<p>Here is the schools I plan on applying to:</p>
<ul>
<li>University of Oklahoma (honors college)</li>
<li>Oklahoma State University </li>
<li>University of Chicago </li>
<li>MIT</li>
<li>Harvard</li>
</ul>
<p>Do you think this is a good list? Or is there gaps or something else wrong with it? PS here are my stats:</p>
<pre><code> [thread=1056178]My Stats[/thread]
</code></pre>
<p>You seem like a good candidate (GPA’s a little low though). I’m not sure why you have MIT since you don’t seem very math/sci oriented. I’d suggest schools like georgetown or Notre Dame (my future alma matter :D) just because they seem to be more of your thing. As for your current list, I’d say go for them all but reconsider MIT unless you have something math/sci oriented to offer them. </p>
<p>I just noticed your name…your high SAT and medium GPA are quite fitting, haha.</p>
<p>Harvard and MIT don’t belong on this list, imo.</p>
<p>Harvard won’t accept you and MIT doesn’t seem to be a good fit. However, I wouldn’t drop Harvard because you never know, your URM status is a great advantage, and if you really want to apply, just go for it. You won’t be the first.</p>
<p>But I <em>would</em> reconsider MIT. Why do you want to go there? If you really want to have a techy school on your list–and your great scores and accomplishments in literature- and language-related subjects make me wonder why you’d insist on MIT (not that MIT doesn’t provide a good education in the humanities, but, you know)–maybe Harvey Mudd would be a better (and shrewder) choice? And it’s more likely to accept you. You don’t have the ECs for MIT.</p>
<p>As for UChicago, it’s a reach for everyone and I don’t know if your SAT score will impress its adcom, BUT, again, your ethnicity might help you. Make sure you write amazing essays because that’s what UChicago is about.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to rain on your parade, but a 3.4 GPA is just too low for the likes of Harvard. I’m not saying it’s impossible–after all, if you look at the best universities’ Common Data Sets, some people <em>do</em> get in with comparable grades (and it’s CC’s collective opinion that it’s only hooked applicants like you who can hope to be accepted with a low GPA)–but your GPA is more likely to kill your application than your URM status and test scores are to save it.</p>
<p>btw, I’m applying to UChicago with an even lower GPA and slightly lower SAT, so I know what I’m talking about. Expect the worst, hope for the best. (Though you have a bigger chance than me, so that’s something at least.)</p>
<p>Oh, and add some schools that are better than Oklahoma State/OU, but less selective than UChicago. There’s a big gap in your list that needs to be filled.</p>
<p>Maybe look into some LACs? Some of them might be more willing to take in a talented underachiever than the big universities. Vassar, Reed, I don’t know, Carleton? Wesleyan?</p>
<p>There’s a serious gap in your college list between uber-reaches and safeties. Unless you’d be truly happy at your safeties, you need to add some schools that accept applicants outside the top 10%; Harvard, MIT, and UChicago are all unlikely to do so.</p>
<p>Wait, I just saw that earlier this month your SAT score was 2300 and you only had 3 SAT IIs.</p>
<p>…How did you get a 2400 AND take 2 more subject tests in one sitting?</p>
<p>Also, I presume your GPA is lower because you recalculated it.</p>
<p>I am well aware that I don’t look like a MIT person, but I truly am a techy person. I love computer science, however there aren’t that many technological competitions. And the ones that there are they are VERY compeititive as where on my other passion literature.</p>
<p>Also I am aware of the gap but I can’t find any schools in between that I like. I like a school on the small-medium sized range and nerdy.
lol I know XD</p>
<p>@Ghostt Good luck! Hope we both get in :)</p>
<p>LazyG - I was going to weigh in on your list, but hesitated when I saw Ghostt’s question, which I see you chose to ignore. So what’s up, are you lying about your scores, or what?</p>
<p>
Well with the subject tests and AP test I just kinda just put them all up on top of my head. Then I actually went back and saw my real stuff so I added them (I have short term memory loss so umm yeah…I forget things) so I added them. And with the SAT I just took it and I’m so happy!!! 
anyway yeah I forgot it like I forgot National Achievement thing</p>
<p>
I didn’t see his question until I hit reply just like I didn’t see your reply until after I posted this</p>
<p>Apply anywhere and everywhere you’d like because being black with a 2400 will get you in almost everywhere…even if your GPA is low</p>
<p>As others have said, a 2400 AA has good chances anywhere. MIT seems like an odd target, though, and there is a huge gap in the list. I also question whether a 3.5 HS student can find happiness at Chicago or MIT.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Why do you say that?</p>
<p>I don’t think your list is very good, unless you really like the University of Oklahoma. Despite your excellent scores and the fact that you are a URM, all three of your reaches could easily reject you. If you’re really looking for highly selective schools, you need more of them, and some match schools as well.</p>
<p>And what you say about your scores is fishy. Please don’t make chance threads with made-up scores.</p>
<p>
Why would I need more? And how would you suggest I find match schools for me?</p>
<p>
Theses are my real stats I promise! I just forget things…kinda my short coming…</p>
<p>
Because these schools, probably moreso than Harvard, demand a degree of academic commitment above what you are apparently accustomed to. The geniuses there aren’t lazy.</p>
<p>I also agree with Hunt. If your reach schools reject you and Oklahoma is OK for you, then you’re fine.</p>
<p>Imagine it is now April and your only choices are Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Are you regretting you didn’t apply to more matches?</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>
True that I would be kinda mad…so how do you suggest I find more matches?</p>
<p>bump please answer above question…</p>
<p>LazyGenius, broaden your horizons. Look at the Fiske college guide or go to princetonreview.com. You need colleges where you are very likely to get in and would really enjoy going. You’ve picked the MOST selective colleges where there is no guarantee that even the very top applicants will be accepted, and your backups are likely to be at lot less challenging than you want. There are literally hundreds of colleges in between that can give you a great college experience.</p>
<p>You need to answer some questions about what will make you happy. Do you know whether you want an urban school? What about Rice University in Houston? Do you want a suburban school? How about Tufts in Medford, MA, right outside of Boston? Do you prefer a smaller liberal arts college or a much bigger bustling campus?</p>
<p>How about cost? If your family needs financial assistance then you need to consider schools that give merit aid or meet 100% of financial need. With your URM status, test scores and ECs you should have a great many options. You need to do some quick homework. Good luck!</p>
<p>you will mostly get rejected as your GPA is way too low. And by having a low GPA and a decent rank your school’s competitiveness is called into question.
Having said that I must also note that your SAT is brilliant and being a URM you definitely have a shot.
You are a special case so I guess your essays will be the deciding factor.
BOL</p>
<p>Just as an extra bit of info; matches are schools that you are likely to get in and have a reasonable assurance of getting enough aid to afford, safeties are schools that you’re really certain you’ll get in AND can afford. Look in the college guides and on the school’s websites, each school publishes the middle 50% of SAT and ACT scores of their admitted students. If you scores are higher than that middle 50% then you are likely to be considered a good match. Because you have a GPA that is on the low side for your test scores, you’ll need to have some great essays and recommendations.</p>
<p>You might look at some of the really good smaller liberal arts colleges who are working very hard to increase the diversity of their campuses. Here are a few names: Macalester, Colby, Bates, Whitman, Hamilton, Claremont McKenna, Occidental and St Olaff. Those are off the top of my head. There are many more. What happened to your college counselor at school?</p>
<p>
Because my school requires like all students to take at least like 3+ APs, and most of the students who go there come from a bad background so not many people have the work ethnic to do it until they very end of their high school career (senior year). </p>
<p>
I am such a rare case that they can’t really help me…like only one person before me applied to ivy league in my school’s history (we are like 7 years old I think)</p>