<p>This is my first post and I hope I can get some good advice from the knowledgeable people on this board.</p>
<p>I prefer to go to schools in Massachusetts or nearby. I have visited all the ones listed below. I like every one of them. (May be I am not analyzing the schools right! I really don’t know what to dislike about any particular school until I join there and start classes.) I am thinking of comparing financial aid as a possible means to differentiate. Is that a sound idea? I have question marks against MIT & Harvard as they are big reaches for anybody.</p>
<p>My list: WPI, Brandeis, MIT (?), Harvard (?), BU, Northeastern, Umass-Amherst and University of Vermont (I got a fee-waived application from them).</p>
<p>My major is undecided, tending towards science/math/engineering. My particulars are as follows.</p>
<p>Gender/race: Female, Indian (Asian)
9 – 11th GPA : u.w. 4.0 / 4.0, weighted 6.12 (school weights for A: AP = 7, Honors = 6)
12th schedule” AP Calc BC, AP Physics, AP Stats, + 3 honors courses
Class rank: 2 out of 511 kids in a public high school in MA
SAT-I best scores: CR 800 + W 790 + M 770 = 2360/2400
SAT-II: Maths2 760 Chem 780 Bio-E 750
Possible hook/disadvantage: first language is not English</p>
<p>ECs: Strong in community service, couple of leadership roles, usual school clubs. Not much into sports, due to a medical condition. Work experience. A few honors and awards related to community service and academics. National merit semifinalist.</p>
<p>Essay is going to be good, my English teacher loved the draft. Recs are expected to be very good.</p>
<p>My main questions are: Is my list of colleges adequate? If it were you applying with my stats, which other schools are right fit? I know it is hard to judge chances at top schools, but can you guys please tell me what I can realistically hope for at Harvard or MIT? Shoul I add Yale to the list? Is it worth taking loans to go to these schools if I don’t get much financial aid from these?
Thanks.</p>