In need of a critical eye

Rny2 · July 15, 2009, 11:20am

Hey, folks, my college list has just exploded (from 6 to 9) over this summer, due to learning about new schools and visits.

I’m worried, however, that a) my list has far, far too many reaches, and b) applying to too many schools will detract from the quality of each application.

With that in mind, could you please give me a hard and honest critique of my college list? I’m looking for places to cut, and places to rethink, and places that I might have missed.

This whole college search thing has, as I feared, put my head in the clouds, and I do believe I’m in need of a reality check.

My stats:

36 ACT, 12 Writing
4/490 Rank
4.43/4.77 Weighted GPA
3.81/4.00 Unweighted GPA

Ethnicity: Chinese
Citizenship: Canadian

Location: Illinois
High School: public school (not highly ranked)

Prospective Econ Major

Courseload: All Honours and AP offered at my school (4 APs taken junior year, enrolled in 4 senior)

Physics B: 5
Calculus BC: 5
English Language: 5
US History: 5

Extracurriculars:

Class President (9,10,11)
Debate Team (9,10 Captain 11)
Speech Team (9,10,11)
Academic Team (Captain 9,10,11)
Band (9,10,11) First Chair Trombone, Band President
Jazz Band (9,10,12) First Chair Trombone
Thespians
NHS (11)

Ron Paul Presidential Campaign Precinct Leader

AMC 10/12 School Winner (9,10,11)
NMSQT Semifinalist

And, my list:

**Columbia **University
**Swarthmore **College
**Northwestern **University
The University of Chicago
New York University
University of Michigan
**McGill **University
University of Illinois
University of British Columbia

I picked these schools mostly for the urban or near-urban location (except for UMich and U of I) and academic/intellectual rigour (being challenged is important for me to prosper). Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Jspencer1770 · July 15, 2009, 11:34am

Put the list of schools in categories: reach, fits, and safeties. You know which schools fit the best and which are out of your reach. This will give viewers a better idea.

Rny2 · July 15, 2009, 11:36am

I had the schools ranked in order of selectivity, so I suppose the reach/match cutoff is between Chicago and NYU, and the match/reach cutoff is between McGill and Illinois.

Rny2 · July 15, 2009, 1:25pm

So, in other words, in my opinion:

Reaches: Columbia, Swarthmore, Northwestern, Chicago

Matches: NYU, Michigan, McGill

Safeties: Illinois, UBC

I do believe I’ll be applying to Chicago EA.

samsunimomo · July 15, 2009, 1:32pm

Since you are from Canada, do you require financial aid?

And is that Ron Paul I see there, hiding in your ECs? What in the world is he doing there?

Rny2 · July 15, 2009, 1:34pm

That’s reassuring to hear.

Still, I’m afraid my list leans to far to the reaches in addition to being too large.
My GC, and general consensus at my school, is to have two reaches, two matches, and two safeties, while I have four reaches, three matches, and two safeties.
Where can I cut the fat so that my list is leaner?

Rny2 · July 15, 2009, 1:37pm

I’m Canadian, but reside in the United States, and will be applying as an American Permanent Resident (to the US schools; I’ll be applying as an out-of-province Canadian to the Canadian schools)

And concerning Ron Paul, I’m intensely passionate about politics, and I spent a large amount of time supporting his campaign, and the local libertarian movement as well. Perhaps this would go better with ‘other interests’ or volunteering?

Rny2 · July 15, 2009, 5:29pm

Or are you implying that that is not something one ought to have/put on their college application?

In need of a critical eye

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