<p>So…I’ve been thinking about Tufts, Duke, Amherst, Vassar, and JHU, but I’m starting to worry that I’m setting my sights too high. I’m at a very competitive school, and it seems like everyone around me is taking much harder classes–they have AP Physics C, I have Physics Honors; they have AP Calc BC, I have Trig/Calc High Honors. And so on. I’m not aiming for Ivies–I don’t think I could ever pull that off–but…euh. I have no idea. I get good grades, but my schedule’s not as rigorous as it could be. I don’t take part in many extracurriculars or competitions. </p>
<p>Some stats:</p>
<p>UW GPA: 3.92 W GPA: 4.44 SAT: I’ve yet to take the actual test, but from the Big Blue Book I’ve been getting scores ranging from 1960 to 2160. I intend to take subject tests in French, US history, math (level two), and English. Extracurriculars: Very, very few in the past few years–sophomore year I was sick, but I’m trying to make up for it this year with peer tutoring and community service. Honor and Recognition: French Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Junior Schedule: English 11 HH, Physics H, AP US History II, AP French V, Trig/Calc HH Potential Senior Schedule: AP English 12, AP Biology, AP European History, AP French VI, AP Calculus (whether it’s AB or BC remains to be seen), Bioethical Issues H</p>
<p>Is it worth going for the higher tier schools? What should I look for as safeties?</p>
<p>Sorry for deleting my comment. I was editing it to add some more constructive feedback, but realized I had very little to tell you. If you perform well on the SAT and do well in your AP classes the first semester of senior year, I don’t think your courseload/test scores will count against you in any way. But that is all in the future.</p>
<p>So my advice is, do as well as you can. And yes, focus on expanding your college search. What subjects/majors are you interested in? What are your school preferences?</p>
<p>I haven’t settled on one particular major, but I’m very interested in human biology and/or chemistry. Might go into some form of engineering. As for school preferences…hm. It can’t go further south than Tennessee or further west than Illinois. It must be coed. Cost isn’t a huge issue. That’s all I have off the top of my head.</p>
<p>I do think that the fact that this student hasn’t taken a very challenging curriculum will hurt admissions at top schools. It would be one thing if her school didn’t offer such classes, but it does. Her GPA, while strong, will not be as meaningful since the courseload was not as challenging.</p>
<p>Schools like Duke, Amherst, etc have to use such things as criteria when they are down-selecting from their apps. The lack of ECs may also hurt. </p>
<p>And, of course, until there are real scores, it’s hard to tell. there’s a big difference between a 1960 and a 2160 when the apps are going to top schools.</p>
<p>“Cost isn’t a huge issue”</p>
<p>To be on the safe side, get a budget from your parents. If they’re willing to pay $50k+ per year wherever you go, then super!!! If not, that will affect where you should apply.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that it’s impossible for her to get accepted, I’m just saying that her app won’t appear as strong when compared against others who’'ve taken the most rigorous courseload that their school offers.</p>
<p>What size school? Private or public? Urban or rural? All-women’s okay? Greek life positive or negative? Use the college board tool, it’s actually really helpful. Off the top of my head I’d say look at Lehigh, F&M, Muhlenberg, Lafayette, Gettysburg–the PA schools; and some upstate NY ones–Hobart and William Smith, Skidmore, RPI…but these all are smaller and mainly run more liberal arts-y. If you want strictly science or a bigger place then never mind…
Bottom line–try to narrow down a few categories: location, size, whether it’s undergrad or grad oriented, etc. Then start looking at sub-Ivy caliber schools.</p>
This will be a problem.</p>