What schools to apply to

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I was wondering what sort of schools should I be applying to. I do have a few hooks: I'm homeschooled, from North Dakota, and have lived in a foreign country. However my overall record is sort of convoluted.</p>

<p>ACT: 34</p>

<p>SAT: taking in May, bu tmy PSAT was a 232</p>

<p>GPA:3.9, Bs only in freshman year</p>

<p>Class difficulty: It's above average, but not extremely difficult. The high school has no APs except Calc and the local college is easy. One positive is that I should have close to a year's worth of college credit, all As, by the time I apply. I should have great reccomendations, however.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: This is where my record sort of fails. It's not bad, just not impressive.</p>

<p>I've been in Speech and Student Congress for four years. I get a lot of 6th places. I was next to go to finals at state and a semifinalist this year at NFL qualifiers.</p>

<p>I'm an early advanced piano student. Clair de Lune is my recital piece. I volunteer to play piano for the high school jazz band. I took up contrabass last summer and play in the community orchestra. I'm the leader of the tenor section in the high school advanced choir. I also compose music.</p>

<p>I should have over a 100 hours of volunteer work by the time I apply. It's made up of counseling at bible camp, volunteering for national resource conservation service, ringing the bell for Salvation Army, and entertaining nursing home residents on the piano. None of it is particularly impressive.</p>

<p>I'm not really a leadership type, but I am my youth group's vice president. I'm hoping to have be a speech official next year, but I'm not that popular.</p>

<p>What sort of schools should I apply to. I know I would do best in a small, academically-rigorous, phiosiphical college. I would prefer a conservative or moderate christian college but am open to other options. I know my record isn't bad, but it feels unimpressive. What sort of schools should I consider applying to? Thanks.</p>

2

<p>If you want a Christian college, look at Wheaton in Illinois. They are very strong academically, and I get the impression they are known as the best evangelical university in the country. It is definitely conservative, but that is what you want. If you want to consider secular schools, look at the top LACs, and also places like Earlham and Oberlin (these are very liberal, but great academically). Umiversity of Chicago is well-known as a rigorous, intellectual place. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Does anybody else have any comment? Is my extracurricular record as weak as it feels? I mean I have no top state or national awards or major leadership positions. How damaging is this?</p>