Narrowing down my college list

College Search & Lists
1

<p>…Is this any different from a chance thread? Just wondering…</p>

<p>I’m a rising Senior.</p>

<p>Before I present my stats and my college list, I want to briefly mention my intended majors. I want to be an Astrophysicist or theoretical physicist and I’m also interested in law/legal studies, primarily because I want to gain better understandings of law, social institutions, and debating. In other words, I also want to be an activist. There’s 2 common majors for this: Legal Studies or Political Science/Government. I will double major in Astrophysics (or Astronomy or Physics with Astro track) and either Legal Studies or Political Science/Government. Which of the two social sciences suit me more?</p>

<p>Stats + Subjective Areas:
GPA (9-12): 3.54 UW, 3.69 W
GPA (10-12): 3.93 UW, 4.13 W
Rigor: No H/AP Fresh or Soph year (my courses were horrendous); 1 AP & 2 H Junior year + 9 more AP tests; 6 AP classes Senior year. Upward trend in GPA: 2.33 Fresh, 3.83 Soph, 4.42 Junior, expected 4.71 or 4.86 for Senior
SAT: 2100 & 2090
ACT: Not taken but expected 31+
SAT II: 800 Math, 740 Chem & US History
ECs: Participate in several clubs Junior + Senior year, starting my own club upcoming year
Math Institute for Young Scholars at UCLA. Possible Astronomy Mentorship/involvement soon. Some other few minor Astronomy stuff. Really nothing special at all… =(
Volunteer work: 150+ hours by time of application, tutoring, teacher assistance, library assistance. Nothing unique =(
Work experience: Possible job at educational institute soon. Unrelated to my major =( but it’s still work experience…</p>

<p>My College List:</p>

<p>Reaches
Cornell Early Decision
UC Berkeley (instate)
UCLA</p>

<p>Not so optimistic at all about these 3… but regardless, I’m applying to all 3.</p>

<p>Rest of my list
Boston University
University of Michigan
University of Wisconsin Madison
UC Santa Cruz
UC San Diego
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Carnegie Mellon University
Colgate University
University of Southern California
University of MA - Amherst*
Penn State University Park*</p>

<p>I prefer New England and New York.</p>

<p>*I consider these my “safety schools” because they have an Astronomy program and have high acceptance rates, though I’m not sure whether U of MA Amherst is safe enough. Pretty sure Penn State is.</p>

<p>So considering my admission chances, the schools’ Astronomy/Astrophysics & PoliSci programs, the schools’ reputation, and the schools’ double major / dual degree environment, how should I narrow down my list?</p>

2

<p>I kind of feel like this should be in the “What are my chances?” section.</p>

3

<p>I’m 99% sure UMass is a safety for you as well.</p>

<p>That being said, I’m not an astrophycist expert by any means, but if you truly prefer New York and New England in general, I’d cross off a few of the other schools - maybe apply to EITHER Wisconsin or Minnesota, and eliminate one of USC, UCSC, or UCSD. If you don’t really prefer their locations, then don’t spend all of the money applying, especially when I think you have an especially good chance at all of them.</p>

4

<p>I like CA too.</p>

<p>Sometimes I really want to take off Minnesota, but it has an Astrophysics major, unlike most other schools which only have the Astronomy major. Wisconsin Madison have a good Astronomy reputation and it’s a target for me so it’s unlikely for me to take it off.</p>

<p>Santa Cruz, despite its low ranking, is one of the best Astronomy schools. So it’s staying for sure.</p>

<p>To be honest, USC is on my list because 1) it encourages double majors and 2) I’ve seen some people with not-so-good stats / ECs get in, for whatever reason. I need someone to convince me to to take it off, but likely I’ll visit it to ask it some questions about its Astronomy program.</p>

<p>Is anything familiar with UCSD’s “Physics with Astrophysics track” program? If it’s not good then I might as well take it off my list.</p>

5

<p>If you’re reading this, respond. Now.</p>