<p>Another thing that makes it sound like false modesty is
However you have a 3.9 UW. How bad could they have been?? That comes across as ridiculously self-deprecating.</p>
<p>I also agree with those talking about your EC’s. There are not enough hours in the last 3 years to have gone to class, study, eat, have some family and social life, the numerous hours varsity tennis takes up, have a job, and also to have done all the school activities and other outside activities. You may have done everything on there to some degree, I have no doubt. But get rid of the ones that were peripheral and get it down to something that really reflects where you spent your time and had real interest. For example, unless it really took up a lot of time, I would lose the violin lessons you gave.</p>
<p>Now let’s focus on schools. If your family won’t pay for you to have an English degree you need to either A) Go someplace that has large merit aid, or B) see if they will pay if you double major with the other one being something they consider practical. Maybe business. Because in case you don’t realize it, since you come from a well-off family, schools won’t care that they decided not to pay when it comes to FA awards. Their income will count, and you are right that makes schools like Penn unaffordable. But that is true for Chicago also, although they do have some merit awards. But they are very hard to get. There are a number of fine schools that have good merit aid (Tulane was mentioned and you would have a decent chance at a full tuition scholarship), and that would be where you should focus. Now if you go route A and decide on a double major so they will pay, just make sure the school you choose makes that easy to do. At some schools it is harder because you have to be admitted to different sections within the school, while others (again Tulane being one of a fair number of examples) make it very easy to double major without having to worry about that nonsense.</p>
<p>Decide on a strategy and depending on which you pick, people can be more helpful with suggestions.</p>