*(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)
*
AP Environmental Science AP English Language AP World History AP Economics (Micro & Macro) AP Physics C AP Calculus BC AP English Literature AP European History
Other academic courses: Stem/Engineering Track (6 course my HS offers)
I want to majory in policy & applied economics
College Coursework (Transfer Applicants) (Include college courses taken while in high school if not included above.)
General education course work:
Major preparation course work:
Awards- Boys State, Class President
Extracurriculars- FBLA President, SGA 4 years including President research at university helping professor 2 summers Stem/labs part of program at Amherst- presented one paper
Essays/LORs/Other- will get great recs from teachers and counselors
Schools Duke ED
UVA EA
Michigan EA
UT Austin
UCLA
Emory
Wake Forrest
Wash U
Princeton
UPenn
Dartmouth
Cornell
I think your list is great and you can get into multiple.
Wake Forest and Emory as full pay are most likely. UCLA won’t see the test score.
Do you know what kind of history you want to study?
You don’t have any true safeties. That’s the only thing but I’d be surprised if you didn’t get into Wake Forest.
I think William & Mary would supplement your list well but if there’s a specific area others might fit too. Maybe an Indiana, Wisconsin or Minnesota too - one of - as a safety - to balance the list.
I do wonder if your ECs might come off as too limiting - I don’t see “kid” stuff.
But obviously you have a great profile and I’d expect multiple acceptances. But I would still add some “just in case” hedge. Best of luck.
It’s a very aggressive list, as I’m sure you know.
UCLA is a question mark because PIQs are very different from the CommonApp essay and they won’t see your scores. UT strongly favors instate students but would you be hoping for Plan II?
You’re qualified for everything else but as you know selectivity means they only admit a fraction of those qualified.
Your odds are best at UMichigan, UVA, Emory, especially for history. I’d be surprised if you didn’t get into Wake.
I assume you’ll be applying to UMass Amherst (+Commonwealth honors) for your safety.
You could add a few “more likely yet selective” possibilities such as Hamilton, URichmond, Holy Cross, Colgate, F&M, or perhaps even American (especially if you want internships).
No Amherst? No Williams? Maybe, take a look at Wesleyan for something a little more adventurous: present two U.S. senators from Colorado, the founding publisher of Politico, a Kennedy, a Bush among its alum. There’s a public policy center that blends academics with community service: Home, Allbritton - Wesleyan University
Thank you. I didn’t put my safeties in Indiana, Wisconsin will be there if you think a true safety. Syracuse as well. I won’t apply for biz or engineering as I am mostly interested in Applied Econ, History Minor and Energy. My ECs outside of school are connected to that. No notional awards but I did present energy savings proposal to my school district. I am also involved in school band, score keeper for baseball (I got injured but wanted to be part of team) and have part time job for my family business. My dream school is Duke it matches the areas of study I want to focus on. I’d be happy with Wash U (ED?) because they also have the ability to focus on my interest. All the schools do to some extent. I am countint out UT Austin but will most likely apply if I have time. Any tips on Duke would be great. My uncle (not blood) went there and I grew up going to games with him and feel like it is the school for me though no legacy etc.
Pitt could be a good safety as they have a strong public policy school and if you apply early you’ll likely get your result back before most other applications are due.
Just checking–what are you doing for US History and a non-native language?
In terms of your list:
So your “safeties” (I prefer the term Likelies) are excellent universities and fun places to go for college for some kids, but I would not necessarily think of them as very similar to mid-sized private universities like Duke, or several other such colleges on what I would call your Reach list.
Wake Forest in contrast is along those lines, and what I might think is a Target for you. But you might consider some more Targets and Likelies in this branch of the college family tree.
Despite being a public, William & Mary is very much organized like a mid-sized private, and I would think would count as a Target for you. If your interest in Duke is primarily academic in nature, I feel like W&M could actually be a great fit.
If you are at all interested in smaller colleges, there are many worth considering, but with people in your interest areas I like to suggest they check out Gettysburg, not least because of the Eisenhower Institute and related programs.
Then . . . any interest in Jesuit colleges? I think they can be great for people with your interests. Georgetown is rather obvious, but another Reach. But how about maybe Fordham? Or, since you mentioned UCLA, Loyola Marymount? Maybe Santa Clara?
Just some ideas for additional directions to look.
You have made it past the academic threshold for these schools and it will probably come down to your EC’s, LOR’s, and how well you make the argument as to why you belong there. You have spent two summers for Amherst-related stem research, yet you are not pursuing stem and Amherst is not in your list. That makes your upcoming summer more critical/relevant in terms of doing something along the lines of what you’re interested in. Making the most of Boys State will be important. And maybe doing something for your community along the public policy lines, expand your previous energy savings proposal, etc.
I disagree. OP should apply EA to EVERY school that offers it as long as it does not violate the terms of the ED agreement, assuming they’re applying ED. This would be every public school on the list, and possibly some of the private schools(OP needs to check each school). Some schools fill the majority of their classes through EA so applying early is critical at those schools.
Great advice from all thank you. I have a project I am working on for my school district (independent but also connected to a Fall capstone that will hopefully tie into the policy /energy part well. William and Mary/ Fordam and a few others mention now on my list to check out for targets and likelies. Thank you! If I ED and Duke and don’t get in, I am tempted to do ED2 at Wake but won’t make that call yet. I know Duke is a very long shot but a guy can dream right? Someone has to get in.
I use to feel exactly that way, but with 20 applications on the common app and yield protection running rampant I am more on the fence these days. This type of student would get their share of deferrals IMO.
I think you can do better than that. Don’t apply ED2 out of fear. That is not for applicants like you. If you love the school second best - different story.