Where should I be looking?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi!
I've been looking into colleges to consider, but with all the mixed information on the Internet, it's hard to really tell where one stands regarding college admissions. At least in my opinion. Anyway, so since you guys know so much about admissions and stuff, I was wondering if you could recommend some reach and match schools based on my information:</p>

<p>I just finished my sophomore year at a competitive private school in the Northeast. I'm a middle-class Caucasian male. I'm interested in studying applied math, architecture, and maybe neuroscience.</p>

<p>GPA: 93% (92% freshman, 94% sophomore) I'm not sure if this is weighted.
SAT I: 2290 (CR: 740, M: 800, W: 750) I'll probably retake this one or two times next year to see how high I can get.
SAT II: Math Lvl 2: 790
AP: Calc AB: 5</p>

<p>Frosh ECs:
Cross Country (JV)
Indoor Track
Outdoor Track (Varsity)
Private piano lessons</p>

<p>Soph ECs:
Cross Country (Varsity)
Indoor Track (JV)
Math Team
Model UN
Junior Statesman of America
Private piano lessons
Another really cool/selective leadership thing for school that I won't reveal for privacy reasons.</p>

<p>By the way, the cross country and distance track teams at my school are among the best in the nation.</p>

<p>Next year (junior year) I plan on participating in:
Model UN
Junior Statesman of America
School Newspaper
School Literary Magazine
Math Team
NHS (unless my GPA drops 3 points, which I doubt it will)
Piano
That cool/selective leadership thing.</p>

<p>Awards:
I won't be specific for privacy reasons:
Bunch of Math Awards
Bunch of wins in state, interstate, and international piano competitions
Third place in an interstate Science Fair
Volunteer Service Award
Top 10 All Time in my school for freshman 3200m race
Top 35 All Time for my school (list includes all grade levels) in 5k race (sophomore year)
Next year I plan on doing a lot more math and piano competitions, because those are my strongest areas, in my opinion.</p>

<p>Volunteer service:
Over 200 hours right now.
I founded a volunteer group of young musicians who give performances to hospitals, assisted living homes, psychiatric centers, etc. I run the group and perform in every show.
I also volunteer at a hospital.</p>

<p>I can't think of anything else I should include...if you need anything else just let me know.</p>

<p>I'll probably post this to a few other forums such as Chances. Please don't get mad at me if you don't think this is the right place to post this; I just don't know where to ask these kinds of questions.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Are you planning to continue running track and XC next year, and if not, why not?
What geographical areas are you willing to consider?
Big or small size?
If you continue running,do you want a team you can run on for sure, like a D3, or possibly a walk on like an Ivy?</p>

<p>Are you hoping to go to med school? (somewhere where a high gpa is possible might figure in, if so)</p>

<p>One thing that seems to be true across the board for private schools is that kids from states that are “underrepresented” may get a little bump. In other words, if you’re an east coast kid and Amherst really appeals to you, consider Pomona, too. Look for similar schools across the country, and be open to leaving the northeast bubble.</p>

3

<p>I am not planning on running next year. This is for a couple reasons, mostly personal.</p>

<p>I am willing to consider almost any size or geographical location, as long as it’s not in the deep South like Louisiana or Texas. I probably prefer schools in the Northeast, but I’ve been looking at places in California, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well.</p>

<p>What you said about coming from an underrepresented state is intriguing. Would that suggest that my chances at a place like Pomona on the West Coast would be higher than at a place like Amherst in the Northeast? Why exactly is that? Is it because fewer people apply to such faraway schools? Does it apply in the same way for, say, Caltech and MIT or Princeton and Stanford? Or is it just a liberal arts college thing?</p>

4

<p>Also, a slight correction. I probably will not do Model UN next year (junior year). Instead, I will most likely be on the Robotics Team.</p>

5

<p>…anyone?</p>

6

<p>just a few that come to mind</p>

<p>muhlenberg college
butler university
hiram college
rollins college</p>

<p>if you like bigger schools or need a “name”
vanderbilt university
tulane university
case western</p>

<p>really big schools
purdue
indiana university
I personally like lac’s with a more caring feel.</p>

7

<p>Of the majors you are considering, architecture is the least common, so use that as your primary filter. You can use a college search engine to find schools that have it, and other criteria such as location, selectivity etc. Then start narrowing down that list by doing some research on whether each school has a strong biology program (for neuroscience).</p>

8

<p>lehigh, lafayette</p>

9

<p>Thanks for the advice, guys (and girls)! Anything else?</p>

10

<p>I second Tulane and Vanderbilt, and I’d take a look at rice. I know they’re all in the south (1 in the deep south) but don’t discount them just cause of their location. Check out the schools first.</p>

11

<p>In the entire narrative from your posts, there is not one thing mentioning that you are a good artist(painting, Sculpture etc.), so how can you be successful in architecture?</p>

12

<p>@artloverplus</p>

<p>The reason there is no mention is that I don’t know how to quantify art skill. My school has no art involvement (no art classes, e.c.s, etc.) and I haven’t entered any art contests during high school. In middle school, I won a few local, statewide, and one national one, though. As far as fine art goes, I’m best at drawing and painting. I haven’t tried sculpture, and I’m not sure if I’d be any good at it, to be honest. I also haven’t tried “technical drawing” per se, so I should probably do some of that. Any recommendations on where to begin in that area?</p>

13

<p>As BeanTownGirl indicated, architecture rules out many colleges. LACs in general do not have robust architecture majors, although some do have “architectural studies” programs. Middlebury College seems to have one of the strongest of these, as well as a good neuroscience program.</p>

<p>If you want the option of a B.Arch. degree, and for the strongest applied math programs, focus on research universities. Here is one take on top undergraduate architecture programs:
[America’s</a> Best Architecture Schools 2012 | Features | Architectural Record](<a href=“http://archrecord.construction.com/features/Americas_Best_Architecture_Schools/2012/schools-2.asp]America’s”>http://archrecord.construction.com/features/Americas_Best_Architecture_Schools/2012/schools-2.asp)
Note that for admission to some strong B.Arch. programs (but not all), you’ll need to submit a portfolio.</p>

<p>Consider Brown University for applied math. It offers a joint degree program with neighboring RISD, which has a well-regarded architecture program. Other “reach” schools to consider include Cornell and Rice.</p>