Anonymous
01/03/2026 07:20
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Pitt has rolling admissions starting in Aug. if your kid likes Pitt, apply sometime in Aug, hear back mid-sept, then get honors college info shortly thereafter. Then you can eliminate any schools your kid did not like as much as Pitt.
Anonymous
01/03/2026 06:14
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Case Western might be a good likely. Strong in math and a decent music program too.
Oberlin, as you mentioned, very strong in music and students can do both music and academics.
+1 for Case western. He could receive a nice merit scholarship. Demonstrated interest is VERY important!
How does one do that?
You can demonstrate interest in several ways, depending on the school and their offerings. An in person visit (if you can’t get a spot on an official tour, stop by Admissions and ask them to note that you were there. They might even find you a last minute slot but it will be noted, and that can help with interest). A virtual tour. Sign up for in person or virtual program (there can be many). Sign up for a q&a with a current student if that’s offered. Engage with their emails, open links. An interview with an admissions officer is a great way to demonstrate interest however the interviews with alumni do not usually benefit your chances of admission - if you do well, the admissions office interviews are impactful (but not usually required). Ours interviewed and showed interest for several targets and safeties - felt it helped them with their good results and scholarship offers. And helped them feel great that there are many schools where they could be happy.
Anonymous
01/02/2026 20:50
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another spinoff post for an unhooked junior. We did not do our undergraduate degrees in the US, so this whole process is a bit foreign to us!
We are trying to plan our spring break visits and would like to refine our lists before making travel plans. DS is a junior in DCPS. Unweighted GPA is 4.0, 11 APs and 2 DE classes (both in math) so far with a couple more APs and DEs senior year. Probably in the top 5 of his class.
DS is interested in math or a math adjacent field but also plays a musical instrument at a high level, which makes a minor in music (or a double major) a strong consideration. Strong ECs (mostly math or music related -- competitions [AMO/MOP], tutoring, jazz ensemble, playing at senior living facilities) and 1560 SAT.
I'd love to know if there are other schools that should be on our list based on these schools. We especially need "likely" schools as the list is essentially all reaches and targets. So far DS is not interested in LACs (Oberlin, St. Olaf) but might include them on our list depending on music offerings. We may not be able to visit whatever is feasible.
Reach:
MIT (near impossible but hey, one can dream)
Northwestern
Hopkins
Chicago
UMD
UCLA
Target:
University of Pittsburgh
University of Washington (excellent applied math program)
Indiana (excellent music program)
Likely:
Rochester
What campuses did your DC like?
DC liked Pitt and MIT for the urban feel and Indiana to some extent when he visited for some events he participated in. UMD and Hopkins he's familiar with. We realize the need to add more safeties (hence the post).
Anonymous
01/02/2026 07:43
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
I would add Cornell to the crapshoot list
Anonymous
01/02/2026 07:40
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
visit the schoolAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Case Western might be a good likely. Strong in math and a decent music program too.
Oberlin, as you mentioned, very strong in music and students can do both music and academics.
+1 for Case western. He could receive a nice merit scholarship. Demonstrated interest is VERY important!
How does one do that?
Anonymous
01/02/2026 07:39
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Anonymous wrote:Another spinoff post for an unhooked junior. We did not do our undergraduate degrees in the US, so this whole process is a bit foreign to us!
We are trying to plan our spring break visits and would like to refine our lists before making travel plans. DS is a junior in DCPS. Unweighted GPA is 4.0, 11 APs and 2 DE classes (both in math) so far with a couple more APs and DEs senior year. Probably in the top 5 of his class.
DS is interested in math or a math adjacent field but also plays a musical instrument at a high level, which makes a minor in music (or a double major) a strong consideration. Strong ECs (mostly math or music related -- competitions [AMO/MOP], tutoring, jazz ensemble, playing at senior living facilities) and 1560 SAT.
I'd love to know if there are other schools that should be on our list based on these schools. We especially need "likely" schools as the list is essentially all reaches and targets. So far DS is not interested in LACs (Oberlin, St. Olaf) but might include them on our list depending on music offerings. We may not be able to visit whatever is feasible.
Reach:
MIT (near impossible but hey, one can dream)
Northwestern
Hopkins
Chicago
UMD
UCLA
Target:
University of Pittsburgh
University of Washington (excellent applied math program)
Indiana (excellent music program)
Likely:
Rochester
What campuses did your DC like?
Anonymous
01/02/2026 07:07
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
What is the weighted GPA?
If that is above 4.3 … could apply to Ivies Cornell, Brown UPenn
If that is above 4.3 … could apply to Ivies Cornell, Brown UPenn
Anonymous
01/02/2026 06:58
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Virginia Tech? Very good math for math majors. The music department is small but strong so lots of opportunities there.
Anonymous
01/02/2026 06:57
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
The list could use more safeties. Those are very important. Looks like the list is mostly big schools. So another high acceptance big school?
Anonymous
01/02/2026 05:01
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Even safeties are unpredictable these days.
Anonymous
01/01/2026 23:47
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another spinoff post for an unhooked junior. We did not do our undergraduate degrees in the US, so this whole process is a bit foreign to us!
We are trying to plan our spring break visits and would like to refine our lists before making travel plans. DS is a junior in DCPS. Unweighted GPA is 4.0, 11 APs and 2 DE classes (both in math) so far with a couple more APs and DEs senior year. Probably in the top 5 of his class.
DS is interested in math or a math adjacent field but also plays a musical instrument at a high level, which makes a minor in music (or a double major) a strong consideration. Strong ECs (mostly math or music related -- competitions [AMO/MOP], tutoring, jazz ensemble, playing at senior living facilities) and 1560 SAT.
I'd love to know if there are other schools that should be on our list based on these schools. We especially need "likely" schools as the list is essentially all reaches and targets. So far DS is not interested in LACs (Oberlin, St. Olaf) but might include them on our list depending on music offerings. We may not be able to visit whatever is feasible.
Reach:
MIT (near impossible but hey, one can dream)
Northwestern
Hopkins
Chicago
UMD
UCLA
Target:
University of Pittsburgh
University of Washington (excellent applied math program)
Indiana (excellent music program)
Likely:
Rochester
flip Rochester and Pitt
They’re both likelies for this kid. UMD is a target, assuming the kid applies EA.
Agree with others to add Michigan to reach (could be a target, based on historical Naviance data, but need to see how this year’s JR admissions pan out after all of the ED deferrals).
Things are not so straightforward these days. Also we don't know this kid's test scores. Rochester would be a great school for this kid given its strengths in academics and music. But I would not take it for granted as a safety. It's a strong school.
This is a little confusing -- Rochester admits 40% and of the 20 odd percent that submit test scores, 1560 is well above 75th percentile. So what makes it not a safety?
40% makes it not a safety. They don’t just start at 1600 then go down from there, accepting the top 40% of SAT scores. A 1500 or 1450 can get in over a 1560.
Anonymous
01/01/2026 23:12
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another spinoff post for an unhooked junior. We did not do our undergraduate degrees in the US, so this whole process is a bit foreign to us!
We are trying to plan our spring break visits and would like to refine our lists before making travel plans. DS is a junior in DCPS. Unweighted GPA is 4.0, 11 APs and 2 DE classes (both in math) so far with a couple more APs and DEs senior year. Probably in the top 5 of his class.
DS is interested in math or a math adjacent field but also plays a musical instrument at a high level, which makes a minor in music (or a double major) a strong consideration. Strong ECs (mostly math or music related -- competitions [AMO/MOP], tutoring, jazz ensemble, playing at senior living facilities) and 1560 SAT.
I'd love to know if there are other schools that should be on our list based on these schools. We especially need "likely" schools as the list is essentially all reaches and targets. So far DS is not interested in LACs (Oberlin, St. Olaf) but might include them on our list depending on music offerings. We may not be able to visit whatever is feasible.
Reach:
MIT (near impossible but hey, one can dream)
Northwestern
Hopkins
Chicago
UMD
UCLA
Target:
University of Pittsburgh
University of Washington (excellent applied math program)
Indiana (excellent music program)
Likely:
Rochester
flip Rochester and Pitt
They’re both likelies for this kid. UMD is a target, assuming the kid applies EA.
Agree with others to add Michigan to reach (could be a target, based on historical Naviance data, but need to see how this year’s JR admissions pan out after all of the ED deferrals).
Things are not so straightforward these days. Also we don't know this kid's test scores. Rochester would be a great school for this kid given its strengths in academics and music. But I would not take it for granted as a safety. It's a strong school.
This is a little confusing -- Rochester admits 40% and of the 20 odd percent that submit test scores, 1560 is well above 75th percentile. So what makes it not a safety?
My kid's stats were similar and we were advised it was not a safety.
Anonymous
01/01/2026 23:09
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another spinoff post for an unhooked junior. We did not do our undergraduate degrees in the US, so this whole process is a bit foreign to us!
We are trying to plan our spring break visits and would like to refine our lists before making travel plans. DS is a junior in DCPS. Unweighted GPA is 4.0, 11 APs and 2 DE classes (both in math) so far with a couple more APs and DEs senior year. Probably in the top 5 of his class.
DS is interested in math or a math adjacent field but also plays a musical instrument at a high level, which makes a minor in music (or a double major) a strong consideration. Strong ECs (mostly math or music related -- competitions [AMO/MOP], tutoring, jazz ensemble, playing at senior living facilities) and 1560 SAT.
I'd love to know if there are other schools that should be on our list based on these schools. We especially need "likely" schools as the list is essentially all reaches and targets. So far DS is not interested in LACs (Oberlin, St. Olaf) but might include them on our list depending on music offerings. We may not be able to visit whatever is feasible.
Reach:
MIT (near impossible but hey, one can dream)
Northwestern
Hopkins
Chicago
UMD
UCLA
Target:
University of Pittsburgh
University of Washington (excellent applied math program)
Indiana (excellent music program)
Likely:
Rochester
flip Rochester and Pitt
They’re both likelies for this kid. UMD is a target, assuming the kid applies EA.
Agree with others to add Michigan to reach (could be a target, based on historical Naviance data, but need to see how this year’s JR admissions pan out after all of the ED deferrals).
Things are not so straightforward these days. Also we don't know this kid's test scores. Rochester would be a great school for this kid given its strengths in academics and music. But I would not take it for granted as a safety. It's a strong school.
This is a little confusing -- Rochester admits 40% and of the 20 odd percent that submit test scores, 1560 is well above 75th percentile. So what makes it not a safety?
Anonymous
01/01/2026 17:17
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another spinoff post for an unhooked junior. We did not do our undergraduate degrees in the US, so this whole process is a bit foreign to us!
We are trying to plan our spring break visits and would like to refine our lists before making travel plans. DS is a junior in DCPS. Unweighted GPA is 4.0, 11 APs and 2 DE classes (both in math) so far with a couple more APs and DEs senior year. Probably in the top 5 of his class.
DS is interested in math or a math adjacent field but also plays a musical instrument at a high level, which makes a minor in music (or a double major) a strong consideration. Strong ECs (mostly math or music related -- competitions [AMO/MOP], tutoring, jazz ensemble, playing at senior living facilities) and 1560 SAT.
I'd love to know if there are other schools that should be on our list based on these schools. We especially need "likely" schools as the list is essentially all reaches and targets. So far DS is not interested in LACs (Oberlin, St. Olaf) but might include them on our list depending on music offerings. We may not be able to visit whatever is feasible.
Reach:
MIT (near impossible but hey, one can dream)
Northwestern
Hopkins
Chicago
UMD
UCLA
Target:
University of Pittsburgh
University of Washington (excellent applied math program)
Indiana (excellent music program)
Likely:
Rochester
flip Rochester and Pitt
They’re both likelies for this kid. UMD is a target, assuming the kid applies EA.
Agree with others to add Michigan to reach (could be a target, based on historical Naviance data, but need to see how this year’s JR admissions pan out after all of the ED deferrals).
Things are not so straightforward these days. Also we don't know this kid's test scores. Rochester would be a great school for this kid given its strengths in academics and music. But I would not take it for granted as a safety. It's a strong school.
Anonymous
01/01/2026 13:40
Subject: s/o Reach/Target/Likely list for junior
OP here: Thanks for all the suggestions. We will be making travel plans to fit as many schools as possible.