I dont know what colleges i should apply to. My intended major is Biology. Please guve me some reaches, matches, safetys, etc.
These are grades/test scores/extracurricular:
-3.8 Unweighted GPA
-2100 SAT Reasoning Score (760 Math, 650 Writing, 690 Reading)
-6 AP Classes Total (Calculus BC, Biology, Chinese, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Psychology)
-9 Honors Classes Total
-SAT II Subject Tests: (760 Math 1, 710 Biology)
-President of NHS
-President of Chinese Culture Club (outside of school)
-President of Culture Diversity Club
-President of Chinese Honors Society
-Chinese Lion Dance Leader
-100+ Community Service Hours
-Summer Camp Counselor
-Summer Fair Volunteer
-I worked at Shoprite to buy my own car
I am an Asian Male born in the US. I speak Chinese and English fluently. My family is in the lower class . Neither of my parents ever attended high school nor college. I would be the first one to go to college in my family, if any of that helps. Also, please primarily select colleges that are leaning towards the east. It can be anywhere in the Us, but preferably east.
I’m guessing you are eastcoast because Shoprite is in your profile. Is this correct? I’ll give you three reaches, 4 matches and 3 safeties.
Reaches: Bates, Colgate and Hamilton
Matches: Lehigh, Lafayette, Bucknell and Holy Cross
Safety: St. Lawrence, Scranton and Muhlenberg. All three have excellent science facilities.
St. Lawrence and Muhlenberg are not traditional safety schools but in your case are. Also the schools have good aid especially the Reaches and Matches.
LACs are not more expensive than the private universities. If your family’s income is low, your most affordable schools may be the private ones that meet 100% financial need. Many LACs offer very good science programs. As an Asian male and 1st generation for college, you have better chances to get into the LACs and get good financial aid there. Look at the list of colleges meeting full financial aid. Many of them are good LACs with more “reasonable” admission rates than the Ivies or the other elite universities.
Check out Holy Cross-very good biology major and other science programs. Holy Cross offers good financial aid and meets 100% demonstrated financial need. Great campus and kids love the school.
Here is what I posted on the other (exactly same) thread that you started, and the advice is equally applicable here:
"Another option to consider is placement in an Honors College or honors program in a larger state university such as the University of Alabama, the University of South Carolina, the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Ole Miss, etc.
There are also public honors universities (such as Saint Mary’s College of Maryland, mentioned above), or ones that are focussed on liberal arts and/or sciences such as Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri; the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri; or the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama."
What state are you in? I agree that you should definitely have some LAC in your mix. Is there any money for college at all? What are you going to do with a bio degree? Bio is good everywhere.
Yes being first to college will help, called First Gen. Many colleges give consideration to that. You are going to need some financial safeties.