What kinds of colleges should I be looking into?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a senior, graduating this spring, and I really don't even know where I want to apply. I would really love to go to University of Loyola Chicago or University of Michigan, but unfortunately I don't think I have the GPA to get in to either of those.</p>

<p>I had planned on applying to colleges before now, but I got accepted to be an exchange student, so I'll be taking a gap year and going to high school for an extra year in Thailand, which is why I'm only beginning to really think about the application process now. I plan on applying this summer before I leave, but I need to decide on the colleges I'll apply for so that I can get my letters of recommendation before the school year is over.</p>

<p>My GPA as of right now is 3.35, I'm trying really hard to get it up at least a little bit, but I don't think I'll be very successful because of my class load right now. In my junior year I was able to keep up a 3.9 throughout the school year, if that counts for anything. I don't mean that my GPA dropped from a 3.9 to a 3.35 though! I mean that my GPA for my junior year alone was 3.9, if that makes any sense.</p>

<p>I've taken 4 AP classes, all this year. I really wish I had had time in my schedule to take more. I don't plan on taking the AP exam for any of these classes because I can't afford it.</p>

<p>I believe I'm in the top 25% of my class, or very, very close to it. </p>

<p>For my ACT I got a composite of 31
English 35
Reading 33
Science 27
Math 27</p>

<p>For ECs, I've done
track and field - 2 years
taekwondo - 10 years
chess club - 1 year
student council secretary - 2 years
NHS - 2 years
book club - 1 year
dungeons and dragons club - 1 year
key club - 2 years
jazz band - 2 years
marching band - 4 years
clearly they aren't the best, but I did the best I could with what I had</p>

<p>I hope there isn't anything I forgot! </p>

<p>Oh! And I'm the first in my family to attend college as well.</p>

<p>Do I have a shot at University of Loyola Chicago?
What are some schools I would be a match for with my GPA and ACT? Honestly, I don't really know what I'm looking for in a college, other than it being in an urban or suburban area and having a good reputation. I really feel so lost about everything.</p>

<p>Thank you for your help in advance :)</p>

2

<p>I would apply to both Loyola AND UMich- Ann Arbor. Your GPA may be on the low side but its not HORRIBLE for those schools, and there is definitley a chance of getting in and i think it would be a waste not to apply if you really want to go there</p>

3

<p>oops dont know why i specified University of Michigan Ann Arbor… just Umich in general lol</p>

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<p>It’s no problem, Ann Arbor is the one I would like to go to :slight_smile: Thanks for such a quick reply!</p>

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<p>There are honestly so many schools that fit the criteria of “urban or suburban and having a good reputation”. Could you find any way to narrow it down? Size? Geographical Location? Do you know what you want to major in?</p>

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<p>Hmm, well I guess I’d prefer large or medium to small, but size isn’t super important to me. For geographical location, I guess I’d like to stay within the midwest, but again, location isn’t super important to me. I have no idea what I’d like to major in yet, maybe something with science, but I’m really not sure at all, and I have a feeling I’ll change my mind after my year on exchange.
I’m sorry, I really wasn’t kidding when I said I really don’t know where to start!</p>

7

<p>Ok, I’ll just name off a few larger well-reputed schools in the Midwest that may be within your reach in case you don’t get into Loyola or UMich:</p>

<p>Ohio State University
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
University of Cincinnati
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Indiana University, Bloomington
Michigan State University</p>

<p>If you want some low matches/safeties:</p>

<p>Ohio University
University of Iowa
Kansas State University (a good school with a 99% acceptance rate!)
University of Kansas (92% acceptance rate!)
Iowa State University</p>

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<p>Thank you SO much! I really appreciate it! I’ll definitely look into all of these!</p>

9

<p>Glad I could help. Good luck on your college search!</p>