Where would you apply if your were me?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I guess the title kind of says it - I'd like to know a realistic list of safety, match, and reach colleges for me according to the following information. I won't say what colleges I am already considering, because I think it would be neat to see some new options and also if people come up with the same choices as me. If you would like to know anything more, ask away! So.... thanks to anyone who replies</p>

<p>Quick info:
I'm going into senior year
I would like to study something in either math or physics
I would like to stay east of the Mississipi River and north of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina
I live in New York (upstate)
I am a white male</p>

<p>Stats:
Unweighted average: 3.9 (not sure about weighted)
SAT: 2200/2400, 1510/1600
Reading: 750
Math: 760
Writing: 690 (8 essay)
Aps: AP world history, AP US history (only APs offered before senior year)
Honors: Honors english (9,10,11), Honors Global (9)
Accelerated (1 year ahead) in math and science</p>

<p>ECs: (Listed as grade 12 indicates I am planning on doing it next year)
Varsity swim (9-12) (Placed on All-Division team) (Likely captain this year)
Varsity track & field (10-12)
Ski club (9,10)
Student council (11,12)
National Honor Society (11,12)
Mathletes (11,12)
Drama club (12)
Orchestra (4-12) First chair viola, President of orchestra (11, probably 12) All-county (4-9) All-state (7) NYSSMA (4-12)
Homecoming float commitee (11,12)</p>

<p>Volunteer:
Unpaid intern at local observatory
Ball boy for pro circuit tennis tournament
Volunteer work at local zoo
Girls varsity swim team manager
Help with modified (boys and girls) swim meets
Helped clean up after major flood in the area</p>

<p>Awards:
AMC 10 school winner (8-10)
AMC 11 school winner (11, probably 12-up against the same people)
Student of the year for Pre-calc</p>

<p>Senior year schedule:
Calculus at SUNY Binghamton
AP English
AP Physics
Regular gov (couldn't take AP because taking calc at Binghamton University didn't permit)
Orchestra
Health
Gym</p>

<p>Okay, thanks for reading! Any questions? go ahead and ask. Thanks for any replies! </p>

<p>Note: I am reposting this from College Admissions. I figured it was more suited to College Search & Selection, so its here now too</p>

2

<p>How much money do you need?</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Is cost of attendance an issue? Okay with public schools? What size? How much flexibility do you want (i.e. do you think your major might change)? How academically oriented/socially oriented are you? Do you prefer urban vs rural locales?</p>

4

<p>-As for cost, I am a bit wary about the schools around 40k tuition per year, but I’m planning on applying to a good range of schools in terms of cost, then allowing that to factor in after I discover which ones I have been accepted to.
-Public schools are fine.
-Flexibility definitely would not hurt - I know how often people do end up changing majors, but I am pretty certain I will be doing something math/science related.
-I would prefer a school more focused on academics than the social scene, but I definitely want there to be something to do socially (though I’m sure all schools do)
-For urban vs rural, I basically just want something not in the middle of nowhere. A nice college town up to city would be good for me.</p>

5

<p>“As for cost, I am a bit wary about the schools around 40k tuition per year, but I’m planning on applying to a good range of schools in terms of cost, then allowing that to factor in after I discover which ones I have been accepted to.”</p>

<p>Do sit your parents down and get a baseline figure. That way you will know how deep you have to dig to find your financial safeties. Be sure to have at least one place on your list that
a) you can afford without any aid other than guaranted federal (FAFSA) aid and/or guaranteed state aid and/or guaranteed aid from that college/university;
b) you are certain of admission based on your stats (a lot of public institutions post this on their websites);
c) offers your projected major(s);
and
d) you will be happy to attend if you don’t get in anywhere else that you can afford.
In New York State, you will probably find some decent safety schools within the SUNY and CUNY systems.</p>

6

<p>Reach:
MIT, Cornell, Princeton, Penn
Match:
University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins, University of Michigan (all would give opportunity for music lessons at associated conservatory or department)
Safety:
SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Binghamton, Case Western, Lehigh, Pitt.
I’m curious: do any of these coincide with your list?</p>

7

<p>I am going to suggest schools, but agree that you need to really know what you can afford before applying. Do the estimated EFC calculator to get a better idea. I’m not going to determine reach/matches.</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon
U. of Virginia
U. of Michigan
Kenyon
U. of Chicago
Northwestern
SUNY Binghampton
SUNY Geneseo
Virginia Tech
Duke
Dartmouth</p>

<p>I think your athletic ability is going to help you in admissions. Make sure you find out how to submit athletic supplements for each college you are applying, and check the deadlines. They’re often due a month ahead of the application deadline. I have a feeling that will help nudge you in to maybe a couple reaches. Good luck!</p>

8

<p>Hopkins is not a match - that’s a reach. I also think Lehigh would be a very solid match-low match. Neil, I don’t know how happy you would be at Cornell if you don’t want an isolated school. I personally think that Ithaca is actually very quaint and that Cornell is incredibly self-supportive with a lot to do, but it still is quite isolated nonetheless. We probably need a bit more information on your preferences in order to really get a good, comprehensive list together though. Maybe you have a couple schools you have your sites on that we could draw some comparison schools?</p>

9

<p>*"As for cost, I am a bit wary about the schools around 40k tuition per year, but I’m planning on applying to a good range of schools in terms of cost, then allowing that to factor in after I discover which ones I have been accepted to."</p>

<p>====================
**
Do sit your parents down and get a baseline figure. **That way you will know how deep you have to dig to find your financial safeties. Be sure to have at least one place on your list that *</p>

<p>Happymom is right. You need a figure from your parents so you know what you’re dealing with. </p>

<p>Applying to a “good range” can still result in unaffordable schools…we see that all the time here on CC. Kids in the spring with lots of acceptances, but none are affordable. </p>

<p>you need to apply to at least 2-3 that you LIKE, that you’ll get accepted to…AND…you’re CERTAIN that you have all costs covered by ASSURED scholarships, small federal loans, and/or family funds.</p>

<p>I recently received some PMs from a girl with similar stats. She said that she thinks her parents can pay $30k per year. I told her to ask her parents to be sure. Well, her parents then told her that they can only pay about $10k…even though their EFC will be about $30k. They estimate that they can come up with about $800 per month out of their family budget to put towards college…and that’s with SERIOUS scrimping. They live in the Northeast and the cost of living is very high, so not a lot of money to put towards college. </p>

<p>That news completely threw her “college list” into a tailspin because all on her list depended on her parents paying at least their EFC. Now she needs to seriously change her list and add some schools where she knows for sure that she’ll get very large merit scholarships. </p>

<p>Luckily with her stats, she can target a few schools that will give her large merit scholarships (at least full tuition). She’s also a likely NMF. She’s having to “give up” on some “demands,” but at least she won’t be disappointed in the spring. She’ll still apply to a few schools from her old list, just to see, but she realizes that those will likely not be affordable because they are need-based schools. </p>

<p>We’re only warning you to help you avoid a bad result next spring. Protect yourself. :)</p>