Hi, please comment schools that are quality, but still easy-ish to get into, or even moderately difficult to get into, that are located in cities, preferably in the north east or dc. Thanks!
Can you give more details on your stats and financial situation? One person’s safety is another’s reach…
“schools that are quality, but still easy-ish to get into, or even moderately difficult to get into, that are located in cities, preferably in the north east or dc”
I think that this could be a rather long list, with considerable difference of opinion on many entries on the list. For example, take anything that you have heard of in Boston or NYC or DC or the area around it, minus MIT and Harvard and Columbia. Add a few from Hartford and one from Lowell and a few from Burlington VT and you are most of the way there with only a few hundred universities and colleges on the list.
You need to give more information. @intparent is right.
Stats:
I am at least in top 20% of my grade at semi-competitive catholic private/all boys.
My fall 2016 PSAT score was 1200 with no advanced prep as a sophomore.My gpa is weighted 97%, (my school hasn’t given it on a 4.o scale) essentially, I have all As and B in math in all honors classes and AP Euro.
I am on track to be an eagle scout by next year, my junior year.
I do debate and model UN, bet I am not very good at either, although i try very hard.
I play cross country, and tennis for my school, but jv and not very good at sports.
I play the alto saxophone, but again, not outstanding.
I am good at drawing and painting, but I wouldn’t want to go to an art school.
Financial: 300k bracket, so I won’t quality for financial aid
@intparent
" I have all As and B in math in all honors classes and AP Euro."
Poor phrasing on my part, I am in all honors classes and AP Euro, and I have straight As except for in Math, where I mostly get Bs.
@DadTwoGirls I should have specified, sorry. When I said “cities” I meant larger, more desirable cities, such as major urban areas like Boston, Chicago, NYC, DC.
I will admit that your stats actually are pretty consistent with your original post. With no FA, can your parents afford to pay $70,000 per year for four years, and would it be painful if it went five, and do they want to pay this much? This much can be painful for parents making $300,000 per year (before taxes), and spending this much can also reduce the ability to pay for graduate school if this ends up being desirable.
What state are you in? You local state school is likely to be a good match, except that if you are in Massachusetts then Amherst doesn’t count as “in a city”, so Lowell or Boston would be the in-state schools that match your preference and stats.
“When I said “cities” I meant larger, more desirable cities”
So Hartford, Lowell, Providence, and Burlington VT are out? The last of these is not large, but is actually quite a nice city.
@DadTwoGirls
Maybe Providence, prob no to the others.
Thats why I find UMass unappealing. Amherst is so far out, Boston lacks “college feel”/ is in financial troubles/scandals, and I wouldn’t want to go to college in Lowell.
Prob my parents could pay that, obvi they wouldn’t want to. I wouldn’t spend 5 years in college.
Essentially, can anyone suggest colleges that match my stats in my desired areas. Also, I am legacy at UPenn and Brown, does anybody think those are possibilities for me?
If you go to collegesimply dot com and enter a SAT of 1300, it will give you estimated chances at various colleges.
How about Drexel in Philadelphia? Go ahead and apply to Penn if you want, but you’ll need some sensational test scores. St. Joe’s would likely be a safety and while it’s technically in the city, it’s not in Center City.
American and GWU in D.C. might be options. Catholic U is a likely safety.
Fordham in NYC?
How about Pitt, if you’re willing to head west a bit? Duquesne, also in Pittsburgh, would likely be a safety and is right in downtown Pittsburgh.
Manhattan College in NYC comes to mind. Nice little campus next to the last stop on the 1 train in the Bronx. A very pleasant area.
Check out so-called “regional” universities in the Northeast, such as Loyola University Maryland.
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities
Many of these are Roman Catholic.
Don’t obsess about the ranking order or assume every one necessarily is a safety (especially if cost is important).
Some state universities could work, too. The University of Pittsburgh, mentioned above, might be one of the best for what you want. UMass-Boston, maybe. University of Md Baltimore County (UMBC), if it’s not too suburban for you.
Some ideas to consider – list includes reaches as well as probable safeties but does not take into account finances.
Philly – Drexel, Temple, St. Joes
NY - Fordham, Manhattan
Baltimore - Goucher, Loyola MD
Boston - BU
DC - GW, American, Catholic U
Providence - Providence College
I’d strongly suggest that you get your hands on some good college guide books (ex. Fiske, Princeton Review) and start reading up on colleges that match your geographic desires and academic stats. You an probably find these books in your guidance office or the library if you don’t want to purchase them.
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Financial: 300k bracket, so I won’t quality for financial aid
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Please ask your parents exactly how much they’ll pay each year. Many high income families will not pay $60k per year for just any school.
A safety must be affordable. You must know that you’ll have all costs covered for a school to be a safety.
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My fall 2016 PSAT score was 1200 with no advanced prep as a sophomore.My gpa is weighted 97%, (my school hasn't given it on a 4.o scale) essentially, I have all As and B in math in all honors classes and AP Euro.
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You could be on track for some merit at some schools.
Seconding UVermont, also St Michael’s (Burlington is a cool college town)
Look into:
LaSalle, Drexel, St Joe’s in Philadelphia.
Goucher in nice Baltimore suburb (consortium with JHU)
Simmons if you’re a girl. Wpi close enough to Boston?
DePaul, Loyola , Lake Forest, Elmhurst near/in Chicago
St Thomas, Augsburg, Hamline in the Twin Cities Butler (match, merit likely), IUPUI in Indianapolis
Eckerd in St Petersburg
Pitt in Pittsburgh is more a match and no merit aid; Duquesne is a safety
American university in DC
Manhattan college in NYC
College of Charleston
Unc Wilmington
TOSU (match, no likely merit), Case Western Reserve (high match)
Merit likely at all unless noted.
Easy to get into - Pace University and New School in NYC. Pace has a good Honors program, and also strong business , nursing, communications program etc.
Hofstra, Adelphi, Suffolk were back-ups I looked at in/around NYC and Boston.
Drexel which is located in Philly. Drexel is somewhat selective about their students, but I am sure you will get in. They offer 100% financial aid to all freshman. Yes it’s an expensive school but they offer you co-ops. You choose between either the 1 or 3 co-ops which 1 co-op is 4 years at Drexel and 3 co-ops is 5 years at Drexel. Since you will get the experience of working in the major you want, it will be easier for you to get a job because of the experience you had during your co-ops are Drexel. Yes, you get paid during your co-ops at the annual salary. When you are at Drexel you must be ready to work hard, they do offer sports but they are not like all about sports like Penn State or Rutgers or UMass is, they don’t have a football team so there won’t be crazy game days like Penn State and Rutgers and etc. You will most likely get into Honors program if your scores and gpa are good.
Another school would be Boston University or Northeastern University. Boston U doesn’t have my major so I can’t give you much information on this college. But Northeastern University is one of the top schools in the US. It is similar to Drexel, it does have co-ops and same thing goes for under sports. Northeaster is hard to get into and their financial aid is alright. You have to be ready to work really really hard. Their honors program is also hard to get into.
I am applying to Drexel and Northeastern myself. And Boston and Philly are both pretty great cities, you will never get bored in the city.
@dhd713 Rutgers and Umass aren’t really all about sports. Their sports teams are abysmal for a state flagship.
@dhd713 “Drexel which is located in Philly. Drexel is somewhat selective about their students, but I am sure you will get in. They offer 100% financial aid to all freshman.”
100% financial aid to all freshman. That is so incorrect. Sounds like you are being suckered in by the glossy college brochures arriving at your doorstep.
Read the post. This kid comes from a family with an income >300K. He will get ZERO financial “aid.” Zero. He has no need. Drexel’s “100% financial aid” does not apply to families with no financial need.