<p>It seems like everyone on CC is the opposite of me. For some reason, it was easy to find safeties and matches that fit me, but I can’t find any reaches or high matches that I would like more than my safeties. Help!</p>
<p>A little about me:
Black, female attending a public HS in Michigan. … Aspiring actuary (no need for prestige, but kind of wanted by me). Wants the ‘big city’ experience. … 32 ACT (will retake if I can find any reaches worth retaking them for =D). 3.98 uw gpa, State qualifier in Track & Field, other stuff. I’m a little cheap (yes, even concerning my education. and not alot of money but def. not pell grant recipient)</p>
<p>Safeties:
DePaul University (love everything except lack of prestige and football)
Temple University (probably love it except in unsafe area)
Illinois State University (no prestige, no big city, but tippy top in Act. Sci.)</p>
<p>Matches:
Northeastern University (no ‘real’ actuarial science major, maybe expensive)
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor=too small, but instate and good act. sci.)
Pitt (starting to grow on me, brand new ‘actuarial math’ major, city feel but not with rail like I wanted)</p>
<p>Reach:
NYU (big city, exact experience I want, actuarial science, but even if I had the money, wouldn’t pay that much for school [might do Spring in NY, though])</p>
<p>Pitt is a really, really nice school for business/math-related stuff, and in a great town. You’ll probably get a full scholarship from them, too.</p>
<p>The logical reach is Penn/Wharton - it has most of what you are looking for, and a URM with a 32 ACT/3.98 and possible athletics has a GREAT chance for admission. (I’m not even sure it is really a reach.)</p>
<p>Thanks. I was looking at Pitt but only recently did they get the actuarial math major. That kind of scares me. And the way you said town, that scares me too. lol.</p>
<p>Town - read: city (but the area around it is friendlier than most cities.)</p>
<p>As for Penn, your ACT 32 already puts you in the top half of all accepted students, no less among URM applicants. So again, I’m not sure that it is really a reach. Actuarial science is a “concentration” within the Wharton B.S.</p>
<p>Yeah. Thanks mini. I don’t know why I really never paid attention to Penn. Always skipped it as one of those “never-gonna-happens”. But I’ll definately look into it.</p>
<p>If you are happy with your current list of schools, there is nothing that says you have to have reaches. You have a good list of schools that seem to have what you are looking for at a price you want to pay. Why add to your stress?</p>
<p>Thanks shennie. I think I just acquired this mindset from CC. I thought I had it made: pass up UofM for DePaul (didn’t know about Pitt at time) because that’s what I wanted. But on CC I learned that this prestige thing matters. Thanks for someone reminding me that there’s more than that. I needed that.</p>
<p>You have an excellent list of colleges. I agree with mini that you should take a look at Wharton/Penn. But, you don’t need more than 2 or 3 reaches. People here on CC tend to overload on the reaches, even if they’re not right for them. Trust your gut instinct, as it appears to be serving you well.</p>
<p>Well, so far, if I include Penn on my reach list, I have two reaches. I guess Columbia slipped onto my “never-gonna-happen” lists too. Between Penn and Columbia, who gives the best aid?</p>
<p>Just want to reiterate, there’s no need for reach schools if you’re happy with your safeties and matches. I don’t know much about actuarial science, but is that a career where your school will influence your job prospects?</p>
<p>The one person I know who became an actuary majored in math at MIT. Do you actually have to have an actuarial program to do what you want? I realize that not requiring one might open the school floodgates, but going to a generally-excellent school such as U Mich or Penn would keep your options open in the event that you change your mind about the precise nature of your future career. </p>
<p>Your list sounds good to me, with the addition of Penn or Penn/Wharton.</p>