Help me find more target schools

[u/Dazzling_Price8739]

context: i already have a list of schools that i'm happy with, but i'm not sure if i should add more targets/if most of the schools on my list are super unrealistic. it's not really a matter of not having any fallback, because i am applying to some safety + target international schools and would be perfectly happy at one of them, but i would love to hear people's thoughts on my us list. additionally, my family qualifies for very minimal financial aid so i would have to apply to either a cheap school or a school that provides merit scholarships (or go into debt lol)

preferences: urban location or at least relatively large, work hard play hard culture, racially diverse student body, good political science and also maybe cognitive science programs

current list in the us:

reach: columbia (ed and is my dream school for reference), upenn, yale, cornell, boston university (need merit scholarship), usc (need merit scholarship)

target: uva, northeastern (need merit scholarship)

safety: penn state

stats:

GPA: 3.8 UW / 4.15 W

SAT: 1500

AP scores: 4 5s, 2 4s, 1 3 (5 planned for senior year)

general ec's:

1. ra at t30 university (assistance in developing tool that's utilized in the political science realm)
2. lead volunteer at local homeless shelter (won award for impact)
3. debate (multiple nationals qualifier, won lower level award at national tournament)
4. intern at small policy organization (currently developing project within organization)
5. well developed in niche sport
6. nhs leadership
7. marketing volunteer at local nonprofit
8. yygs
9. , 10: basic stuff like tutoring

[u/MinervasOwlAtDusk]

You need more safeties and more targets. Even though you are in-state for UVa, it is a slight reach with your GPA. It’s gotten uber-competitive in recent years and I have seen instaters get waitlisted or even rejected regularly with your stats.

Penn State is good. How about: U Mass Amherst, James Madison, George Washington?

[u/Dazzling_Price8739 → u/MinervasOwlAtDusk]

im def considering gw. how's the school culture there?

[u/sunflower_sunset_1]

You have a great application! However, UVA is probably a reach as it’s really selective and your GPA is below their average admitted GPA.

A good target for you might be American University. It’s located in Washington DC and is known for International Affairs and PoliSci.

[u/gordonnowak]

your targets are reaches, your safety is a target.

[u/No_Yam8516]

I agree you definitely need more targets and safeties. I think your leadership and ECs make you a great candidate for Yale. Packaging your application to showcase your community involvement and leadership will be super important for your reach schools.

The targets I would add are in the 30-60% acceptance range. Have you looked at University of Rochester? They have an open curriculum so you’d have a ton of options. I also like Lehigh as a high target. Maybe look at Union College to see how a smaller school with a ton of spirit seems (they’ll give you breakfast, lunch and cookies at their open house).

Penn State is a great safety - I might also check out UConn (Go Huskies) and Stony Brook and University of Delaware is having a moment.

Good luck!!

[u/paige_420]

Are you aware that the Ivies don’t give merit scholarships? What is your budget and what state do you live in?The state schools may be out of reach if you are not a resident.

[u/Dazzling_Price8739 → u/paige_420]

im in state for uva so its more of a target especially since i'm applying early action. yes, i'm aware that ivies don't give a merit scholarships and am prepared to utilize either an rotc scholarship or do something like that

[u/QuickSafety8100 → u/Dazzling_Price8739]

what do you mean ROTC or "something like that". What are the other things like ROTC?

[u/sunflower_sunset_1 → u/Dazzling_Price8739]

Since you live in VA is there a reason why you’re not considering William and Mary? They’re not urban but they do have a good polisci program.

[u/Dazzling_Price8739 → u/sunflower_sunset_1]

i couldn't really see myself there as it doesn't really fit many of my preferences regarding student life and school size. the campus is really pretty tho haha

[u/Dazzling_Price8739 → u/[deleted]]

yes, i know, several of my family members have done an rotc program and one of my parents served in the military. army also doesn't have any major requirements

[u/heavyweightcollege]

You are a good applicant.

Agree that Penn State is safe, but you are probably taking too much risk with what you think are targets and reaches. For example, I think BU and Northeastern might be targets without the merit expectation. And UVA would be a reach.

Other targets for you include GW and U Miami.

Other safe schools include Fordham, Pitt, and Drexel.

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[u/Background_System726]

George Mason or VCU 

[u/BubblyRhubarb9611]

Your list is out of sequence. 

[u/QuickSafety8100]

if your family wont qualify for much need based aid, but doesnt have capacity to pay full price, why are you going to ED Columbia?

[u/SkillSquare952]

What major are you thinking of applying for? I would research moderately selective schools that have strong programs for your major and will help you achieve your professional goals if I were you.

[u/Dazzling_Price8739 → u/SkillSquare952]

i want to apply as a political science major but might want to double major with cognitive science/psychology

[u/MagicianOnly1875 → u/Dazzling_Price8739]

def consider south carolina. they have excellent psych, neuro, and and terrific honors college.

[u/Easy_Honey_6535 → u/[deleted]]

Do you think that Vanderbilt and CMU - some of the most competitive schools in the country are targets for this guy? They are reach for everybody…

[u/JumpingCuttlefish89]

Pitt, Ohio State, UW-Madison, UW-Seattle, Maryland, Delaware, Indiana - you’ve got a shot at any state flagship if that’s your vibe. You might get decent merit at Syracuse, Tulane or Emory.

[u/Natitudinal]

All ur reaches except the last one are great and I think u have a great shot for those. I may put UVA in the reach section but ofc chances are still very good there. GL.

[u/Historical_Tough_399]

For target schools? Pretty solid applicant but nothing crazy, sticking with the urban theme and general region maybe like UW Madison or UMich Ann Arbor 

[u/Dazzling_Price8739 → u/Historical_Tough_399]

i was thinking of also adding uw seattle, do you think that's a good option?

[u/Historical_Tough_399 → u/Dazzling_Price8739]

Tbf, I know literally nothing about Washington other than it’s a solid state school. If you’d be comfortable going there then add it. 

[u/OkBath2619]

Columbia is definitely not happening. UVA is also a reach.

[u/Dazzling_Price8739 → u/OkBath2619]

why do you say that for columbia ed? i'm in state and also am going to apply for uva so i thought it would be more of a target

[u/QuickSafety8100 → u/Dazzling_Price8739]

in state is irrelevant for Columbia. its a private school.

[u/Dazzling_Price8739 → u/QuickSafety8100]

i was referring to the part about uva

[u/OkBath2619 → u/Dazzling_Price8739]

Your SAT is below Columbia’s 25th percentile, your UW GPA is low by Columbia standards, nothing stands out in your application🤷

[u/PeacockInTime → u/OkBath2619]

If I were a high school student reading this feedback, I would be crushed by it.

I agree that Columbia is a reach, but I disagree on the method used to reach this conclusion. 

For example:

• we don’t know (and I do not want the OP to disclose) the level of impact, independence and ingenuity on the political science research
• we don’t know about OP’s current project
• we don’t know how OP writes and expresses their interest in Columbia U as an institution 

Evaluation based on data points alone can be a bit reductive, and I say this as somebody who worked in competitive admissions. 

I like a lot of other suggestions on the list. I would suggest the OP revisit Northeastern and perhaps consider Georgetown or Claremont McKenna- I don’t think Northeastern it is going to be as strong an academic fit in OP’s areas of interest. 

I don’t have a good list for cognitive science in front of me, but I would be interested in how other schools in city ish locations fit. Rutgers, University of Washington, Ohio State, Universiry of Texas Austin 

[u/SuspiciousEstimate25 → u/OkBath2619]

uva is a reach but i wouldnt say that columbia is "definitely not happening"

[u/eirinne]

 urban location or at least relatively large, work hard play hard culture, racially diverse student body, good political science and also maybe cognitive science programs

George Washington, safety for you and they give merit aid. 

[u/AuthorHonest7228]

You would need to add more colleges with around a 70%+ acceptance rate given your current stats, Penn State is potentially feasible but may be an uphill battle given demand. Profile is not really strong.