I feel like there are too many schools on my list and I don’t know where to cut!
wGPA: 3.78
GPA: 3.48
Top 10 school in nation
ACT: 35 (35E, 35R, 35M, 34S)
SAT Subject Tests: Math 2: 800, Chem 750, Physics 750
AP level classes: Chemistry, Biology, Physics C, BC Calculus, Statistics, Latin Literature, US History, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics.
ECs: Dance Company Choreographer+ Leader: Work on creating Excel sheet with functions involving code writing, Varsity Sailing Member+ Starter, Top Women’s sailor, Competed at Nationals during summer 5 times, Latin Quiz Bowl, Math Team Member, Played at Carnegie Hall for piano and flute twice (age 14 and 15), sailing instructor during summer.
Honors: Dean’s List, National Latin Exam Highest Honors 4 times, AMC Top 3%
Tell me your major and local area. All these schools are near privates except for the UC’s and Michigan and you have pretty good statistics and GPA. Your SAT/ACT looks good and subject tests are near perfect.
These safety schools look high. If you are from California, I definitely would recommend applying for CSU’s as backup schools as well. They are not bad schools. College is good no matter what and the experience is what you make of it.
You may also want to consider community college too if money is an issue. Privates and out-of-states are very expensive.
The 3.48 GPA is going to make the schools you listed as reaches extremely tough admits. I would start the cutting there.
Northeastern, Case and UCSD (especially if UCSD is OOS) may be reaches or low reaches. BU is a high match.
Connecticut College and Hobart & William Smith may be matches.
Between Stony Brook and UConn, if one is your state flagship, it could be a safety, but the other (OOS) probably is not – maybe a low match though.
A couple of reachy schools that seem to be into high test scores are Washington U and Vanderbilt. Your 35 is lovely – maybe try a couple schools, like Wash U and Vandy, that seem to care about test scores more than their peers do.
You GPA will be problematic for most of the schools on your list.
You have to remember that many applicants to these schools typically have the UW GPA AND the test scores.
Although your test scores are very good, that GPA will impact how the schools view your vitae.
Can you afford these schools?
Check the NPC on each school’s websites. The Net Price Calculators are very humbling. If you can’t afford to go, the school needs to be off of your list. Don’t assume that you will automatically qualify for merit aid. Your uw GPA affects your chances at merit.
Assume very limited funding from most of these schools.
If you are not a resident of California, getting in and paying the fees will be difficult.
Cut UCLA and Berkeley – my understanding is that even in-state, a 3.48 will not be sufficient but I defer to those who know CA schools well. Michigan is a big stretch with that gpa. Do you hope to continue sailing in school? Are there schools with teams that recruit? I agree Conn Coll is a match and that Wash U and Vandy, which like the high test scores, might be replacements for some of the reaches, like Columbia.
Build the list from the bottom up – start with the “sure things” which may be in the instate public, although depending on the flagship, that gpa might be a concern. Then build out the middle, the matches. That could include Conn Coll, Skidmore, maybe St Lawrence would be more of a safetyish school. Then look at the reaches – maybe Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Wash U, Vandy, keep Yale on the list if the OP feels strongly about it.
If, when the OP says, they attend a top 10 school in the country, they are referring to a boarding school or elite private, then the guidance counselor will have more insight into how this student’s profile aligns with students from that school.
Good point, @Midwestmomofboys - what is the criteria op you are using to claim “top 10 HS in country”?
Agree the list is way too top heavy, especially with the GPA. How were your AP scores? And accomplishments in middle school are interesting but probably not helpful. Do you have any financial limitations?
@mes0212 I agree with @Midwestmomofboys, your first step should be to consult with your college counselor. Your school’s Naviance data will also provide information about how students with your GPA at your school fare at these schools. It may be that at a top 10 prep school, your GPA reflects grade deflation (or not).
Also, go on line and figure out how to calculate your UC GPA. From there, you can determine which UCs will be realistic for you. They tend to be very stats-driven. You might consider cutting these two from your list, as I doubt your GPA will be in range.
Your options suggest that you are a CT or CA resident; depending on which it is, include at least one in-state safety/match.
Finally, you have a compelling package of ECs - competitive sailing, high level musical achievements, dance. Do what you can to leverage these, but be mindful of the fact that compelling ECs may provide a small boost but aren’t a direct substitute for high GPA.
A few things I have forgotten to add:
I am a NY resident but my school is in CT.
I want to study BME or biophysics
I have legacy at Georgetown
I looked up how to do the UC GPA, and I have a 3.967 GPA for my 10th and 11th grade years.
All of the schools have sailing programs except JHU and Case, but the ones that I will get pull for as of now are Georgetown, Cornell, and Tufts.
Costs are not going to be an issue for me.