Help me narrow down my RD/ED2 apps

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Demographics

  • US domestic/dual citizen
  • State/Location of residency: Mid-atlantic region
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public magnet
  • Other special factors: Legacy at UVA

Cost Constraints / Budget
Income around 100k, but it will change for work reasons and might be lower, so the NPC could also change. I’m kind of in a predicament because I don’t know the numbers to calculate for but everything I’m inputting will be different by the time I start college. Unsure how big a difference it will make.

Intended Major(s)
Psychology and Public Health, possible minor in anthropology, Spanish/Latino Studies, or medical anthropology/sociology/humanities where possible

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.9
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.75
  • Class Rank: School doesn’t rank
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1330 (test optional for most, only submitted to UF and AU so far)

List your HS coursework

  • Magnet International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (full-IB curriculum)
  • English: 2 years of IB English HL, 2 years of Honors English
  • Math: Honors Algebra 2/IB Algebra 2, IB Precalc, IB Calc SL, AP Stats
  • Science: Honors Bio, Honors Chem, 2 years of IB Bio HL
  • History and social studies: AP Psych, AP Gov, APUSH, IB Anthro SL, 2 years of IB History HL, Law, Women’s Studies
  • Language other than English: Spanish 1-7, Spanish 4 was IB/Honors, Spanish 5 was IB/AP Spanish, Spanish 6 was IB, Spanish 7 is IB/AP Spanish Lit (confusing I know it was all condensed classes)
  • Visual or performing arts: None
  • Other academic courses: Honors Health? LOL

Awards

  • Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish (State of Maryland)
  • AP Scholar with Honor Award (3.25+ average on AP exams)
  • Consistent Honor Roll (every semester of high school)
  • County/state level scholar-athlete award

Extracurriculars

Leadership Roles

  • President, National Spanish Honor Society
  • President and Founder of school chapter, Psi Alpha (National Honor Society in Psychology)
  • Captain, club soccer team
  • Additionally, 2-year Varsity player; reached playoffs and won divisional title after 30 years, selected as 2 of 50 seniors county wide for All-Star game

Work Experience and Volunteering:

  • Board of Education Intern: supported new students through pamphlets and informational meetings for those new to the county
  • Tutor for middle school students in math, Spanish, and history
  • Camp Counselor at soccer camp and camp for children with special needs
  • Volunteered with a foundation for children with neurodevelopmental condition during international research conference
  • Coordinated for Healthcare Club, fundraising for Doctors Without Borders

Essays/LORs/Other
Common app essay was about TCK experience, pretty good but I basically rewrote and restructured it in preparation for RD apps bc I felt like it wasn’t concrete enough, so I dont know if its a change for the better or worse, I guess well see when I get my EA decisions
Strong recs from psych and bio teacher

Schools
Already applied:
UMBC
UIUC
American
UMD
UMiami
UVA
UF
Duke (ED)

Choosing between for RD/ED2
Ideally I want to narrow down to 5

  • Vanderbilt: heard its good for aid though scholarship deadline has passed, good location, interested in Psychology + Spanish for the Professions, Latino Studies, Medicine, Health and Society, or Culture, Advocacy, and Leadership minors. NPC says $31,894

  • Columbia :virtually no chance of getting in but my dad wants me to apply, interested in doing Psychology and Public Health + Latin American and Iberian Cultures, but also highly interested in Medical Humanities (half my classes would have to be taught in Spanish). NPC says $45,922

  • JHU : #1 for public health, also good for psych, good for aid apparently. NPC says $46,108

  • Stanford: also 0 chance but I want to apply, interstedin Psychology (Mind, Culture, and Society Pathway), Spanish/Latin American Studies or Medical Humanities minor), #1-#4 best for psychology, #2 for anthropology

  • NYU : not as good for aid but their majors are such a good fit for me, feel like I might have a chance, Global Public Health and Applied Psychology, Anthropology and Linguistics. Could possibly visit before ED2 deadline.

  • USC

  • Fordham: interested in their Dean’s Scholarship, Rev. George McMahon, S.J. Scholarship. NPC says $51,170. Could possibly visit before ED2 deadline.

  • WashU: interested in Psychological & Brain Sciences Major, Experimental Psychopathology Specialization, Anthropology Minor, Global Health and Environment Specialization

  • College of Charleston: gives nonresident scholarships $2,500 to $12,500 per year. NPC says $53,582

2

You really have no issue here - what you need is a budget and to ensure you apply to a safety that will 100% meet your budget. Plan for the worst.

So you should not ED!!

So what do you believe you can afford over four years?

What is your home state - don’t say mid atlantic. Is it Maryland?

Ultimately, what can you afford - how much?

Of Vandy, Columbia, JHU, Stanford, NYU, USC and WUSTL - they’re unlikely to happen. So pick the ones you want - and apply RD - because you have financial concerns. Duke unlikely on ED - so these, to me, are more time wasting - but you must have favorites.

With the already applied list, you have:

UMBC - will get in

UIUC - seems a waste - doesn’t sound like you want to spend $60K+ so even if you get in - it was not a good choice.

AU - demonstrate interest - it’s possible but won’t be cheap.

UMD - is possible

UVA - unliiely but TO, you never know. Most submit scores so that hurts you.

UF - unlikely with that score - but you never know.

The only assured you have is UMBC - are you ok with that? Charleston will be too - but doesn’t sound like you can afford it - so like UIUC, a throwaway.

If not, share your budget - and let’s find schools that will be home runs for you - both admissability and cost wise.

In my opinion, you missed the most important schools on your list as you’re seeking big names vs. schools you can afford for four years.

Have that talk now with your folks. Get a true budget.

Let’s find you a second possibility beyond UMBC because this may be your only admit at this point.

Good luck.

3 Likes
3

What is the other country where you have citizenship? The reason I ask is…

Affordability might end up being a major issue. Affordability is a major issue for a lot of students in the US, perhaps even the majority of students.

Some dual citizens can save buckets of money and still get a great education by attending university in the other country where they have citizenship. Some cannot. This largely depends upon what the other country is.

Are you in-state in Maryland? If so, then I am happy to see UMD on your list. It is a very good university (I have worked with UMD graduates, and went to a very good graduate school and ended up with a good friend in the same program who was a UMD graduate).

Being bilingual can be very useful for some careers, including some careers related to psychology and public health.

This is a lot for a family with an income of $100,000.

And these would be worse.

Ouch. This is painful. These numbers imply large loans. Large loans will very significantly restrict what you are able to do after getting a bachelor’s degree. There is also the very real possibility of getting part way through your bachelor’s program and discovering that your family no longer qualifies to borrow any additional money. You could find that you do not get to graduate due to the inability to borrow enough money to finish your degree. I have seen this happen. The student ended up with huge loans and no degree. You really, really, really do not want to get into this situation.

My personal opinion is that you are likely to get multiple acceptances to very good universities, but that the cost of attendance is likely to be very important to you and your family. I would urge you not to apply ED2 anywhere, but instead to apply to a range of schools, and then wait and see what offers you get, and then compare the various offers.

Definitely apply to in-state public schools which have a program in your intended major.

2 Likes
4

You need a budget, as that will determine your list. Some of these schools seem too costly, imo.

It seems that you are from Maryland. Is UMBC your safety?

5

Linking to OP’s original Chance Me for reference

6

Thanks for posting. I think this is the issue. The student is seeking top 30 but likely isn’t admissible top 30 and I don’t think ED changes that.

Given the majors I don’t think it matters as grad school is likely.

No school is worth it if it’s not affordable but a school like Hendrix, which will meet UMD tuition, is a top feeder to psych PhD programs, as an example. Kalamazoo and SUNY Geneseo are two others that get aggressive. All are top feeders to PhD in psych.

7

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. If you’d like to reply, please flag the thread for moderator attention.