@JoanneB Is it better for me to apply to these top Schools ED or RD. My GPA is so bad, and I haven’t taken any AP Classes. But I will take 2 or three next year. (AP Chemistry, AP Calculus & AP Phsyics) Plus a bunch of honor classes (Honors English 4 & Honors Chinese 4). Plus I may do a cross country and indoor track next year. So i was thinking if colleges see that my gpa has drastically improved then I may have a better shot. Because my gpa was so low before (3.3) my class rank is beyond horrible. I’m in the 50% percentile out of 164 Juniors.
I’m a Bio major
I should get over a 4.5 gpa next year
ED is only for students who have a definite first choice, and who also know that that first choice will be affordable after running the Net Price Calculator at the first choice’s website. If your family isn’t full-pay, and there is anything iffy about affordability, you need to be ready to walk away from an ED admission if the predicted aid package isn’t good enough. That means that you also have to have a whole set of other RD applications ready to go in case you aren’t admitted ED, or the aid package is not good enough. You also can apply several places that have Rolling admissions early on, and know if you are in (maybe even with merit money) before the ED result is released. Remember, what the colleges/universities would want your family to pay, and what your family really can pay, often are two very different things.
Your GPA and SAT scores guarantee you admission at a number of places, and merit-aid as well at some others. This means that you do have solid safety options. Most are rolling admission. You can apply as soon as their applications become available next fall, even before you have to make a decision about whether or not to apply anywhere ED. If you want the merit money, pay close attention to any deadlines so that you don’t miss out.
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1562918-updated-list-of-schools-with-auto-admit-guaranteed-admission-criteria.html#latest
I don’t think you should apply to any Ivy League schools. Your GPA is really low. Unless you apply ED, I don’t see how you could get in. Your test scores show you are bright, but your GPA shows a problem with your ability to handle school work. Where would you like to be located? Is any state okay?
I suggest Tulane University. You might get some merit aid as well.
@calicash Hmm I see what you are saying. I would really like to stay up North. I prefer colleges in the Mid-Atlantic, & the Northeast. (I’m from Maryland). My GPA has really messed me up. I’m still gonna apply tho 
My Current list is
Boston University
Harvard University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Rutgers University
University of Maryland CP
Northwestern
Northeastern
Georgetown
Drexel University
Pace University
Penn state
Villanova University
Yale? My mom says I should apply but idk
I don’t know how I’m going to shorten this list, or If I’m gonna keep all of these colleges. I’ve already started my common app essays. All of the colleges on this list use common app except Rutgers University, UMCP, Georgetown & Penn State.
Interesting. Many people from Maryland consider themselves southerners. Would you consider a liberal arts college?
I know someone at UPenn doing pre med and she said that because their grades are on a curve, students try to sabotage each other (i.e. Ripping pages out of textbooks).
Villanova might be a fit as well.
@calicash Wow that is crazy! eh I’m gonna take Upenn off the list. I would definitely consider a liberal arts college.
I don’t think I see any safeties on that list. Very reach heavy. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment.
@rdtsmith
Boston University - reach
Harvard University- reach
Columbia University - reach
Cornell University- reach
Rutgers University- match
University of Maryland CP- reach/match
Northwestern- reach
Northeastern- reach
Brandeis- reach
Drexel University- safety
Pace University- safety
Penn state- safety (guaranteed i can get into one of their satellite campuses)
Villanova University- match
Very true. Idk I thought Drexel, Pace & Pen state are good safeties. Villanova is a good match. Maybe switching out one of these schools for Hofstra would be a good idea.
its just whenever i get an email from a top school it kind of makes me wanna apply. Even though I know they only email based on psat scores it still gives me hope idk. Most of the schools on that list have emailed me & i like them which is why they are on the list. I know there email means virtually nothing but idk i cant help but dream
I have recently become an volunteer paramedic at my local firehouse. Its good experience and I’m guessing will help with college applications(i think its a good ec). Hopefully the college can see I’m a changed student, and that I really wanna make a difference in the world
Check the out-of-state cost of attendance for Penn State. It might be out of your budget. The option in Maryland that are equivalent to those Penn State satellites would be the community colleges that you can easily commute to. All of the MD community colleges have transfer agreements with the public universities in Maryland. You can read all about those at their websites, and you can check course-by-course transferability through http://artweb.usmd.edu/ In state matches would be Salisbury, Towson, Frostburg, etc. Happykid had friends who went to all of those and were very happy with their choices. Happykid started at Montgomery College-Rockville, and finished up at Towson.
Howard and Morehouse are probably good match/safe schools, where you could also qualify for scholarships. Temple is also a safety, and your test scores might get you merit aid. If finances aren’t a huge concern, it shouldn’t be unaffordable. It costs less than most private colleges, even for out-of-state. You might also look into McGill. They focus on test scores, and yours should be high enough.
@woogzmama I really like McGill! I was just scared that because it was a Canadian School, I would have a tough time going to an American Medical School!
It seems american medical schools accept students from Canadian schools, but im not sure if it is harder them to get in