Match/Chance Me: Econ/Environmental Studies Major, Oregon, 1450 SAT, 3.9 GPA

[boiwth]

16:00 5k is on the track. Does that mean anything?

I’ve heard stories of runners contacting coaches with poor times and simply getting blocked. I don’t want my window to be shut forever since I don’t have sufficient times for coaches.

But I will reach out at the schools where I do have relatively recruitable times. I also have connections on some D3 teams who are on my list.

[maijem11]

I would check out Indiana University Bloomington for environmental studies & economics, highly ranked & reputable. If awarded an out-of-state merit scholarship, IU would be an enticing option.

[politeperson]

Yes, it matters in the sense that it gives coaches a more reliable indicator. (On the flip side, a track 5k is usually quite a bit faster than a 5k on a legit XC course).

You aren’t likely to get blocked, just ignored if there’s no interest.

[AustenNut]

@boiwth

I don’t think taking Madison off is an option since my parent alum wants me to apply.

I would prefer to attend UVM. However, when the difference in tuition is >$120,000 over 4 years, it’s hard to argue against applying to U of O at the very least.

I didn’t mean to infer that you shouldn’t apply to U of O or Madison. I’m saying that you can prefer a school with a higher admit rate to a school with a lower admit rate and then cut the school with the lower admit rate, but you shouldn’t cut a school with a significantly higher likelihood of admitting you for a school with significantly lower odds of admitting you and think of them as comparable cuts.

Also, don’t ignore the opportunity for merit aid. I suspect you’d be offered scholarships at UVM, so don’t just compare list price to list price.

@boiwth

Do you think that UVM could be a good replacement for LMU, for instance? I think that LMU, aside from being in relative proximity to the ≥3 Claremont schools that I’m applying to and having a strong business program, doesn’t share as many similarities with the remainder of the list as a number of other schools on there including UVM.

I can’t say for sure because I don’t know what it is you want out of your college experience. But it sounds like you prefer UVM to LMU in which case it’s fine to eliminate LMU and add on UVM because UVM is a far likelier admit than LMU.

@boiwth

Dartmouth is my clear #1. I wouldn’t say that Middlebury is exactly my clear #1 among ED2-offering schools, probably more like my #3 among schools that offer ED2, Do you think I should consider changing my ED2, at least?

If Dartmouth is your clear #1 and you’ve visited while school is in session, then EDing there makes sense. ED2 to Middlebury makes no sense. How would you feel if you would have gotten into your #1 remaining choice after Dartmouth and instead are committed to going to Middlebury?

@boiwth

Maybe should have clarified that the hesitance stems from what I perceive as an excessive focus upon partying. Maybe that’s the case for Dartmouth, too, but I also have figured that the difficulty of coursework and the common pursuit of professional opportunities would ensure a greater emphasis is placed upon academic/professional interests.

I would visit and talk to students to see how much of your perceptions match the reality. Not just for Dartmouth but for other schools, like Cal Poly. Or does the difficulty of the coursework and the common pursuit of professional opportunities also mean that they’re taking care of their academic/professional interests? Students, especially those who make it past freshman year, are generally well able to find that balance.

[ucbalumnus]

@boiwth

Does the quality of math + stats instruction significantly vary across schools, including those with strong econ programs?

For upper level math and statistics applicable to economics, it is more of what is offered.

How much math and statistics is used in upper level economics courses can also matter.

[BelknapPoint]

@boiwth

It belongs to my grandparents. It will belong to my grandparents until I am 21.

How your grandparents are holding the money matters here for financial aid reporting purposes.

Is it held in a trust with you as the named beneficiary?

Is it held in a UTMA/UGMA account with you as the owner and a grandparent as the custodian until you turn 21?

Is it just a promise from your grandparents that they will gift you a lump sum amount of $100k when you turn 21?

Is it in a grandparent owned 529 account?

Or is it something else (please describe)?