Is my college list realistic?

College Search & Lists
1

UPenn ED-Reach
Cornell-Reach
Dartmouth-Reach
Columbia-Reach
WUSTL-Reach
USC-Reach
UC Berkeley-Reach
Georgetown-Reach
Michigan-Reach
Boston College-Match
NYU Stern-Reach
BU-Match
Northeastern-Match
Penn State-Match
Syracuse-Safety
Fordham-Safety
Binghamton-Safety

ACT: 35E/35M/35R/36S
35C with 8W
SAT single sitting: CR 770 M 720 W 740 (2230)
SAT superscore: CR 770 M 750 W 740 (2260)
UW GPA: 95.5/100
Class Rank: Top 10%
Course Load: 10 Honors, 1 AP junior year, 6 APs senior year, 1 college level physics class junior year
APs: APUSH (5)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Gov, AP Chem, AP English Lit, AP French, AP Stats, AP Calc BC
ECs: very involved in figure skating probably skate like 10 hours a week, I learn learn to skate at the YMCA, school discussion group, volunteering …that’s not much I know
Minor Awards: likely National Merit Semifinalist, skating stuff, National French Contest (4th National, 9th National, 10th National, 22nd National), National Latin Exam Gold

Asian
Female
NY

Is my college list good? Are my safeties even real safeties? Do I have too many reaches?

Thank you for your input!

2

I answered your last one re: Penn State, but I’d just like to plug our honors college again. :stuck_out_tongue: Extra scholarship money, honors housing, priority registration for classes… I would definitely take a look at the Schreyer app when it opens up, if you’re interested.

3

Can you afford Bing, Syracuse and Fordham? If so they may be safeties based on your stats. NMSF is a little better than a minor award.

4

@bodangles I’m already applying for Penn State, like it or not, so why not apply for the honors college. My dad got his Ph.D there actually and I was actually born in State College lol. Do you remember if the essay questions for Schreyer were time consuming?

5

Not really. There were three short essay questions, if I remember correctly, with a few other short answer type things. Seems like the topics for the essays may be up already? https://www.shc.psu.edu/admissions/apply/essays.cfm

I didn’t put a whole lot of thought into mine–I thought getting into Schreyer would be easy, didn’t know anything about class size or acceptance rate–which may have actually worked in my favor. I made sure I liked my topics, but I didn’t overwork them like I did on other essays.

My year’s questions included “Who would you put on a new Mount Rushmore?” and “Describe your bucket list.” My essays were probably less than 600 words.

6

Take another look at researching your reaches and comparing them to your personal needs. It’s great that you’re going to give these reaches a shot, and I’d be surprised if you were not admitted to a few based on what you’ve shared here! I just wanted to add that, for example, somebody who feels that they fit at Dartmouth will probably not feel as comfortable at Columbia. I also applied to both, but it wasn’t until months after applying that I fully realized how different all elite colleges really are. It takes a lot of reflection to know what you want in your college experience, but you can save a lot of time and stress later if you can find some of those answers now.

7

Fordham has a scholarship for National Merit (if class rank or GPA is high enough, I believe).

I think your list is realistic.

8

Also, if you are applying to b-schools, it may make sense to apply to Kelley (IU). If you get in there EA (and finances aren’t a concern), you may be able to cut a bunch of safeties & matches.

Finally, if you want to use ED strategically (and you don’t need fin aid), Stern is easier to get in to than Wharton in ED and would open as many doors (but if you absolute love Penn or are legacy or hooked there, go for it).

9

I think the list is realistic. You may pair down your “reach” number as you visit, research. I would suggest picking your number 1 reach & applying ED.

10

I’d say pair down your safeties. If you would not be happy to attend, take them off the list.