<p>In my graduating class a few of my peers (from Virginia) got into Michigan out of state with 3.3’s and one with a 3.1 UW. I think they had 1300+ or more on their SATs though (out of 1600).</p>
<p>May I suggest McGill University? If you like big cities, there are none better than Montreal…it’s very European, sophisticated, and safe. Also, the drinking age is 18, and the nightlife is outrageously awesome. McGill itself has incredible international prestige, especially in the sciences. A McGill degree is valued pretty much everywhere in the world, except some regions in the US (i.e., Midwest, South). Your SAT’s are in range, and your GPA, if raised a little bit, would be also. It’s a great place! The party scene is incredible, AND it’s way cheap (comparatively).</p>
<p>“I’m pretty sure I’ll get into FSU or College of Charleston considering almost 100% of my high school gets into FSU haha”</p>
<p>Really? 100%? wow! You must come from a really impressive high school. </p>
<p>According to the FSU website: “The middle 50% of the Fall 2008 accepted freshman class is: 3.7-4.2 GPA; 1190-1330 SAT (Critical Reading plus Math); 26-29 ACT.”</p>
<p>So that means your H.S. might have the brightest students in the country, maybe even the world. Congrats.</p>
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<p>Not to be mean, but with the possible exception of UNC who really considers these schools to be prestigious? Most people, even conservatively would only consider top 25 schools in that range. All I am saying is be realistic—I agree with all of the people saying rolling to UMIch</p>
<p>UNC is a big reach even in state if you mean Chapel Hill. OOS even more so, nearly as selective as the top schools. No reason OP should not give it a try since he has safeties and matches in place. I also think most of the schools are prestigious in that they are flagship schools that are well known. More so than most schools, mainly because of sports teams. I was a bit chagrined that my son when he started the college search could only name a handful of college outside of the big sports schools.</p>
<p>UNC oos is your toughest reach, if I understand correctly you’re from FL. For example, the val from our hs last year (NJ) was waitlisted there.</p>
<p>Just a thought…your list is fine but I think Nick95 has a point. I’m one of those who thinks there’s a point where it makes more sense to go to a good state school rather than a private school that’s extremely expensive and not let’s say top-notch. For instance, Penn State, UDelaware, UMd…these are match schools for you (MD has gotten recently unpredictable), they have a good name, are reasonably “prestigious” (yes, in the general public they are), you’d have fun, and their academic reputation is as good as half the schools on your list, for $20,000 per year less.</p>
<p>OK I’ll be specific. I don’t see any difference in a degree from Penn State vs one from Syracuse or Fordham…except you would have saved your parents $80,000 over 4 years.</p>
<p>Yeah, UMD-College Park is getting pretty darn hard to get into these days, even for in-state students. My friend got rolled to spring semester when she was accepted, and she was in-state. At my school it gets a bad rep for being a safety school that “everyone” can get into–but now UMD is really trying to change its image and improve itself. I got in (in-state), but this year they received a 19% increase in applications, resulting in a number over 27,000 apps (that’s a TON of apps…comparable to Harvard!). UMD really is rising in the ranks and I foresee a similar number of applicants for the 2008-09 cycle without the acceptance rate inreasing either.</p>
<p>UNC-Chapel Hill has a quota of 18% for out of state students and I honestly don’t think you’ll be able to get in with your GPA and scores. If you increased your scores significantly (1400+, but really 1450+ out of 1600) and were taking the hardest courseload possible and everything else is strong, then you might have a chance. But don’t hold your breath. It’s definitely your hugest reach.</p>
<p>Stick with the other schools on your list.</p>
<p>In my graduating class a few of my peers (from Virginia) got into Michigan out of state with 3.3’s and one with a 3.1 UW. I think they had 1300+ or more on their SATs though (out of 1600).</p>
<p>Just curious lfecollegeguy. How long ago did you graduate? I find it really hard to believe that anyone from OOS could get into Michigan with an 3.1 UW. The exception being perhaps some sort of fine arts major.</p>
<p>"Really? 100%? wow! You must come from a really impressive high school.</p>
<p>According to the FSU website: “The middle 50% of the Fall 2008 accepted freshman class is: 3.7-4.2 GPA; 1190-1330 SAT (Critical Reading plus Math); 26-29 ACT.”</p>
<p>So that means your H.S. might have the brightest students in the country, maybe even the world. Congrats."</p>
<p>Yeah, this is why I believe that I could shoot higher than my stats show.
FSU is about the worst school kids from my HS go to. It is a top 10 High School in the country. (school in FL)</p>
<p>Also, I don’t think I’m even going to bother trying for UNC if it really is that selective.</p>
<p>I’d much rather go to Northwestern than UNC, and if they are par in selectivity then I don’t even see why I’d bother applying…</p>
<p>UMaryland looks beautiful and will probably be a college I actually apply too in the longrun.</p>
<p>If I was to apply to colleges tomorrow
Safety- FSU, College of Charleston, Clemson
Match- Boston University, Maryland, Tulane, UMiami, Syracuse, Fordham
Reach- UMichigan, USC
Super reach- Northwestern, UofChicago</p>
<p>you can disregard your gpa slightly, but you can’t disregard your SAT score. that’s what it was designed for. If you had a higher SAT, you’d have a better. shot.
have you tried the ACT? some students do much better, and it’s accepted almost literally everywhere</p>
<p>I need to take the ACT, and I’m sure I could probably bring my SAT to the 1400 range.</p>
<p>Also, remember some colleges don’t take Freshman year into your final GPA which would leave me with around a 3.6uw.
(UMichigan, UofChicago, etc)</p>
<p>not to be a dick or anything, but i really don’t see how tulane is a match with your grades/test scores. their admissions stats are basically identical to michigan’s and usc’s. stats for class of 2012:</p>
<p>tulane :
acceptance rate - 23%
avg. gpa - 3.66 UW 4.06 W
avg. act - 31
avg. sat - 1345</p>
<p>USC:
acceptance rate - 25%
avg. gpa - 3.07 UW 4.07 W
avg. act - 28
avg. sat - 1325</p>
<p>michigan:
acceptance rate - 47%
avg. gpa - 3.69UW 4.0W
avg. act - 30
avg. sat - 1358</p>
<p>Can apply EA to Tulane, Fordham, CC,UCh, UMiami, and rolling to Michigan and any of the other state schools that will let you know on a rolling basis. Will have answers by mid Dec and can go from there.</p>
<p>“Yeah, this is why I believe that I could shoot higher than my stats show.
FSU is about the worst school kids from my HS go to. It is a top 10 High School in the country. (school in FL)”</p>
<p>Considering that FSU’s freshman acceptance rate for the Fall 2007 semester was 48%, having 100% of your H.S. admitted seems unreal. </p>
<p>Also, why don’t you add UF to your list? I think they would be considered “prestigious” by some.</p>
<p>I think around a 3.6 and a 1350-1400 with some good ecs and amazing recs could put me in the running for umichigan and maybe even uchicago…</p>
<p>I don’t think U Chicago is realistic and what’s more, you probably wouldn’t like it there. It’s for very, very intense students and there isn’t much of a party scene. I know some unbelievably bright kids who’ve turned down HYP for U Chicago. (Also, the 40% acceptance rate is extremely misleading, because it only tends to be very bright, motivated kids who apply).</p>
<p>U Mich seems like it would be a good reach.</p>
<p>yeah that’s true. I probably wouldn’t even like it there because I do want a fun party scene and frats…</p>
<p>Michigan is much more compatable for my taste as a reach. </p>
<p>What other colleges do you guys think would be a good reach?</p>
<p>Well now that I know alot of colleges don’t take Freshman grades into their GPA thats really reassuring.</p>
<p>Including Freshman year I’d have like a 3.3 uw
Without Freshman year I’ll have around a 3.5 uw, which makes me think I should have a decent chance at UMichigan as a reach!!</p>
<p>Your GPA is definitely your weak point and will make some of your “matches” more like “reaches” or at least “low reaches” (specifically UMiami and Tulane)</p>