Colleges for A- Students

College Search & Lists
1

<p>There’s a lot of advice on here for A+ students and B students, but I’m interested in a little more help for the students in the middle. I’m a student who’s good, but not great. I definitely don’t have an amazing GPA or perfect scores, but I’m a little above average. </p>

<p>My Stats:
GPA: 3.6-3.8UW and 4.3-4.6W
SAT: 2100-2200
ACT: 30-32
Course Load: Most rigorous I could take/fit in my schedule
Awards: Nothing major, a few small writing awards, local community service awards, Commended scholar
EC’s: Model UN (3 years, won an award), Mock Trial (2 years, made it to states, award), Quiz Bowl (4 years, conference champ), Shakespeare Competition (3 years, placed once), Shakespeare and Dance classes, ASL classes
Volunteer Work: Working with kids with disabilities(4 years, 400+ hours, top 10 volunteer, volunteer of the month, van aide, leadership workshop, Volunteer Committee), Working with adults with disabilities (2 years, only HS volunteer, 250+ hours), Usher at local theater(2 years, 35 hours), Therapeutic Horseback riding (2 years, 30 hours), Ran a Concession Stand with proceeds going to a youth wrestling club (2 years, 150 hours).
Summer: 2 weeks at a foreign language program (paid for), Volunteer work, summer classes
Work: none :frowning:
Hooks: none, I’m a white upper middle class girl who’s not first generation with no good legacies.
Weaknesses: I’ve transferred schools every year. I went to public in 9th, private in 10th (GPA dropped), back to public in 11th because I had problems with the teachers, and next year I am going to Connections Academy online because I can’t take any more AP classes at the public school. This means I haven’t really had close relationships with any of my teachers of counselors. :(</p>

<p>So I know there’s no way I’ll be able to get into HYPSM, but I do want to go to a school that is at least somewhat well-known and highly-regarded in academia. Does anyone have any recommendations about schools that I would be a match for? Or advice on how to boost my application a little? :wink: I really have no preference for colleges except for preferably private and with good financial aid. Thanks :)</p>

2

<p>What do all your stats have a range? </p>

<p>Regardless, what majors are you interested in? That will definitely change what colleges will match for you.</p>

3

<p>What are your exact stats?</p>

<p>What is your major?</p>

<p>How much will your parents contribute?</p>

<p>You say that you’re “upper middle class”…that may mean that your family’s income is too high for aid or that your family’s “expected family contribution” will be higher than what they can pay.</p>

<p>What schools have you been looking at?</p>

<p>You may need to look at schools that will give you a good-sized merit scholarship for your stats.</p>

4

<p>Sorry I’ll clear some things up. </p>

<p>My GPA I’m not 100% sure about, I’d guess a 3.7UW, 4.35W.
SAT: 2210 ACT:31</p>

<p>I’m interested in linguistics, languages, literature, and speech pathology.
My parent’s income is too high for aid, but we would definitely need something. My parents will contribute however much is needed to get me through college, but some nice merit aid would be great. </p>

<p>And, I really haven’t looked at any schools yet. I visited Stanford, Berkeley, Vanderbilt, Duke, and Middlebury, but all of those are out of my league.</p>

5

<p>Berkley isnt out of your league. Which state do you live in? You seem to be a good candidate for 20-40 ranked schools.</p>

6

<p>Your 2210 is good for all schools. And, so is your GPA. You’re not really an A- student I don’t think. </p>

<p>You need to apply to a variety of reaches, matches, and safeties.</p>

<p>Did you already apply to berkeley? If not, it’s too late.</p>

<p>*My parent’s income is too high for aid, but we would definitely need something. My parents will contribute however much is needed to get me through college, but some nice merit aid would be great.
*</p>

<p>This part is unclear. You say that your parents’ income is too high for aid, and you say that they’ll pay however much is needed for college. But, you also say that you “need something”. </p>

<p>Which is it?</p>

<p>Will they pay $55k per year? If not, what is their max amount?</p>

<p>Look at Santa Clara.</p>

7

<p>You have a shot at Univ of Chicago, Cornell and USC - all good in linguistics. Possibly also a chance at UVa. If you are in CA then try UCSC or UCSB if you can’t get into UCLA or Cal. Also consider Haverford.</p>

8

<p>LACs seem to be where a lot of my peers in similar situations went to. Places like Bates, Colgate, Middlebury, wherever. Maybe a top 30 private could work out, like ND or Vandy or Emory. If not those, then there are a lot of solid to great public universities. But, at least at my HS, these tended to be for the students below the level you’re talking about (aka mid to high 20 ACT, not rigorous courseload but decent grades, etc.). Obviously there are exceptions like UMich, UVA, Berkeley, and a few others depending on what you’re interested in. Also money wasn’t much of a problem for my peers, but it may be for you.</p>

9

<p>I would apply to 2-3 out of HYPMSC + ivies</p>

10

<p>If you really want to go into linguistics then it might be best to look at your flagship U (I think that’s tOSU for you?). Otherwise, what about some great LACs like Kenyon, Oberlin, Denison, Grinnell?</p>

11

<p>My son is in your general category, his identified match schoools are some of the universities ranked in the 20-40 range by US News, and some LACs ranked in the 14- 40 range. Though not all or necesarily even most of these schools, as selectivity doesn’t always track rankings there; this is just a guideline I’m using for your reference. He is taking a shot or two higher, but that’s it.</p>

12

<p>It’s too late to apply to any UCs…their app deadline is passed.</p>

13

<p>I believe the OP is a HS junior… Pubic school 9th grade, Private school 10th grade, back to public for 11th grade, “next year going to Connections Academy on-line” to take more APs.</p>