US Citizen living in Colorado.
Independent girls high school.
No cost constraints.
Political Science, American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Film Minor
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.3, no ranking at my school
SAT: 1540 (R+W 790, Math 750)
H.S. Coursework:
AP Calc AB + BC
AP Psychology
AP Lit
AP Lang
AP Physics
APUSH
AP Human Geo
AP Stat
AP Biology
AP Gov
General Courses:
Advanced Choir
French 4
Theology
Women’s Studies
World Lit
World History
Awards:
School Merit Scholarship ($)
French Honors Award (10th, 11th)
Social Studies Award (9th, 10th, 11th)
Service Learning Award (9th, 10th, 11th)
Varsity Tennis Coach’s Award (10th)
Varsity Tennis All State (10th)
Constitutional Rights Foundation Multimedia Contest Hon. Mention (national)
Coalition on Juvenile Justice Summit Scholarship (paid, national)
Johns Hopkins University – Center for Talented Youth High Honors
Community:
Mayor’s Youth Commission
Emerging Leaders Committee – State Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission
Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship (paid, national)
Student government, all four years, Student Body President 2024-25
Multi-sport varsity athlete
Story to Tell, 501c3, Founder & Creative Director: produced three documentaries for Colorado non-profit organizations
Paid internship with CO nonprofit for education reform. (2024)
Youth documentary fellow producing a documentary on adolescent mental health. (2024)
Research with University of Denver prof. on social movement, and transformative justice practices. (2023)
Since you don’t have a list of schools here, we can’t really respond. Are you looking for ideas? Any preferences in terms of size or location? When putting together a list it is good to have a mix of safety (assured admission & affordability), target and reach schools. I’d start by looking at your in-state flagship - would that work as a safety for you (with your stats, and considering your prospective majors, it looks like it would be a safe admission)?
Hi Thorsmom66. Apologies! I thought Match Me was for getting suggestions on schools that match profile and interests. Yes, looking for ideas please! Location: west, upper midwest, and northeast. Want to complete undergrad outside of Colorado. I’m open to size. I can see myself at U.C. Berkeley and Amherst! I’d love your thoughts on what matches based on my interest and the strength of my application. Thank you!
Given your interest in film, you should definitely consider Wesleyan. It has one of the best film studies programs in the country and the Political Science department (Wes calls it Government), is excellent as well. Good luck with your search!
Based on your range of academic interests, you might like colleges with notably flexible curricula. For ideas along these lines, look into Amherst, Hamilton, Smith and Brown.
UC Berkeley and Amherst are both excellent schools, but quite different. I think UCB has about 30k undergrads while Amherst has a couple of thousand. That’s a pretty big difference. They are both reaches, of course. In terms of location do you prefer rural, urban or suburban? Amherst is in a nice college town - as is Wesleyan (which someone else suggested). If you can hone in on what types of schools you like, we can make suggestions of schools that are that type at various levels of selectivity - ie. if you like the open curriculum at Brown, maybe you’d like U of Rochester (which is somewhat less selective).
Thanks, Hummingbird30! I’m def interested in Wesleyan, but am skittish about majoring in film. Just nervous about finding a job! <insert crying emoji!>
Amplifying @ucbalumnus: no one can match you to an ED choice. You need to determine which school you would absolutely want to attend above all others if admitted.
You need to indicate what preliminary options you have researched. If you can see yourself at a big West Coast school like UCB and a tiny East Coast school like Amherst, you’re not giving us any parameters to work within, and there are something like 4K degree-granting institutions in the U.S.
Thorsmom66, that’s what I’m struggling with – I can see myself attending and doing well in many different learning environments. UCB and Amherst were the best examples to illustrate why I feel stuck. I’ve visited both and so many +and- of each. Do you think that they are reaches because they are just extremely competitive or do you see something in my description that feels lacking? I really appreciate your insights.
Hi ucbalumnus! Yes, I completed chemistry. (Requirement at my school.) I understand your thoughts about having a clear no-regrets choice. It’s tricky when you can see yourself in so many learning environments. But, okay, Northwestern, Amherst, and Williams rise to the top. Reaches, I know. But in reach? Like is my arm falling off reaching, or just mildly cramping? lol Maybe my post should’ve been Chance Me. Oops. Thanks for your thoughts. I really appreciate it!
I don’t see budget anywhere…What are your parents willing and able to afford? Are you eligible for need-based financial aid? Are you in need of merit aid?