<p>Take a challenge: Put yourself in my shoes!
Where would you apply? List the MATCH, SAFETY, REACH schools. I'll take any advice as to how to go about my summer and senior year if you have it. </p>
<p>South Asian Female, Junior, Looking for schools in NORTHEAST/MIDWEST, passionate about SCIENCE and wishes to major in pure, physical science, urban settings preferable/large school vs small school</p>
<ul>
<li>Community service on my belt</li>
<li>Involvement in community (attendance to some town meetings, invited)</li>
<li>Science Olympiad member. Won some medals. Will run for copresident senior year. </li>
<li>JETS Junior Engineering Technical Society competition Sophomore Year</li>
<li>Photographer and Writer in Newspaper--> articles have been frontpaged thrice. Photo editor for senior year. </li>
<li>French Honor Society, Amnesty International</li>
<li>Cultural dance for two years</li>
</ul>
<p>I will try to do something interesting this summer like a program or work under a professor or my own research. </p>
<p>Freshman Year: </p>
<p>Bio H-B
English H-A
Math H-B+
French H-A
History H-B
Electives-A</p>
<p>Sophomore Year:</p>
<p>English H-B+
Chem H&Math H&History A&French H- A-
Electives-A</p>
<p>Junior Year (note: I doubled in science): </p>
<p>Physics H-- A-
AP Chemistry-- B+ (goal)
History H-- A-
Math H -- B+
AP French A
AP English B+</p>
<p>Senior Year Goals</p>
<p>AP Calc BC - A/A-
AP Physics - A/A-
AP Stat - A
Comp I/II H - A/A-
Electives - A </p>
<p>Completed Standardized Tests
PSAT -- 203
SAT -- 2200 ; 690 CR, 750 M, 760 W
CHEM SAT II -- 750 </p>
<p>Upcoming Standardized Tests (Until Midyear Senior Year)
MATH II SAT II -- 750+
AP CHEM -- 5
AP FRENCH -- 4
AP ENGLISH LANG -- 5,4
PHYSICS SAT II -- 750+
ACT (possibly) -- 34</p>
<p>What do you mean by “large school vs small school?” Are you saying you prefer one over the other or don’t care?</p>
<p>I prefer a large school… but it doesn’t not have to be overtly large. Just not a liberal arts school.</p>
<p>So, mid-sized schools in urban settings in the midwest and NE with strong sciences. Strong test scores, good but not top grades, the usual range of ECs. Did I miss anything? Financial needs?</p>
<p>I am in NJ, so I already will be applying to Rutgers. Financial needs can be considered- but for now I would like to know a selection of schools. I am working on scholarships anyway.</p>
<p>I will do my best to let my passion for science show through my essays. I intend on writing strong essays or doing my best to do so.</p>
<p>Take a look at George Washington and American University, both in Washington DC. Your interest in sciences will set you apart from all the future IR and Poli Sci majors who apply. Look at Boston University (guess where), and Barnard (all women’s college in NYC, but with access to Columbia’s classes for science and much sharing of social resources). Further south, there’s Elon, Wake Forest and College of Charleston.</p>
<p>Thanks!
My only concern is if Rutgers is a better choice than any of these schools since Rutgers is close to home and is in-state (lower tuition).</p>
<p>“but for now I would like to know a selection of schools. I am working on scholarships anyway.”</p>
<p>I didn’t mention cost because you asked that cost not be part of the criteria. Yes, if cost is a concern, then you will need to look carefully at what, if any, financial aid these schools will offer. </p>
<p>“Close to home” is a pro for some and a con for others - only you know if college is a chance to explore a different part of the country and reinvent yourself, or if being near home will make the transition easier.</p>
<p>And Rutgers is a fine choice if it otherwise fits with what you want in a school.</p>