A completed (?) college list

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello!
I am a junior in HS and have been seriously thinking about where I want to go to college. I am looking for a school that has great math and music programs. My goal is to double major (or double degree) in mathematics and music, and in the future I plan to have a career in mathematics (actuary?) and spend all of my time outside of work as a musician. I am great at math and I think it's fun, but music is my real passion. Anyway, I have composed a list of schools below that have what I'm looking for (good programs, fairly small). </p>

<p>I hope to get a BS in mathematics.</p>

<p>At this point, it looks as though I might have to settle for a BA in music because a performance BM just doesn't seem attainable. The reasoning behind this is the fact that I play flute, arguably the most competitive instrument. I will, however, audition and see what comes of it. Several calls to music departments regarding degree options are in my future.</p>

<p>Other requirements:
-I am not interested in attending a school with an overpowering Greek system. I will not be joining a sorority. Some Greek life is fine, I just don't want to feel pressure to join in.
-I am willing to spend 5 years in school to achieve my goals.
-I probably will not consider schools with more than 10 thousand students.</p>

<p>Relevant information:
-Resident of Washington (state)
-Ethnicity: White
-Gender: Female
-GPA: 4.0</p>

<p>Without any further ado:</p>

<p>Safety:
-Central Washington University
-Western Washington University</p>

<p>Match:
-Lawrence (This is probably my top choice "match".)
-St. Olaf (I love this school but I'm worried because I'm not Lutheran.)
-University of Puget Sound
-Wooster
-Ithaca
-Rollins (
-Shenandoah (Is religion a big part of life here? I am not United Methodist either.)
-U Hartford</p>

<p>Reach: (in no particular order)
-Northwestern
-Oberlin
-Rice
-University of Rochester
-Williams
-MIT
-Vanderbilt
-Case Western Reserve University
-Wesleyan
-Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>As you can see, I need to narrow down this list, because I can't apply to all of these schools.
I will most likely apply to both safeties, 5 matches, and 3 reaches. Any more would drive my parents crazy.</p>

<p>I am looking for constructive criticism and assistance adding to and (mostly) removing schools from this list.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time! :) </p>

2

<p>Two schools I forgot to add to my “reach” list:
Amherst
Smith</p>

3

<p>I was about to suggest St. Olaf! I love it as well, and I’m not Lutheran either. Don’t think you have much to worry about as there are plenty of non-Christians, as well as Christians of all shades there… and their mathematics program is superb. Depending on your test scores, you may also be in line for some nice merit scholarships. Would definitely recommend you keep it on as a solid safeish match.</p>

<p>What is your SAT/ACT? (If you haven’t taken those yet, what do you expect to get based on your practice tests and/or PSAT?) What is your EFC? How much can your family afford to pay each year?</p>

4

<p>well, without knowing your SAT it’s hard to say if some of the schools on your reach list ought not to be matches, but I’m leaning in that direction: Smith, Case, Rochester, and Oberlin. Have you considered Reed, which is very strong in math and looks for students with combinations of interests? You might want to wait til you have an SAT score before you prune the list overmuch (what part of the country is it that has preserved this word? who uses this word anymore? my head is full of 19thc American vocabulary and syntax after seeing Twelve Years a Slave last night–great dialogue).</p>

5

<p>@warriordaughter
I have taken the PSAT, but I am not satisfied with the score and hope to do better on the SAT. I received a 196 this year, which shows improvement from sophomore year (187-ish) but not really as much as I was hoping for. On the plus side, I only missed one question on the math section, putting me on the 99th percentile (for that section).</p>

<p>I have talked to my parents many times about EFC, and they can’t come up with an answer. If it helps, my family’s income bracket is about 100k-150k per year.</p>

<p>After a discussion with @chemusic I have decided to add another two schools to my reach list.
-Vassar
-Susquehanna</p>

6

<p>@jkeil911
That’s a very good suggestion. I’m planning on taking the SAT at the very next opportunity along with the ACT. I will be sure to let everyone know how I did as soon as possible. I’m relieved to know that some of the schools on my list are more match-ish than I previously imagined. </p>

7

<p>Someone mentioned Reed above – double majoring there is difficult because you have to do two senior projects (one for each major). So typically a double major requires a fifth year. I know the OP said this is okay, but it is an awfully expensive proposition…</p>

<p>I think Lawrence and St. Olaf are very good matches for you, you should try to visit both. I agree that a lot of the students at St. Olaf are not Lutheran, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. And Lutherans don’t tend to be “in your face” much anyway, they are pretty low key (I live in MN and am not Lutheran, although there are many Lutherans here, so can vouch for this). </p>

8

<p>set up a date with your parents to sit down with their last year’s tax forms and the laptop. pull up the “net price calculator” for 3 or 4 schools and punch in the data the NPC requests. Then show your parents what these 3 or 4 schools are likely to expect from them in the way of an “expected family contribution.” Your parents will be surprised, unless they’ve done this before, so give them some space to breathe and talk among themselves. Then in another month or two weeks, set up another mtg to learn their thinking. Finding out what they think they can afford to contribute will give you some idea about where you can afford to go to school. That will narrow your search much more accurately than anything else.</p>

9

<p>@jkeil911 Using the NPC is a very good idea. I will see what I can do.</p>

<p>@intparent I agree with you statement about Reed’s price tag. When I said that there’s nothing wrong with a 5-year program, I meant that (my parents and) I don’t mind spending the extra year. I don’t know how my parents feel about the extra money. Again, the NPC seems like a great idea.</p>

10

<p>I agree that St. Olaf and Lawrence seem like good matches. I would definitely keep Oberlin high on the list! Outstanding music and also strong in math. And not Greek oriented. Depending on your scores and grades you may be able to get merit aid.</p>

11

<p>Susquehanna is a safe-ish match, with 75% of applicants accepted and a 25/75 SAT range of 1510-1800. I agree with some of the other posters that you may be underestimating your chances at some schools.</p>

<p>I personally know very little about Rollins, Ithaca, Shenendoah, and Hartford, but the other matches have excellent academics. Do you know approximately how much your parents are willing to pay each year for your college? That may help narrow down the matches to possible merit schools.</p>

12

<p>Ithaca and Susquehanna would be safeties for admission. Stronger student body than CWU. Not sure price-wise though. However you’d likely get nice scholarships.
Rollins has had a bad reputation for it’s drug-infused party scene.</p>

13

<p>@MYOS1634 Thanks for the tip about Rollins. I’m definitely not interested in parties or drugs. I was considering taking it off my list altogether just because of the location. I’m not going to just yet, though, because I’m not ready to eliminate it completely. </p>

<p>Since many of the previous posters have mentioned that I should reconsider some of my category placements, I will repost the list when I get a some time, moving some othe more reasonable reaches to the match list.</p>

14

<p>It’s difficult to take colleges off your list sometimes-- but realize that if you have lots of fantastic options, it is a necessity. You shouldn’t apply to every appealing school, just a good mix. I applied to ten schools and so far have been accepted to six, and already am struggling to narrow the list down. Remember that you can only attend one.</p>

15

<p>Sorry I confused you - I see Susquehanna as a safety for you not a reach school. Their math major has a concentration in actuarial science which you mentioned and they have a fun music department. For all of your schools, take a look at the catalogs and see exactly what courses you need to double major or dual degree. You will eliminate many schools that way. </p>

16

<p>@chemusic Don’t worry about confusing me. It’s my fault. Susquehanna would definitely be a safety.
Looking at the specific degree requirements could be helpful, but I am not sure how rigorous the required classes are at any given school. For example, I have heard that the classes at Case Western are rigorous, but what exactly does that mean? How can you define “rigor?” Does this mean I won’t have time to rehearse/practice?</p>

17

<p>Be sure to keep at least one true safety on your list. While Susquehanna would very likely admit you, it may not be guaranteed to be affordable for your family, based on merit aid and FA. Read this thread if you haven’t already: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/493318-don-t-forget-to-apply-to-a-safety-college-p1.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/493318-don-t-forget-to-apply-to-a-safety-college-p1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;