When is a school too much of a reach??... Fordam, Colgate, GW, NESCAC schools?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

So, basically with senior year coming up I’m getting a little bit nervous about my current college list. Unlike many students in this thread, I don’t have top-tier grades (B+/A-) and I’m not going for the Ivies or anything crazy. According to my guidance counselor, I have been selling myself short in terms of reach schools, but I’m just not sure what would be considered TOO much of a reach. Any suggestions would be great!

GPA: 4.03 – hopefully going up to a 4.1
Rank: 50/240 SAT:1230 (bad, I know…but hopefully my June score will be a 1300+)
AP (predictions): English Lit (4) APUSH (4)

Senior yr. courseload:
AP Lit
AP Stat
AP Euro
AP Psych
H Civics
H French

Extracurriculars: Soccer Track and Field (MVP; captain [likely])
Global Citizenship Program (secretary)
Mentoring (club to help 8th graders transition to HS)
Model UN (Head of Education)
Young Democrats (event coordinator)
Part-time job (15 hrs per week; 2 yrs)
Vacation Bible school volunteer
CCD teacher (volunteer)
Teacher’s helper in a 3-4 yr old special needs class this summer (50 hrs)

Other: *essay–strong
*white; middle-class; female
*intended major: history (not sure on teaching yet)
*Merit aid is unlikely, but would be great!

Current college list:
Umass Amherst
Stonehill College
Providence College
Bridgewater State (EA)
Loyola Maryland University

2

I don’t know about the others, but Fordham certainly seems like a possibility especially if you can get your SAT score up a bit. From our school’s Naviance data, it looks like kids with your grades have about a 50/50 shot with a 1250 and above SAT. Of course, anything can change at any time.

My question is whether you really want to add schools or are just doing it because your guidance counselor wants you to add reaches. No one needs reaches. If you have safeties and matches that you really like and can afford to attend, you don’t need anything else. The only reason to add a reach is if there is about it that you actually like BETTER than the schools you already have. That said, Fordham really is an excellent school.

3

Bridgewater and stonehill are safeties for you. You will definitely get in. UMass would be a higher match for you instate. PC is a higher match. Loyola Maryland is a match. Udel would be a good match for you. Catholic Univ in dc. Unh higher match and uvm. St anselms in nh and st mikes in vt too. Assumption and Clark in Worcester. All solid matches for you
A bit reachier but possible conn coll. Trinity and more of a match would be Fairfield Mt Holyoke is a great school. All women. But excellent and you would be competitive as a low reach.