Chance me for Colleges :) [TX resident, 3.94GPA, 1510 SAT, top 10%, $15-20k, poli sci]

Chance Me / Match Me
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TX Resident. Large public HS.

Budget is around 15-20k/year

Intending to major in Political Science

39/505 in my class. Top 10% but not top 6%. 1510 on SAT (780 EBRW 730 Mathematics).
3.94UW/4.44W GPA. 34 on ACT (from 8th grade, though, so I won’t submit unless advised to)
Did not study for either standardized test, and both were something of a surprise. I was not planning to apply to selective colleges until I realized my scores and grades might be able to get me in some places.

Classwork - 9 APs 12 Honors
all 4s and 5s on AP tests
(Possibly a weak point. I only have two years of Foreign Language.)

ECs

Band
TMEA All-State Qualifier - 2023, First Chair ----. Soloist in ----.
Interlochen Arts Camp Qualifier - 2024, First Chair at Clarinet Intensive
TMEA All-Region 2022-2024, First Chair 2023/24
TMEA All-Area 2023/24
Various solos with my band (no doxxing :))
TSSEC Qualifier 2023/24 - Superior Rating (1) ---- Superior Rating (1)
Section Leader - 2022/24
Founder of the ---- Woodwind Quintet and Co-Founder of the ---- Jazz Band - multiple paid performances with local groups
Consistently put in 20-25 hours/week of individual practice, and 5-15 hours/week of rehearsal with full band. Studied with various top-level professors. Seriously planned on going into music until a couple months ago.
Debate/UIL academics
Regional Qual in Congressional Debate 2023/24
Regional Qual in Spelling 2023
District Qual in Congressional Debate, Spelling, and LD Debate 2022/24
2nd Alternate to NSDA Nationals in 2024
Social Activities Officer 2023/24
Put in 7-8 hours/week of research activity.
Congressional Internships
Volunteered at local food banks/political events for 10-12 hours/week. (c.200 volunteer hrs)
Got 2 internships.
Started in early 2024.
Mock Trial Club
Co-founded Mock Trial Club in 2023.
Vice President of Mock Trial Club.
Attained c.15 members, performed one Mock Trial in 2024.
Around 1-2 hours/week of preparation for meetings, etc.
American Legion Texas Boys State
Qualified for Texas Boys State in 2024. Served as a Senator.
Church Involvement
Served as a volunteer for my church. Worked in AV room, ran slides, led singing, etc. 100 hrs.

Strong essays, I have relatives who are English teachers, etc. Writing is a way of life in my family. Nothing exceptional but strong.
Similar situation on LOR’s. Good relationships with teachers who like me and saw my growth. Nothing exceptional.

Schools

TAMU (accepted)
SMU EA
UT Austin EA (LBJ School of Public Affairs)
Minnesota (accepted)
Georgetown EA
UGA EA
Colby RD
Grinnell RD
Northeastern EA
USC EA
UVA EA
Emory RD
Vanderbilt RD
Rice RD
WUSTL RD
Carleton RD
Northwestern RD
UPenn RD

Want to eventually work in government or at a think tank in Washington. TAMU has a 3+2 masters’ with good job placement in Washington and strong connections. Chancing for any of the other schools would be much appreciated. Thank you :slight_smile:

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Congrats to you.

The question I have is related to budget and need. Have you run the net price calculator on schools like Grinnell and Northeastern?

If so, do they show an amount at budget ?

If you don’t have need, there’s not a single school on your list you can afford. Well maybe A&M if you got money.

SMU has the Presidential full ride, Wash & Lee the Johnson.

Have your family run these at each school to see what they show. See link.

Good luck.

https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/northwestern

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Yes. I have the need to qual for aid pretty much everywhere (brings it down to ~15-20k). Georgetown’s the only one I’ve seen that would be unaffordable.

TAMU/UT are affordable, luckily.

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@jameshawkings great stats!
Any chance you are NMS/F? If yes, that’ll get you $$ at TAMU. If not, highly doubtful you’ll receive any scholarship money there.
UT will be a hard reach for acceptance, also won’t get any $.
Ask your school counselor if your school is an identified TAMU Century Scholar school-that would help!

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Thanks!
No NMS, I flopped on my PSAT

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My two cents is you seem to have a lot of different types of schools (big publics, medium-sized privates, small privates, and so on) scattered all over. But interestingly, at least to me, you don’t have many of what I think of as the Greater DC schools despite an interest in Political Science and working in DC. I get the in-state schools of course, but I am not sure I see the logic behind a lot of the others.

Obviously you have Georgetown, and UVA kinda counts too. But there are so many more–GW, American, Hopkins, Maryland, William & Mary, George Mason, Gettysburg . . . .

Just something to think about.

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The VA publics and UMD don’t meet need - that cuts them out. (Excepting UVA)

Don’t think GW or American does either (although that may be false).

Hopkins is a crazy reach, but might be worth a look. I was considering it for music before I gave up on that.

A lot of the logic in my list revolves around foreign language requirements. (Requiring more than two years is a removal from my list) Additionally, I prefer a big city and a small-medium school, but small-medium school takes precedence (mostly disqualifying in-state schools). My only hard and fast rule is that I have to be near a specific, uncommon type of church. All of these schools fit that requirement.

I’m considering retooling a lot of my list, however, and am open to suggestions:)

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You could take a Hail Mary shot at W&L and College of Charleston. W&L has the Johnson. Charleston has the Fellows. My kid has free tuition although Charleston rent is pricey.

Did UMN come in that low ? I don’t see better than high 30s.

If you want sure bets at budget, it’s Bama, Ms State, and very good for your interests - Ole Miss and the Croft Institute.

Other than SMU, you may have a tough slog with Grinnell and Colby next.

As long as you have one shoo in you could love, then you’re great. But I’d lob an app at least to W&L given 10% of the class gets the Johnson. So it’s not onesy twosy.

Good luck.

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Looked into W&L. I’m mostly worried about my lack of a foreign language. Do you think that will negatively impact admissions? They suggest 4 years.

I’ll look into Ole Miss and Bama.

UMN wasn’t a budget decision; they just offered me a fee waiver and somehow had my 8th grade ACT on file, even though I didn’t submit it. Holding out for some merit there, but not expecting much.

Considering switching a few high reaches to Southwestern/Trinity/TCU, etc.

Thanks! I’m reasonably excited, I think I have many good options. Just can’t get hung up on prestige, and that’s hard when all my friends are looking at caltech, harvard, JH, etc. You know how it is:)

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So will most schools - i.e. rigor.

My daughter got into W&L with two years of Chinese. Her school did not continue to Chinese 3…it was supposed to.

Here’s the thing - you apply, you don’t get in, and guess what - who cares - in the sense, you already have other ones.

I mention the three I did because of auto merit. At Bama you get $28K off based on your scores and it could go up - so you’re $20K-ish.

Now you have A&M - if it’s affordable and you prefer it - then no need to. I’m just throwing out other options that “will hit”.

How did UMN come out $ wise - I’m assuming $15K merit and nothing else.

It doesn’t matter what your friends do - you have a budget issue and you need an affordable place to attend - that’s the bottom line. Every large flagship has Ivy caliber kids - Bama and UF have amongst the most NMFs. Tulsa - a quarter plus of all students are NMF. I know you’re not - but the point being, you’ll find brilliance anywhere - but you need to find an assured home - and that’s why I mentioned those 3.

But if A&M is assured and affordable and you love it - then no need.

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Were your two years level 1 and 2?

Are your two admissions (Texas A&M and Minnesota) affordable? If so, they are safeties. If not, then the chance must be based on the chance of sufficient scholarships and/or financial aid.

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TAMU is assured and affordable, but I’m not sure I love it. Why? Without giving too much away, I can see Kyle Field from my office window. (Which guarantees affordability; I can commute if money becomes an issue.) But, there’s too many people I know, and I want new experiences. But, then again, it’s very good for my major, and has particularly strong alumni connections, and in D.C., etc. You see the bind I’m in.

I like the idea of auto merit. I’m gonna do some research tomorrow in my downtime and see what I can get out of Bama/Miss/Tulsa. I got a notification on some college site (niche) that Tulsa had offered me a $28k/yr merit scholarship. Dunno how that’ll square with reality but it seemed legit.

UMN has not contacted me with scholarship info yet. All I know is they come out in March, and it’s September. Not really counting on it seriously. Essentially a hail mary.

Part of the issue is that guidance counselors did not advise me to continue on past Spanish 2. It’s not a graduation req in Texas past 2nd year, and they didn’t really see promise in me freshman year, I really came into my own sophomore year. We offer up to Spanish 5 AP, and I would have gladly taken it if it was available. Oh well. Might as well apply to those that recommend, but don’t require.

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Yes, they were level 1 and 2. Spanish 1 and 2 Advanced.

TAMU is affordable. U of MN is unlikely.

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You’re majoring in Poli Sci - I don’t think the where really matters quite honestly. And many schools have DC connections. My Charleston kid did the DC semester and interned at a top think tank. She also interned for our state.

That Texas A&M is affordable - and you need that - is why it matters. But there are other schools - and I named three and there’s likely more - that will be $20K or less all in.

You’re not going to see people you know at A&M, btw - or rarely.

Bama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

Tulsa has big scholarships - but not auto merit. I simply pointed out that because you said all your friends aim high and therefore you must - that tons of schools have lots of smart kids - with a quarter + of Tulsa being NMF. It was just in response to your comment.

Worry about you - not others.

Bama is $49,188 and you’ll get at least $28K. So a bit over $20K - but when you move off campus, rent/food is less than the school charges first year.

Ms State is $40,539 - you’ll get $22K off if your weighted shows 4.1 or more. Otherwise $20K off.

Ole Miss - great for Intl Politics - $28,354 - not sure how much you’ll get - but a lot - this might be cheapest.

Why not look at Houston and Tech if you don’t like A&M.

Office of Financial Aid | NR Fresh Merit - Office of Financial Aid (olemiss.edu)

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Below are my guesses as to what your chances are at the schools on your list.

Extremely Likely **(80-99+%)

  • TAMU
  • Minnesota

Likely (60-79%)

  • SMU

Toss-Up (40-59%)

  • UGA
  • UT Austin (frankly, this is really a no clue)

Lower Probability (20-39%)

  • Carleton

Low Probability (less than 20%)

  • Colby
  • Grinnell
  • Northeastern (if you want to start in Boston)
  • USC (if you mean Southern California)
  • UVA
  • Emory
  • Vanderbilt
  • Rice
  • WUSTL
  • Northwestern
  • UPenn

Then why is it still on your list? They don’t offer merit aid, so if the NPC comes back as unaffordable, I would ditch it.

If you run the NPC, it will give you an estimate of merit aid. I think its max is about $16k/year, though I have heard of instances of UMN stacking some additional smaller scholarship on top of their “bigger” award. Not sure they would stack enough smaller ones to get you below $20k, though.

I agree that you should take a look at Southwestern and Trinity. Southwestern University – Colleges That Change Lives

For someone who’s interested in politics, take a look at schools in the state capitals. Although most of these schools do not “meet need,” they do offer merit aid, with some offering full tuition or full ride scholarships. You’re a strong student and you might get into one of the high reach schools where the NPC comes back as affordable. But the odds are overwhelmingly against you (as they are against nearly all top students). Applying to schools with a higher admission rate might not only get you an admission, but a number of schools who are really vying to become your top choice, throwing you special opportunities and merit aid to make them as tempting as possible.

Also, a number of the colleges I’m mentioning are members of the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) association, an association that was formed after a third party cited these institutions as providing a strong undergraduate education for its students while not having miniscule chances for admission. I have linked their CTCL profile, if it’s a member.

  • U. of Richmond (VA)
  • St. Edward’s (TX)
  • Millsaps (MS) Millsaps College – Colleges That Change Lives
  • Providence (RI)
  • Trinity (CT)
  • Brown (RI)
  • Oglethorpe (GA)…you’d get the Flagship 50 match here which means that tuition would be the same as at UT-Austin…and it’s part of the ARCHE consortium so you could take classes at Emory, Georgia Tech, etc.
  • Hendrix (AR): Not in a state capital, but it’s 34m from the AR state capitol building. This school also has a flagship match program, and is a school that I think would be much more popular if it was in a different state. Hendrix College – Colleges That Change Lives
  • Butler (IN)
  • U. of Denver (CO)
  • Drake (IA)
  • Macalester (MN)…check how they handle merit aid with need-based aid
  • Suffolk (MA)…a couple blocks from the MA state capitol buildings
  • Denison (OH)…35m from the OH State Capitol. Denison University – Colleges That Change Lives
  • Ohio Wesleyan, 35m from the OH State Capitol Ohio Wesleyan University – Colleges That Change Lives
  • St. John’s (MD & NM): It has two locations, both of which are in state capitals (Santa Fe and Annapolis). St. John’s isn’t for everybody, but for the right person, it’s a good fit (and someone who’s interested in PPE might be that kind of person). Also, don’t be fooled by the name; the school has no religious affiliation. St. John’s College – Colleges That Change Lives
  • Dickinson (PA ): About 31m from the Pennsylvania State Capitol
  • George Washington (D.C.)

Also, seconding Gettysburg for you.

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You are fortunate that a school that is very good in your major is affordable, that’s not a bind. TAMU is sufficiently large that you may never see people you know there. There are plenty of new people to meet and new experiences to have.

Are any other Texas publics affordable and of interest to you?

I second Ole Miss. Would you choose Ole Miss over TAMU?

$28K in merit won’t get Tulsa to your price point (perhaps you could get a larger award there, not sure), and if Georgetown NPC shows it’s not in a reasonable range of affordability, it should come off the list.

You can certainly put in some apps at the reach schools on your list (those that meet full need/the NPCs show affordability). Having only two years of language may put you at a disadvantage at many of those schools, but you can still shoot your shot. Do you have 4 years in each of the other 4 core subject areas (Eng, SS, Sci, Math)? Have you taken bio, chem, and physics? I doubt UGA will be unaffordable.

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Georgetown’s on my list bc I already applied. It’s a waste of $75… Live and learn I guess. Parents don’t care, so it’s fine (they’re in the camp that we’ll deal with affordability when we get there…)

Okay, I’ll look into the NPC for UMN.

I’m thinking about dropping all high reaches save Georgetown, Northwestern, Northeastern (my two top), and maybe Emory.

I’ve looked into a few of those schools. Doesn’t St John’s only have one major?

I’m curious about Macalester, Oglethorpe, U of Denver, Richmond. Will do some research.

Thank you so much for the help!

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It’s a good option, and probably currently near the top of my list. Strong outcomes in gov’t, strong connections. Just not sure it’s my environment.

Texas publics are all pretty close to the same price as TAMU. Not seriously looking into any others. (they all have the disadvantage of being 40,000+ students with a heavy emphasis on comp sci, engineering, etc.)

Ole Miss is another interesting option. Probably would not choose it over TAMU, but that’s not for sure…

I have 3 years in SS (skipped 9th grade at the advice of a counselor and seriously regret it) and Sci (I took 2 years of sci in MS and already have taken AP Bio and AP Phys 1). Moving from Arkansas to Texas really cooked me for a lot of things.

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Sort of. They have an extensive curriculum that you can read about. As the university describes it,

If the St. John’s Program were to be analyzed in credit hours to constitute traditional majors and minors, the coursework would correspond to two majors: one in history of mathematics and science, and the other in philosophy, including metaphysics, ethics, and political theory. The minors would be in classical studies and comparative literature. Beyond these fields, students also explore language, history, politics, law, economics, music, art, theology, math, science, and psychology.

Remember, St. John’s students don’t have to choose subjects—Johnnies study them all.

I think my question for you is, how did you create your original list? Why did the schools make your list originally? Making sure you’re selecting (and removing) schools for reasons that will still ring true for you in 6-9 months is important.

For the academic subjects, can you list which classes you have credit for on your transcript (i.e., are the middle school classes on your high school transcript)? Depending on what shows up, that can definitely influence admissions at highly selective schools.

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TAMU and Minnesota are pretty good schools in the bag. I think it is fine to explore other affordable schools, but I think at the end of the day you should apply to no more than 10-12, and you can afford to be reachy in that list with every school one that you would prefer over TAMU and Minn.