Chance me and recommend - Big Dreams, reasonably smart, kinda ugly but not much (according to mom)

I am not the most handsome young man but received decent love from parents. Yeah!!!
Only child, they had no choice but to love me.
Want to go to the best school as cheaply as possible.
So I am looking for recommendation of where I can get aid based on my grades/scores.
And in general other schools I might not know of beyond my list that would like my stats.

Here are my stats:
Was accepted into an out of district Magnet School for Math, Science and Engineering
Took all APs in 11th and 12th grade except gym(too skinny).

GPA 92.1845/100 (weighted)
SAT super Score = 1500
SAT math/erw = 710/700 August 2017
SAT math/erw = 800/690 January 2017

SAT Subject Scores
Physics = 510
Chemistry = 620
Math II = 710
US History = 760

ACT 26 (composite)
English 28
Math 26
Reading 25
Science 23
Writing 10
STEM 25

AP
Art History 2
Calculus AB 4
Chemistry 2
English/Comp 5
Physics 1 2
Seminar 3
US History 3
Comp/Sci A 2

11th
AP - Language and Composition
AP - Calculus AB

AP - Chemistry
AP - Physics 1
AP - Seminar
AP - US History
AP - Art History
Health 11

12th
AP - Physics C
AP - Statistics
AP - Biology
AP - Psychology
AP - Literature and Composition
AP - Research
TV Production 2
Physical Education / Health

EC:
Eagle Scout
Founder of improv Club
1st ever Lead guitar Jazz Band
NHS member
Volunteer at nursing home, library, Red Cross
Few clubs in school
Few sports

Schools I’m considering:
Georgia Tech
Carnegie Mellon
Stanford
Olin
Washington Univ in St. Louis
Swarthmore College
Juniata
Harvey Mudd
UCLA
USC California
All ivys (my uncle said he will pay all application fees for ivies but that’s it)

@whereinnj What major before I answe? Some clever marketing with your title BTW and your home state New Jersey, unhooked. Also what is your class rank? And your unweighted GPA?

Honestly my dream colleges not mentioned in this list are cost prohibitive as I doubt they will give me any money.
But my passion is film/animation/entertainment
Which is CalArts - I have a portoflio but it’s all subjective.
Or the dual degree program at RISD/Brown.
Where you can get a BFA from RISD and BS/BA in some science or business.

But I digress…My major is to study CS or Math or Physics.
Because I decided at a young age that there are dreams (listed above) and there is Plan B.

I guess at some colleges majors matters, but I have always been good in sciences and usually scores better in the arts.

So you can say I would major in CS or Math or Physics with a strong tugging towards the arts.

If you are not a CA resident, UCLA will also be cost prohibitive. No financial aid for OOS students, so you are looking at $60K/year to attend.

I’m finding this stat profile very odd, to be honest. I assume you’re only sending in your SAT; your ACT is much lower in comparison. Your AP scores and SAT Subject tests are making me think that CS/Math/Physics are not your strengths. I think adcoms will notice this too, and it could be a red flag if you put your intended major as one of those fields.

You also need a school you can afford. Run the NPCs on all these schools – most of the ones on your list don’t give much if any merit aid.

I did run NPC on them all and it’s refreshing. The search continues.
Yes only sending SAT as it’s better; but here on the forum wanted to share the full picture.
Stats are odd - how?
Yes I’ve always leaned towards the arts and history for better grades.
But I did take all APs and in hind sight the pace of the STEM classes were too much.
But I wanted to challenge myself.

I could have been a 4.0 with only one or two AP but there is no challenge in that.

Agree with @glittervine the test scores seem really skewed. SAT is good but ACT isn’t. SAT Subject score for USH is good but APUSH score is so-so.

Make sure that the school you apply to do not require all test scores.

Ha. You’re funny.

For the cheaply as possible part check here:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/2006094-2017-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p2.html

Scores seem very wishy-washy. You’re interested in comp sci and physics but performed horribly in those subjects?

Georgia Tech-maybe(decent chance if you’re in state)
Carnegie Mellon(probably not)
Stanford(no)
Olin(unlikely)
Washington Univ in St. Louis(unlikely)
Swarthmore College(decent chance)
Juniata(almost definitely accepted)
Harvey Mudd(highly improbable)
UCLA(unlikely unless in state)
USC California(unlikely)
All ivys(no)

I would respectfully decline your uncle’s offer to apply to the ivies. It’s going to be a big waste of time that you should instead use toward other applications.

I agree with the previous post in your chances, and would add that the RISD/Brown joint program is a no-go based on your scores—that program has a 3% admit rate.

Your math scores are on the low end for Mudd. I’d say you probably will not get in there.

Your list is too reach heavy. You need more matches and safeties.

If you’re from NJ, without knowing your financial aid profile, the state schools will likely be your most affordable options. Rowan gives merit aid based on SAT/AP scores. There are other out of state schools that may give similar aid, look at their average scores and consider schools where you are significantly above average. I would agree with @glittervine regarding majoring in CS/Physics.

If you’re interested in the arts and appear strong in math, perhaps computer animation, data analysis / statistics (such as Dartmouth’s QSS major). Pratt offers some interesting majors as well. Or, consider NYU, UMich, Loyola Marymount where you can major in Math/CS/Physics and also take Film classes.

It isn’t too bad. You have good SAT scores and 2 of the SAT IIs. I obviously wouldn’t send ACTs. It is hard for me to evaluate the 92.5 from the magnate, but that is probably also decent. I would look at a little lower level of school. You should be able to get into somewhere good, but you would be wasting your time and money applying to Ivies, etc.

If you want to do it cheaply, look to instate state schools. You should be able to get into all but the hardest of those.

Updating scores

9th grade GPA (90)
10th grade GPA (90)
11th grade GPA (96)

Grades for 11th grade
AP - Language and Composition (99)
AP - Calculus AB (87)
AP - Chemistry (90)
AP - Physics 1 (97)
AP - Seminar (104)
AP - US History (98)
AP - Art History (103)

School listing revised
Cooper Union
Rutgers
TCNJ
NYU
Stevens
University of Chicago
University of Georgia

Based on my stats, can someone recommended any colleges in California?

Answers to the following will help us:

  1. What is your best single-sitting SAT score? (am i correctly assuming you had a 1490 in January and a 1410 in August?)
  2. What is your unweighted GPA?
  3. Do you have any hooks -- URM, recruited athlete, legacy, development (your parents are donating, or might donate, a lot of money...), 1st-generation college student?
  1. 1490 highest single sitting.
  2. My school does not provide unweighted - they said we provide and the colleges can decide how to view it.
  3. No hooks, Dad has some college (do degree), Mom has Masters but from India and I am first generation.
    My hook is a killer essay based on 22 teachers from high school. I wrote an album worth of songs.

plesse tell me you didnt send that act

That ACT composite score is low for Princeton. If you’ve only taken the ACT once, take it again. Look for a reasonably priced ACT prep class from a reputable outfit with proven results. Work hard and bring that score up several points.

I don’t think Princetion will accept your SAT Super Score. Although your GPA is competitive, it is far from a guarantee acceptance. I would still apply, but keep in mind that there are far more competetive students who have done more than what you have accomplished. Your statistics are very similar to mine yet, I believe my chances are very slim to any Ivy league if I compare myself to those in my class. You would have to be very optimistic to get in. I would make sure you have safety schools. I am applying to several Cal States as a back up. It really depends on your major and your ethnicity. If you are African American or Latino, your chances are increased.