What colleges should I be looking at?

College Search & Lists
1

I am California (junior) student who is planning to go in-state for college. I just want to know what university I should consider with my stats.

Academic: Full IB Diploma Canidate
3.61 unweighted (using UC approved courses)
4.3 weighted (using UC approved courses)
4.0 UC GPA (just wanted to add that)
SAT: I am aiming for 2000+ (wont be that much of a reach)
SAT II: Math 2 and Physics (aiming for 700+)
Class Rank: Top 20% (I will most likely make top 15% by end of junior year but I do not think it will matter much.)

Course Rigor: Course Rigor: I think I am taking the hardest classes/curriculum I can take.

         12th grade classes:

I. History of the Americas HL IB
II. Theory of Knowledge IB
III. IB Mathematics SL
IV. IB Art Design SL
V. AP Spanish Language/HL
VI. IB Physics SL
VII. Language Arts HL IB

Extracurricular: Young Black Achievers member- Historian and Parliamentarian
IB Student Association- (Projected officer position for senior year)
Clarinet Player (recreational) 7th-12th grade
Codes/Programs websites using markup languages (HTML CSS JAVA)
Teaches/Tutors small class of students with setting up websites in HTML and CSS (11th grade only)

Community Service: ~200+ hours (Library-~100 School Fundraisers-25 School Clean Up~50 Relay for Life ~20)

Awards: 1st place Pre-Calculus preliminary competition (MESA)
3rd place Geological Mapping regional competition (Science Olympiad)
Special Recognition for amount of community service in local library

Hooks: URM, First generation, Low income (African American)

Intended Major: Computer Science/Engineering Alternate: Applied Mathematics

I am open to public or private as long it is in California. Please suggest reach, match and safety.

What I want in a college/university:

-Well rounded Academics or excellent engineering department
-Has some sort of Social Scene (Lively Campus is a must)
-I do not mind too much about location (has to be in California though)

  • Prestige factor - Not so significant but has to be known for something
    -Hopefully good job/internship opportunities.

Thank you guys! I appreciate it.

2

bump…

3

UCI/UCSD/UCD/UCSB/UCSC/UCR
USC/Occidental/LMU/Pepperdine
Cal Poly SLO and Pomona/SJSU/CSULB

Much will depend upon your SAT score. If above 2100, then consider UCB/UCLA and as a major Reach, Stanford.

URM will not help for the California publics but First Gen/Low income will. URM status is helpful for the privates.

Most important question is can your family pay anything towards your college education? You will receive better FA/Merit aid from the Privates, so I would target these schools in particular.

4

I do not think my parents will contribute much towards college do I am depending primarily on FA. I know major is competitive in engineering for ucla and ucb so for just those schools, I am think to go for un unimpacted major such as “applied mathematics” and stick with it. @Gumbymom

5

You can try for Harvey Mudd; although it’s a reach, it provides top engineering education along with a well rounded education, and it meets 100% need.

Are you applying through questbridge?
http://www.questbridge.org/
Since you’re lower-income/first gen with excellent grades and course rigor, you’d have a shot. Questbridge allows you to try for national universities and LACs with a guaranteed 4-year full ride scholarship. You could select most of those located in California.

6

@MYOS1634 Wow, I did not even know about quest bridge! Thank you for the advice!

7

It’s hard to make suggestions because your scores aren’t set in stone. What was your PSAT?

Safety - Local UC, CSU etc.
Match - Other UC’s, USC, Cal Poly
Reach - Stanford, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd

8

PSAT was 180 in 10th grade. 2000 SAT will not be so hard to be honest. @TheDidactic

9

Honestly, there are too many presumptions to draw any reasonable conclusions. Take the test and return when you have your scores. Good luck.