Narrowing the List: Please Help! - Page 2

LogicWarrior · 07-04-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Would U of I be considered a safety?

Illinois? Only if you're in-state
Iowa? Yes.

Coolbrezze · 07-04-2009, 06:58 PM

Need help shortening my list of public universities.......
^
Also need help shortening list so I can make way for the private universities.

Da Bears Fan · 07-04-2009, 07:00 PM

I feel your pain, I'd kill to leave Florida (not really, but you know what I mean)

rjkofnovi · 07-04-2009, 08:13 PM

Once again Michigan is NOT a safety for any OOS student. Geez.

decanela · 07-04-2009, 09:41 PM

@DaBears: Yeah, it's so hard to pick safeties when my aspirations are so high. And also when I really really hate where I'm at right now.

slik nik · 07-05-2009, 01:50 AM

@ Decanela:

At this time last year, I thought I had to narrow down my list to 5-7 schools like you do. So I decided to compromise, narrowing it down to 8 schools. However, as senior year got underway, I realized that there were other schools I liked, so I added them to my list. I ended up applying to 15 overall, and it wasn't much more work than applying to 7. In fact, the school I am going to is one that I decided to put back on my list after I initially eliminated it. You end up re-using or modifying a set of 2-3 essays anyway.

BTW, I wouldn't eliminate Rice just because of the residential college system, unless you really HATE the idea of it. I'm kinda nervous about it myself too, but you can make friends outside of the residential college system if you really want to. I know that is what I am going to do because I don't want to be limited to my residential college mates as peers. Plus, Rice is very good with merit aid and has top-notch programs in science/engineering/humanities/music/architecture/social sciences (although engineering, music, and architecture programs are more heralded). Plus, it is one of the best places to do research as a undergrad, in my opinion, since it is a smaller university and since it is focused on undergrads, instead of undergrads and grad students.

Nevertheless, it is up to you. I feel you need to research Rice's residential college system more before you can make a decision whether to eliminate Rice from your list or not.

decanela · 07-05-2009, 10:03 AM

^thanks so much for the advice!

teenage_cliche · 07-05-2009, 11:12 AM

rjkofnovi: Michigan is not a safety, but if you apply early and hear back before other applications are due and it's a positive result you save yourself the trouble of applying to "real" safeties.

tw_sfc · 07-05-2009, 02:58 PM

It sounds like you consider yourself to be a top candidate to apply to some highly visible colleges and universities such as the one's you've listed. That's great!

Since you've done a good deal of research on the schools on your list, you are probably aware that each of those schools (among hundreds of others) are trying to "build a class" every year and that a top student from Minnesota may just be what they're looking for. Then again, if a few hundred or even a thousand "top 5%" students in Minnesota apply to those same institutions, do you feel that you know what your competitive position will be among them? Make sure that you are aware of what exactly those schools are looking for in a student body before you limit your search to this small, yet very similar group.

You might want to take a look at what you're trying to accomplish - getting an "undergraduate degree." Right? It seems to me that whatever career you pursue in public health, will most likely require a masters or even professional degree so keep that in mind as you plan your future. Don't just look at the next 4 years; consider where those "first" four years will get you!

Good luck!

decanela · 07-05-2009, 03:47 PM

@tw_sfc, thanks for the advice.
yeah i have been thinking about grad school and even medical school. its so overwhelming to think i'll have to repeat this process again or even twice!

as for my competitiveness in my state, you're right that thousands of minnesotans apply to these schools each year. we have a great education system (especially our public schools!). but i think that's where uniqueness comes in.
maybe they'll be looking for a piano-playing black female top minnesotan enchanted by human rights issues in africa and who's looking to make a change through public health.

dntw8up · 07-05-2009, 04:48 PM

Maybe you will get lucky and find that this year schools are looking for someone just like you, but you can't count on it. Competency on an instrument and a desire to "save the world" are very common among college bound youth. Public health is perhaps a less cliche interest, but it is more of a graduate school field, and colleges know that students tend to change focus several times as undergraduates. Because of this, your application may not stand out as much as you hope/expect. The most important application decision you have to make is choosing your safeties. You may get into all of your dream schools, but in the event that you are not admitted to any, you need safeties where you can be happy.

decanela · 07-05-2009, 04:58 PM

okay will do!