What range of schools should I apply to?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>After reading all the forums of super strong candidates on CC and then looking at where my peers are applying...I'm kind of lost. Help please?
SORRY for rambling in advance!</p>

<p>Asian American student in a reputed Shanghai international school since 5th grade, or 7 years.
I'm in the middle of my second (last) semester of junior year. I have a ~3.6, maybe up to 3.8 weighted GPA, ranked around 100-120 in a class of 290. Not so great, I know. (I have As, Bs, Cs and Ds. Ugh)</p>

<p>SAT 1 first attempt: 2160. R 710, M 680, W 750.
SAT 2: Lit 750, Math Level II 710.
4 AP tests for junior year: Eng. Lang, Chinese, Macroeconomics, Psychology
3 AP tests for senior year: Eng. Lit, Microeconomics, Statistics</p>

<p>My ECs are:
1. Model UN - joined since the middle of freshman year
four conferences thus far, have been head delegate once, and two awards (hon. mention & outstanding delegate). I will attend two or three more as assistant director, and another delegate. All but one of these conferences have been major regional conferences (HMUN China, ILMUNC China, etc. I live in China)</p>

<ol>
<li><p>School magazine/newspaper - have been writing for more than a year now, looking to get a leadership position, I have a good chance for at least section editor.</p></li>
<li><p>Took ABRSM Level 8 test for flute. Probably not a big deal, as my lack of passion for it will probably show.</p></li>
<li><p>Prom Committee (joined this year and will probably do it next year) - played a role in organizing it. Just putting that out there, I don't think it matters that much. </p></li>
<li><p>Going to intern/volunteer at the lab of a professor friend of my dad's at WashU this summer. It's, uh, bio-engineering and related to biofuel. </p></li>
<li><p>EPGY summer of 2011 (again. probably not a big deal at all...)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Anyone have any advice?...please be nice! I'm new here :S Sorry it was so long.
I'm also looking to do something with the resources I'd have at WashU. What should I do? </p>

<p>I'm open to any suggestions. With my horrible grades...I'm probably going to consider doing community college first as well. </p>

<p>-a very lost and confused high school junior</p>

2

<p>You are not even in the top 30%. So, any top colleges will be extreme reaches.</p>

3

<p>^ True, but your scores are good and your background is interesting. Do your grades show a rising trend? Have you taken challenging courses?</p>

<p>If you are open to small liberal arts colleges, have a look at some of the schools on the “Colleges That Change Lives” list ([CTCL</a> Members | Colleges That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/list]CTCL”>http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/list)). Or, to get started, have a look at schools in the US News 50-100 range (on either the National Universities or National Liberal Arts Colleges list).</p>

<p>Kalamazoo Colloege has an average GPA of 3.6 and average SATs lower than yours.
([Kalamazoo</a> College | Colleges That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/kalamazoo]Kalamazoo”>Kalamazoo College – Colleges That Change Lives))</p>

<p>Other possibilities: Muhlenberg College, Knox, Ursinus, Earlham, College of the Atlantic, Washington College (MD.)</p>

<p>If you want a larger school, check out: Boston University, Northeastern, Fordham, Syracuse, American U.</p>

<p>Clark is a small (LAC-sized) university where you might have a good shot.</p>

4

<p>^tk21769 gives excellent advice. You should check out the CTCL schools, and I’d add Wittenberg University to the above list. A great place that students rate high for quality of teaching and the classroom experience. Their average incoming Freshman GPA is 3.48.</p>

<p>[Wittenberg</a> University](<a href=“http://www5.wittenberg.edu/]Wittenberg”>http://www5.wittenberg.edu/)</p>

<p>Of course your search really needs to be shaped by variables such as what your parents can afford to pay, size & region of school, LAC vs. Research U, campus culture, etc, not just the highest “ranked” school that you can manage to get into. Best wishes.</p>

5

<p>You have done well and should qualify for many fine schools. I suggest you think about things like the size and location you prefer, your intended major, and finances. Then get your hands on a a couple of good college guide books (ex. Princeton Review, Fiske to name a couple) and see where you fit in. The very top colleges would be major reach, but there are tons of great schools out there.</p>

6

<p>The biggest deciding factor may be how much your parents will pay. </p>

<p>You’re not instate for any state school right? </p>

<p>IF you don’t know how much your parents will pay, ask them.</p>

<p>Take the SAT again. IF you bump up your M+CR score you might get some scholarships.</p>

7

<p>Thanks everyone so far!
Yes my course load would be considered pretty rigorous even though my school is known for its IB curriculum (which only the top 40 can take). But I have many bad grades (all were from physics, chem, and/or math) peppered among some okay to good grades. </p>

<p>I’m trying really hard not to make my college search shaped by the highest “ranked” school as snarlatron has said, I know that’s a trend among many students.</p>

<p>The thing is, I really do not know what major I intend to pursue. (I’m interested in LACs, but I think I like a larger student body) Definitely not math/applied science related, though. And I’m aware the very top colleges are pretty much out of my range.
I do know that I really want to go somewhere that would allow me to find and develop a passion for something. </p>

<p>Mom says she can’t afford to have me traipse around the entire US, so it’s unlikely I can visit any colleges at all (really bummed about that). </p>

<p>Before I moved to China, I lived in California for 10 years but I don’t think that qualifies me for instate. </p>

<p>What can I do from now on? Besides trying my best to get better grades/scores?</p>

8

<p>Bump--------</p>

<p>^ Sorry about that.</p>

<p>The CTCL schools sound great. I’ve heard many times that it’s not which college you go to but what you make of it and what you do there, so they seem like good places to do that.</p>

<p>Also, what could I do while at WashU (ten days)?
I thought I could:
-get an interview
-talk with other professors, especially in the subjects I’d be potentially interested in
-talk to current students</p>

9

<p>*Mom says she can’t afford to have me traipse around the entire US, so it’s unlikely I can visit any colleges at all (really bummed about that). </p>

<p>Before I moved to China, I lived in California for 10 years but I don’t think that qualifies me for instate. *</p>

<p>No, you’re not a resident of Calif.</p>

<p>Ask your mom how much she’ll spend each year for college.</p>

<p>WashU would be a high reach for you because of your grades.</p>

10

<p>I would suggest you use one of the many college search tools on the internet to begin your search. You fill out a lot of information about the size of school you want, the area it’s located in, private or public school, and the different activities you’re interested in and it lists a bunch of schools that match you’re interests. I believe there’s one on CC, although I’ve never used it. The college search tool I used was the one on the CollegeBoard website. That’s a really good place to start. You can look at the basics of some of those schools and then come back here and ask people about the ones that interest you. Most of the college search tools out there also consider cost so you can figure out which ones you can afford right away.</p>