College Applicants Stress Over Choices

“Hi everyone! I'm a senior currently applying to college, and am struggling to pick between Vanderbilt and UPenn in terms of where to ED. I want to major in chemistry/ materials science and am hoping to go straight into industry after college or a masters degree post-grad. I love the "work hard play hard" environment at both schools. I wanted to know what people thought about the competitiveness, greek/social scene, and research opportunities/ STEM program rigor and prestige at both”

“Hi everyone I am an international applicant and currently looking for a university counselor to work with on my application. I would love to hear genuine recommendations and suggestions from fellow international applicants. Here are some specifics: 1. Budget cap is around 5k USD 2. I strongly prefer someone who has solid experience working with international applicants, and specifically from the middle east (especially for financial aid) 3. Ideally an independent/private counselor over giant cor”

“Hey there Redditors! Excuse me if you’ve seen this post floating around in another subreddit. I’m trying to generate as many answers as possible. I need some help with deciding on a Cal State. I’m here to learn more about the schools and the cities that surround them. I’m a 30 something African American woman returning to college to finish her bachelor’s degree in Communications. I work full time with one of the big rental car companies M-F regular business hours and as long as there’s room for”

“Hello I am a current senior getting ready to apply for college and I wanted to let advice on how to narrow down my school list so far. I want to become either a clinical psychologist (major in psych) or an elementary/early childhood teacher. Thank you so much for your help!! For reference my stats are: 3.3 gpa weighted / 3.1 gpa (Unweighted) SAT-1130 currently (but i took another test on Oct 3rd and am waiting for my score now) I've participated in an internship during the school year and I”

“I live in Italy and I'm going through that phase where you start to worry about your future/college lol. I would like to attend a college in America. I did some researches and I think that Liberal Arts are the best fit for me, given that I'd love to study art or creative writing. As for the housing I'd prefer a Substance-free dorm/housing: I don't wanna do that stuff and yes, I know college is for "broading your horizons" and "discovering new things" and &quot”

“Hello! I’m trying to find a good college that is surrounded my nature or has beautiful nature nearby such as mountains or lakes , which is great for hikes. As well as a good social life too. Almost think if the song “Country Road” was a college lol! Perhaps if the out of state tuitions are not extreme too. Thank you! submitted by /u/Brave-Concert6967 [link] [comments]”

“I am currently in the process of applying for grad school and I don't fully know how to get a good idea of how supportive each school is of disability and lgbtq stuff. Theres not a lot of specifics of that sort of thing on their websites. submitted by /u/DazzlingAffect1912 [link] [comments]”

“i’m looking to go to school somewhere that won’t be hella transphobic, any advice is appreciated deeply🙏 submitted by /u/Dramatic_Divide_9867 [link] [comments]”

“Hi! I’m an international student applying for 2027 and I’m looking into the Stamps Scholarship, but I’m honestly confused about which partner schools actually give it to internationals 😭 I need basically a full ride/full COA for all 4 years , not just tuition. I’m also interested in neuroscience, CS, and computer engineering . I’ve found schools like Barry, UConn, LSU, Ole Miss, Wake Forest, Tulane, Miami, UGA, FSU, Pitt, etc., but I’m getting conflicting information about international eligibi”

“Hello, I'm a Junior in Japan and currently looking into STEM (e.g. Biochem/Biotech) universities abroad to see if they are a good fit for me. However one big limitation I have been experiencing as an international student is the personality or the atmosphere of the universities since we can't physically go to the universities to see for ourselves. Anyone with experience please share with us. Btw I want to go to a school that doesn't focus too much on academics but also connection, co”

“Hello! I am a senior this year, and currently on my list I have a ton of reaches, but I need to figure out what schools would best fit me for what I want/their best programs for my possible majors in terms of target and safeties. Any reccs? 3.92/4 weighted 3.75/4 uw, 34 comp ACT and 35 superscored 12 APS (5 5's, decent 4s), internships at criminal court doing work and won championships in equestrian riding (jumper division) as a lifelong passion, as well as animal shelter volunteer dual citi”

“Hi, i've currently just started searching for university applications and it has been quite overwhelming for me going through various different university sites and searching through for scholarship deadlines, applications, etc. I wanted to ask if there are helpful scholarship websites i could access. (I'm searching for bachelor degrees) thank you! oh also, would really like to ask if applying in aug-dec vs jan-may actually make a big difference? submitted by /u/Mediocre_Phot”

“The college i really want to go to has a great program for my major, has tons of cool clubs, and is accessible for a neurodivergent student like myself which is important to me. The one issue is that the college is extremely liberal, and i consider myself a centrist who leans slightly conservative. Usually I would not care at all what the political stance of the college is, as there are perfectly friendly and good people on all sides. But I saw an article from a few years ago where a student was”

“Hi ! I’m a current high school junior and i’m starting to make my college list (yes I’m aware this is quite early, better to be prepared !) I’m looking for my colleges to add to my list to look at. Some things I prefer… -Liberal arts -”Small” -Mid acceptance rate (no higher than 30%) -Lower coa OR really good financial aid -East coast -I’m looking at a bio/stem major on the “pre-pharmacy“ track so a good stem/bio program is a MUST -no religious colleges please ! Some colleges I already have on m”

“heyy de influence my list! i’m applying EA Fall 2027 to all of these and planning to major in industrial design/entrepreneurship. i also have a few reaches (vanderbilt for hod, emory for business, Cornell + brown) - UGA (fashion merchandising maj with product dev. focus) - NCAT (computer graphics tech with tech design focus) - USC C (planning on entering their new ind. design program in aug 2027) - Syracuse (design futures, transfer to ind. interaction design with built portfolio) - Georgia Tech”

“Hi there! I am 20 yrs old and living in Washington State, I am wanting to go into the vetinary care field and have heard great things about ABC but I want to be sure to choose the right school. It seems Pima Medical and ABC both provide similar instructing (pima being a lot more hands on, obviously) but I cannot afford to go to Pima when it comes to time (8am-12pm M-F) or money (20k tuition that can only be paid in two 10k chunks). I am putting all this out here because I do know I eventually wa”

submitted by /u/Beloved_Receptionist [link] [comments]

“I am looking to expand my college list a bit so please suggest any colleges that fit what I’m looking for Major: Physics Decently ranked in stem Preferably more northern Moderate to large campus/ student population Gives decent financial aid or not too expensive Colleges I’m already applying to: Purdue Boston University UMD UMBC Cornell Brown Thanks for any help submitted by /u/Livid-Key3237 [link] [comments]”

“hello all, i wanted some insight on different colleges; information i may not know. im a rising senior and im looking to major in history, i prefer the NYC/Boston area (or outside of the US, tbh), i have a 3.8 GPA and I’ve yet to take the SAT (whoops), my main option is Fordham because i know they’re rigorous in that field but is there any other great schools around there that aren’t impossible to get into that are very well suited with the philosophy/history/literature side..? thanks. sub”

“I’m currently in a small community college in Ohio but I want to transfer to another college next semester, I want to study either Environmental Science or Biology , specifically Ecology/Conservation. I just need to figure out where I want to do it. I’m a low-income student and I’ll be paying for my education myself, so I really want to avoid graduating with a bunch of debt or student loans. I’m trying to find somewhere that’s genuinely affordable, or a school that’s known to be generous with fi”

“I'm building a list of universities in the US based on the different funding models. Feel free to add or expand on the list in the comments. Universities where substantial need-based aid can be possible: Harvard Yale Princeton MIT Amherst Bowdoin Williams PS: The financial aid can be fantastic, but admission is highly competitive. Universities where merit scholarships for international students is possible: University of Alabama Iowa State University University of Arizona Arizona State Unive”

“I trying to find a college that will accept a neurodivergent and has accommodations for special needs students like tutors, and maybe also some extra work time and at the same time will have football at a low level division 1 school so I can possibly play football as it's a dream to play or just be on a football team and make friends. I also believe my high school GPA was 3.8 and also I would like to major in business, marketing, or advertisement these are some majors that I'm interested”

“i'm an international student seeking for full ride/aid, here is my current college list (major cs): amherst bates bowdoin brandeis colgate colorado dartmouth emory macalester pomona college rice uni swarthmore college uic uni of notre dame vanderbilt vassar washu williams wellesley bryn mawr i'd love also do some researches for seven sisters colleges, but not sure yet. if u want i can drop my stats and profile. submitted by /u/EmptyPizza5005 [link] [comments]”

“I am a current senior from a very rural area and a tiny high school that graduates <5 people per year, and I don't know much about colleges or college apps, though I have looked into it a bit on my own. Initially I did not even consider going to college until about a year ago. I want to be a doctor because I experienced some complicated medical issues and appreciate my doctors, and want to do the same for others. I have a low GPA (3.3) due to these issues since I was hospitalized a lot, b”

“hello i am 24 finally deciding to apply to college and i want to try and be a technical designer. as of right now i am looking into uccs' game design and development program as it specializes in teaching you the programming and the art side of things and its a 4 year bachelor program at a school very very close to my house. but i know most people say not to go into specific degrees and look into more broad degrees. but for something like technical design where i need to know both sides of th”

“Could anyone recommend a site like Naviance or Niche with support for universities globally? North America, Asia, Europe? submitted by /u/WarIndependent5883 [link] [comments]”

“I love to travel and have always wanted to visit some US national parks, obviously this isn’t my top priority for college but I want to take the opportunity to try living somewhere different for a while. I’m from a city on the east coast and I’d love to see more of the country. I’m looking to study art, I have a 4.0 and some decent art accolades. I’d love any suggestions! submitted by /u/Finnley_is_trans [link] [comments]”

“For context, I'm a rising senior in cali and kinda procrastinated a bit on my college list lol. Would love some suggestions since rn my list is just ed cornell or cmu and the UCs 💔 Stats: Asian Male GPA: 3.79 (around 4.0 uc weighted) Course Rigor: taking multivar at cc rn, took 3 cc classes in 9th grade, 10 APs (4 on bio rest 5's) SAT: 1540 (760/780 superscore) Major: Public Health + Data Science Budget: Parents both doctors so we aint getting no need based financial aid ECs: -Science O”

“Hi! I'm currently applying to colleges and am looking into going into the engineering field, potentially civil or electrical. I'm researching colleges, however without touring them, it's hard to get a feel for them. If anyone toured/been to any good engineering colleges and has any comments about the environment/feel of them, I would love it if you shared!! Some context- I'm asking this because I've moved out for my junior year to go to a boarding school in a place drasticall”

“I'm looking for a college that suits me and i have found 3 so far but I want to find more. I have appalachian state, cu bolder and Warren Wilson college. Im a vetrian going to be a vetrinarian. Right now im just focused on getting my batcholers and am willing to switch later if needed. Ive traveled 44 states next month im going to hit 3 more so I know I dont want to be in the Midwest, west coastal states or northeast region. Id also like to stay out of large city's but im open to it. Ope”

“I know that this sub is mostly for US colleges but I was just curious on how it works across the world. Do any other nations look at the wide range of things the US looks at (essay, exams, grades, ECs, awards, recommendations) or do they stick to exams and grades? Do they apply in the fall or spring? Do most people stay in-state or out of state? Do they go to public or private? Do schools also have designated college counselors to help kids apply? Do they pay application fees? Let me know about”

I DON’T WANT TO APPLY TO THIS MANY so please help me eliminate a good chunk but just trying to see if people have any thoughts on specific schools. Ok tysm in…

“I want to apply for psych or neuroscience at uni and have recently found this course by Utah University called ENGIMA-U. it's completely free and focused on neuropsychology. you have to watch a shit ton of videos and do ~320 quizzes (w/ 80% +) to earn the certificate. Is it worth doing or just a waste of time? (I'm a soph btw) submitted by /u/Impossible-Toe6745 [link] [comments]”

“hi im an international student and i was wondering if these colleges fit the vibe i want: cold weather good sports urban, cosmopolitan, international good american sports outside of the university (nhl etc) good program for my desired major: journalism with french + film/media friendly and not uber-competitive when it comes to academics (e.g. people will share their notes with you if you miss a class) good job prospects and career advice from the uni? also programs where theres an internship or”

“I have collected all the universities that offer full rides for international students. They all have my intended majors, and they are all great schools, but their acceptance rates are very different, from around 4% to 38%. Now I have to choose one for ED , and I’m not sure what strategy I should follow. Should I choose a very prestigious school like Yale or Stanford, even though I feel like I might not be good enough to get in? Since ED is binding, I’m worried that if I get accepted to a less c”

“Hey! I’m looking to apply to colleges soon but I’m struggling on where to look so these are the things I’m looking for :) - middle sized student body - middle sized town - I have seasonal depression so hopefully a place that’s a little warmer - looking for a more liberal and relaxed environment but I’m open to either - walkable/pretty campus - smaller/chiller Greek life but still somewhat of a party school I’m a very average student (like 3.5 GPA so please keep that in mind) Thank you guys so mu”

“Heyyy! So I’m going into my senior year and need to start narrowing down colleges. I’m thinking about nursing, and I’m from Wisconsin. I have a couple schools I’m planning to apply to in the Midwest, but my dream is to live near the ocean. I have a 4.2 gpa and got a 26 on the act. I’d prefer it if the college was affordable for out of state students and provided a good social/party life. I’m open to both public and private college. Help me out and let me know what college would suit me :))) than”

“I’m really at a loss, I have no clue where I want to go. I want a place (preferably in the South) with strong academics and small class sizes but for the people to not be boring as hell. I’d love to be involved in Greek life I don’t want a party school obviously but I want a balance like a work hard play hard sort of place. Any ideas? submitted by /u/AdKitchen8291 [link] [comments]”

“Hi everyone! I’m a rising senior from a rural public high school in the South, (being south asian in alabama is horrid ngl) don't know what to major in on the predental track (looking ot minor in music performance/violin). finalizing my Common App strategy and would love feedback on a few specific application questions!! EC & Award Prioritization: I have more activities and awards than what is allowed in the main EC/award slots. Which 10 ECs and 5 Awards make the strongest narrative for”

“So I’m getting ready to start applying to colleges and could really use some advice/recommendations. I’m pretty open to a lot of different places, but I live in Connecticut and I definitely want to go out of state so I can experience something completely new. I’m mainly looking at the East Coast, the South, and Texas area. I don’t really want to go all the way across the country, though so no where really past Texas. Here’s what I’m looking for: Around a **3.5–3.6 GPA** (3.6 at the end of junior”

“What are other colleges that are good for bio/pre med such as UMich, UNC, etc (I’m not aiming for Ivy level)? submitted by /u/gimmechipotle1234 [link] [comments]”

“Hey! A bit of context- I'm a 12th grader studying in India (CBSE), but am a US Citizen by birth and spent few years in MN before moving to Paris, and then, India. I'm hoping to apply for electrical/aerospace engineering Class 9-80% Class 10- 97.2% (Top5 in School), National topper in French and AI, received accolades and recognition from state government as well. Class11- 86% Class 12- Hoping to get 94+ in boards SAT-1480 International Physics Competition (IPhyC 2025): Silver Honour (Sen”

“As a high school student, I’m currently interested in Emory, UNC, and USC , and I’m hoping to pursue a PhD or Graduate school in the future (possibly in biology/neuroscience-related fields ) (not in the pre-med route). I have a few questions: 1. Which school provides better opportunities for undergraduates to get involved in research? How accessible are professors and research labs for undergraduate students who want to apply for grad school/ PHD? 2. Does it feel overly competitive, and is it di”

“i cant find any i tried cold emailing but then i realized i knew bs about what i wanted to do because I AM A SOPHOMORE HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT GRADUATE LEVEL NEUROSCIENCE so thats off the board. JUST HOW. i know informatiom about the topic now but i was too eager and blew my opportunites. i give up HOW ARE PEOPLE MAKING THEIR 500M PEOPLE IMPACTED NON PROFITS THERES NOT EVEN ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE IN MY AREA WTFFF i dont like this game of having better ecs its so draining and i had”

“Hi Everyone! I'm an international student from Sydney looking to go to America in Fall 2028. I've got my reach school as NYU then UMiami but I'm not too sure what other unis I should consider. My careers counsellor said I should have around 5-7 and also some safety schools. I'm not the best academically and on my first SAT practice i got 1200... I know it's quite low but my local grades could be around an equivalent of 1300-1350(predicted 90 ATAR) and am definitely going to d”

“Hi everyone! I’m a rising senior from a rural public high school in the South, (being south asian in alabama is horrid ngl) don't know what to major in on the predental track (looking ot minor in music performance/violin). finalizing my Common App strategy and would love feedback on a few specific application questions!! EC & Award Prioritization: I have more activities and awards than what is allowed in the main EC/award slots. Which 10 ECs and 5 Awards make the strongest narrative for”

submitted by /u/Icy-Refrigerator764 [link] [comments]

“tldr: i want help building a college list/learning of potential programs that may be interesting based off my interest (pre law + international relations) first post here, i’m in a weird position with college applications where i either go to a place my family decides is a “top college” or i go to a specific local college that my school feeds into, which i really do not want to go to (religious issues). while i think it’s not impossible for me to get into a “top college” i want help finding plac”

“hi, I'm currently applying for colleges this season and i want to have a career perhaps in field research that involves marine biology and neuroscience. I've seen some sources on good colleges for both neuro and marine bio separately, but I was wondering if anyone knew any colleges that offer good courses in both, since I want a career that combines my two interests. Thank you in advance! submitted by /u/CreamyDaFly [link] [comments]”

“Hi everyone! I’m a rising senior from a rural public high school in the South, (being south asian in alabama is horrid ngl) don't know what to major in on the predental track (looking ot minor in music performance/violin). finalizing my Common App strategy and would love feedback on a few specific application questions!! EC & Award Prioritization: I have more activities and awards than what is allowed in the main EC/award slots. Which 10 ECs and 5 Awards make the strongest narrative for”

“im trying to finalize my college list and could use some advice on what to keep, cut, or swap. about me: - massachusetts resident - interested in neuroscience/psychology on a pre-PA or pre-health path - looking for a school that's academically strong but not super cutthroat - looking for diverse student body (especially decent asian representation) - id like a social scene, but partying doesn't have to be the center of campus life - personalized education is important, but I don't mi”

“Hey, wanted a uni with low/cheap tuition. I am an int student wanting to apply to us unis for mscs. Please share recommendations! submitted by /u/iamreal001 [link] [comments]”

“*This is my first post ever, so this is really cool for me!* I am starting the application process and have already applied to 2 schools. I'm looking to be a Mechanical Engineering Major, and I was just wondering if you have any advice and what colleges you would recommend for someone with my stats. I'm mainly focused on schools that have excellent industry connections and internship opportunities rather than the best research or other things like that. Stats : White male from TN, idk ab”

“I visited a ton of colleges last year in the lead up to picking a school, so I thought I share some of my thoughts on these places to help some of you make a more informed decision. Please feel free to ask questions if you have any! I still encourage you all to visit as many places as you can before you decide on a school. Hyde Park (UChicago) It’s definitely not in the best part of the city, but the campus and immediate area surrounding it felt very safe and interesting. It’s a ways away from t”

“Heyy! I need help on my list. Are these not enough colleges? I think I did a lot of research on the public health programs (plus pre-med), research, and experience at these schools (research, service-focus, study abroad, and collaborative community are what matters the most to me ) but I'm scared I'm missing something or that they don't have the same vibe? Like when I see other people's lists, I'm lie yeah all these schools are siblings of each other but mines don't feel”

“Hi everyone! I’m entering my junior year of high school and could use some advice. I’m currently in Canada, but I’ll likely be living in Tennessee by early 2027. I’m starting to think about university admissions and I’m worried about my academic record. In Grade 9, I had a 4.0 GPA, but my grades dropped in Grade 10 due to undiagnosed health issues. I’m working on improving my grades now, but I’m concerned about my Grade 10 transcript. I’m not an extraordinary student and don’t have any major awa”

“I’m a rising senior and my college list is currently just full of schools that siblings and friends have recommended that I add, but I wanted some help to add schools that have the things that are important to me as well :)) A mid to large sized school in the northeast A strong, active musical theatre/arts scene that isn’t just for theatre majors, bc I’m not planning on studying theatre and I’d like to be involved in it as an extracurricular :) Not a requirement, but id love a campus that isn’t”

“Parents please help! My oldest child is going into junior year and we are lost. Can anyone recommend a good workbook, or a really comprehensive website that can take a student through the college search process? (Admissions advice/prep seems abundant, but I am looking for something that precedes that.) I imagine it must exist, I may just be searching wrong. So can anyone point me in a good direction? I’m thinking that the book would lead you through questions such as why you want to go to colleg”

“Hello, I (19F) have been trying to find a good community college in NC and/or SC That provides classes for animation and art. Im hoping to transfer to SCAD after taking community college classes. Im not looking for anything specific really, just a good college in NC and/or SC that has classes in animation and art (my main focus is animation). Please help (sorry if this post is confusing) submitted by /u/Brilliant-Trip-6362 [link] [comments]”