Chance me for Brown(ED) and other schools 3.8 GPA(UW), 34 ACT for Physics Major [IL resident]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Demographics

  • Illinois Resident
  • At very competitive high school
  • Middle Class

Cost Constraints / Budget
Parents want me to not take out loans(as I want the same), they are in a position to comfortably pay around 65k but say more could be worked out(Im not sure)

Intended Major(s)
Physics with a minor in math or economics

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.8 (Drop in GPA due to health issues junior year)
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.97
  • Class Rank: Not Given
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 34 (Math 35 English 33 Reading 34)

List your HS coursework

  • English: English 1, 2, AP English Language, Black Revolutionary Literature
  • Math: Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2, AP Calculus AB, Calculus 2 Dual Enrollment @ Loyola
  • Science: Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, AP Physics 1, AP Physics C Mechanics, AP Physics C E&M, AP Physics 2
  • History and social studies: AP Human Geography, AP European History,
  • Language other than English: Spanish 1, 2, and 3
  • Visual or performing arts: Advanced Band for 4 Years
  • Other academic courses:

Awards

  • AP Scholar With Distinction
  • 3rd Place in a Math presentation competition
  • Qualified for Fischoff(National Chamber Music Competition)[Withdrew due to health issues]

Extracurriculars

  • Research Intern at UIUC with graduate team working on detecting gravitational waves due to black holes colliding
  • Assistant math teacher for underserved kids, providing them with free access to math outside of school
  • Free virtual flute teacher for students of any level
  • Science Olympiad
  • President + Founder of schools chapter of National STEM Honors Society
  • Vice President of Future Scientists Club
  • Member of top band at a highly competitive music conservatory
    • Member of band but also chamber music group
  • Section leader of school band flute section
  • Lifeguard at public pool
  • Volunteer at activities for kids with disabilities.

Essays/LORs/Other

Several people told me my personal statement was very strong?
LORs from my Physics 1 teacher, AP Lang teacher, and maybe my boss from teaching. All of them (I think) like me, we have really good relationships.

Schools

Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability): Lawrence University(Direct Admission), Community College

  • Likely: University of Pittsburgh(Honors College), Michigan State University(Honors College), University of Arizona(Honors College)
  • Toss-up: Grinnell College, Kenyon College, University of Colorado Boulder, Rutgers University, University of Maryland College Park
  • Low Probability: Brown(ED+Top Choice), Rice University, Williams College, William and Mary, Pomona College
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I’m curious why UIUC is not on your list. As an Illinois resident, it will be hard to find a better school for the money.

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I had a racist experience with a professor there during a summer program that turned me off from the school.

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Does that experience in any way relate to this?

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Yes I wrote my personal statement about it!

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Check the Brown NPC. Do they qualify for aid? If not, it’s $97k just for tuition, room and board. Lucky for you (from having a nightmare), you can borrow just $5500 the first year via the government). Sure your parents could borrow more but who is going to pay back the $130k plus and don’t forget loans have fees so you get less than you borrow. Bottom line - run the NPC and if it doesn’t hit budget, drop the school altogether. This is a reality. There are no dream schools. U Rochester is strong in physics, open curriculum and may hit $65k. Kalamazoo is an LAC with a somewhat open curriculum, a top PhD feeder per College Transitions per capita. Rochester is #12. Brown not top 50 per capita but is #40 total.

Bottom line - if you can’t afford, you’ve got to yank it. The NPC is below.

Have mom and dad fill out. ED binds you so you never ED when a budget is at stake unless you 100% hit.

The rest of your list:

Michigan State and Arizona yes - and Physics is as reputed there at AZ as maybe any school on your list.

Pitt yes to the school but not to Honors. It’s an unknown. Very hard to get into, harder than even the top Honors Colleges but you used to be able to take Honors classes if not in Honors so that may remain. Pitt will be close to budget without merit so you can keep it but don’t count on it. And don’t forget annual inflation.

Also, check what Honors Colleges offer because they are all different. My son applied to some, but not all - some were humanity focused as an example. Don’t just think- lesser school, I’ll do Honors. It may not fit you.

Kenyon is likely, even safe I’d say. CU is a safety - worst case you get exploratory and transfer in but I suspect you’d get the major. Rutgers is a safety and UMD likely but again you are not looking at budgets. Sure apply to Grinnell but have a Kalamazoo or Allegheny, both strong physics schools, as schools you know will throw enough $$ at you to hit cost. Grinnell is a toss up. Apply to UMD but it’s gonna be close $ wise. Ohio State is as reputed and gets you well under. Purdue 100% gets you well under.

I suspect you’ll get into W&M. But why apply? Direct costs are $72k. Better to apply to a School of Mines, RPI or Florida Tech that will make costs.

It seems you picked names without taking budget into account - so full out the NPC for Brown, Rice, Pomona etc.

When you build a college list, it’s budget first and foremost. You don’t - get in somewhere and we’ll take loans - which have to be paid ba k and I assume with a physics degree, you are thinking grad school.

And where the heck is UIUC which crushes the budget ?

Have mom and dad complete this to see what Brown will cost.

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I’m sorry that happened to you. Have you considered UIC? A lot of the out of state public schools your looking at would cost much more than your in state options.

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NPC for Brown is 93k.

Pomona is on the list because I am in the running for the Posse scholarship and Pomona is my top choice for schools to be matched with.

My parents think I will get money from W&M. Rochester is on my list.

My parents are very comfortable with their retirement savings and said they would possibly be willing to pay for Brown. I am also looking at scholarship opportunities for Brown as I think it would be the best fit for me.

Grinnell, I received a handwritten letter from a dean regarding a full tuition scholarship there. Even without that I am confident that I could receive merit aid.

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Focusing on just these: I typically recommend that if a student is applying to the Ivy League, apply to at least two of them & a maximum of four. Any particular reason(s) why you’ve selected these five on your Low Probability list of schools?

This will require further explanation on your Low Probability applications.

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For my low probability schools Brown’s open curriculum draws me, William and Mary has a very close relationship with JLAB which would be good for particle physics. Williams I picked because although Amherst has the open curriculum, I heard that Williams’ STEM is better. I picked Rice because I just recently toured it and I loved it, I really like the aspect of residential systems which the social system focuses on. If I were to apply to another Ivy I think it would be Yale(I haven’t really looked at any other ones).

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I’d replace Williams College with Yale. If interested in Yale, can you schedule a visit? Their residential college system is somewhat similar to Rice’s. An opportunity for you to compare & contrast.

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I’m sorry about UIUC. I think you write as I typed. It’s funny - you have racists everywhere but some are but don’t realize it. It could happen anywhere. People in general are good no matter where they are. I’m sorry you’ve grown such distaste for UIUC but it’s understandable.

Purdue could fill in.

Brown is likely more than $93k if full pay. That was last year. It’s $97k now and can go up. Any financial advisor would strongly advise against digging into retirement. I would strongly advise you to drop Brown b4 you fall in love. Big debt is really bad. Digging into retirement is worse. It simply belongs nowhere near your list.

My parents think …. I think…..

It’s great to think but what do you have assured acceptance to hit cost. Michigan State. And Zona if they keep auto merit.

I don’t disagree that money may come but you need the assured affordable (at budget). That’s two.

I’m a budget parent. I’m ok applying where you could hit - Grinnell, Kenyon, even W&M but odds are small.

But most important is will hit. I see two comfortably under.

So if you’re happy with Michigan State or Arizona, then great. If not, expand - and I gave you ideas for all sizes of schools as you have all sizes on your list.

But you have a lot of maybes - so I might add more sure things $ wise.

I’d ax Brown and heck no on ED which Brown says about -“Please do not assume that your admission chances are improved by applying under the Early Decision plan. The Board of Admission makes the same decisions under Early Decision that it would under the Regular Decision plan.”

It’s easy for your parents to say - yes we’ll pay out of retirement but when faced with the bill, that may change. I, too, was a full pay patent. If a school couldn’t make cost, my kids couldn’t apply. Why would anyone ? And loans at that amount ?

Brown is best for me ? Guess what - there’s no dream schools. All have bad food or profs or roomies. Brian is great. It may or may not be great for you experience wise but it’s far from the only. Most importantly is budget, and if you are that far over, it’s a nightmare.

If you said budget was $100k, I’d think differently. But you didn’t and you mentioned retirement. If they are pulling from there, it’s a huge red flag.

Good luck.

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Why discuss schools OP can’t afford ?

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OP stated the parents are “comfortable with their retirement savings”. They didn’t say their parents would dip in to their retirement to pay. You’re jumping to conclusions.

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Op said

And don’t want her to take loans.

I don’t think I’m jumping to conclusions.

They are, per the school, full pay but not comfortably full pay on their own so sacrificing comfort or security to chase a name.

Thanks

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I don’t encourage students to overrely on the Net Price Calculator, on what could be?

Yale claims to be affordable for everyone.

Plus, his parents are comfortable paying x amount, a willingness to pay that surely varies on the brand name & reputation of the college.

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Yes, my father just had a conversation with me about the opportunities going to an Ivy League would provide(We were talking about the founder of Kalshi). They did not specify which way they could possibly pay more(retirement or non-retirement savings) but my father says if Brown is my top choice(which it is) I should ED.

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I totally agree with your father.

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There are great opportunities for brilliant kids at many schools. And the Ivies have some that fall on their face. I had an admin (secretary) from Stanford.

Are you planning grad school ?

And Brown notes the lack of ED advantage so why give up that flexibility ? You’re apply for full rides - or at least tuition so that’s near $300k - Pomona, Grinnell, etc.

“Please do not assume that your admission chances are improved by applying under the Early Decision plan.”

I’ll disagree with your family and your overall school list unless you are ok with Mich State or Arizona (which may be the top physics school on your list) but I’ll wish you great luck.

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For ED advantage, they can say that there isn’t but the numbers speak for themselves (~4x boost). I do plan on grad school.

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