Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

here are my stats:
sat:1280 (610v/670m)
act:28 (retaking in sept. but not too much improvement expected)
sat 2: 690 writing, 590 chem, 590 IC (maybe taking french, prob not retaking math)
ap: language 3, taking lit and french next yr
gpa: around 3.83
ca resident
1 hour a week volunteer with autistic girl
csf
honor roll
secretary of bus. of knitting club
jewish club
really nooo ec's!!!

interested in:
uc santa cruz, santa barbara, san diego
lewis and clark
whitman
pitzer
i'm a really really nervous person so i need a lot of safeties to be sure
i would like to stay on the west coast
thanks!

By Lilmermaide (Lilmermaide) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 07:45 pm: Edit

anyone?

By Arizonamom (Arizonamom) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 08:16 pm: Edit

University of Redlands, University of San Diego, Willamette, Azusu Pacific, Seattle Pacific, University of Puget Sound. My D is looking at these as well although she has the same GPA her scores are lower 1200's and 27. Good luck, Write a good essay ,you'll have some good choices.The 28 will help a lot. There are some great choices in Texas as well, Trinity, Southwestern, Austin, if you like Texas. My son who ended up at Pomona fell in love with Trinity and almost chose it over Pomona after visiting. He didn't even want to apply to Texas initially.He loved San Antonio and the River Walk.

By Blaineko (Blaineko) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 08:30 pm: Edit

The Evergeen State College...

It feels similar to Reed College. So does New College of the U of Southern Florida, Hampshire, and St. Mary's College of MD (State Honors College).

Other good bets:

Mt. Holyoke (All girls, but guys from 5 Colleges take classes there)

College of Wooster
Denison U
Hendrix C
Sarah Lawrence
Skidmore
Lawrence U
Beloit C
Earlham C
Wheaton C (MA)
SUNY-Geneseo

Hope this helps. I sincerely like TESC in Olympia, though. I'm in-state so it is also very inexpensive.

Hope this helps.

By Blaineko (Blaineko) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 08:31 pm: Edit

Sorry the options I gave you are not on the West Coast. Usually, the college 'ethos' wins in the end. And, aid can bridge the gap.

By Physiclas87 (Physiclas87) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 11:39 pm: Edit

i don't know about much small, private schools, but abouts UC's...santa cruz would be a good saftey for you, santa barbara is not a safety but i think you have a good chance. san diego is a little bit of a reach because the average gpa is a little over a 4.0, but still apply definately.

By Vulcano (Vulcano) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 12:51 am: Edit

Those are all great safeties, but I really recommend Tulane University as a good match/reach.

By Admissionsrep (Admissionsrep) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 02:23 am: Edit

I would think you would pretty much be a lock for Occidential. It seems to fit the mold of a lot of schools that you like and it's in California.

By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 02:58 pm: Edit

A few years ago the OP would have been a lock at Occidental, not today. Class of '08 is 70% top 10% with average SAT of 1320, and the EC profiles of accepted students are becoming more and more impressive. Still a good school for Lilmermaide to apply to, and it likely qualifies as a match, but she is wise to research a variety of schools with lower selectivity.

By Roh (Roh) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 05:21 pm: Edit

i think UCSC might be a safty for you.
but who knows, UC's are damn competitive to get into nowadays.
i wouldn't be suprised if UCSC accepts only 60% of applicants next year.

but i think you'll get into at least UCSC.
i'm going to UCSC this fall and my gpa was 3.6 and my SAT is only 1100.
but my SAT II scores were higher than yours...mine were like in the 650's range.

By Admissionsrep (Admissionsrep) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 11:28 pm: Edit

If the student is in the top 10% of their class, I still link Occidential is close to a sure thing. I am assuming that you will have good references and you have been actively involved in your school.

Schools know that SAT scores are nowhere near as predictive of college GPA as HS GPA in rigorous classes is. The only reason for this SAT obsession is because of USNWR. However, the top 10% of the class stat also helps the academic rating. Look at Oc's acceptance rate and remember that SAT averages or medians are not cutoffs. You are clearly in their midrange with a lot of other things going for you. There are never any guarantees, but I like your chances an awful lot at Oc if you cultivate interest with them in their office.

By Lilmermaide (Lilmermaide) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 12:00 am: Edit

thanks, i appreciate the confidence booster, admissionsrep. i think im between top 9-12%

By Tdizzo (Tdizzo) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 04:12 pm: Edit

If you're a California native (which it sounds like you are) you used to be guarenteed admission at one of the UCs (either Santa Cruz or Irvine) with the budget cuts about 7,000 kids got screwed out of that deal...however, with your stats (well above the national/state avg and about 150 points above the qualifying score you should be fine. Pitzer has been steadily improving its selectivity/sat scores over the last couple of years but I think you're still pretty safe there...also Pitzer has now made the application SAT optional meaning you can apply soley based on your GPA. Something to think about.

As far as other safeties (judging by your list of schools) maybe check out University of Puget Sound.

Also...and this is just a guess, are you looking for more Green/hippish/liberal type school? Because if so, I'd look away from University of Redlands, University of San Diego, Azusu Pacific, Seattle Pacific (as were listed above). Everyone of those schools (with the exception of Redlands...which I'd recommend against just on principle) are religious schools. Don't know how interested you'd be as a jewish (again: guessing) hippy.

By Lilmermaide (Lilmermaide) on Friday, July 23, 2004 - 11:43 am: Edit

i'm definitely not a hippie, but thanks for the advice