Cost Constraints / Budget
The more aid the better as my familiy does not have a lot, but ~20k
Intended Major(s)
Undecided but leaning toward Environmental Sciences/Geology
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.95
Weighted HS GPA: 4.3 (on a 5.0 scale)
Class Rank: School does not rank
ACT/SAT Scores: 1380 SAT
List your HS coursework
I come from an IB School but I am not doing IB Diploma due to a scheduling error. I am taking 5 HLs/1 SL class
English: IB Literature HL, World Lit, American Lit
Math: IB Analysis and Approaches HL (essentially calculus class), Adv Alg. II, Adv. Geometry
Science: IB Physics HL, Biology, Chemistry
History and social studies: IB History HL, Philosophy, Ancient to Medieval History, Civics, American History
Language other than English: Spanish (IB SL and Spanish V)
Visual or performing arts: IB Visual Arts HL, Art I
Awards
Scholastic Art and writing gold key and honorable mention
Honor Roll through my school
Volunteer award through my city
Fellowship to make art
Extracurriculars
Working at cafe/art camp
Work as a routesetter
Work at a climbing tower
Internship with a screenprinting artist
Internship with a history museum
Climbing team, state qualifier
Artist
Gender Sexuality Alliance
Radio DJ
Book clubs
Essays/LORs/Other
I likely have strong letters of recommendation as each teacher has had me for at least three years
Schools
Tufts RD/EDII (Still deciding
Barnard RD
Pitzer College RD
Scripps College RD
Wesleyan University RD
Syracuse University RD
George Washington University RD
uMass Amherst EA
I have a longer list, but these are my top choices. Thanks for the help!
Does this mean that you would prefer to get the total cost of attendance down to $20,000/year? Does this include travel?
Have you run the NPC on Tufts, Barnard, and the other private universities on your list? You are very likely to either need help from your parents, or to just have your parents run the NPCs.
I think that you chances of admissions to U.Mass are pretty good. I think that the chances of getting the total cost of attendance down to $20,000/year as an out of state student are not good at all.
I hope that UC Boulder is also on your longer list, or Colorado State, or both. They are both very good universities. You are also from a WUE state and might want to see if any WUE schools are attractive to you. Edit: I forgot Colorado School of Mines, which is also an excellent choice that you should consider and very likely should apply to. You have some great choices in-state.
I would expect you to be admitted to Syracuse, GW, UMass, and Scripps. Don’t know about the others?
Scripps is probably your best bet for a good financial aid package. My GS is a freshman in UMass Honors with a profile similar to yours, but even with a scholarship is still paying almost $40K OOS.
I think Pitzer is test blind. For several of your other schools (Tufts, Barnard, Scripps, for example) a 1380 SAT is below the 25th percentile. Did you apply test optional to some of these schools?
Are you looking at in-state public universities in CO? You have amazing, highly rated programs in geology in your state. Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State to name just a few. Your GPA and test scores are on low side for selective schools on your list, and they have huge COA.
Yes, but standardized test scores are not an important factor at Scripps - “considered” but not “important” according to their common data set.
In addition, only 26% of the accepted applicants even submitted SAT scores, so she’s below the 25th %ile only of the 26% who submitted. Furthermore, only 17% submitted ACT scores. Assuming some overlap between the 2 groups for applicants who submitted scores from both tests, we can derive from this that more than 60% of the successful applicants submitted no test scores whatsoever.
IMO, her 1380 strengthens her application. It is a very strong score, equivalent to the 96th%ile. It’s only slightly off from the 1430, which is the lower end of the middle 50% for those did submit and were accepted. 1430 = 98th%ile. Those who didn’t submit leave the Admissions committee to speculate that they might have gotten 1180 . . . or lower. By submitting her 1380, she showed that she’s very close to their elite test taking group, and that they have nothing to worry about in that regard. They can then go on to review the rest of her application without concern. She was in the top 4% of all students who took that test. For a school that doesn’t even think standardized test scores are important, this is not a negative.
What is important is her 3.95 gpa and the rest of what she’s done. Scripps considers the combination of gpa and rigor to be “very important”. She has these in spades. What’s more is that Scripps accepted 1/3 of their applicants last year, meaning that they’re not overwhelmed with applications. It’s not a school where it’s impossible for a qualified candidate to gain admission. I would her to be accepted at Scripps.
If you are from Colorado, save the trouble of Umass. You’re not getting close to $20k.
For the privates, has your family run the net price calculator ?
It’s an interesting list population wise - very mixed - small and large etc. have you considered WUE schools so you can achieve budget without need just in case ?
You need to make sure the NPCs show your $$ amount - and on many apply TO.
You’re right about UMass. I think it’s almost $60K OOS. My GS is there in the Honors program, and even with a scholarship, he’s paying almost $20K.