Where Should I Apply?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi! I am currently a Senior in high school, and I'm not really sure were I want to apply for college yet. I'm not sure whether I should just look at public or private universities, whether I should look for Honors Programs (I've heard of Barretts at ASU) or just stick to 'normal' public colleges. But most importantly I don't have many ideas for schools to apply to, whether it be a reach (dream) school, or a safety (I'm not sure what would qualify as a safe pick for me). Anyways thanks in advance for any advice, it is all greatly appreciated. So this is me... (I am aware that GPA, test scores, and ECs aren't everything, and essays are really important, but based off this info where do I have at least a decent shot at attending)...</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted</p>

<p>APs: 11 (including senior year), Calc AB and BC, Physics B and C, Chem, Bio, Lang, French, Econ, APUSH, and Human Geo. <passed all="" 7="" so="" far=""> *and I know that AP scores do not affect admission (correct if I am wrong)</passed></p>

<p>SATs: 1900s (though I am retaking them with the goal of 2100-2200 plus I will be taking some SAT IIs (I'm still kicking myself for not taking them already)</p>

<p>Sports: Varsity Soccer for 3 years (plus 1 JV), Cross-Country (JV) for 2 years, Football (freshman year), Club Soccer (7 years)</p>

<p>ECs: FBLA, Leadership, ASB (no formal office held), LinkCrew (helps freshman transition into high school). Plan on joining philosophy, bridge building, and ultimate frisbee clubs this year (not joining solely for college apps).</p>

<p>Volunteer: I haven't kept hours (I know, shame on me) but I have done Unified Soccer and TopSoccer (both of which help disabled kids play sports and get out), plus LinkCrew (^)</p>

<p>Also I am interested in engineering (Biomedical or Aerospace) and Political Science (or maybe economics).</p>

<p>So, what are some quality reach schools that I could apply to, some 'safe' school, and some 'gimmes" that would fit my profile. Also if anyone has any advice or insight on private vs. public, vs. honors that would be awesome!</p>

<p>Dream school: Stanford... Like UCLA and Georgetown and maybe UW as well. </p>

2

<p>What state do you live in? And what is your financial situation?</p>

3

<p>First ask your parents how much they will pay.</p>

<p>What is your home state?</p>

<p>Some/many OOS publics could be unaffordable since they don’t give much/any aid (like UWash, and the UCs)</p>

4

<p>I’m from Washington. But don’t particularly want to stay here. </p>

5

<p>Lots of students don’t want to stay in their home states, but finances are often a deciding factor. You can always move after college – better than taking on a lot of debt to go elsewhere. What can you and your parents afford?</p>

6

<p>Have you had The Talk with your parents and gotten a number from them that they can afford to provide each year: With such wide open prospects, what you can afford would give us some way of narrowing down your possibilities. For instance, if you need a lot of merit, that would eliminate a lot of schools. That second SAT score will be key to merit.</p>

7

<p>If I were you, I would check the average SAT scores and stats of the applicant pool of your target schools. With your current scores of 1900 and your ECs, your dream schools are all high reaches( maybe except UW).</p>

<p>Your SAT has to be around 2250 or above to be near the average applicant scores of schools like Stanford or Georgetown. Also more than 80% of the highly qualified students are rejected or waitisted each year by these schools.</p>

<p>Work hard and do a little research before your proceed further.</p>

8

<p>@jkeil911‌ My parents have told me that they do not want money to be a deciding factor for me (although I am certain it will influence my decision) lets just assume for now that money is not an factor. Now I am really just curious as to what schools have respectable engineering colleges, that would still be a rather safe bet to be admitted. Also are there any opinions on Honors Colleges vs Normal University?</p>

9

<p>Hundreds of schools have respectable engg. That’s why I was asking about money because not all of those have good financial aid if you need it.</p>

<p>If you’re now asking me for a safety, that’s a different question than you had asked before. Safeties for someone who wants to study engg and has a 4.0 and 2000 SAT and decent ECs are less numerous, and without knowing whether or not you can afford the school these could be only academic safeties and not true “I can go there if all else fails” safeties. A breakdown of your CR + M would help, but here are some conservative suggestions for academic safeties in </p>

<p>Aerospace (accredited)
UAlabama Huntsville
Arizona
Arizona State
Central Florida
Illinois Institute of Technology
Kansas
Mississippi State
New Mexico State
Oklahoma State
San Diego State
San Jose State
SUNY Buffalo</p>

<p>Biomedical (accredited)
Akron
UAlabama Birmingham
Arizona State
Central Oklahoma
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Florida Gulf Coast
Florida International
George Mason
Hartford
UIllinois Chicago
Illinois IT
Iowa
Louisville
Louisiana Tech
Memphis
Michigan Tech
Milwaukee School of Engineering
New Jersey IT
Oregon State
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Toledo
Utah
Virginia Commonwealth
Worcester Poly
Wright State</p>