<p>I’m currently a high school junior and I’m wondering if anybody can give me some suggestions as to what colleges I should look at. I’m trying to find schools that aren’t to preppy (vanderbelt) but also not full of outcasts (nyu).
Male
Majors: Thinking about politics or economics
High school type: Private
GPA: probably going to end up with 3.85-4.0 my school doesn’t place a lot of weight on honors classes (only .25 bump) and they aren’t available frosh year but I’ve taken every one I can possibly take and am in 2 AP’s right now. I have an upward trend (3.7 frosh year 3.9 soph year and likely a 3.9 or 4 junior)
PSATS (I haven’t taken SAT yet)
Math: 80/80
CR: 74/80
Writing: 66/80
Extra Curics, won’t list them all just an outline:
Debate 4 years probably President or VP next year
Political Awareness: 4 Years, editor of the clubs newspaper this year and will do it next year
Stock market club: 3 years President 11, 12
National Honor Society
Cardinal key society (sort of like key club0
Outdoor Track 4 years</p>
<p>Suggest getting the book “Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges”. Colleges are arranged alphabetically by state, and each one includes basic statistics on the student body and faculty. You’ll learn what percentage of students are from in-state or overseas, what types of social groups are offered, the student-teacher ratio, and the average SAT scores of last year’s freshman class. Detail on topics like housing, admission procedures, financial aid, sports, and available majors are provided as well, giving you a total of nearly one page of information per institution.</p>
<p>
This information is all available online…</p>
<p>Anyway, check out the [College</a> Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/COLLEGENAVIGATOR/]College”>College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics)</p>
<p>Looks like your PSAT is 220. What state are you in? You may become a NMSF. In some states, having a 220 is pretty much a lock on getting NMSF. In other states, it’s too close to call. And, it others, it may be too low.</p>
<p>You’ll likely do well on the SAT. 
Also take the ACT (some do much better on one than the other.)</p>
<p>Do you know how much your parents will pay each year for college? You need to know this because if their EFC is higher than what they can afford to pay, you’ll need a different strategy.</p>
<p>Since you go to a private school, I’m guessing that your family makes a decent income. Use this EFC calculator to get an idea of what your family’s Expected Financial Contribution might be <a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/[/url]”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/</a></p>
<p>Having walked through NYU often, the students did not look like outcasts to me–much more like artsy kids happy to go to college in NYC</p>
<p>Holy Cross, Bowdoin, William& Mary.</p>