are quite good - a total of 1490 with consistent 800's both times! Class rank is excellent as well as GPA. Your EC's are a bit on the weak side with no leadership positions/experience. Maybe run for a position on NHS? Found a club? Some extra volunteer work? The steady job at hospital qualifies as an EC and it's an important one at that since not many people have work experience and work 16-30 hrs/week while going to school. It's a big plus. :)</p>
<p>I used the CollegeBoard Matchmaker based on what you said you preferred (i.e., medium school, psychology/neuroscience concentration, in the Northeast, etc) and came up with the following results:</p>
<p>Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Endicott College, Franklin and Marshall College, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Lehigh University, Skidmore College, Swarthmore College, Vassar College, and Wellesley College.</p>
<p>You obviously know which ones are reaches like Dartmouth, Georgetown, and Swarthmore. I must say though, when I read what kind of college you wanted, I immediately thought of Wellesley.</p>
<p>mortgatta-- rather than try to graft on some new officer position, I think you can use your existing things-- band, scouting, volunteering, & work experience esp the fact you were promoted.</p>
<p>These are all great ECs. You should focus on the things that give you the most happiness. Mostly you want to come across as a whole, dimensional person on paper.</p>
<p>Bates and Bucknell are in no way safety schools.</p>
<p>ETA: Should say, however, that Bates is a wonderful recommendation. Great neuroscience and psychology programs. Volunteer work is very important there, however.</p>
<p>Bates is however a strong match, and I agree that it should be on your list.</p>
<p>As for the EC issue. . .certain national and/or statewide awards for EC activity are undeniably valuable, however, SBmom is steering you in the right direction. . .it's not so much what the ECs as what you communicate in your application (and interview) about them. . .how engaged you are with them, what you've learned from them, how they have changed your life, the relationship they may or may not have with your academic and family life, etc. This is what makes your application come alive for the reader. And remember, work is an EC.</p>
<p>University of Rochester is strong in neuroscience. It is not an LAC but is a small university...suburban. If you like music, U of R would be a good choice.</p>