Where should I be aiming?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Ok so I have no idea where I realistically should be looking to go to college.</p>

<p>Grade: 11
Gender: M
GPA: About 3.85 (unweighted)</p>

<p>Test Scores
ACT: 33 Composite (34 english, 34 reading, 33 science, 32 math)
PSAT: 220 (doesn't count for anything)
Going to take Math 2 and Chemistry SAT subject tests in June</p>

<p>Extra Curr.
4 years Jazz Band-Lead trumpet
Competed in Swing Central competition in Georgia
Freshman team soccer-Captain
1 year JV soccer
1 year Varsity Lacrosse (should play next year as well)
Worked as paid photographer
Qualified for state Solo/Ensemble on trumpet
Over 100 hrs of community service
Played in the pit orchestra for our school musicals
Probably going to submit a photography and music supplement
National Honor Society
Probably some other stuff that I'm forgetting to list</p>

<p>What caliber of schools do you guys/girls think I should aim to get into? Right now I'm interested in University of Washington, U of Michigan, and Georgia Tech as schools that I feel like I should aim for. The schools that I want to go to are Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, and Duke, but I feel like my applications won't be strong enough to get me into those schools. I think I lack extracurricular activities. I do a ton of stuff outside of school but the stuff I do is hard to express on an application, namely photography and music. Both of those take up a lot of my time. I know I'm a very very solid writer so I think the essays will help. </p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

2

<p>It would be helpful to know: How much you can afford? Size of campus? Region in country? what do you want to study? Type of social life?</p>

3

<p>Cost is of no object. In Washington, a little east of Seattle. Campus size/social life: varies, look at the schools I said I’m interested in. I want to study some type of science. Probably biology, chemistry, or engineering. I hope to go to med school.</p>

4

<p>Great the University of Washington would be a great fit for you because they have a great science departments, and they are accepting more OOS students. Other schools to consider: Western Washington, Occidental, UC Boulder, and UCSB</p>

5

<p>While UoW could be a great choice, I wouldn’t discount other schools if you want to aim for top privates. A 33 ACT is in the 99th percentile and you have good extracurriculars. Johns Hopkins and Northwestern are a little easier to get into than Duke, so I think that you have a good shot at either of those, and still a chance at Duke.</p>

6

<p>Alright good to hear. I may retake the ACT in the fall because I went into it cold with no preparation at all. UW would be great, but at the same time I want to get a little further from home, which is why I’m looking at Georgia Tech. Unless I get into one of my dream schools (JHU, NWestern, Duke) I’ll probably go to UW assuming I get in. A lot of people I know got WEIRD admissions results from UW. They honestly seemed random, since people with SATs of 2000+, high GPAs and good ECs were getting rejected over people with mediocre everything.</p>

7

<p>UW is a bit random when it comes to admissions. I know someone who had a > 1600 SAT and I think a 3.7 who was rejected while another person I know had around a 1300 SAT and a > 3.0 GPA who was accepted. Really weird.</p>

8

<p>On another note, what do you guys think about liberal arts schools? Mostly looking at NESAC schools. (New England Small Athletic Conference)</p>

9

<p>You’d pretty easily make the top UC’s, and lower Ivy’s should definitely be on your list!</p>

10

<p>I think you could get into Duke or Northwestern - definitely apply to them as reaches maybe, and you have a good chance of things working out.</p>

<p>Try looking into USC maybe - 220 PSAT isn’t as worthless as you think, that SHOULD net you NMSF, and lots of schools look very highly upon that. USC will give you a ton of money for it, and it is far but not too far from where you live.</p>

11

<p>You have fairly good ECs and good stats. You have a really good shot at Cal esp if you are out of state. Still, if you have the time, you should work more on your ECs and make sure that you get 750+ for both subject tests if you are interested in studying them in college.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Chance me please!
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