Help me find match and safety schools!

College Search & Lists
1

Hey, everyone! I’m a junior starting to seriously think about where I want to go to college. I know of the top 20 colleges and universities, but I need some help on finding great match and safety schools.

I am a U.S. citizen studying abroad in a weird country and full-time online-school student.

GPA UW: 4.0
Class rank: N/A
SAT: 2070 (retaking in May)
SAT II: 750 Korean w/ listening (doesn’t really count because my parents are Korean-speakers), ? Lit (June), ? Math II (June)
Very low income – family of five makes <$30k

ECs:

  • I teach English (9, 11)
  • Co-founded/co-serve at the local church’s Sunday school (11)
  • TA’d for another language class in California (10)
  • Mission trips (9, 11)
  • International youth group student leader (11)

APs:
AP Lang (11)
AP US Gov (12)
AP Calc (12)
AP Lit (12)
AP Economics (12)
(If my online school offers 10 AP classes, how many should I be taking?)

Here are some factors that will influence my decision:

NEED
• very good financial aid
• on-campus housing

WANT
• close student-professor relationships
• study abroad programs
• tightly-knit student body
• supportive community; less competitive
• nature-y feel (ocean/trees/mountains)

DON’T WANT
• a strong presence of greek life
• too much of a drinking culture
• large student population
• sports to have much impact on social life
• the school to be in a huge, busy city

I am already interested in Williams College, Pomona College, and Pepperdine University. Where else would you think would be a good fit for me?

Also, if Williams is my first choice and Pomona is my second, would it be a good idea to apply ED to Williams and, if deferred or rejected, apply EDII to Pomona? Is applying ED something I should avoid because of my family’s financial status?

2

I forgot to mention that I want to study international relations or political science!

3

Pepperdine is a religious school – does it match your religious faith, and are you ok with whatever religion-based rules it has?

Most schools that give good financial aid will be non-safeties, because they are very selective.

However, some of the full rides listed in http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ may be safety candidates for you.

4

@ucbalumnus Thank you for the link!

5

Are your parents self-employed? do they work in this country or elsewhere?

6

@mom2collegekids They are not self-employed. They work outside the U.S., but pay taxes to California, as well as to the country we are living in.

7

Given your family’s low income, check out Questbridge to see if you qualify: http://www.questbridge.org/

8

Since some of the things you mention are related to mission work, you may be a “pastor’s kid”. Look into St Olaf (no Greeks, not insignificant number of internationals and Americans educated abroad especially pastor kids, very strong in the sciences and music, excellent study abroad programs, as a Korean-heritage student you’d be considered URM, and meets 100% demnstrated need) Holy Cross (more conservative, meets 100% need), Illinois Wesleyan, Hendrix (proudly non-Greek, check out the “Odyssey”)

9

@doschicos Thank you for your reply. Questbridge’s National College Match is a wonderful program, but I doubt my stats and ECs are enough!

@MYOS1634 I looked up your suggestions and I’m really liking St. Olaf from the pictures and their website! Thank you for your time and reply.

10

You can always try for Questbrisge. The worst that can happen is that you’re not selected :slight_smile:

11

I was going to ask about academic interest but see you listed IR or poli sci. Check out American University as a school to consider in the mix for sure- might not have all the pros you are seeking (since is larger and in DC) but has excellent academic opportunity for you and gives good aid. Of course not as selective as Williams or Pomona.

12

@lr4550 Thank you! I will look into the college.