What Colleges Should I Visit?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I feel like my college ideas are very minimal and incredibly out of reach. I'm looking for some schools that are reputable and academically sound that I may have missed. Honestly, I'm trying to break away from name association. Any ideas would be incredibly appreciated! </p>

<p>What I'm Looking For: Urban (Or within a short distance from metropolitian areas), Prestigious, Any Size Student Body, International Relations and Pre-Med programs, liberal, political/community involved campuses. </p>

<p>Location: Minnesota, Chicago, New York (state), Pennsylvania, East Coast (However, all input will be appreciated!)</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: 4.0
Unweighted GPA: 4.015
Class Rank: 2/120 (This should change next year)</p>

<p>Advanced Classes (Taken+Will Take):
-Honors Maths (4 years)
-AP Calculus
-Honors Physics
-College English (2 years), Biology, Psychology</p>

<p>SAT:
CR: 650
M: 770
W: 710
C: 2130</p>

<p>ACT:
Junior: 31 (36 E, 34 M, 28 R, 27 S)
I'm taking it again in June-hoping for at least a 32.</p>

<p>ECS:
-Speech Team Member & Secretary-6th at State
-Knowledge Bowl
-LifeSmarts
-One Act Play Participant
-Band
-Musical/Theatre
-Target
-Science Club
-Spanish Club
-National Honor Society-Vice President
-Student Ambassador
-Yearbook</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
-200+ Hours Jr. High Knowledge Bowl Coach
-50+ Hours Red Cross Volunteer
-Tutor
-Active Member in Kids Against Hunger</p>

<p>Currently, I've considered NYU (dream school), Macalester, UChicago, Swarthmore, Skidmore, Fordham, and Syracuse. What else!?! :)</p>

2

<p>Haverford, Georgetown, Hopkins, GW, BU, BC, Penn, Columbia</p>

3

<p>WashU and Northwestern, maybe Rice</p>

4

<p>I feel like NYU shouldn’t have been your first choice though. You can aim for a better one.</p>

5

<p>Tufts, Holy Cross, Brandeis.</p>

6

<p>I really like your choice of Macalester, very strong academically, an active and liberal student body alwways looking for a cause and, finally, the Minneapolis/St Paul area has a lot to offer. It fits your criteria very well. </p>

<p>I also agree with the suggestion of Georgetown, especially if Macalester is a little too small for you.</p>

7

<p>One thing to realize about some urban schools—especially one with a location like NYU—is that you may not have the same bonding experience with students on your floor as you would in schools that are slightly more isolated. Kids are off doing things in the City and maybe not as involved in campus/dorm activities. NYU people may correct me, of course, but this is what I’ve heard. If you can’t live without great (professional) theater nearby, then yes–urban. But a little isolated isn’t all bad, I think, because the campuses at top schools tend to be quite vibrant anyway. So really think about how to rank your priorities because many amazing schools aren’t urban. Your scores might be high enough for Amherst which has the other colleges and a bunch of small towns nearby. Bowdoin calls itself suburban because Portland is only about 45 minutes away. Middlebury is fabulous for international studies but is admittedly more isolated with only Burlington 45 minutes away. Chicago is a great idea because, though, because you can apply early action. (on a completely other note, maybe you should think about Emory too?)</p>

8

<p>Carnegie-Mellon</p>

<p>And while not part of your strict geography: </p>

<p>Wisconsin-Madison
Michigan-Ann Arbor</p>

<p>Both with great academic reputations, liberal and in sensational college towns/cities.</p>

9

<p>I think you’re remiss if you don’t at least consider the West Coast…and some public schools. If you like Mac, I’ll bet you’d find Occidental interesting. There are quite a few other urban LAC’s out there (Reed, Lewis & Clark, U of Puget Sound), but Oxy might be closest to what you’re looking for. The Eagle Rock neighborhood it is in is diverse, urban, and quite different from what you would find in Minnesota (I speak as a Twin Citiesan). And if you want something larger, try the U of Washington in Seattle.</p>

10

<p>You mention pre-med. The University of Pittsburgh is very strong. With your numbers, you’ll likely get merit aid so it could be a financial safety. If you can get your SAT up a little more, you might be eligible for guaranteed admission to their highly ranked medical school- </p>

<p>[Guaranteed</a> Admissions Program | Admission and Requirements | Admissions & Financial Aid | University of Pittsburgh](<a href=“http://www.medadmissions.pitt.edu/admissions-requirements/guaranteed-admissions.php]Guaranteed”>http://www.medadmissions.pitt.edu/admissions-requirements/guaranteed-admissions.php)</p>

11

<p>I don’t know if you’re looking for co-ed or not but you listed swat, someone said haverford, you DEFINITELY have to look into bryn mawr – i think it fits your criteria. swarthmore would also be a good fit from what you listed. keep in mind that just because a school doesn’t have an international relations/international studies program per s</p>

12

<p>Thanks much from everyone!</p>

<p>I REALLY liked Carnegie Mellon too. However, I will not be able to take the SAT Subject Tests, and they require them. It’s terrible.</p>