What type of colleges would best suit me so I fit in, competitve and challenged?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, although I'm only a sophomore, I really want to start my college search. I'd like to know what my credentials, predicted scores and upcoming classes would get me into. PLEASE NOT THAT NOT ALL THESE POINTS MAY BE ACHIEVED OR OCCUR-will put !! next to unsure points</p>

<p>General Info
I'm a 15 and white, jewish male. Currently, I attend Wilton High School in Wilton, CT. This school is very difficult and at least the 300th best high school in the country. Most regular classes here would be considered honors level at most anywhere else. I'd like to be at a college relatively close to home (within around 12-15 hours hours of driving). No financial aid needed. I'm mostly looking for research colleges instead of liberal arts ones. I would either like a college in a city or suburb, not in the middle of nowhere with nothing around. A medium size to smallish undergraduate size (Around 5,000 undergrads or less).</p>

<p>States that colleges should be in:
Connecticut (home state), Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington DC, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky</p>

<p>Academics
Freshman: 3.85 gpa, no honors but highest level before honors
Sophomore: so far a 3.85 gpa probably a 3.88-3.9 as final, no honors but highest level before honors
Junior: ? probably about same
Senior: ? probably about same
Will take, AP Microecon., AP Gov, AP Environmental Science, AP Bio and maybe !!AP Spanish depending on how well I do in Sp. 5 honors as a junior.
I am a math/science/history guy but I can be a very good writer as well, just not the best. Also hate world language</p>

<p>Test scores
Recently got PSAT scores back - received 1650; Now I know what you're going to say, "You can't go anywhere decent with those kinds of bad scores." You are absolutely right, but this test was so I could get used to what these standardized are going to be like. I did not study, look over anything, just asked my cousin the structure of the tests. THIS WILL NOT BE MY SCORES.
What I'm hoping for is at least a 2100+. Around 750 for math and close to 700 for critical reading and writing. Will probably achieve my goal with lots of studying and help from family</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars
Cello for 7 years, will be 9 after senior year, including section leader/first stand
JV Hockey 2 years, !!varsity 2 years
JV tennis 1 year, !!varsity 3 years
Garden club, work there in summer, gives produce to food shelters and school cafeteria, !!president
Hebrew school teacher aid, sort of volunteering but also paid
!!Math tutor to elementary school kids for three years
!!President of temple youth group, volunteers to go to elderly homes, food shelters, bake sales, and other fundraisers + group activities ( may also be a lower rank of board member)</p>

<p>Other activities
Went on a four week trip to alaska to build community structures (playground, gazebo, patios, etc.) but also adventure trip including ice climbing, hiking, etc
Went on a trip to vermont to maintain and work on parts of the Appalachian trail that needed to be fixed</p>

<p>Personal statement, traits and colleges I'm thinking about
I feel I am pretty well rounded, comes from smart, jewish family, hard worker, not afraid of challenges, other quality characteristics</p>

<p>The colleges below are a mix of what I feel would be reaches, fits, and safeties. Feel free to suggest any other colleges, how I would fit in and what my chances of admission are.</p>

<p>Johns Hopkins University
Georgetown University
Northwestern University
Boston College
Carnegie Mellon University
Tufts University (Dad went there)
Union College
University of Connecticut
Dartmouth University
Clark University (Mom went there)
Gettysburg University
George Washington University
Vanderbilt University</p>

<p>Please leave any suggestions, comments, what my outlook is and where I stand in my college search. Also please don't be so harsh saying there's no chance you can get into a college. Explain why I couldn't be admitted and what I have to do to raise my chances. All answers are appreciated. Thanks everyone!</p>

2

<p>You should also give the ACT a shot</p>

3

<p>Do some practice PSAT/SATs and ACTs in order to learn and practice the test-specific test-taking methods.</p>

<p>Possible majors? Would “math/science[which science?]/history” describe them?</p>

4

<p>What’s the critical difference between SAT and ACT? I know SAT is more reasoning and and ACT is more content but is there anything else really major?</p>

5

<p>I don’t want to think about majors now. I have absolutely no idea what I want to study. I am great math student, I did really well in bio last year and chem this year, i have always enjoyed certain concepts of physics, and i’m a great history student as well. Other core subjects, i’m good at, but not great at.</p>

6

<p>You can do your own chancing by looking at the Common Data Set (google it) for each school. Find the stats for the most recent year available and focus, in particular, on Section C which gives the stats for admitted students, so you can compare yourself. There is also a section in which the school indicates the factors it considers in admission and how it weights them. </p>

<p>And while your exploring, add Brandeis, Elon and Wesleyan to your list to places to check out.</p>