What college sounds right for me?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm currently a junior in California and I'm having just a bit of trouble finding a suitable college. I took some of those college search surveys on Princeton Review, but some of the results seem somewhat unrealistic. Can you recommend some colleges to me based on what I have so far? Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT Critical Reading: 680
[</em>] SAT Math: 640
[<em>] SAT Writing: 560
[</em>] SAT Total: 1880
[<em>] SAT II: 740 - Chinese with Listening, 720 - U.S. History, 620 - Mathematics Level 2
[</em>] AP courses taken: U.S. History, Computer Science, English Language and Composition
[<em>] Senior AP courses: Mandarin Language, English Literature and Composition, U.S. Government and Politics
[</em>] GPA unweighted: 3.67 (though soon to go down after second semester, and may get a C in math)
[/ul]</p>

<p>Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: California
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: Asian
[</em>] Gender: Male
[<em>] Legacy: New York University
[</em>] Important ECs: hospital volunteer (100+ hours), California Scholarship Federation, cross country (2 years, Most Dedicated), film club (secretary), Qing history compilation project for a Beijing college (assistant translator, soon to be published)
[li] Hooks: NYU legacy, Qing history compilation project[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>As for a major, I'm looking into history, political science, international business, or international relations (a mix of majors and minors maybe?). And probably jumping into law for grad school. I'd prefer a college size that's medium to large with a reasonable balance between work and fun.</p>

2

<p>Princeton Review’s college search is definitely unreliable. So is pretty much every other one out there, though. Some ideas: Macalester, Tufts, Columbia, Brown, Yale, although I know that they’re mostly reach schools.</p>

3

<p>Thanks! I’ll definitely consider those schools. I’m concerned with how my scores/GPA aren’t exactly great (prevents me from getting into the upper tier schools?), so I’m curious as to what would be matches.</p>

4

<p>I think Macalester would appreciate you.
How about American University?</p>

5

<p>except that he wants medium-large and macalester is not that</p>

<p>i would add GWU as one?</p>

6

<p>You should be in at any CA public except Berkeley, UCLA, and perhaps also UCSD.</p>

7

<p>I would say UCD or UCI… if you want to leave California though you want to find a less competitive school…
Do you want to go OOS?</p>

8

<p>Stay in-state; very few colleges are worth passing up in-state tuition at one of the UCs for.</p>

9

<p>Again, thanks for the input! I’m fine with staying in-state, but at the same time, I wouldn’t mind leaving for a college with strong programs and a reasonable tuition. </p>

<p>I’ve taken UCI and American University into consideration and I could see myself going to those colleges, since it has a pretty nice environment, good social sciences, etc. But…I guess I still want to keep my options open? Do I have a shot at the upper tiers (Tufts and Columbia look interesting), or are they completely out of my league?</p>

10

<p>IR: georgetown, tufts, northwestern, duke, columbia</p>

<p>business: wharton, mit, carnegie mellon, georgetown, stern</p>

<p>seems georgetown is a good one for u</p>

11

<p>With a 3.67 UW (which is plumetting) and a 1880, I doubt he’s going to make it into one of the schools duke3d44 mentioned.</p>

12

<p>Even if it stays at least a 3.6 UW after this semester?</p>

13

<p>If you don’t mind the weather, I would check out University of Wisconsin at Madison.</p>

14

<p>Hm thanks! Are there any more matches or realistic reaches?</p>

<p>And the Ivies, Colgate, Georgetown, Amherst, etc. are out entirely right?</p>

15

<p>If you can get your SATs up, I’d say apply to Colgate if you want, as a reach. Amherst is a bit harder to get into than Colgate, but once again, if you get your SATs up then I think you could apply to it as a reach as well. The Ivies are incredibly competitive so I wouldn’t bother with them. Also just try to do better senior year.</p>

16

<p>Umich, boston college, nyu…but i also recommend considering staying in state, ucla may be a reach and ucb definitely would be, but for all others you would be a great match!</p>

17

<p>Haha, thanks! I’ve been doing some more reading and Georgetown really looks promising in terms of political science/international relations programs. Do I have a realistic shot at that college?</p>

18

<p>yeah… a 3.6 is enough to get you into a top tier college ONLY if you have a strong hook and good SAT scores.
I would say you might have a small shot at CMU which is known for being less selective.
UCI is something I would consider (personally…even from far far Dallas)… if you can get your SAT up to a 2000… then you have a decent shot at CMU, NYU, etc…
Here is a link form a CA high school… giving you an idea of the requirments…
[AHS</a> c/o 2007](<a href=“http://www.arcadiachineseparents.org/college.html]AHS”>http://www.arcadiachineseparents.org/college.html)</p>

19

<p>I’d say Georgetown’s a reach as well. It seems like a place you would enjoy to be as a school, but admissions is rigorous. It’s not an Ivy, but it’s up there, and people like the idea of DC as much as you do, so it’s a fairly competitive pool you’re dealing with. So I wouldn’t say realistic shot as much as “realistic reach.” As in, it’s a place you aren’t completely shooting in the dark for, but plan your other schools as if you weren’t going to be accepted.</p>

<p>Why don’t you look more into Colgate, and at places like Fordham (Jesuit, like Georgetown, and by NYC), Wash U (tough admissions lately but they aren’t just looking for stats)… Okay, I don’t have many good ideas, but there’s plenty of options. Just make sure not to mentally inflate your excitement over places like Amherst or Georgetown. And if possible, work on those scores and keep that C in math at bay.</p>

20

<p>Thanks! I’ve looked into it a bit more and I can say that I’m definitely applying to NYU and Boston College (along with the UCs - especially UCI). However, I do like Colgate and MAYBE Vassar because of their ability to place undergrads into law. If I can get my SATs into the 2000-2100 range, would I have a decent chance?</p>