I go to a very small school (less than 200 total) and am top of my class but that doesn’t exactly mean much. Any advice on the range of schools I should be applying to would be great. I am looking for a small to medium sized school that offers engineering and the sciences as well as the option for a liberal arts education.
Information:
Intended major: Some engineering or physics
ACT: 33 (one sitting, might retake)
GPA: 4.11
SAT: haven’t taken will take. (PSAT: 1460, qualified for at least first round of Nation Merit)
APs: AP Calc - 5, waiting for scores on Calc BC, Physics A, Psychology, and Lit. All should be 4/5
Senior Year: AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Composition, Spanish 4, and Hopefully a college Calc 2 or Linear Algebra course
ECs:
Varsity Soccer - 4 years (Captain 11th)
-All State Team 1 year
Varisty Skiing - 4 years
- All State Team 3 years
Varsity Track - 3 years
Club Soccer - 2 years
Club Skiing - 9 years
Student Council - 2 years
NHS - 1 year
Class Officer - 2 years
1st Oboe regional level, 2nd oboe state level
Local Volunteer work ~ 100 hours
Summer Engineering Program at State College
Schools:
Reach - Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, Tufts, Swarthmore
Target - University of Vermont, Renselaer, Bates, Bowdoin
Safety - Clarkson
I have been told by my guidance councilor that these schools are realistic for me, however I kind of doubt that. I definitely need more target and safety schools, and I don’t know if I should even be considering the upper tier. Also, if anyone has advice on whether to avoid the 3+2 programs at schools like Bates and Bowdoin that would be great.
Not a major role. I have talked to a few coaches about skiing but am unsure if I want to pursue that. If I end up at a college like Bowdoin or Clarkson I would probably talk to the coaches more.
Bowdoin is probably a reach. Is that GPA weighted or unweighted?
My kids went to a HS with about 50 students per class. My youngest had a lower GPA and class rank than yours, but higher test scores. Her ECs were a little stronger. She got in everyplace she applied, including UChicago, Swarthmore, Harvey Mudd, Carleyon, and four lower ranked schools with good merit aid.
I’d study this summer and take another shot at the ACT.
Most students who think they are going to do a 3-2 don’t end up doing it. They don’t want to leave their campus after 3 years, and you have to pay for 5 years of college.
Bowdoin would not be a match for any kid and would be the same as Swarthmore, Tufts as far as LAC’s go as the top 75% is a 34 ACT; if recruitable you would want to pursue sports to strengthen admission chances at the NE LAC’s.
In addition to the schools listed above Lafayette and Bucknell would both be excellent options as they are LACs with strong engineering and science programs. Lehigh is another mid-size university with strong engineering.
I am not a fan of the 3+2 programs myself. Many people start these programs but few follow through and finish them out. Often there are difficult requirements to meet to go on to the second phase of the program, often students decide to stay where they are happy and complete their degree in four years etc. If you think you want engineering I’d go to a small or mid-size school that offers engineering – there are many excellent options. That way you can stay at the same school and complete your degree in four years.
And if finances are an issue, be sure that your schools are affordable (run net price calculators). In particular your safety should be both an academic and financial safety. And I agree that Bowdin is more of a reach for anyone.
You go to a small school, but your test scores and state level honors show that you are competitive on a wider scale than just your little school. If your guidance counselor has successfully guided students to top schools before, they are generally a reliable source of information. They really don’t have any interest in giving false hopes.
You don’t really need more than four of any type of school (reach, match, safety), but you do need to like the four you have. If you are unsure about 3/2 programs, look for some more traditional engineering schools. Before calling the list final, your parents need to run the net price calculators to see if the schools are affordable to you.
Bowdoin had a lower RD acceptance rate this year than Tufts, Cornell or Swarthmore, so it doesn’t make sense for it to be a target if the others are reaches.
Seconding Case western, Trinity ct , union, and Lehigh.
If interested in physics + skiing, contact the coach at St Olaf (very strong sciences) and Lawrence (top for physics). Demonstrate interest early.