<p>I'm trying to be realistic in my college search, but I want to apply to a couple of reaches. I do have financial concerns. I come from a middle class family and I think it might be hard to get adequate aide (and I don't want a red box full of loans). </p>
<p>At this point, my list includes: Brown, University of Chicago, Pomona, Colorado College, Kenyon, Pitzer, Whitman, and University of Colorado at Boulder. (I realize some of these are definitely reaches, should I even bother applying?)</p>
<p>My stats are as follows:</p>
<p>rank: 1/123
GPA 4.3
SAT: 2100 math-660 critical reading-720 writing-720
SAT II: math II-720 literature-740 US Hist-770
ACT: 32 (state test, w/0 writing), 31 (different test w/ writing)
AP: Calculus BC-4 Lang-5 US Hist-5</p>
<p>ECs are pretty good. etc.
I'm from a small town in Colorado, opportunities are limited. I do my best.</p>
<p>anything I should add or remove to my list?</p>
<p>Looks like a reasonable list to me. You have some reaches (Brown, Chicago, Pomona), some matches (Colorado College, Kenyon, Pitzer and Whitman) and one safe bet (U of Colorado). The only suggestion I would have, since you clearly seem to like Liberal arts colleges is to try to add one more safe bet liberal arts college in addition to U of Colorado. Some possible ideas: University of Puget Sound, College of Wooster, Earlham, Knox, Beloit, Lawrence U. But, overall, your list looks realistic and well-thought out. Good luck!</p>
<p>Your list seems well-chosen, and even though you don't say anything about yourself I can see from your list what you're looking for. Along with Carolyn's suggestions, consider Reed, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, Smith, Wellesley, Oberlin, Carleton, Wesleyan, Vassar (etc., etc.,) for more intellectual and quirky schools. Some of these are easier to get in to than others, and you might pick up some merit scholarships from Bryn Mawr, Smith, and the like.</p>
<p>Your stats are strong and you will be considered wherever you apply. (If it makes you feel any better, I was accepted to my first choice, Chicago, with lower test scores, rank, etc.-- but I put on a show in my application about why I belong there, and that's what I believe sold me).</p>
<p>I don't know about the FA situation at other colleges, but Chicago recently received an $100 million dollar gift towards undergraduate financial aid. Students from families that earn less than $60k will graduate debt free; students from families that earn between 60 and 75k will have their debt cut in half. I don't know if that applies to you, but it's good to know.</p>
<p><a href="http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/070607/anonymousgift.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/070607/anonymousgift.shtml</a></p>
<p>I think you could use some schools between your reaches (Brown, Pomona, Chicago) and the rest of your schools. I would check out Vassar, Haverford, Wesleyan, Tufts, etc.</p>
<p>Are you retaking the SATs? It would be hard to get into your reaches with your current scores.</p>
<p>You biggest issue is to figure out what you can afford. Your reach schools give no merit aid and use profile. If you're doubting aid you probably have reason to. You need to use calculators to figure out your EFC. No point stressing over an application to Brown if you won't be able to afford it, something many learn too late.</p>
<p>Try Macalester in St. Paul, MN. They have really good financial aid, and it's a LAC. It's probably a match.</p>
<p>should have a good chance at anyn of ur instate colleges</p>
<p>This is really helpful. Thanks. If anyone has any more suggestions, let me know.</p>
<p>Well, what do you want to study?</p>
<p>You may want to look into Wells College if you're willing to consider upstate New York. It should be a safety for you, it gives merit aid, and even without merit aid, the cost of tuition is only something like $19,000 a year, compared to $35-40,000 for most LACs.</p>
<p>I want to go into Journalism, but I'll probably major in English.</p>
<p>The MHC woman has to recommend Mount Holyoke if anybody's going to recommend Vassar, Wellesley, Smith, especially if you're looking for a liberal arts English major.</p>
<p>Just a suggestion. :P</p>
<p>You know, I never considered a women's college before, but the more I think about it, the more I think it may be a decent idea.. Now to find the right one..</p>
<p>If you're looking for merit aid, as well, I know Mount Holyoke and Smith do give pretty sizable academic merit scholarships (I know about these in particular because I applied to these). I don't know about the other, though...</p>