Trimming College list--suggestions?

shonough
Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:08:04 +0000

I’m a senior who has been casually skimming college confidential forums over the last couple years, but I’ve only recently gotten super serious about making my decisions. (Yes, shame shame.)

I am a National Merit Semifinalist.
ACT 34
SAT 2220 (M: 650, CR: 800, W: 770)
GPA: 3.87 unweighted
I am a primarily Honors/AP student.

I plan on majoring in Economics through a Business school or CAS. I will be going to grad school after college, according to my current plans.

I am very academic, but I like to have a good time and do not want to go to a super competitive, all-work-no-play school. I also do not want to be in a rural area. And, Southwestern, Macalester, and CMC are all on the small side. I prefer more mid-range (5,000-15,000).

Good financial aid is important. I have some savings, but not enough for $50 grand a year.

I’m looking more for opinions on what would be a good fit from my list than for additional suggestions. I will visit these places after I am accepted.

I have/am definitely apply to:

University of Missouri (My dad works here, so I could attend with a discount. I’ve already been accepted. Safety; I would be content to go here.)
Macalester College
University of Pittsburgh
Yale
Wheaton, IL (My parents are making me apply to a Christian college–I do not want to go to one.)

I am strongly considering:
Claremont McKenna
Carnegie Mellon
University of Alabama (An additional safety school. They have good National Merit money.)
Southwestern University
Washington University in St. Louis
Northwestern

Other schools I am interested in:
UChicago
UNC-Chapel Hill
Columbia
Vanderbilt

Thanks in advance for any input!