<p>Hi, this is my first post so I hope I'm doing it right. I'll try to keep this short.
I'm a rising senior in a highly ranked Pennsylvania public high school. I have a 3.95 unweighted GPA and have taken all honors/AP classes. My SAT score is 2200 and ACT is 34.
I want to major in elementary education, so I know I could go to a state school for cheap and still get a job, but I really want to go out of state to a well ranked college with a strong education program.
Is that a bad idea? Tuition isn't really an issue for me. I was thinking about applying to Boston College, University of Virginia, William and Mary, and Vanderbilt. I'll also apply to Michigan State and local state schools as safeties.
So does anyone have any other suggestions for schools to apply to?
Or since I'm majoring in elementary education, should I just stay in state for cheap?
Any responses are greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>All admirable schools, but all awfully expensive - I would be very wary of running up much student loan debt on a teacher’s salary is my only advice. Many of these schools, though, are going to offer pretty good merit aid based on your schools. </p>
<p>There is a small hitch in the thing in that you probably want to talk to a teacher in your state. Most state schools automatically fulfill all of the requirements for teacher certification in the state in which they are located, but not necessarily in other states. For example, if I go to University of Virginia, I might graduate but still have to do some extra work to become a teacher in North Carolina. Just keep it in mind and be sure to ask a teacher in the state where you want to end up teaching.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your input! I was aware of the teaching requirement thing, but I don’t know where I want to teach after I graduate, so I can’t really pick a school based on that.</p>