Where can i make it

College Search & Selection
1

Im a junior and I am stressed af about college. Everything I hoped to achieve this year has not been working out. I just got my PSAT scores back and I got a 1460 but its a 216 scaled and I live in texas, so im not gonna make it. This is my resume so far:

Rank: 36 (top 6%)
Taking my SAT in a week, aiming above 1550.
AP’s; Physics (3), Comp Sci (4), Stats (5), (taking 5 more AP’s this year)

GPA (100pt): 97. something
Extracurriculurs: DECA (Competition Manager (10th), Community Service Manager (11th), Co President (likely - 12th)
UNICEF (treasurer 11th,12th (likely))
Mayors Youth Advisory Council
MAO (Parlimentarian 10th)
Science National Honor Society
National Honor Society (likely)
SciNow (Elementary Club Leader (11th))

Awards/Recognition:
DECA Top 20 at Internationals (9th)
DECA State Participant (10th)
havent done 11th yet but hopefully to 20 at ICDC
TMSCA State Team Participant
Entering Science Fair in February

Summer Activities/ Experience:
Internship at Rice Petroleum Engineering Center (summer between 9th and 10th)
Garcia Research Program (summer between 10th and 11th)
Tennis Job at Local club - 2 times a week, 1.5 hours each time

Indian, Female, TX, high income bracket

I want to go to Columbia but that is out of my reach,
Please suggest other schools. Right now I am looking at UT. I dont know what major I want to do yet.

2

Need more info. So many good schools out there. Suggest you start creating a list based on some of the following:

  1. Strong program in X
  2. Location (what part of the country, region, state)
  3. City vs. Suburban vs. Rural (all quite different feels)
  4. Size
  5. Cost ( what are your parents willing to pay)

Once you have a better feel, posters will weigh in. This may sound daunting but it’s not. Think of it this way:

My S knew he wanted to do something in business. I said something like “well there are a lot of good business programs out there. What else is important. Describe college to me…” He came up with the following -

East coast
Suburban, defined campus
5k- 10k students
D1 Sports
Undergrad focus
Great community feel, school spirit
Superb business program

That knocked out great programs like Wharton because even if he got in, he didn’t want to spend 4 yrs in Philly. It knocked out our state flagship (UF) because it’s just too big (for him). We were able to research about 10 schools, plan visits, etc. You get the drift.

3

Columbia would offer you the ultimate urban college experience. Should we assume this is what you would want under an ideal scenario? Or is your attraction to Columbia primarily academically based?

4

Your PSAT doesn’t define you, and it looks like you have a lot of other accomplishments. My own kid also missed the semifinalist cut-off, but is still applying to 2 reach schools. (She switched to the ACT.)

Columbia is a reach for everyone, but assuming you create a balanced list with matches and safeties, it’s ok to have a reach school or two. Other schools in NYC might be Fordham or NYU (if you can afford it.)

Some good resources for college exploration:

http://www.schoolbuff.com/self-survey.asp
http://www.schoolbuff.com/qualities.asp

5

Yeah Columbia is def a reach and I have decided many other match/ saftey schools such as University of Texas, University of Houston, UCLA, etc.

I was just wondering if I still have a chance or if there is anything I could do to help.

Also, I love Columbia for both their academics and their urban lifestyle. Its overall a great school in my opinion.

6

Relax, take a deep breath. You are very fortunate. You have a great high school record and strong financial resources. Also, we are fortunate that there are many, many wonderful schools where you can get a world-class education. The vast majority of them will love to have you as a student.

Please think about it this way: It’s not WHERE you go to school, it’s HOW you go to school. If you work hard, have fun, embrace opportunities, create opportunities, embrace people, treat everyone with dignity and respect, you will succeed.

I live in a very nice community. Probably the three wealthiest people I know here (and they are very wealthy and otherwise successful in life) attended a middling state flagship, a second-tier public university, and a third-tier public university in a state where higher education has a very poor reputation. You will attend a college/university more highly ranked than all these people. Your college will not be a limitation in your life.

With all that said, you are apparently looking for an urban university. What about Tulane, Wash U in St. Louis, University of Washington (in Seattle), Richmond, Tufts, Northeastern, BU, and Case Western. Ann Arbor is not a big city, but Michigan feels urban. It’s terrific and accepts lots of OOS students. What about Rhodes College in Memphis? Very beautiful campus, small classes, close community.

Finally, you have the gift of youth. Enjoy that. Work hard but also spend time learning about yourself and just enjoying the world. Standing barefoot in a creek and looking up at the sky through the trees might just be more beneficial than an SAT prep class. It sure is more pleasant.

What do YOU like? That’s much more important than what others think you should like. Who makes you feel good about yourself? Spend time with those people and not the ones who do not make you feel the opposite. If you learn yourself, I think that will help you most in the college admissions process because you will then be able to find the place that works best for you. Good luck!