Where else should I apply?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm looking for schools that I could realistically get in to but also have what I'm looking for. I know I want to apply to more than 3, most likely 5-8.</p>

<p>I know I'm going to apply to Duke, and Stanford (reaches, I know), and UNC-Chapel Hill (best in-state tuition school) and I want to major in some kind of science (chemistry, physics, bio, etc., I have no idea) but I need ideas for other schools to apply to.</p>

<p>What I want in a college:
-In a decent sized metropolitan area, I'm not a fan of rural settings (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area is perfect example of what I like)
-Strong science program
-Located on east coast (or California, I used to live there and wouldn't mind going back)
-Preferably has a good sports teams (I love sports and would love for attending games to be a part of my "college experience")</p>

<p>My Academic Profile:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.83 unweighted, 4.71 weighted
Class rank: 13 of about 475</p>

<p>SAT: (I retook it June 2, these are my previous scores; I expect June to be a lot higher)
CR: 720
Math: 590
Writing: 620
Composite: 1930</p>

<p>ACT: (retaking this Saturday)
English: 28
Math: 27
Reading: 31
Science: 35
Composite: 30
Essay: 8
Combined Eng/Writing: 26</p>

<p>AP Classes:
Junior year: Env. Science, Calculus AB, Language/Composition
Senior year: Calculus BC, Chemistry, Literature, Statistics</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:
2 years of JV, 1 year of varsity soccer
3 years of student council
National Honor Society President
1 year of Book Club
2 Semesters of Teacher Cadet (basically an internship at the neighboring elementary school)
Will attend 2012 North Carolina Governor's School for Natural Science
Junior Marshal (Top 15)</p>

<p>Miscellaneous:
I'm white
I'm a cancer survivor (Stage III Lymphoma, Dignosed in 8th grade, treated at Duke Hospial for 5 months; I hear this can be another kind of "diversity", other than race)</p>

<p>Again, I'm looking for suggestions for good schools that have what I want and I'd have a realistic shot of getting in to.</p>

2

<p>What can your family afford?</p>

3

<p>The fact that you are a STEM major with such weak math scores raises serious questions. The 25%ile at Stanford was 680 for math (or 29 on the ACT) so you aren’t anywhere in the ball-park, even as a high reach. And I recognize that you’ve had medical challenges which probably have impacted your math score - but I doubt that’s going to make up for it.</p>

<p>You might want to look at more realistic reaches - schools where you are at least at the 50th percentile on that math score and admit more than 7% of the applicants.</p>

<p>Now that I’ve rained on your parade…take a look at Georgetown (go Hoyas!) in Washington DC. After all those rabid IR applicants, your application will come as a breath of fresh air. Still a major reach, by the way. More match: Consider George Washington, an urban school, also in DC.</p>

4

<p>I know that my math score needs to go up and I expect it to on the June SAT I just took. My 590 (In May with no prep) was a total fluke and I was shocked to see that score as math as one of my best subjects, if not my best. Before June’s ACT I did a few practices and got in the 700-750 range on all of them. On the real thing I felt even better. For my ACT, I’m retaking that on Saturday and on my last 4 practice tests I got 34, 35, 35 and 34 on the math sections. Obviously neither of these are even close to guarantees but I’m completely expecting a 700+ and a 32+ for math.</p>

<p>As for what my family can afford, I really don’t know. We’re middle income (about $60k/year) and I have about a $35k college fund from my late grandmother. I’ve had some talks with my family but we’re thinking more along the lines of get in first, then worry about the money when it’s time to choose.</p>

<p>I hadn’t even thought about G’town before, from what I can tell it’s exactly what I’m looking for. I just need to get my math score up so it can be realistic. Thank you, any more suggestions?</p>

5

<p>

That’s fine as long as you have a safety you are almost assured of getting in to, that you can afford, and that you are willing to attend. One of the directional NC schools might qualify.</p>

6

<p>Yeah, I was planning on applying to UNC-chapel hill, NCSU, and maybe UNCW (I live in Wilmington) as a last resort.</p>

7

<p>Pull up a list of the top 100 or so private universities, eliminate those not in an urban area in the eastern or western states, and then start researching, from the bottom up. Most good schools will have solid basic sciences. Most will have decent sports teams to cheer for. Check out their financial aid as a starting point.</p>

<p>I’m eliminating LACs because only a few are on the coasts and in urban areas (Vassar, Reed, Haverford/Swarthmore?) and sports isn’t big.</p>

<p>There are a few state Us that might fit the bill too - but they aren’t going to offer much, if any, financial aid if you are OOS.</p>

8

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<p>That is a great way to get financially shut out in April, unless you have a safety to which you are assured admission and assured affordability that you like (some students use community college as such; in-state public universities are also candidates). Check the net price calculators at each school.</p>

<p>With higher test scores, you may find some assured large merit scholarships that can make otherwise unaffordable schools affordable (e.g. the University of Alabama campuses, Howard).</p>

9

<p>I’m really just trying to get suggestions for schools because I feel like my scope is way too narrow as it is right now. So far all I have is:</p>

<p>Reaches:
Duke
Stanford
G’Town (maybe)</p>

<p>Everything else:
UNC Chapel Hill (In state)
NC State (In State)
Other UNC Schools (In State)</p>

10

<p>Consult with your parents on the money question and run the net price calculators on all of the schools’ web sites (especially the prospective safeties, presumably the North Carolina public schools) to make sure that you have at least one true safety (that you will get into and you will definitely be able to afford and you will like attending) in your list.</p>

11

<p>Maybe add UNC-Greensboro to your current NC list (NC State, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Chapel Hill)? Greensboro is a smaller city but it’s still pretty urbanish. North Carolina has some great public universities.</p>

<p>I second the University of Alabama if you are likely to be a NMSF and you like athletics. Tuscaloosa is a decent-sized city and has gotten some recognition for being a nice place to live.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt and Emory are in urban areas (Nashville and Atlanta respectively) but don’t really have big sports going for them. The University of Georgia is in a smallish city, but has big sports. You are eligible for their top scholarship that covers the cost of attendance (can’t remember the name). I’d check if you are eligible for something similar at UF (again, smaller city, but has the athletics). There’s UConn in CT, but Storrs isn’t an urban area.</p>

<p>Actually, as I’m scouring my brain it seems that big cities tend not to foster many universities with big sports traditions. Most of the colleges I can think of that have big athletic programs and well-attended games tend to be in suburban areas or college towns. I suppose because college athletic programs need a lot of space for practice that aren’t available in urban areas, and because students in urban areas are easily distracted by the things the city has to offer.</p>

<p>In CA, there’s UCLA and UC-Berkeley, but you may find them unaffordable as an OOS student. I think USC has big sports, too, and it’s in a big city.</p>

12

<p>“Actually, as I’m scouring my brain it seems that big cities tend not to foster many universities with big sports traditions.”</p>

<p>USC,UCLA,BC,U of Miami, Ohio St, UT, U Houston, U Washington, Pittsburgh, Georgia/GTech</p>

13

<p>Here are some ideas:</p>

<p>Apply to NC State, just in case you don’t get into UNC.</p>

<p>University of Texas</p>

<p>University of Miami (good science programs)</p>

<p>University of Arizona</p>

<p>George Washington University</p>

14

<p>ooops</p>

<p>scratch GW</p>

<p>It doesn’t meet your football criteria.</p>

15

<p>UNC Charlotte- big city, sports…good academics and in state.</p>

16

<p>If you do get math SAT up, South Carolina has top honors college (and strong football and baseball) and if you qualify for some scholarships, you also get instate tuition which would be pretty good…although instate in NC is really good! ECU is not in as great a town, IMO, as some of others, but strong in science.</p>

17

<p>Might look at Holy Cross-very good school with Div1 sports and strong academics(very good science program). Holy CROSS is need-blind for admissions-good financial aid and has nice campus. HC has very good alumni network and school spirit. HC is a smaller version of Gtown and easier to get into. Holy Cross website is informative.</p>