I’m having tough time deciding on what I really want in a school so I’m not getting any closer to a finalized list for this fall. I feel like I could be happy at a large range of schools so my options are overwhelming. I know I don’t want an extremely small school because I want to always be meeting new people (must be bigger than 2500), but I don’t know how I fit in at a huge state university either. I would like to go to the east coast (although I am a CA resident). I don’t think I would like a very urban campus (did not like Northeastern) but too rural wouldn’t be ideal either (Dartmouth is my exception to that rule) Also I am a little anxious about my lack of matches/ safeties, so suggestions would be appreciated! Political science is what I’m thinking about majoring in, although this may change. History is my best/favorite subject but I don’t see a future career there. If my major does change, I will stay with humanities. I attend a high performing public school. Merit aid is not a huge concern and I will not qualify for need based aid.
Schools I’m pretty sure about
Dartmouth (legacy- visited and 1st choice)
Tufts (visited- liked proximity to Boston but in suburban area)
GW- will visit
UVA- will visit
William and Mary- will visit
UCSB (in state)
UCLA
Maybe Schools (need more research/input)
University of Washington
Michigan
University of Maryland
UMass Amherst
Statistics
34 ACT
4.24 W GPA
800 SAT II US history
690 SAT II literature (retaking)
5 AP Euro
5 AP Spanish
4 APUSH (subject test could make up for this?)
3 AP Seminar (new, experimental class=hook?)
pretty sure I’m ELC for UC system (top 9%)
California Scholarship Federation
National Honor Society
next year will be taking AP Econ, AP Research, and AP Calc AB
EC (weak area- all over the place)
JV lacrosse- team captain (9 10)
Film club (10 11)
Link Crew (leadership and freshman orientation class) (11 12)
Peer tutor (11)
Camp Counselor (9 10 11 12)
volunteering at museum for CA history this summer
potential political internship in the fall
Thanks for your suggestions! Also, please tell me what you think about the schools I’m unsure about, both academically and social life.