What tier of schools should i look at?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi,
I'm a junior at a competitive public high school in CT, and I have no idea what level colleges I should be looking at. My genius brother and sister attend Harvard and Oxford, but I'm decided NOT at the mega-genius level. My family really only knows about the Ivies, so I'm left trying to find colleges that are still good, they just aren't Columbia. (Although I know so much of the admissions process is total luck, so I'll still apply to some uber-reaches!)
Here are my grades, stats, ecs, etc. Thank you so much!
Freshman yr:
Earth Science H-A
Geometry H-B
English I H- A+
Global I H-A+
Gym-A
Health-A+
Acting-A
Baking-A
Latin I-A
Soph:
Biology H- B+ :(
Alg II H- A
English II H-A+
AP World History-A
Gym-A
Microsoft Office-A+
Independent Study (Creative Writing, pass/fail): pass!
Latin II-A</p>

<p>Projected junior yr grades:
Chem H-A
AP Environmental Science -A
PreCalc H-A
AP Eng-A
APUSH-A
Latin III-A</p>

<p>Senior yr courses: AP Econ, AP Eng, AP Gov/Pol, AP Psych, AP Calc, Latin IV, Physics H
GPA: 4.04/4.5
Class rank: idk, probs NOT top 5%, maybe 10%</p>

<p>SATs: 2220 (700 M, 750 CR, 770 W)
SAT IIs: 740 World History, I'm taking US and Eng, so hopefully they'll be around 750s</p>

<p>ECs:
-Debate team (all four yrs)--VP sophomore and junior yr, Pres senior yr
-School newspaper (all four yrs)--Features Ed sophomore and jr yr, Editor in Chief jr and senior yr
-I write a column for my local newspaper (4 yrs)
-Appalachian Service Proj (4 yrs)
-Relay for Life PR rep (writing articles about Relay in local newspaper--jr, senior yr)</p>

<p>I'll post awards, honors, and publications lataer. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Here’s that info also…again, thanks so much!
National:
-EuroChallenge nationwide economics competition–1st place!
-Discus Award Finalist–national scholarship competition
-National Merit–probs will be comended!
-Published on The Huffington Post
-Columbia College Chicago Young Author Awards–Honorable Mention
-Spilling Ink writing contest–2nd place
-Troy Library national writing contest-1st place
-Published on SpeakUp Press
-Published in Teen Ink magazine and website
-Published in BRICKrhetoric magazine
-American High School Poets Topical Winner
-Published in Oh, The Stories They Tell writing anthology
-Published in Inside of Me poetry anthology </p>

<p>State:
-CT Debate Association (CDA) State Finals qualifier (freshman, soph, jr yr)
-CDA 2nd Novice Speaker
-CDA Varsity Letter
-CDA 2nd Varsity Team
-CDA 1st Varsity Speaker
-CDA 3rd Varsity Speaker</p>

<p>Local/School:
-Excellence in English I H
-Achievement in Geometry H
-Poetry Out Loud School Semifinalist
-Poetry Out Loud School Finalist</p>

<p>I think that’s everything…I’m also probs applying as an International Relations/Political Science/Govt. major, and my goal is to be a political journalist, so hopefully my ECs/awards convey that interest. Please let me know what kind of schools I should be looking at! Much appreciated! :)</p>

3

<p>You have a chance at the Ivies for sure, but they are reaches for everyone. Even your genius brother probably had some luck on his side. </p>

<p>You’ll make it to your state flagship almost certainly.</p>

4

<p>thanks bubbles! Do you think I might have a shot at the schools just below the Ivies–aka Georgetown, UVA? Also, are there other schools of that caliber you can think of, and do I stand a chance to get in? Again, much appreciated. :)</p>

5

<p>Georgetown: High match
UVA: Match</p>

<p>You might have a chance at Columbia; I think your family will make you apply at Columbia anyway… Plus UConn is your absolute safety.</p>

6

<p>High match meaning less of a chance or more? Yeah, I’m pretty sure I can get into UConn.
Here are the schools I’m thinking about…
Mega-Reaches:
Harvard
Stanford
Columbia
UPenn
UC Berkely
Brown</p>

<p>More realistic, but still reaches:
Georgetown
UVA
Northwestern
UNC Chapel Hill (this might be in the mega-reach category since I’m OOS)</p>

<p>Safeties/Targets:
McGill
UConn</p>

<p>AHHH! I WILL get into college! Thanks everyone who’s responded!:)</p>

7

<p>HS - reaches
Columbia, UPenn, Brown, Northwestern - low reaches
UNCCH, Cal, GT, UVa - matches to low matches
McGill - low match
UConn - safety</p>

8

<p>I think your list isn’t bad, but I’d consider some other selective schools that aren’t Ivies, like Duke, Vanderbilt, Emory. Also, in looking at your interests I wonder why you aren’t considering some LACs.</p>

<p>One question: where did your parents go to college?</p>

9

<p>As far as McGill is concerned, I know that they say a minimum of A- average and 670+ on each subscore for the hardest major to get into but McGill is major-heavy for its admissions process, plus it’s a school where the line between a safety and a reach is very slim. The SAT IIs (World History, US History and English) you’re taking suggest that you’re aiming for Arts there… I saw 3.5/1950 students treating Arts at McGill as a safety.</p>

10

<p>Aah I know this is a long shot but what are my chances for UPenn? Four people from my school got in this year!
Yeah, I’m going for Arts at McGill…would love if that were a safety!
My rents went to Ivies.
Most LACs are too small for me. I want lots of people and lots of excitement!
Again, thanks! :)</p>