<p>I am looking for some input on what I can expect for my future as a sophomore in high school with the stats that I provide! Any ideas on where to look for college or any advice for my future would be greatly appreciated. I currently live in a suburb of Kansas City, MO and attend a public school. Without further ado:</p>
<p>ACT Score (as a freshman): 24
[I took the PLAN test (pre-ACT) as a sophomore and it predicted that I would receive a 28-32 where I stand now]</p>
<p>As a freshman on the ACT I earned:
English: 26
Mathematics: 26
Reading: 21
Science: 24</p>
<p>Activities:
Youth Advisory Council (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th)
Broadcast Journalism Leadership (10th, 11th, 12th)
Student Senate (10th, 11th, 12th)
Community Service (50hrs so far, will have 100 by graduation)</p>
<p>In regards to colleges I am most concerned about the quality and least concerned about location or finances.</p>
<p>Planned Courses as a Junior:
English 11 Honors
IB Math
American Government
Modern Global Issues
IB Chemistry I
IB German I
Advanced Broadcasting (unweighted)
Advanced Broadcasting (Editorial Leadership)</p>
<p>Planned Courses as a Senior:
College Credit English 12
IB Math
IB Chemistry II
IB German II
Advanced Broadcasting (Weighted)
Advanced Broadcasting (Editorial Leadership)</p>
<p>The most beneficial information you can provide me is what colleges I should look into that are realistic for me, but practically any other information would be very helpful!</p>
<p>Depends on what you really want to do (study). Do you want to come east or do you want to stay where you’re at? Currently I would say you could be looking at any of the top schools. All depends on how your highschool career really pans out. Definitely if schools in the range of Notre Dame or Colgate would be good fits academically an Ivy could be reach but not a reason to not try.</p>
<p>I am truly on the fence in regards to what I would like to study. I have always had an interest in mathematics, but have found that I have a sudden compassion for chemistry. Are there any fields that might encompass both?</p>
<p>Without actual test scores, it is hard to be specific. And you have given no real parameters for your search… which makes it difficult to recommend among the thousands of colleges out there. Your grades are pretty good, so that is good.</p>
<p>You need to decide some things as part of your search:
Are you looking for a large, medium, or small college?
What area(s) do you see yourself majoring in?
Do you want to go far away to school, or stick within a neighboring state or two? Do your parents agree with your thoughts on this?
Is there any part of the country you prefer, or would prefer to avoid?
Do you see yourself at a state school or more of a liberal arts type college?
Are there any extra curriculars that you see as essential to your college experience?
What is your financial situation? You say you are not concerned about them, but very few families are positioned to pay out the $250,000 a year it currently costs to attend a top four year school with no aid.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you get a Fiske Guide to Colleges book and spend some time reviewing the options there. Then maybe visit a couple of colleges of different types (maybe a state university and a liberal arts college) this spring to see what you think of each type. Then you can make up a more complete list to visit during your junior year if possible.</p>
<p>No one on this forum can help you prepare a list (at least, not effectively) until you consider the questions above. And you can’t really narrow it down until you have your test scores in hand.</p>
<p>Sorry, my bad. $250,000 for four years (and unfortunately there are quite a few of those). That is still more money than most families have sitting around.</p>
<p>Size does not matter. The problem is I don’t know whether I want to go into something medical or technical. I can go as far as I want, I have even considered studying abroad and attending a German university (I don’t expect much help on that consideration here however.) I would prefer a school that is the best program for what I am looking for whether it is a state or liberal arts college. (Which I know is difficult to help me with considering I haven’t given you much to work with). I don’t have any requests extra curricularly. And I understand that college costs a lot of money, and I have discussed this with my parents, and they said they would support me in whatever college I am accepted into. I know it may be a financial struggle, but it is one that we have discussed to be acceptable.</p>
<p>Honestly I felt that Notre Dame was out of my reach considering my class rank which is fairly low to most individuals on here. I really felt like this was a driving factor for most colleges. I am planning on getting at least a 30 on the ACT before I graduate, but is this truly enough? I attend one of the best public schools in the state, but I just do not want to have too high of hopes…</p>
<p>Well… lots of parents SAY what your parents are saying about cost, but when they really see it they find they didn’t really mean it… You need to work with your parents to run the net price calculator on college web sites to see what you would be asked to pay and whether they find that acceptable. Also to determine what you are comfortable with as a family for loans if necessary.</p>
<p>You really have not given enough specifics for anyone to make recommendations. You can study what you have mentioned at ANY college so far, you have no geographic preferences, and your stats (as far as you can tell) are pretty good – probably good enough for 95%+ of the colleges in the country. And there are 10,000 colleges, so… People out here could start giving you lists of colleges, but without some criteria from you, the recommendations would be meaningless. I think you need to do your own research (as mentioned above, Fiske is a good starting point), and do a couple of visits. Then come back and say what you did (or didn’t like), and ask for similar recommendations. Otherwise this is just sort of a waste of time at this point. Although I don’t mean to imply that you shouldn’t be looking now, just that you need to do some of your own research and make sure your parents understand what they are saying about cost, then come back looking for more specific recommendations.</p>
<p>My PLAN told me I would receive between a 28-32 on my act. I received a 33. A 30 would be low for Notre Dame. Stay at the top 10% of your class though and I would say you have an excellent chance for acceptance.</p>
<p>I understand and I appreciate both of you for helping! I am definitely trying to figure out what I would like to study, and I think that is the most important question! Thank you! I will take your advice on where to look next, and will wait until I have figured out some more about myself.</p>
That is still more money than most families have sitting around.</p>