<p>Basically what are the easiest colleges to get into that most people have heard of… </p>
<p>Like 3.3 gpa ,1300-1400 sat</p>
<p>3.3 and about a 1350 SAT? That wont get you “prestigious” as defined on THIS website. Why? Because people here define prestigious as basically the top 25 nationals and the top 20 or so LAC’s and I am afraid that your stats are on the bubble for most of those in these demographics. Not that you aren’t worthy or intelligent or would be a huge success at ANY college in the United States. Therein lies the problem, college admissions officers have to make a line in the sand somewhere because of the sheer number of applicants. They DO take people well below their 50th percentile numbers, but most often those are athletes, legacy, people who DONT need any financial aid, minorities and other “hooks”. The average Joe or Suzy simply wont get in on those stats. I am not saying its 100% certain you wont get in, and its always worth a try…a FOCUSED try…bigtime research, bigtime work on your application and essay, and a lot of discussion with someone who knows someone…a professional admissions counselor may help…but they arent cheap. </p>
<p>If I were you, I would spend most of my time on really good colleges in the second tier…places you would see yourself thriving and being happy. There are many, many colleges out there that would LOVE to have your application. And some of them would even offer you scholarship money if you are above the 75th percentile in their applicant pool. Your biggest problem is your gpa. Most really good schools see gpas of at least 3.7 UW, and some dip to 3.5 A 3.3 says, you are capable, but not really a hard working kid. (Not saying you didnt work really hard for your grades…sometimes there are exceptions and extenuating circumstances that can be explained.) </p>
<p>Prestige is highly over-rated. Its much better to focus on schools that fit your personality, academic rigor, social interests, financial situation etc. That could be a state school or it could be private school, it could be close to home or far away. </p>
<p>Prestige is also relative to your own personal expectations. What is prestigious to one family might be bland to another. In one sense ALL colleges are prestigious because you are electing to continue your education beyond high school to better yourself as a human being and potential employee. Amazingly there are still a high percentage of people who dont even go to community college…they just elect to stop going to school after high school. Big mistake. </p>
<p>There are over 3,000 colleges in the United States. With your stats, you can get into 90% of them. So its really up to you to decide. </p>
<p>Start on a website that lets you put in your stats, and other criteria like geographical region and see what they suggest. Do your homework on the schools. Every school has a unique personality and student body. </p>
<p>Also, some in-state state schools which are “prestigious” (top 10 state universities) might take a look at you IF you have an interesting application and some wonderful recommendations, some extra curriculars and perhaps a strong upward trend in your high school grade etc. But again, chasing “prestige” is really the wrong approach to college admissions. Everyone wants to get into the best school they can. But its more important to pick the best school for YOU, that which fits your profile and personality. </p>
<p>Bigger fish in a smaller pond. There is no price high enough for happiness. Stuff like that.</p>
<p>And then when you get to college, turn on the light bulb in your head and get to work. Have fun, but work even harder. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Good advice above. I saw in an earlier post that you attend a very competitive HS and have some strong ECs. I’d try in the app to address the rigor of your HS environment and supplement it with what you do outside of class to challenge yourself. Some schools that come to mind that may be worth checking on are Wake Forest, Richmond, Lehigh, Bucknell, etc.</p>
<p>Uh. Alright. How do we put an air-freshener on this one? Er…You have no shot at any of the colleges most people would consider prestigious.</p>
<p>If one of the two stats was very high (3.8 gpa or a 2200 SAT score) then I would encourage you to get good recommendations and work your ass off on your essays, but the combination of the two really just makes you a subpar applicant. Not that you are a subpar person, etc…But the AdComs only see what’s on paper and the first cut off is academia. You will not get in with a 3.3 gpa and/or a 1300 SAT scores. </p>
<p>To give you an idea, a URM applicant with a 3.9 gpa, EXTENSIVE AND IN-DEPTH ECs, and glowing recs got into Stanford a few months back here and it caused a massive uproar because his SAT score was a 1700. Even with his picture perfect profile that one score, for many, should not have let him into the school (which I thought was ridiculous since he was a wonderful applicant, but I digress). </p>
<p>His admission was by large the 1 in a million shot. Regardless of GPA, they don’t usually let 1700s in (unless they’re terrific athletes or have the greatest hooks). Now drop the SAT score by another 400 points and lower the gpa to 3.3. Even if we ceteris paribus’ed all the other stats, it is just (WAY) too low for the bar. I’m sorry.</p>
<p>Many will tell you to take a shot and that you never know…Well in some cases, like this given range, you do. Do not waste your application money on schools that will never accept you.</p>
<p>Like Algorescousin said however, there are many solid schools that will give you a great education (but are not “prestigious” in any noticeable way) that will give you a shot. I would even suggest community college which is less expensive and may (or may not) be easier for a student of this calibre. </p>
<p>If you apply yourself (i mean really effin’ work) then you can aim for a prestigious school later on for a graduate.</p>
<p>Totally agree with that starter list. There is a thread below this on rankings by SAT score. It is a 25/75th percentile and 50th avg percentile rankings of major colleges, though very incomplete.</p>
<p>You “qualify” for a lot of schools on the basis of your 1350 (give or take) SAT score. Its your gpa that is problematic. Most colleges are looking to see if you can survive and thrive at their school. Nobody wants to admit someone who will not make it. I know several kids already from my D’s high school who are “leaving” their colleges because of grades. Most of them, I strongly suspect, because of maturity and partying issues. </p>
<p>In addition to the list gadad gave you, look at state schools like Georgia, Maryland, Illinois, Miami (Ohio), South Carolina. UVa is a stretch to be sure. A HUGE stretch if you are out of state. </p>
<p>Also dont judge a book by its cover. Meaning avg. SAT scores does NOT define a school as good or bad. A lot of schools further down the list are actually excellent schools. </p>
<p>A lot of colleges look for SOLID kids…all around all american good kids who will work hard, have fun and BRING SOMETHING TO THEIR CAMPUS…a skill, talent, personality, experience etc. And they also consider their “yield factor”. In other words, “how likely is it that this kid will accept our offer of admission?” So tell them. </p>
<p>It really comes down to how you define yourself and your interests FIRST, then look for schools that fit you. Interviews may help as well. </p>
<p>I know someone who got into Dartmouth with an SAT like yours. They had a higher gpa and class rank, but really it was a counselor who made the push to Dartmouth and it worked. So it can happen. Just focus on the “match schools” if I were you.</p>
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<p>Most people in the US have heard of Ohio State, U Florida, U Miami, Indiana, Texas, Penn State, and other large state schools (thank you football and basketball, and Miami is private). You probably have a shot at all of these with your stats.</p>
<p>undisclosed…I think the OP meant that his CR and Math (core) SAT was 1350ish…not his TOTAL score out of 2400. At least that is how I read it. If his/her TOTAL SAT was 1350ish, its a different problem. But I highly doubt that is what is going on here. That Stanford person with a 1700, was clearly out of 2400. </p>
<p>By the way, the College Board recently suggested that the one score most likely to determine success in college was the writing score. Interesting, since most colleges ignore it and focus on CR and Math.</p>
<p>I’m talking out of 1600… And weighted my gpa is around a 4.0.
I have good ecs, and great recommendations!</p>
<p>I dont mean a super prestigious school like harvard, but a second tier college that most people know of. (big or small)</p>
<p>Schools like umiami, Boston university, Syracuse, and others seem realistic.</p>
<p>Those three sound very realistic.</p>
<p>That comment about the Writing section is a total joke. I’ve been trained to grade the essays and know exactly what the the MC is testing for. In effect, if the Writing section maps college success best, it’s mapping your knowledge of grammar, and your ability to write… the SAT essay. You hear that all the time, but trust me, you don’t know the depth of it.</p>
<p>I am just repeating, arbiter, what the college board stated very recently. It was based, as I understand it, on three years of testing with the new writing section and monitoring results. I dont pretend to be an expert in the field. If you have a beef with that, fine…but take it up with the college board. It was also cited by Wake Forest as one of the reasons they are making their admissions SAT optional.</p>
<p>DPC…okay, a little more information to work with and that helps. If your GPA is 4.0 or so weighted that is great. That really helps because it means you are taking a lot AP and/or Honors courses. While its still problematic for the really top tier schools, it is dead center for second tier schools…and there are a bunch of really good schools in that group. You can also try a few reaches like Georgetown and Tufts and WashU and see what happens…just dont count on them to come through. Submit really good applications and wait and see. </p>
<p>But there are superb schools in the second tier, especially near the top of that crowd. Again, its really important, in my opinion, to select schools where you feel comfortable and challenged and can thrive. I dont know your personality or whether you like big state schools with huge sports and frats etc or prefer a smaller LAC or private college that has good stuff going on, or even an urban school like NYU, Fordham, Ga. Tech, Johns Hopkins, George Washington, American, BC or BU, etc. Its really up to you.</p>
<p>Good luck! And I think you will be fine.</p>
<p>rural, in state at any of the big state research schools will give you a fighting chance.</p>
<p>I think the easiest “prestigious” school to get into by pure acceptance rate is UMich.</p>
<p>UChicago has a 40% admit rate. Some of the liberal arts schools have 40%+ admit rates.</p>
<p>algorecousin, not to hijack the thread, but I didn’t at all mean to say your comment was a joke, I was criticizing the absurdity of the college board saying that.</p>
<p>Alright some more background…</p>
<p>I’m not looking for a massive school, but more around 5,000-10,000 or so.
I want an actual campus, but would like it to be in or near a cool city (maybe even just an awesome college town)</p>
<p>I like the idea of being in a frat, but that is not a deciding factor.</p>
<p>Brandeis
1300-1430 SAT
3,216 undergraduates
Waltham, MA
34% acceptance rate</p>
<p>@Jonathan1/dpc1192: Brandeis is near Boston (I think like 10 minutes away), but there are no frats and there isn’t much of a party scene there (one of the tour guides even said that herself.)</p>
<p>I’m sure Brandeis is nice, but I would like to have a bigger party scene and I feel like I wouldn’t really fit in that great there!</p>
<p>I don’t need a HUGE party scene, but I still want there to be a fairly large scene.</p>