What colleges can I get into? HYPS?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My schooling situation is a little confusing because I lived in England during my junior year, so I couldn’t participate in anything at my main high school this year, however I was lucky enough to have been able to transfer my credits (you’ll notice that my participation in clubs is not consistent because of that)</p>

<p>I honestly don’t know what universities to look at though, so any ideas/advice would be much appreciated. What (good) colleges could I get into based off of my stats?</p>

<p>Rising Senior:
WGPA: 4.6
UWGPA: 4.0</p>

<p>SAT (1st time): 2200
SAT (2nd time): 2350</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
Lit: 750
World History: 770
Math 1: 680</p>

<p>Advanced Classes:
Sophomore year-AP NSL, AP Human Geography
Junior year- BC Calc, AP World History, AP Lang, AP Psychology
Planned Senior year-AP Statistics, Multivariable Calc, AP Lit, AP Comparative Gov, AP Bio</p>

<p>ECs:
-Civitans Club (9, 10,12) (Vice President next year)
-Member of International Studies Signature Program (9,10,11,12)
-National Mazkirut (Board) in Young Judaea (Jewish leadership movement)
-On high school Poms since sophomore year (varsity senior year)
-Environmental Club (9,10,12)
-Model UN (9,10,12) (President next year)
-on swim team (6-13 yrs old)
-Hip Hop Dancing (6 years)
- On a Hip Hop Dance Team Culture Shock (3 years)
-Participated in over 10 musical/theatre productions since the age of 10
- Piano (4 years)
-active volunteer at Hebrew School
-Various Hip Hop Dance competitions (Body Rock, Fusion, Vibe Dance)
-Hopefully will be admitted to National Honors Society this fall</p>

<p>Summer ECs:
-Have gone to a Jewish Leadership summer camp since the age of 8
-Last summer campaigned about Energy Crisis on Capitol hill</p>

<p>Awards:
-Regional poms competition-3rd place
-Body Rock Hip Hop Competition-2nd place
-Fusion Hip Hop Competition-1st place
-Honorable mention of United Nations Essay Contest</p>

<p>200+ SSL Hours</p>

<p>Recs:very good</p>

<p>Although many of my extracurriculars are in the arts, I think that I’m interested in studying international relations in college. I have actively participated in Model UN and many fundraisers in the Civitans and Environmental clubs over the years.</p>

2

<p>I say this in a lot of threads like this, but where do you live? Would you travel cross country or stay regional? Is weather a factor? Greek scene/no Greek scene? I could list off a bunch of schools you’ve got a shot at but it wouldn’t be very helpful to you if you immediately cross them off because they aren’t very nice fits.</p>

3

<p>I live on the east coast but I honestly don’t have a preference as to where to go, as long as it’s a good, diverse school. Weather isn’t really a factor, neither is the Greek scene :b.
I’m not very picky so a list of schools I could get into based on my stats would be awesome!</p>

4

<p>In that case, you just made it hard for me to start listing names =P. From your title I gather you’re interested in your shots at top schools. With your stats I could write you a long list. Can’t complain at all about the SAT or GPA. You claim your recs are solid so that’s good, and definitely some interesting ECs I have to say. With a strong essay, just get some safeties together and apply wherever you want really, HYPS is definitely not impossible for you.</p>

5

<p>Haha thanks so much :)</p>

<p>Would it be easier if I said either on the east coast or California?</p>

6

<p>A little, but weather and the pervasiveness of a school’s Greek scene really slims down the options for some people, but if you really are indifferent, you’ve got a whole bunch of places to look at haha</p>

7

<p>Maybe for you :b.
I’m more interested in the quality of programs (particularly humanitarian, like International Studies and stuff like that)</p>

8

<ol>
<li>Harvard University</li>
<li>Princeton University</li>
<li>Stanford University</li>
<li>Georgetown University</li>
<li>Columbia University</li>
<li>Yale University</li>
<li>University of Chicago </li>
<li>University of California-Berkeley</li>
<li>Dartmouth College </li>
<li>George Washington University</li>
<li>American University </li>
<li>University of Michigan </li>
<li>Tufts University

<ol>
<li>Swarthmore College </li>
</ol></li>
<li>University of California-San Diego</li>
<li>Cornell University</li>
<li>Brown University</li>
<li>Williams College</li>
<li>Duke University</li>
<li>Johns Hopkins University</li>
</ol>

<p>These are rankings out of an issue of Foreign Policy magazine from three of four years ago. It’s not for a specific major, but for the international studies undergrad department/ closely related fields as a whole, as a lot of them have a different name for their “International Studies” major.</p>

9

<p>rach, I’m sure you’ll be of interest to a lot of top schools and there’s nothing in your resume to keep you out of even the most selective. As always, have a balanced list of reach/match/safety.</p>

<p>First off, what’s your financial situation? Do you need financial aid? If yes, will you qualify for need based aid? The answers to these questions will be the major determining factor in formulating your list.</p>

<p>Don’t worry about not having traditional ECs like clubs and student government roles. Your arts involvement and your overseas experiences will qualify as ECs. You just need to be sure to communicate your accomplishments in your application. You can do this in your essays, extra recommendations, arts supplements and resumes. Especially if you’re applying to medium to small selective schools – more is more in the application. Just focus on a clear and effective presentation.</p>

<p>Based on your “stats” you’d have a list of about 200 colleges and universities. You should make your list based on what you want: size, location, atmosphere, personality. </p>

<p>International studies/political science/development economics are fairly common majors at most colleges, so concentrate more on the ambience and character of the college than the specific department. </p>

<p>I live in an underdeveloped country and interact with people who work in the foreign service and for international NGOs all the time. I can tell you that the range of undergraduate experiences is quite varied. In addition to most of the ivy league, Tufts, Georgetown, JHU are some of the most popular for international studies, but really, the undergraduate school isn’t as critical as graduate school and internship opporunties during the undergraduate years.</p>

<p>Once you’ve found a few schools that appeal, you can look for others in with the same characteristics in a range of selectivity.</p>

10

<p>You probably need to think a bit more about what kind of environment you are seeking for the next four years. Yes, you would probably be fine anywhere - but everyone has an ‘optimal’ environment, so try to get more of a handle on what you want out of your college experience: Size of school, whether you want a LAC or private or public school, and whether its urban, suburban or rural are a few key dimensions. Think about whether it needs to be co-ed, could be religious, liberal/conservative, etc…</p>

<p>The better you know yourself and your best learning style and environment, the more likely you are to end up with a good list of recommendations.</p>

11

<p>Thanks momrath!</p>

<p>Yeah, I was just worried that my extracurriculars were too one sided, that I had a lot of arts things like hip hop, poms, singing, acting, etc. and not enough things involving international relations and basically what I’m interested in pursuing in college (minus the Model UN of course)</p>

<p>I’m definately looking for a college that has a beautiful campus, and hopefully not too rural (so I can go to interesting places not far from campus). </p>

<p>Also, I want it to be in a safe area, I’ve heard that Yale is practically surrounded by a ghetto, and I don’t know how I feel about that.</p>

<p>diversity is pretty significant too. I know a lot of southern/midwest colleges are very white and lack diversity, which I have so much of where I live. I feel like I’d freak out if everyone was the same.</p>

<p>Also…something that’s important for me is an active jewish population/hillel. Any input on that?</p>

12

<p>rach, what is the answer on the money? That’s the most significant factor of all. Need aid or not?</p>

13

<p>hmmm…i don’t think there’s much of a problem with paying for college</p>

14

<p>So, since the money is covered and you have excellent credentials, you can apply anywhere that appeals to you. Just make sure to identify one or two solid safeties. </p>

<p>If you keep this thread open long enough you will have a list of dozens of recommended schools but not be any wiser as which is the best fit for you.</p>

<p>Get some books, do some research, try to visit a range of schools to get an idea of what besides name attracts you.</p>

<p>Most academically strong campuses have a Jewish presence. And as for diversity, you will find that at all large and/or urban schools, no matter what part of the country they are located in.</p>