Need some categorizing help

College Search & Lists
1

<p>I’m narrowing down my long college application list, and for some colleges I’m not sure where I fall for them (Reach, Match, or Safety). I’ll just give a brief profile of myself and hopefully you can quickly label these colleges for me :)</p>

<p>Projected SAT Scores: 800 CR, 770 M, 750 W (currently have the CR and M scores)
Projected SATII Scores: 800 Physics, 800 Chemistry, 800 Math II, 750+ Literature, 750+ U.S. History (already have Chem and Physics scores)</p>

<p>High School Curriculum: Homeschooled - I will prepare a transcript of my homeschool work. I also have 61 college credits, with a 3.89 UW GPA (All A’s and one C). Course load is tougher than the toughest possible at the high school I would go to if I was not homeschooled (hence why I’m homeschooled). I’ve taken university level physics, calc II, taking organic chem, differential equations, etc</p>

<p>EC: They’re not world class but they’re pretty stellar I think. Website administrator and online journalist for 3 years, 12+ years of violin, 8 years of Boy Scouts/Venture Crew, numerous awards, etc. </p>

<p>Recs: They should be stellar, coming from my college professors. </p>

<p>My interests: Unsure right now as I’m considering a wide range. I would like a liberal arts style education. Tentative subjects I might want to pursue are physics, chemistry, political science, and economics. If any of the following are particularly known for expertise in one of those areas, please let me know. It would be most helpful! Thanks!</p>

<p>Colleges:</p>

<p>Georgetown
Swarthmore<br>
Amherst
Pomona<br>
University of Chicago<br>
Harvey Mudd
Claremont McKenna<br>
Macalester<br>
Rice<br>
Haverford<br>
Cornell
Washington U. in St. Louis</p>

<p>Lastly, if you have any suggestions for me I’d be most obliged. But not too many, since I’m trying to eliminate some from my list haha</p>

<p>Thanks again! :stuck_out_tongue:
(feel free to also use high/low for the categories as well!)</p>

2

<p>With so many credits, would you be a freshman applicant or a transfer?</p>

3

<p>Freshman, because I’m doing it through dual-enrollment. I’ve clarified it with admissions officers :)</p>

<p>Any guesses? please? I just need a few!</p>

4

<p>Claremont McKenna is known for polysci/econ, I believe.</p>

<p>Your stats/ECs are impressive; however, I would still advocate finding one true safety school that you love. Macalester is the closest to a safety, but I don’t think you can be 100% sure even there.</p>

5

<p>You look pretty impressive… For a safety throw in your instate flagship and shoot for the stars!</p>

6

<p>Yep, that’s not my full list, I didn’t bother including my instate school since I know it’s a safety :)</p>

<p>Would this be about accurate?</p>

<p>Georgetown - Match
Swarthmore - Low Reach
Amherst - Reach
Pomona - Low reach
University of Chicago - Reach
Harvey Mudd - Reach
Claremont McKenna - Match
Macalester - Match
Rice - Match
Haverford - Match
Cornell - Low Reach
Washington U. in St. Louis - Reach</p>

7

<p>Don’t underestimate the first-tier LACs–Amherst, Claremont McKenna, Swat, and Pomona are all reaches. Macalester would be a low match, almost a safety except for small size, which mixes things up. I don’t know enough about Georgetown, Rice, or WashU.</p>

<p>And remember to show interest!</p>

8

<p>WashU I wouldn’t see as a reach with that SAT score if it holds up. You in fact might even get Tufts Syndrome.</p>

9

<p>lolcats, I guess you’ve made a conscious decision not to include Williams in your list but I think you should take another look. Excellent math and sciences, excellent political science and economics. Plenty of music performance opportunities, even for non-majors. And – I sense this may be important – more Eagle Scouts per square foot than any of the other schools on your list. An active, outdoorsy culture.</p>

<p>Well, as you say you don’t need another reach, but Williams seems to fit your personality perfectly.</p>

<p>PS, I would agree with Keil that Swarthmore and Pomona are also reaches.</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the suggestion on Williams. I’ve read up on the school and I think I’ll definitely apply there!</p>

11

<p>I don’t see Wash U as a reach.</p>

<p>But I definitely see Haverford (#5 in U.S. News for selectivity) and Swarthmore (#6 in U.S. News for selectivity) as reaches.</p>

<p>Based on your interests, I think Haverford, Pomona, Swarthmore, and Williams seem to make the most sense (balance between top flight social sciences and natural sciences in a traditional liberal arts setting).</p>

12

<p>Does anyone have any safety suggestions besides that of my instate school? Or is my list good enough as is.</p>