I'm starting to look at colleges....?

Question

just surveying my options for now. right now i'm interested in:

-Brown University

-Princeton University

-Columbia University

-Georgetown University

-Stanford University

-Cornell University

-and possibly Harvard.

i'm just starting high school. i know my choices may seem quite lofty, but I am willing to work hard in school and have in the past.

any alumni? what do you think of these schools?

i'm still deciding what i want to do when i grow up....i'm sort of interested in music, english, linguistics, and criminal science.

Answer 1

Well I have a brother who graduated from Brown and he really enjoyed it. However, the selection process was very tough and competitive!

I also have a friend at Columbia and that's where I want to do postgrad.

Again, fierce competition but at the end of the day, the university you choose should be based on what you want to major in as some will have better facilities than others relevant to what you want to study.

Answer 2

I see you like the Ivy League (and other MOST SELECTIVE) schools. Competition for admission is fierce.

I would suggest that you open up your search to other small private colleges and universities, many of which will offer you a nice financial aid package, AND have excellent academic areas.

Since (for example) Harvard is not known for music, and you might want music, why not look at the outstanding music programs? Just about every university will have competent and outstanding English faculty, but not all will have great linguistics departments. On the other hand, if you don't know your major, go to a high quality liberal arts college and decide once you are there. Most have a First Year Seminar that will help you to decide on your major.

My daughter was able to go to her dream school, my son will probably need to select one that specializes in his interest area rather than one of the Ivy's. Pick a college that is the right fit for you, not one that has the highest name prestige.

Best wishes.

Answer 3

They are very hard to get into

I got rejected from a bunch of them despite 3.91 GPA (unweighted), 2200 SAT and all 5s on 7 AP exams. So you need to be really good. Period.

Also they are really expensive, think 60k a year for four years.

Music, linguistics those are interesting.

As the man above me said, look for smaller colleges with more focused programs who will also give you money.