I would like to get some advice on what schools we should be considering for my Son, class of 2018.
His stats are: 3.6 weighted GPA; SAT 1270 (will take again in August). Lots of ECs, especially in performing arts, theater and dance. A couple of sports. Service ECs relating to animals and library. Possible majors: English and the like (journalism, etc.), theater (probably a minor) and possibly script-writing or game design.
We have a tentative list:
Reach-ish schools:
Occidental
Lewis & Clark (will visit)
Chapman (have visited, and he loved it)
Match-ish schools:
University of Redlands
Willamette (will visit)
University of Puget Sound
Pacific University (will visit)
University of Portland (will visit)
Safety schools:
State flagship
Linfield
He is not interested in going past the West Coast. He doesn’t want to be “too cold”. I am trying to get him to look at a few schools in Texas, like Trinity and SMU.
He also has ADHD and has just begun taking meds which seem to help him focus. He is a “young” junior, meaning he is late-born, but we were unable to keep him back a year because academically, he would have been bored, or at least that is what we are told.
He is accustomed to seeking help from teachers and advocating for what he needs. He has been given time-and-a-half on final exams and the SAT. He is used to being in a small school environment where the teachers are, for the most part, very nurturing. It is an IB school, he is taking 2 HL classes (english and anthro) but not pursuing the IB diploma.
Please let me know what you think of the list of schools above and if you can suggest any other school we might consider.
Also forgot to add, he will need some merit/FS. We have some college savings and plan to pay out of pocket for the rest. He will be eligible for some private scholarships in our home state. Hope not to have to pay more than $30-40k/yr out of pocket, including the college fund.
My older daughter went to the University of Redlands. She was in the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, a living-learning community. She loved it. She had around a 3.5 GPA and a 34 ACT (good test-taking is a family trait!); she didn’t take the SAT. We had high financial need and her FA package was reasonable although not extraordinary. She concentrated in fine arts (painting and drawing) and writing.
If he likes Chapman pay a lot of attention to the essays, specially the supplements! They really take a holistic approach and value highly life experiences. He has a great shot there and it’s such an amazing school. Good luck!
What about Montana state? Carroll Montana?
Utah is great for animation and game design.
Pacific Lutheran for a safety?
Whitman for a reach?
What about Simon Fraser up in Vancouver?
I think your list is excellent, he should have many choices if he can take advantage of early action where it is offered… He could add Western Washington for another safe school that would likely be within your financial sweet spot.
@MYOS1634 OP said that the kid wants to stay on the west coast and doesn’t want to be “cold.” Maybe things have changed in Montana but I thought it got a bit nippy there in the winter.
Yes, true, but I was trying to expand things a bit.
For real Utah is a powerhouse in the field he’s interested in, and what seemed necessary at 15-16 (like ‘not cold’) evolves quickly :p.
Overall the list is excellent as is. Time to run the NPC’s and to fill out the request info forms.
Have you considered UNC as in Univ of Northern Colorado? Not warm, but it is West. It was one of our S safeties. They are very close-knit for a public school and have a good performing arts program (music in particular…I know less about theater arts) When S visited the staff really were caring about ensuring there was an environment that students would/will be successful in. Class sizes are pretty small and smallish size school. In any event, they also offer very early admissions, so S was able to have this and one other school as accepts very early in his Senior year…huge stress reliever. He will matriculate elsewhere as it was a big safety, but if he had attended I know he would have been happy there.
Another one you might add is Gonzaga, or local to Silicon Valley area, Santa Clara or USF-great Jesuit schools
As an aside, our S said the same thing as a Jr. He wanted to stay west and not too cold, not too hot. His friends had similarly odd criteria. Over the summer they all changed their thinking organically and each as Seniors seemed far more focused on what schools would suit their individual educational/cultural needs more than what the weather would be like or where their friends might go. It was an interesting and pleasurable transformation to watch as a parent. We live in California and he has just committed to WPI just outside of Boston…go figure-big time snow is in his future!
Agree with Whitman as one to consider. A few other PNW schools to consider: the Evergreen State College (in WA) and Southern Oregon. They aren’t going to show up on most top-whatever lists, but your son might really like the approach at Evergreen. SOU is a state directional but a fine institution, and Ashland is a great town for someone with an interest in theater.
My youngest daughter, just graduating from Gonzaga in May, has ADD, is graduating Magna Cum Laude. She had a 3.66 unweighted high school GPA. but only a 21 ACT. Her older sister went to GU as well and was ranked #2 of 400 in her high school class, with an unweighted 3.999 high school GPA - Salutatorian. Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Gonzaga - one of about 20 from class of about 1000.
So they both thrived there - it is an atmosphere that works for students with a variety of backgrounds and capabilities.
The younger daughter with lower stats and ADD has been very good about advocating for herself, meeting with professors when she was having difficulties etc. and found the atmosphere very supportive. She had accommodations with registration, and testing times.
To be a good fit for GU, it helps to love basketball as a spectator, but it isn’t necessary!
Spokane may be a little cold and wintery for the student in question. It snows a lot in the winter, but has warm fall and spring weather.
I’d add in Western Washington University (WWU), Seattle U, Seattle Pacific University (our oldest graduated from there as a music technology major with a business minor), Gonzaga, Santa Clara, USF, maybe Loyola Marymount.
For an ADHD kid I’d likely skip Evergreen. At least for my kid, it’s a bit “too” color your own parachute and he might never graduate. Teachers around here are huge fans of it but employers…not so much. My young senior, a 3.45 UW, 3.6W, 25 ACT (superscore) ADHD kid applied to and was accepted at UPS and WWU. Both have wonderful arts programs, my S is a big music and theater (tech) kid. UPS offers non music and theater major scholarships, my S applied for both.
The rest of his schools were east coast. Whitman will be a reach and less generous than the others $$ wise. PLU seems to be one of the more generous schools around here, though I don’t have direct experience.
You have a nice list! I can tell you from my DS17’s acceptances at UoP, Willamette, Lewis & Clark, and Puget Sound that for merit/need money, Willamette was the most generous, though all gave a healthy grant/scholarship package to our son. (His ECs and SAT were similar to your son’s, but his GPA was 3.8 unweighted, just to give you a comparison.)
To be very honest, I’m not sure this is in his reach (based solely on stats), unless he really gets his SAT score up (or goes with the non-test app route). I know it’s a holistic approach, but Whitman was the only rejection my PacNW kid had, and as I mentioned, his stats were similar. Just my 2 cents…doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try for it!
After visiting all these schools and comparing aid, DS17 has committed to L&C for next year, FYI. Definitely go visit!
We live in Ashland, and I can attest to this region being a great place for a kid interested in theater. There are multiple community theaters to join in addition to SOU’s program, and opportunities to audition with professional talent. Ashland is a small town and while SOU isn’t ranked too impressively, it’s the perfect school for certain students.
Agree about Evergreen…unless he has very dedicated direction/self motivation, I think it’s easy to get lost there.
SOU has been thrown around by my friends who frequent the Shakespeare festival. If he is serious about theater, I think we will add it to the list. Otherwise, my concern would be if not theater, does it offer enough quality education in the other areas…
@Stitchsmom you could also consider Central Washington. We know several theater and music kids there that are quite happy. I’m not sure how it would compare academically to SOU. The one very talented young lady I know at SOU right now was a very strong HS student and still chose SOU. For whatever that’s worth
I take the regional rankings with a huge grain of salt. US News puts Evergreen ahead of SJSU and CSLB. I would not agree with at at all, personally.
