<p>I’ve already applied and been accepted to Penn State. At the time, I didn’t have the SAT Score I have now. CR & M is 1460 and all three is a 2180. I have a 4.0 UW GPA. After I got my SAT scores, some of my friends seem disappointed that I’m not applying to “better” schools than Penn State. I really like the atmosphere at Penn State, but I’m not sure I would enjoy its party school status. At the moment, I’m interested in mathematics, chemistry, and engineering. Can anyone recommend some schools that you think would fit me-- ones that focus more on academics. I was thinking maybe the University of Michigan or UNC Chapel Hill, but I’d welcome any suggestions.</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon
UMich
Lehigh
Illinois
Cornell
Case Western
all look like good options for you. You have a very realistic chance at any of these schools.</p>
<p>Also Wake Forest may be worth a look.</p>
<p>If you like Penn State a lot, I see no reason to apply elsewhere just because it’s “better.” If you go to the honors program, it is just as good. </p>
<p>Michigan, UIUC, and UNC are just about as much of party schools, I doubt you would even notice much of a difference. Pretty much all big state schools will be labeled as party schools. </p>
<p>If you did want to avoid the party school status, then a smaller/private school would be a better fit, such as some of the ones mentioned above.</p>
<p>I didn’t catch that party school comment. Ixnay on Lehigh and probably Illinois. Keep looking at UMich…its rep is a lot better than Penn St.</p>
<p>Look at Georgia Tech, CMU, Case Western, RPI, Cornell.</p>
<p>If you like Penn State but want more options like it, however, Illinois, Pudue, Michigan State, and NC State are all comparable with good sciences or engineering programs.</p>
<p>Northwestern is worth a look (yes, I am an NU ■■■■■).</p>
<p>Thanks guys for all your help.</p>
<p>Bucknell, RPI.</p>
<p>Lehigh and Bucknell are party schools. Best choice might be UMich.</p>
<p>what about Penn state’s Schreyer honors college?</p>
<p>You really think there is less partying at UM, how naive. Where did you get that notion?</p>
<p>Wait a minute, isn’t it too late to apply to most of these schools?</p>
<p>Deadline for UM is February 1st… UNC Chapel Hill is January 15. Both of these schools are listed under CC’s Top Universities, so I figured they would be a better choice than Penn State.</p>
<p>Do you guys not think that these schools would be good fits?</p>
<p>UMich is definitely a good fit for you academically. As a person, I don’t know. You should try to visit, or at least talk to some grads or current students. Everyone that I know who goes to or went to (even 40 years back) LOVES LOVES LOVES UMich (they even follow the sports if they don’t even like sports).</p>