<p>Hi I'm a senior and I already have a list of schools that I will for sure apply to, but I feel that I should broaden my section. Here is my list so far:</p>
<ol>
<li>Boston College</li>
<li>Johns Hopkins</li>
<li>Northeastern University</li>
<li>UNC Chapel Hill</li>
<li>Connecticut College (I think)</li>
<li>NC State (complete back-up)</li>
</ol>
<p>I have a 3.85 GPA, and a 1930 on my SAT (600 R, 680 M, 650 WR). I know I can get my SAT over a 2000. I have been practicing nonstop, and my practice tests have been consistently around 2050. My extracurriculars include and excede four years of varsity sport, teams captain, two years of Key Club vice president, two years National Honors society, and five years of attending leadership camp. I took AP World History my freshman year and got a 3, AP Comp as Junior (3) and AP US as Junior (5). I am taking AP Gov, AP Calc, AP Chem, and AP Lit this year as a senior, and I am fully confident that I can get 4's and 5's in all four exams. </p>
<p>My question is this: should I be reaching higher for schools like Georgetown or Upenn? Or should I stay with these schools? I fell like I should be applying to other/better schools. I know that Hopkins is very difficult to get into but I feel I owe it to myself to at least try.</p>
<p>Based on the schools you are looking at so far, I think Georgetown, Emory and Vanderbilt could all make the list. Upenn may be a bit too much of a reach, but see how your SAT’s come back. Georgetown recommends 3 SAT II’s btw.</p>
<p>The thing that would probably help you the most in the testing realm is to bring up your CR score significantly. No SATIIs? Is your gpa weighted or unweighted? Do you have a class rank?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, for admissions purposes your scores in senior year AP exams will not count.</p>
<p>From what you’ve said here, I don’t think you need more reaches. Building from the bottom up would be a good idea. You could use a few schools in the low match/match area. I’m thinking places like Elon and Furman. If you are going to add reaches, you might want to look at test-optional places that like athletics, leadership, and ECs, such as Bowdoin.</p>
<p>None of this addresses what you can afford, what you think you might want to study, or other intangibles.</p>
<p>CC’ers will want to know what kind of school you are looking for (small, med, large; urban/rural, LAC/Univ, etc) and what you plan to study. What are you looking for in your college experience? What do/dont you want?</p>
<p>To add on to what I said originally, I am 8th in my class out of about 175. My GPA unweighted is 3.85 and my GPA weighted is 4.9. I am looking for a good research university, preferably larger. Not a LAC. I realize that I will need to take the SAT II tests, and I plan to take the Math II and Physics in November. I think I can get in the 700’s in both considering I am in AP Calculus.</p>
<p>which schools are your financial safeties? </p>
<p>Those would be the schools that you know FOR SURE that you have ALL COSTS covered with ASSURED merit or grants, family funds, and small federal stafford loans.</p>
<p>What is your budget? How much will your parents pay each year? If they will pay $55k+ per year for any school then as long as you find a school that will accept you and you like it, then you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Since I am a North Carolina State resident, UNC and NC State will cost near to nothing for me. My parents I think could pay around 15k per year maybe 20. Boston college and JHU are my top two choices and thankfully they have great financial aid programs. So really my question is if I have a good set of schools regarding my academic achievement.</p>
<p>*Since I am a North Carolina State resident, UNC and NC State will cost near to nothing for me. </p>
<p>*<br>
Those schools do not cost “next to nothing”. They probably have a COA of about $20k per year at least…so certainly not next to nothing.</p>
<p>My parents I think could pay around 15k per year maybe 20.</p>
<p>The key word here is “think”…you think your parents can/will pay that much. Until you ask them and hear the words from them, any guesses could be risky and horribly inaccurate. Students often over-estimate the amount they think their parents will spend. If your parents will spend that much, then super. If they won’t, then that will be a big issue.</p>
<p>*
Boston college and JHU are my top two choices and thankfully they have great financial aid programs.*</p>
<p>Neither of those schools have “great financial aid programs.” JHU doesn’t promise to meet need, and BC is notorious for having less-than-generous FA calculations. And, because of that, these schools may expect your parents to pay a LOT more than they can/will.</p>
<p>ASK your parents how much they’ll pay. Make sure you ask BOTH parents.</p>
<p>When I said “next to nothing” I wasnt being arrogant. When I have used the online calculators, both UNC and NC State come to about 3K per year for someone in my financial situation.</p>
<p>When I said “My parents I think could pay around 15k per year maybe 20” I said that because I DID ask and they said around 18K. Therefore I said 15-20 thousand because Im sure that estimate will fluctuate. </p>
<p>When I said that JHU and BC have “great financial aid programs” I meant it. Not because I am ill-informed, but because I have used online calculators (of which I am fully aware are not completely accurate), and these two schools would come to about 10K per year with grant aid. I think with my parents’ help I can pay 10K a year. So maybe “great” wasn’t the best choice of word, but it is certainly better than many other private institutions.</p>
<p>*When I said “next to nothing” I wasnt being arrogant. When I have used the online calculators, both UNC and NC State come to about 3K per year for someone in my financial situation.</p>
<p>When I said “My parents I think could pay around 15k per year maybe 20” I said that because I DID ask and they said around 18K. Therefore I said 15-20 thousand because Im sure that estimate will fluctuate. *</p>
<p>good. Often when kids say, “I think my parents will pay…” their words aren’t based on anything the parents have actually said.</p>
<p>Can you clarify…If the online calculators are indicating an EFC of $3k, then that suggests that your family has a modest income. If so, then how can they pay $18k per year? That would seem to be a good chunk of their income…an EFC of $3k would suggest an income about $45-50k.</p>
<p>Look, it is all very complicated to me, but I do know that different schools have different percents of need that they will meet. This is completely off topic from what originally wanted to know, and right now I would prefer to not be overly stressed-out about paying for college. What I wanted to know was what schools would be good for me to look into based on my academic standing. If that is not possible for anyone to help me with, then I will divert my attention to something more important, such as biting my finger nails, or going grey.</p>
<p>NYU.
Average SAT is 2030. Based on your current list, it looks like you have a penchant for the city life.
Although not too sure about financial aid situation, since it differs for everybody. For example, I would get a free ride, but my next door neighbor will not. Go to the net cost calculator and see how it fits.</p>
<p>There are a number of decent college-matching search engines - one is even right here at CC. Run those, and see what pops up.</p>
<p>As for the money issue, m2ck has been around for a long time, and has seen way too many “Help, I didn’t get in anywhere I can afford” threads on April 1. She also knows that while you started this thread, other students with situations like yours will read it. Her advice to get straight about the money, and to keep your head and options clear because of that is not just for you, it is also for them. It is very good that you have been looking at the information about Cost of Attendance, and that you have been running the Net Price Calculators. Too many students don’t do that until April 2.</p>