Where should I look to apply based on my interest?

College Search & Selection
1

I’m a rising junior so I know it’s a little early, but I know kids my age who have reach, match, and safety schools already selected, and I’m feeling a bit behind. I have dream schools, but scrolling through here for the past few months has made me realize that dream schools often stay just that—dreams. So here are my interests and aspects of schools I visited that I really like:

Cost constraints: I honestly want a super wide range of schools so I won’t include these for now. I am low income, but I’m looking at scholarships that could help and I think I’m early enough in the process to just be looking at options based on their programs rather than their cost. But if a school doesn’t have good financial aid AT ALL (ex. UC’s for OOS) then I probably can’t go anyways.

Prospective Major: Undecided but probably something that’s pre-law, journalism-related, and/or international law. Or writing related. (I really don’t know and at the moment, I want a school that will accept my indecision. I want to be able to explore my interest and dip my toes into whatever I want while still having the option of getting an amazing pre-professional education once I do make up my mind.)

Region/Location: If I had a preference at all, it would be east coast, but it’s marginal. I love the west coast too. I live in the midwest and it would be great to leave but I wouldn’t mind staying? I think I’d prefer to be in a place where a lot of things are happening job-wise though. I want a lot of internship, research, and networking opportunities, etc.

Size: My only preference is that it isn’t too big. I don’t necessarily need to know everyone in my class but I want to have a sense of place at a school and I don’t think I’d have that at a good school. Ideally, (but not necessarily) 10,000 total undergrads max.

Area: Preferably urban or near urban but anything is fine as long as there is something to do (athletic, touristy, ANYTHING)

Social Scene/Student Life: I think what I’m looking for in a student body is a group of students who are all ambitious, talented, and looking to change the world. I think I’d like a very intellectual school where there is a lot of interesting discussions and everyone is always learning from each other. But I also want a work hard/play hard culture and a lot of school spirit. I also want a healthy balance between collaboration and competition. Striving for success will always lead to competition, but I don’t want cutthroat. Greek-life is fine as long as it doesn’t dominate social culture.

Academic preferences: As implied by my major section, I want to have strong academics in at least history, poly sci, journalism, English, and/or International Relations. But I’ve always been a well-rounded student. I love stem pretty much just as much as I like the humanities, but I see myself more likely in a humanities field. I want a school that’s fairly strong across the board and has opportunities to explore. Ideally, it would have good student-teacher relationships, but I know a lot of the best schools in the world don’t and it works out. Hopefully, it has connections that can get me great opportunities.

Schools that I love right now are Columbia, Yale, and Georgetown (oop). The first two I know fit my requirements pretty well and the last one I’m assuming will as well given its similarities (its campus is also gorgeous). Something I loved about Columbia was its human rights major. I also really liked UPenn a lot!! But I obviously need more options! I’m looking for safeties, matches, and more reaches. For my purposes, can we assume that my chances of getting in are not a factor. Sorry for the essay!! Thanks a bunch.

2

College Board has a nice site call BigFuture, where you can search for schools based on different criteria: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org

3

What’s your gpa?

4

@yipyop I didn’t want to say because I just wanted to get a good list of colleges but I have a 4.0 UW right now at the highest rigor possible and my schedule next year will also be at the highest rigor possible. If there is anything else you need I can say. But I really just want a long list of colleges I should look into.

5

1° create a “college” email adress, like FirstinitialLastname.college@…com
2° Complete the “Request info form/join our mailing list” for
Kenyon Macalester Denison Dickinson Kalamazoo St Olaf Grinnell Eckerd Reed Gettysburg Clark Wellesley Bryn Mawr Pomona Whitman William&Mary Carleton Skidmore Hamilton Bates St John’s Annapolis.
I purposely chose universities you may not have heard of.
Check what they send you (they actually track it!)
3° Get a book called “Princeton Review’s Best Colleges” and read up on each of the above.
Pick your 8-10 favorites from the list above and run the NPC on them.
4° Use the guide to find others that are similar, run the NPC and complete the Request info form.

6

Well, I’d like to start off by saying that I think it’s good you’re trying to plan ahead and get your ducks in a row. That being said, you’re listing a lot of extremely competitive schools that are out of reach for even the best of students. T20 schools are a gamble for most anybody, but if you’d like to throw your name into the hat, I understand.

It sounds to me like you’re describing a mid-size, private school with a good journalism program that’s near a city. I immediately thought of TCU in Fort Worth, Texas (very close in proximity to Dallas as well). No longer religiously affiliated, but full of very highly motivated students with a good journalism school. Aid is unpredictable, but generally they’re good with need-based aid, and if you’re a good student a merit scholarship is definitely attainable. SMU in Dallas has a strong humanities program. UMiami also comes to mind, but it is a competitive school, and very number-based. I have a low-income friend that got good aid there, but again, you never know what a school will give. Is there any criteria that you’re willing to be a little more flexible with for safety school purposes?

7

Trinity College jumped out to me reading your first post.

Vassar came second but harder to get accepted.

Bard might be a safety for you.

There are many that would fit your criteria. You seem very grounded and I do not think it is early at all. Good luck to you.

8

State of residency? That can determine whether your in-state public universities are affordable for those from low income families.

9

I live in IL.

Thank you so much to everyone that’s responded! The help is invaluable!! :slight_smile:

10

Oh and for safety schools, I think I’m willing to be more flexible with Area, Region/Location, and I guess Social Scene/Student Life.

11

Assuming your SAT/ACT (high 1400 - 1500’s, 33+) will be in line with your GPA, super reachy schools like Columbia, Yale and GTown are reasonable for your for your 4-5 reach school list. I would also look into the UI honors programs as potential matches. You can apply there early. Yale’s SCEA and Columbia’s ED policies would allow you to apply to UI early. The big advantage of getting in a high match or reach school early is it allows you to readjust your list before the RD deadlines. Getting into a top choice reach cuts the list to maybe a couple of other “dream schools”. Getting into a high match eliminates all the choices you have ranked below it. Getting rejected or even deferred from a high match may mean you need to reevaluate what are realistic reaches, matches and safeties.

@MYOS1634 gives you a pretty good alternate list of very good LAC’s, which seem to fit your stated preferences. Others have listed excellent resources to begin formulating your list. Be aware that many of the very good LAC’s are in the boonies. The thing with LAC’s is the level of financial aid (and merit aid, if any) available can be very different. As a low income candidate, no sense applying somewhere you can’t afford.

12

^ most of those listed meet 100% need for financial aid or offer merit for lower income students. Meet need with no loans is of course better.
However they’re all very different: the goal is for OP to explore and figure out (+run the NPC)

13

Does anyone out there have more suggestions for me? If not that’s ok. :slight_smile:

14

Colby and Colgate are now offer FA with no loans.

15

There are so many schools that meet your criteria that it’s hard to narrow down. But it strikes me that Tulane’s academic strengths and environment seem like a good match for your interests and desired vibe. It’s not a full-need-met school but the average percentage of need met exceeds 95%.

UIUC is an excellent in-state option.

Consider the few excellent state flagships that do meet need for OOS applicants: UMichigan (meets need for low-income only but it sounds like you would qualify), UVA, and UNC Chapel Hill. All three would be terrific for your interests. The UMich LSA Residential College is a great way to make a big school smaller.

You definitely need to find some schools to love outside of the Ivies+GTown tier. Shooting the moon is fine but as you note, you need lower-reaches, matches, and safeties.

16

Your request is too broad. Any college could work for you.

You have to first start with costs…you either need to get need-based aid or merit-aid.
Look at colleges in your state first! You forget that even if you go to another state, you have to pay to get back and forth to school.

17

Do you have test scores yet? It makes s a huge difference in whether or not you have a shot at schools that meet need.

18

Large public’s with honors colleges might work as well. Alabama or UofSC give good merit and you get a large university with lots of classes plus small honors classes and personal attention. For instance in UofSC honors you can create your own major it nothing is quite right. Lots of fellowship and research opportunities even for humanities majors.

In spite of your assertion that you don’t want to talk money, a real idea of budget is key. Pick a reach, an in state public and a likely looking LAC and fill out net price calculator to get a feel for how your income is perceived by different schools. Get your parents involved. You may not know their full financial picture. For instance some colleges require CSS which asks about assets in detail. You could have low income but lots of assets that put CSS school out of contention. Or you may qualify for more need based than you think.

Read some threads on here about paying for college. You are limited on how much you can borrow. Many posters come here thinking if their parents can’t help, then they can borrow 20k or more a year. A student can’t.

19

@MYOS1634
1° create a “college” email adress, like FirstinitialLastname.college@…com

Check what they send you (they actually track it!)

As you suggest is better use an e-mail account to receive information and to apply to colleges, not use the same high school e-mail ?
Thanks

20

Yes. Because there’ll be lots of emails, so it’ll be easier to track them if they’re all in one place, dedicated to college emails. In addition, the student must get in the habit of checking that email address at least twice a week.