A Dose of Realism, Please?

Lindagaf
Mon, 01 Jan 2018 21:06:47 +0000

Michigan is NOT a match! It has a 16% acceptance rate and the OP is out of state. It is another reach. This poster needs safety schools that she likes and can afford. Any college with an acceptance rate of 20% and under is not a safety or a match, IMO. You are a strong student OP, but so are a zillion others. For match schools, look at acceptance rates of maybe above 20% to about 35%. But remember, matches are not safeties. Matches do not always come through. For safeties, look at acceptance rates above 35%, but more likely in 40% range. Remember that many schools with holistic admissions do not like being treated as safeties so you need to show interest.

OP, if smaller size appeals to you, consider some of the LACs. Many of them are the same academic calibre as HYP, and they are focussed on undergrads. A student with your stats could also be in the running for merit aid even at some of the best ones, such as Kenyon and Carleton. Research opportuntiies abound at LACs, because profs only teach undergrads and are happy to provide mentoring and internship opportunities. Classes tend to be small and discussion based. You will get to know your peers and your profs will know your name.

I am a big fan of LACs, and I make no secret of it. If you get into Berkeley for example, you can look forward to a couple of years of huge lecture style classes, and being taught by TAs and not profs. My D has a friend at Cal, her into Intro level class had 1100 kids, not a typo. In contrast, my D attends Bates and her biggest class ever had 60 kids. Most of her classes so far have hovered at 20 or fewer, and she is a sophomore. The prof will always be the teacher at an LAC.

Consider the ones I mentioned already, as well as Macalester, the Claremont Consortium, the Mass Consortium, Swarthmore and Haverford, and the NESCAC colleges, some of which will be safeties for you. Williams, Amherst, Swrthmore, Pomona are easily on par with any top university, as are others. How about Rice U? Great school, though a reach. Bigger than an LAC. How about WUSTL? Has merit for tippy top stduents, but another reach. Consider U of Rochester, which has more of a university feeling that you seem to like, but has about 6000 undergrads and 3000 post grads. That’s a very well-respected school and you would likely get amazing merit aid. Consider Case Western, where you would prob be offered merit also. Those last two are matches. You really need safeties. If you are happy with your publics in CA , you are fine, but as your list is now, I can fully imagine a scenario whereby you may not have a college to attend, or that you are happy with. Luckily, time is on your side.