Any ideas for more schools to apply to?

Visirale · 05-21-2006, 10:31 PM

I'm the kind of person who makes random large changes in what I like... so my schools represents a wide range of school genres that I have liked at one time or another, that I am afraid I might revert to later. I just want to keep my options open.

My favorite school right now is Northeastern. It has strong potential for merit aid (maybe a full ride) and I've stayed on the campus and I love it... and of course I love Boston.

So here are the categories I've come up with:

Boston Schools:
Northeastern
Boston University
Tufts

Florida Schools: (in state)
UF
Miami
UCF

Ivy League Schools:
Brown
Princeton

"Southern" Private school:
Going between Vanderbilt and Wake Forest... maybe Duke?

Wildcards:
Amherst
Vassar

Briefly, my stats are, 2200ish SAT, 4.3 weighted 3.8 uw GPA, 3 700+ SAT IIs, IB diploma canidate, and I'll be National Merit SF at least. I'm a very proficient electric bassist (I play in 5 ensembles) and I'm a decent lacrosse player (varsity). Music is my main thing, but lacrosse is pretty time consuming to. I plan on majoring in Journalism.

Anyway. What I'm interested in are more Southern private schools, more Boston Schools, and maybe a wildcard or two.

I want to slim down my list some, but I want to explore more options to make sure I'm not eliminating the wrong school.

War Chant · 05-21-2006, 10:40 PM

Definitely take off UCF!

rgs321 · 05-21-2006, 10:44 PM

Boston College, Emory, Wesleyan, Middlebury

Visirale · 05-21-2006, 10:48 PM

Haha, I like UCF for a reason. I'd get more than a full tution. My parents would let me live in my own apartment and I'd get a new car (sportyyyy). I'd also be able to live with my best friend.

I know it's not the best academic option... but it's a tempting option never-the-less.

I visited Boston College, and I think it would be a great school, as long as the catholicism isn't too prevalent.

I hated Wesleyan for some reason. The campus was atrocius, and the architecture was dismal.

I love Vermont, and I've heard a lot about Middlebury, so I'll definitely try to look more into that.

And I haven't looked into Emory since I was back on my "I have to play lacrosse in college" stint, so I'll look at that again too.

Thanks for the advise guys

.

Alexandre · 05-21-2006, 10:56 PM

Given your credentials (3.8 unweighed GPA, 2200 SAT, close to perfect SATIIs etc...), I think you have way too many safeties and not nearly enough matches and reaches. Forget about UCF (weak) and Miami (private).

Why aren't you looking into Northwestern, arguably the best university for Journalism. You should also check out Michigan-Ann Arbor. You may also want to check out UNC-Chapel Hill and Syracuse.

semiserious · 05-21-2006, 11:00 PM

For Southern schools, maybe consider UNC-Chapel Hill, UVA, Emory, UGA, UT-Austin, and Rice. Why should they be private? UNC and UVA offer at least as good an education as Vandy and Wake, if not better. And UT-Austin has arguably the most school spirit and best undergraduate experience in the nation.

Drew00 · 05-21-2006, 11:05 PM

Michigan doesn't have a journalism program. But if you want to do creative writing, their cw program is very very good.

Look into Emerson (in boston, great journalism program) and UW-Madison

college2332 · 05-22-2006, 12:21 AM

Duke, Vandy, Wake are all great picks, if you like Boston I'd also check out Boston College. Maybe Georgetown.

slipper1234 · 05-22-2006, 01:01 AM

If you like Brown, Princeton, and Amherst I cannot imagine why you wouldn't have Dartmouth - its the perfect mix of all of these. The LAC feel, incredible community/ alumni network, great active social life, beautiful campus, etc.

Another "wildcard" to consider might be Duke, a good match to consider would be Emory.

HarlemNY · 05-22-2006, 01:27 AM

You could try to go for IVYs, you probably won't get in, but you have a shot for sure.

Visirale · 05-22-2006, 07:06 AM

Well, I have a lot of safeties because I need all the aid I can get. My dad said he'll find a way to pay for where I get into, but he doesn't want to pay more than he has to.

I know our FASFA is going to be screwed up, our income is going to be up 100k over normal because we sold a rental house and our boat this year. I wish they'd look at more than one year for FASFA... Crap.

I'm visiting Chicago for other reasons over the summer, but I'll definitely check out Northwestern. I like Boston because it is a clean city, and I dislike NYC because it isn't. Hopefully Chicago will be nice. And of course, having the best program in the nation isn't bad either.

I'll look into UNC-Chapel Hill and UVA. I love North Carolina, and UVA's campus looks amazing.

Haha, I like Dartmouth too, just forgot to list it. Thanks

.

Yeah, even if I do get into the ives, I'm worried about aid.

Thanks again everyone...

jPoD · 05-22-2006, 02:38 PM

I envy your stats, but no offense, but it'd be a helluva big waste to go to NEU or UCF with a 3.8 2200 I'm sure some better schools will for sure give you aid. BTW, what did you think of BU?

Visirale · 05-22-2006, 03:13 PM

Ah BU. I should smack myself. I spent 10 days in boston in a SAT prep/college visiting program, but on the day everyone else went to BU I went to... Holy Cross. I'm an idiot. Haha. But I took the subway through BU (above the ground) and it looked very nice. The website makes me think that the academics are very good... and I just love Boston, so it would be a great school if you love Boston. It's just a very long campus... 3 subway stops haha.

slipper1234 · 05-22-2006, 03:35 PM

I am not sure you would like BU if you like Pton, Dartmouth, Brown, and Amherst. Plus (no offense to BU) I think you can do much better. I would also check out UNC-CH and Emory (you'll get in). You might like WUSTL or Northwestern if you are willing to look at the midwest.

thethoughtprocess · 05-22-2006, 03:35 PM

Add Duke and Dartmouth to the Ivy list, just because I don't think your applying to enough top schools and many matches and safeties