What colleges should I look into?

College Search & Lists
1

As an incoming junior, I think it’s crucial to investigate colleges now in order to make sure they are right for me and build off of the idea of them. Also, earlier this year when I was looking at UC schools, I found out they require a VPA credit, and, shockingly enough, I’m very terrible at art, have no room in my schedule for it, and my precious yearbook didn’t qualify. However, since I definitely don’t want to eliminate every possibility of going to one of the big UCs like LA or Berkeley, I’ll be taking art in class and Spanish online.

I’m telling you all this stuff you don’t care about to accentuate why I am trying to form a college list now to edit and adjust as the year progresses. Also… I’ve kind have been on College Confidential the last week just roaming the forums and my procrastination skills are wonderful.

Important Stuff to Know:
UW GPA: 3.964/ W GPA:4.564 (4.8 scale)
Rank: last time I checked I was 7/775

Projected ACT: 30s
Projected SAT: 1500s??? (new SAT)
APs I’ve taken: Human Geo (4), World History (5)
Courses Next Year + Senior Year:
J: Yearbook, Art 1, AP/IB Eng/Lang Comp, APUSH, Math IB SL, Spanish 3 Honors, AP Chem, IB Theory of Knowledge
S: Yearbook, World Lit II IB, AP/IB Spanish 4, AP Calc, AP Physics, AP/ IB Physcology (and maybe AP Stats if it’s available but two math classes at once seems iffy)

ECs:
Varsity Lettered in Softball (Academic Allstate + Scholar Athlete)

  • Plan to be in it next 2 years
    Junior + Senior Year:
    IB
    Coeditor for the People Section YB (plan to maintain said position senior year or become EIC)
    NHS
    Chance (for IB CAS hours)

Oh, and I currently work at Taco Bell lol (It’s summer, so about 25 hours per week atm. That will obviously change when school starts)

General Things:
Not sure why this matters, but I’m a white girl.
I’m looking for need based as well as merit based aid because my parents are broke.
I want a school on the coast, either coast, but I really don’t like the pacific northwest.
Big names are a bit of a must.

Any reaches, matches, or suggested safeties would be nice :slight_smile: I have already decided that UNR is a safety (in Nevada), but I don’t think I would be happy going there, so other choices would be nice. Thank you guys for listening to my nonsense.

2

It’s difficult to actually give you any suggestions without actual test scores. Plus your GPA could change significantly by the time you actually apply. The way I see it, although it’s important to keep college in mind and prepare yourself for when you actually do apply, I’d figure out where you want to apply late in your junior year. Also, you might want more ECs. Your other stats are impressive (assuming you actually get those test scores) but your ECs are lacking. Of course, you do have some time.
PS, if you’re looking for schools that offer great need based financial aid, I’d check out the Questbridge schools. You don’t actually have to apply through Questbridge to get the benefits though. Plus the schools are many of the best in the country, universities and LACs. Good luck.

3

Are you from NV or CA? CA public schools cost a tidy sum for out of state students.