<p>Introduction
Hey CC Forums! I am a High School Junior and just at the beginning of my college process. I don't have very much figured out yet and would really appreciate some advice on where to apply. So far I have a very shortlist of where I am thinking:</p>
<p>I am out of state for all of these colleges. I don't really know where else to look. I'm not sure where to consider in terms of safeties or matches, so I would really appreciate some advice. I like cities and I'm looking for a college with a balance of strong academics and a fun social life. If I could get money somewhere, that is a huge factor; I am paying my way through college. If, in addition to your advice, you could rate my chances at those universities, I would really appreciate it. </p>
<p>Academics
[ul][li]GPA (uw): 3.75[/li][li]GPA (w): 4.32[/li][li]UC GPA (uw) 3.8[/li][li]UC GPA (w) 4.35[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>My classes are all AP / Honors.</p>
<p>Testing
[ul]
[li]ACT: 31 Composite (36 R / 33 E / 31 S / 24 M)[/li][li]SAT II (World History): 800[/li][li]SAT II (English Literature): 800[/li][li]AP U.S. History: 5[/li][li]AP English Language and Composition: 5[/li][li]AP World History: 5 [/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Leadership
[ul]
[li]Rowing Captain[/li][li]Mock Trial Captain[/li][li]Saferides Board Member [/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Community Service
[ul]
[li]Mission Trips (2010-Present)[/li][li]National Honors Society[/li][li]Youth Group Work (2004-Present) *[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Hooks*
[ul]
[li]Double Legacy at UVA (Mom + Brother)[/li][li]Competitive Times as a Rowing Recruit[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>I'm going to retake the ACTs because my math score drags me down to a crazy extent. I will work with a tutor and hopefully improve a bit. But regardless of any retake, I would really love to hear some feedback. Where else should I be looking? What are reaches/matches/safeties for me? I'd appreciate any feedback you can give. Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>If you are looking for money, OOS public schools looking for OOSers like YOU for money are not good sources for money FOR you. They want the money FROM you. Though all three schools do have some award money, unless you can row that boat really well and they have crew scholarships, I don’t think those schools are good choices for you except as reaches. Really, for anyone they are reaches. How you get UTAustin as a safety puzzles me. Top Texan student have a tough go getting admitted and they do not accept that many OOSers,much less pay fro them.</p>
<p>Not that it’s a problem to have them on your list. But how about starting with those schools that you know you can afford and will take you? Then you can kinda move the list into the more selective areas, once that is covered. Are you going to be a crew prospect? If your ERGs are such that you are competitive to row on a NCAA team, that is something you need to pursue and get on the boards that will give info on the picture of College crew. If you are not going be an athletic recruit, you have a tough go with those schools. Definitely all high reaches.</p>
<p>How much are your parents willing to pay for college each year? Those are also very pricey schools for OOSers, with a huge OOS cost differential. Can you afford your state school without aid? Have you run some numbers to see what schools are going to expect your family to pay? </p>
<p>It appears that you like the big state schools, so start looking at some of them that might have some merit money in the picture for someone with your test scores. Alabama is a popular one mentioned a lot on this board because it has some guaranteed awards.</p>
<p>What state do you live in?
Are you planning to take the SAT? Your high score on those SAT IIs suggest that SAT may work better than ACT for you.
What, exactly, do you mean when you say you are “paying your way through college?”</p>
<p>I live in Delaware. I have a 2250 on the SATs (800 CR / 800 Writing / 650 Math), but I’m not sure whether my SAT or my ACT is stronger because I haven’t found any helpful conversion tools. Thank you very much for the comments so far. I’ll address them in order:</p>
<p>@cptofthehouse: I’m not exclusively looking for money. I’m aware that I likely would not get money at UVA or UCLA; those are dream schools that I would be willing to take loans out on. I should have made that clearer. In terms of listing UT Austin as a safety, my SAT is 250 points above my school’s acceptance line for Naviance and a bit over for GPA. My ACT is 2 composite points better than my school’s average acceptance. I feel like that is a safety and even somewhere I could get money. I don’t reject what you say at all – I’m not limiting myself to these schools – this is just my starting point.</p>
<p>As to UVA / UCLA: I know my GPA is on the lower end for both. My test scores are fairly far above my school’s Naviance, though I know that isn’t the strongest indicator. I totally accept that they are probably both reach schools and schools I would have to pay full money at. Taking crew out of the equation (it is very difficult to quantify how much it could help me), how much of a hook is a double legacy at UVA? I’m aware the official stance is that legacies are treated as in state students are. My GPA / test scores are fairly competitive for an instate student, I think. I’m not sure, and would really appreciate some feedback on that. Thanks for the Alabama suggestion I’ll look into it. I appreciate the comment.</p>
<p>@Hunt: I am retaking the SATs this weekend. I only need to boost my math section there to superscore, so hopefully things go well. I’ll clarify the financial situation because that is probably important. I have four older siblings that went to expensive colleges. My parents make a good amount of money (I don’t qualify for financial aid) but are in huge debt because of paying for my siblings’ college. I don’t want to add to that debt, so I offered to pay for my own college. I began saving sophomore year of high school, actively look for crew scholarships, will be taking out student loans, and will likely have a job throughout college.</p>
<p>The sad truth is that if you don’t qualify for need-based financial aid, the only way you can really pay for your own education is to get significant merit aid. You’ll need to look at places like Alabama for that, and not places like U.Va. out of state.</p>
<p>I know I don’t qualify for money at UVa or UCLA: I’m more interested in seeing how I stack up in the application process without taking money into account. Understanding that, I will definitely look into places like Georgia or Alabama for money.</p>
<p>I seem to recall that residents of Delaware may be able to get in-state tuition in some other states (i.e., Maryland), at least for some programs. You should research that.</p>
<p>Why would you hide your SAT score initially. You would not be safety at UT Austin with ACT 31. It would be a match for you though. With your SAT at 1450/2250, you should be a low match. It really depends on which program/major you are applying.</p>
<p>You’re in to UT-Austin with that SAT score, if you want some extra security just boost your math to a 700. You seem like a match for UT and UVA. UCLA will be a bit of a reach.</p>