trying to cut down my list, which schools WOULD you eliminate?

Descartesz
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:13:00 +0000

At first glance I don’t see what BU and Pitt do for you that UF doesn’t. They seem to be of the same ilk: good quality large urban schools which will support you in a wide variety of interests. (I know BU is private but it often feels like a public – FYI if you haven’t visited). And, as one poster has already pointed out, UF is probably going to be a better value for you as a FL resident. You might want to try to articulate to yourself what they are adding to the choice-space you are attempting to create. If a non-south experience intrigues you, keep one only.

On the other hand I can see what UNC-CH adds - large but non-urban, a little more “academic”, and a little more reputation. It will be a tougher-get as an OOS, but worth a shot if you like it.

Both BC and Emory are distinctive, too, and respectable match-to-reaches. If you get in, they would be intriguing options.

Of Pomona and CMC, I sense you have a streak of pragmatism that aligns better with CMC’s mission rather than Pomona’s more purely-LAC one. As Consolation mentioned, it’s a tad easier target, too. Your FA treatment won’t be all that different than at Pomona. Best of all you’d still have Pomona classes as an option if admitted. I suggest you focus on it.

If you’d like to take a shot at the Ivies, I, too, would suggest Brown, for the reasons Consolation cites. And by keeping Barnard on your list you really are keeping Columbia on it, too. Moreover Barnard uses the Common App and Columbia doesn’t, so it will be a little less work for you to focus on.

So, my suggested list comes to:

FSU
UF
Emory
BC
CMC
Barnard
Brown

Congratulations on a successful HS career thus far, BTW.