Hello all! I am hoping to find some school to look into that would fit me well. If there’s any colleges that might be a good fit for me that would be AMAZINGLY helpful.
My stats:
Demographics: Asian male
State: California
Grade: 12
GPA: 3.9 Unweighted 4.029 weighted 4.0 UC – school does not rank
SAT II: Might take Math 1 700+ Literature 700+
ACT: just took, expecting 30 composite ( 32 E 28 M 33 R 28 S 8 W 29 E/W) (Re-taking in next month)
AP Classes: AP Stats, AP Lit, AP psych, AP studio art, community college (dual enrollment) English class
Extracurriculars/Leadership:
Literary/art magazine (head art editor) – grade 11/12
Community Help Club (secretary) – grade 12
Teaching English to African Children – grade 12
School’s Varsity/Elite Acapella Choir – grade 12
A separate acapella club – grade 12
Approx Volunteer Hours: 20 total registered with school (from various things)
My current list of my IDEAL colleges I’m thinking about in the order that I prefer them at this point (do you think these matches my preferences?):
1 Dartmouth College
2 Yale
3 Brown University (dual degree with RISD)
4 University of California Los Angeles
5 Rhode Island School of Design
6 Carnegie Mellon
7 University of California Berkeley
8 Savannah College of Art and Design
9 University of California San Diego
10 Pomona College
11 Occidental College
12 University of Chicago
What I want in colleges
Tuition: My family’s economic status is lower middle class but we will probably qualify for financial aid
Undecided on major, I’m looking into a variety of music majors, digital/graphic design, fine art, psychology and philosophy
Because my interests are varied, I’d like a school where I could satisfy all/most of my interests with other visual and performing arts programs
Study Abroad programs to Japan, Italy, or London (I’d really love to go to these places)
Size: Not very large, but not tiny small: between 2,000 to 10,000 is about my range
Setting: In or near a big city; public transport is plus (ex: Dartmouth is rural but there is transportation to NY and Boston and I’m okay with that)
Location: I’m pretty open on staying or leaving, but nowhere rural/ in the middle of nowhere! I would prefer staying near home, but if one of those “top” colleges listed above accepts me, I’m willing to move and adapt!
This is weird but I’d to a school with nerds; I like people SERIOUSLY interested in what they do (aka other overachievers)
About me (kinda):
In second semester of 9th grade, I started independent study because of some personal family events that threw me “out of the loop” for a few weeks, making me both unwilling and unable to catch up on the make-up work. During this time (from grades 9-11) I went through a lot of self discovery and now, as a senior, I am headed more into a humanistic and artistic, which I enjoy very much. Whereas, without the trauma of previous events, I probably would’ve settle for a more scientific or mathematical area of a profession like a doctor, or even a lawyer (which is something I realized I NEVER want to do).
Please give me many suggestions, I’m really trying to learn more about more schools! I’d love lots of input and advice and possible different paths I could take to get into one of those dream colleges
Just a heads up, the UC system does not accept the Math 1 test. Also, please cease with the humble bragging. >85% of the schools in the country would love to have you.
When you did independent study, did you use a public school or public homeschool charter? Just wondering if you have been able to take a-g requirements for UCLA and San Diego.
A 30 is not good enough for many of those schools. Aim for a 34 and I’d say that is good. Your ec’s though, will be your downfall. It looks like you are resume padding and display no passion. That’s a big red flag for me. 20 volunteer hours isn’t impressive at all. I’d honestly target a lower set of schools. You’re not competitive for your top choices at the moment.
You represent a risk for almost every one of the schools you listed. Because of your prolonged period of self-discovery you are going to have to aim at some less competitive schools as well.
Your title made me think you were like a refugee or reformed criminal delinquent, my lord!
UC public schools are some of the best schools in the nation. Getting hung up on Ivies may be keeping you from finding a school that you’re truly compatible with. Aim for schools with more liberal arts education programs. I think Pomona especially would be a great match!
Ivies…just aren’t worth applying to. Like, I’m not applying, even though I’m confident in my stats and actually love NE (grew up in CT). They are great institutions but the application fees themselves are too steep!!
Carnegie Mellon is a reach, but you never know! They have a more flexible curriculum; it would suit your interests.
I have visited SCAD! The campus is scattered thru riverfront Savannah and is quite lovely. It’s such a refreshingly eclectic collection of buildings
I’d suggest Vandy, too, although getting in will be VERY hard - you’ll need stellar test scores. I will apply because of their flexible core curriculum - it’s very humanities-oriented.
The most important point: GET YOUR ACT TO AT LEAST 32; SAT AT LEAST 2100. Oh, how I hate standardized testing - but it’s necessary trash. Do not overwork, though. Mental health is so much more important than any academic task.
Also, totally relate with the humanities. I once wanted to be a civil engineer - I’d have been miserable! I think it’s awesome that you really discovered your interests, and that would make for a reflective essay topic, if you present it in the right way.
Your EC’s were mostly done in senior year and appear to be an afterthought. If you knew you were under-qualified, why are you going for the toughest schools to get into?
Without a high ACT, your chances for most of those colleges is out.
Agree with posters above, the majority of the schools above are not possible for you. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, and 12 aren’t going to happen with your current stats (and your ACT score isn’t even known yet, you are guessing). Not sure about the others, but others may have specific feedback.
I don’t see it as a “humble brag”. When you look closely, he has a GPA based mostly on “independent study”. He doesn’t have a real ACT score yet, and no SAT IIs. It isn’t a brag, it is a guess at this point. But even if the guesses prove to be on target, the list is far too reach heavy.
Your list needs a overhaul.
Most of the colleges on this list aren’t within reach and sound like you’ve picked “famous” colleges rather than read through the Fiske Guide or Insider’s Guide to the Colleges or Princeton Review’s Best Colleges.
The fact your test scores are “expected” makes it very hard to chance you. Please post your score when you get it (if you took it in September, results should be posted on the ACT webpage now).
Do you have the a-g subjects completed?
Since you’re in California, you’d be competitive for UCSC, UCR, UCM, perhaps UCSB, plus of course the most competitive CSus such as SDSU, CSU LB, Cal Poly for non-stem subjects.
