Match Me: west coast, private school, junior [CA resident, 3.8 GPA, 1470 SAT, business major]

Chance Me / Match Me
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@classof96 Congrats on your academic achievements thus far. Many insightful responses here - campus visits are a great idea if feasible. You’ve earned the right to enjoy this process.

Some thoughts:

  1. Great SAT score. Consider taking it one more time if it wasn’t too stressful.
  2. As someone who is considering business, I love that Babson is on your list. You’re really digging into the process.
  3. What region of the country would you like to attend college? Without financial barriers, you should see some admissions with select LACs on the East Coast.
  4. You say that you’re open to mid-size/large schools? How do you feel about smaller schools? A school like Colgate in upstate NY has about 3,300 students. One of my children didn’t mind mid-sized schools, but did not want anything under 5,000.
  5. Talk to your advisor about the latest admissions insights for the UCs. Have to believe that your guidance department should have a stronger handle on likely outcomes in-state.
  6. If you’re curious about business, have you considered USC?
  7. @Momofthree24 is right about Tulane. There are a handful of elite schools where ED plays an even more enhanced role in the process than the average university.
  8. I like your curiosity about Villanova - there are a fair amount of business-minded universities in Pennsylvania. When i read your initial post, the school that immediately popped into my mind was Lehigh. Lafayette College is another great school with a strong business program and underrated network. Bucknell University as well, though both have student populations under 5,000.

You’ve worked hard enough and achieved enough to dream about an amazing college life and you will achieve one. Admittance to an Ivy League school is incredibly difficult for even students sporting 4.0/1600s and a boat load of APs. I love that you have some public universities at the top of your list. If you’re passionate about business, sit down with your advisors and parents and drill down a little deeper on the private universities with robust business programs.

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Tulane has made some surprising decisions this year. We know of one case where an ED applicant with a strong application and lots of family/legacy connections was flat out denied. Not even deferred. Was quite disappointing and unexpected.

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When chancing a student for schools, I usually use these categories:

  • Extremely Likely: 80-99+%
  • Likely: 60-79%
  • Toss-Up: 40-59%
  • Lower Probability: 20-39%
  • Low Probability: less than 20%

For the vast majority of the schools on your list, I would classify them as “Low Probability.” Some of them might be more in the 10-20% range and others in the sub-5% range, but nearly all would be in that “Low Probability” category.

Babson, Villanova, and U. of Washington I’d probably put in the Lower Probability range. U. of Wisconsin I’d probably classify as a Toss-Up.

When developing a college list, I believe in starting with the sure things, the schools that are extremely likely to be acceptances and to be affordable. I highly recommend finding at least one, and preferably at least two, schools that fit in this category. These should not just be schools that are extremely likely to be affordable and acceptances, but that you would be happy to attend for four years. If those are your top two schools that you’re considering, you could end your college list right there. There’s no need to have a list with 10-20 schools on it.

Often times, however, there are schools that students become interested in that are not extremely likely admits. Those would fall in the other buckets.

I recommend that students think about their own mental makeup when deciding how to balance their college lists. For some students, rejection is a fuel that makes them want to be even more awesome wherever they end up so they can show the places where they received rejections/waitlists what a big mistake they made. For students like that, having a very reach-heavy list can be reasonable. But for many students, receiving rejections can cause a big emotional hit, making them question their own worth and the value of acceptances they’ve already received.

I find that most people do better if they get more acceptances than rejections, but this is a situation that is very individual-specific. I would take some time for serious introspection, and perhaps also talk about the topic with those who are close to you to help determine how you want to balance your college list in terms of schools that are likelier to accept you and schools that are less likely to accept you. Please note, however, that likelihood does not mean guarantee. Low Probability does not mean Impossibility.

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Forgot to mention that current math (11th grade) is Pre Calc. Would taking SAT again really matter if I could only get it up 20 or 30 points? Is a 1500 that different than a 1480?

Thank you all so much for your time and insight!

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Is Algebra 2 your jr year math? “Only” having pre-cal as a senior, looking at econ/business, coming from a private school in No. Cal, will be a bit of a challenge for the reach schools…just FYI. Not much you can do about it, but putting it out there.

I would, ASAP go visit a few schools - big state schools (maybe UC SC) and a smaller more liberal arts like school and just tour and see what you may like.

Also, without a detailed transcript and knowing your school (don’t give us this!) it is hard to match you with that sort of GPA, etc. a 3.8UW in all honors at a school equivalent of a very top indepedent school is VERY different than a middle-of-road parochial school and not being in many honors etc.

Also, if you are at a private in No. Cal I assume you have a good college counselor at your school - use them!!! they will understand your school’s context way better than us, I can’t overstate how apples to oranges GPAs can be.

Also, if you want a very business-focused school (like Babson is) you might add Bentley (it is near Babson geographically, but a more moderate acceptance rate - I think in 40%s).

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Some schools don’t even look at the SAT. A 1480 is great. If you’re done, then great. If you want to try once more, great.

When you list a school like Wisconsin, adding a school like Minnesota or even Arizona (safety) covers a base. Minnesota is likely, Arizona is safe. For 90% +of kids, they’ll be substitutional to Wisconsin. At UMN, maybe even more.

If you find you are budget constrained after all, Alabama would be $20k based on your stats.

A Vandy/Cornell/Duke - a U Denver is a safety valve.

Bentley to Babson.

A GW/Pitt to BU.

You have a few certain and affordable and then you are not overreaching.

The reason - you can only go to one.

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I like the OPs list. Varied levels of competitive admission.

One suggestion I would make…if any school has rolling admissions, apply early. And do early action whenever possible. It is nice to have some decisions (hopefully with some acceptances) early.

OP was clear. Doesn’t need money or loans.

I don’t think any of these colleges are test blind except the California publics.

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Although technically TO, U Washington is functionally test blind for the vast majority of applicants. Readers don’t see submitted test scores and they do say that high test scores are used in a ‘handful’ of cases where the student wouldn’t otherwise have been admitted.

The UW is technically test-optional. However, test-optional can mean different things at different schools. At the UW, you will not be disadvantaged for sending low scores or for not sending scores. In fact, when reading your application, the reviewers will not see your test scores, if provided. However, test scores that fall above our middle 50% (see the freshman profile for more information) may be considered for a handful of students who may not otherwise be admitted.

Historically, the SAT/ACT were a small consideration in the holistic review compared to curriculum quality and performance in courses. Moving forward, curriculum quality and performance in courses will remain the focus of our review of students’ academic preparation.

The UW’s holistic review considers far more than academic performance. Personal achievements and context are also important considerations. Read more about the factors that go into holistic review.

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Babson would be a great choice.

One you won’t often find recommended for business is WPI because it’s known for engineering. But it’s worth looking at for business because of its flexible curriculum and project based approach to learning. Like Babson, it’s also located outside Boston.

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Only 3 UCs offer Business Administration major (CAL, UCI, UCR). Most other UCs only offer Business Economics major. Like others said, I would add CPSLO and SDSU to your list. They are top CSUs with reputable undergraduate Business program. Good Luck.

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UC Davis introduced a New Business major for Fall 2025 applicants.

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Thank you all. Am a junior, taking pre Calc so next year will be Calculus.

I am not sure if my very competitive private high school helps or hurts me. On one hand, there are a ton of super high achiever kids in my class. On the other hand, I hope that colleges know that I would have a higher GPA anywhere else.

I will try to get SAT to 1500 (should be do-able) and my 3.8 to a 4.0. My school is getting rid of AP classes next year but will still offer honors.

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A 3.8 is still a good gpa, but mathematically impossible to get it up to a 4.0.

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Don’t overanalyze.

Have a balanced list.

Assuming you have 4 English, Calc AB, 3 science and enough social science, you’re fine.

You, not your school, will ultimately determine your long term success.

The trick is budget first and foremost and you said you’re good - but make sure your folks agree.

Once that’s set or if it is already, having two assured.

Babson is a low reach. It had an average salary of $75,600 in 2023. Bentley - a similar school - $72,600.

Look at IU Kelley - a top 10 school. If your gpa is 3.8, it’s a safety.

The average was $78,900.

Here’s the other thing - companies pay by the ‘where’ - IU grads earn $92k in NYC, $84k in Boston, $81k in LA, and $66k in Indianapolis.

A lot of the rank stuff is marginal amongst many many schools short of a few jobs because companies pay by role and location moreso than the school.

Your initial list was fine with a few subs or additions. Like Bentley to protect Babson.

A TCU to protect a NOVA. Or an SMU as another sub to Nova.

Find the type of school you like - you list many types. That’s more important than the names at this point.

Good luck.

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Unless they weight plus and minus ie .33 for plus.

Of course most will recalculate.

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Our school lowered for A- but not for A+, two of my kids on,y had one B, freshman year, honors English, and it took a few years to get the gpa close to 4.0 (but not a 4.0).

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IU Kelley is the default top business school that the overall university admit percentage is not a super reach. Santa Clara is a great local option. Since the UC schools have a weird (my opinion) application process, I would include some safety schools from nearby states (Oregon, Oregon St, Utah, Arizona, Arizona State).

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