Advice?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi, I have posted this before in the "my chances" thread, but feel like the parent forum might be more helpful. Basically, my family and I are trying to figure out which schools to visit over fall break (well, realistically just one), but I don't want to waste our time and their money looking at places I could only dream of attending...not very productive. Do you think the following schools are good bets? Too big of reaches? I'm from TN, so, with the exception of Tulane, I can't say I know of anyone who has been either accepted or denied admission-I have no basis for comparison. I look forward to your insight. Thanks. </p>

<p>Chances at Reed, Whitman, Hamilton, Carleton, Kenyon, and Tulane </p>

<hr>

<p>Here goes:</p>

<p>Gender-female
Location-deep south
Status-rising junior
High school-private</p>

<p>Freshman year: </p>

<p>Biology-A
Honors English-B
Geometry-B
World History-B+
Honors Spanish III-B+
Chior-A</p>

<p>Sophomore year: cue the jaws music. </p>

<p>Chemistry-B
Honors English-B-
Algebra II-B
AP European History-B+
Honors Spanish IV-B
Theater-A</p>

<p>Junior year: (can only provide course load)</p>

<p>Anatomy
AP English
Pre-Calculus
AP Us History
AP Spanish V</p>

<p>Senior Year: (again, can only provide course load)</p>

<p>AP Chemistry
some form of calculus
AP Government
AP English Lit
AP Spanish VI</p>

<p>*My high school is quite challenging, much more so than your typical public school. Crazy block schedule with hour and a half classes. A ton of work. single-sex. Few "As" are awarded. We may not take Advanced Placement courses until the eleventh grade. European History was an exception. Grades listed are, thankfully, unweighted. All of our classes are technically "honors"and will be listed on my transcript(even those not designated here) as such. Classes listed above as "honors" are accelerated honors courses. Grades are printed unweighted. GPA is listed weighted (as on transcript). </p>

<p>GPA: 4.4</p>

<p>Test Scores (haven't taken SAT/ACT)below predictions based off sophomore psat)</p>

<p>Math-will probably be upper 500s to mid 600s
reading- 700+
Writing-700+</p>

<p>Awards:
2nd place overall writing competition.
Honorable mention writing competition
Finalist for guest editor position with national magazine.
honor roll, high honor roll</p>

<p>Community service: summer reading program at library- 100+ hours.
Teaching Spanish to elementary students.
Will begin volunteering at hospital this year. </p>

<p>Main Extra-Curriculars:</p>

<p>Newspaper (9th-present)
Literary Magazine (9th-present)
Yearbook (9th-present)
Student Council (10th)
ultimate frisbee (10th-?-will likely continue)
International Thesbian Society (9th-present)
Miscellaneous clubs requiring minimal time commitment. </p>

<p>Just for me:
Guitar(9th- present)
piano (6th-present) </p>

<p>Summer: </p>

<p>summer@brown
Art classes
summer reading program</p>

<p>Honesty, please. Carleton is at the top of my list. I absolutely Love the idea of being surronded by a bunch quirky, bright, unprententious kids in MN, all while reaping the benefits of a top notch academic program. Suggestions, concerns, and questions are all welcome. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Enlighten me.</p>

2

<p>I can’t speak to Carleton, although your stats fit- however I would suggest a visit if you can to Reed, you will know if you belong there & if you do, your essay will be able to illustrate that.</p>

3

<p>Hmm six schools, each of which should be visited in order to get some idea of “fit.” If you can only visit one, I’d suggest either the one that’s “at the top of my list” or the one “most distant from home.” I think you have a shot at all of these schools, particularly if you don’t need financial aid. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Carleton and Reed are the hard ones on your list. Both DDs were waitlisted at those schools (one at each). I agree with EKitty that a visit to Reed makes it easy to see if you will like it (DD2 did not while it was DD1s first choice). You probably have a good shot at the remainder.</p>

<p>Kenyon is great if you want to go into writing (that seems to be a strength of yours) but it is not really geeky like Carleton. Some geeky schools that DD2 looked at are Lewis and Clark, Knox, Grinnell.</p>

5

<p>I also have to say- be confident of your desire to attend school in a different climate- while it is " only " for four years- the winters of Northfield Minn, are slightly more intense :wink: than those in Knoxville.</p>

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<p>Carleton is an amazing school and will challenge you academically. A great school. You did not mention what you were considering majoring in but it seems from your from your post that you have a passion for writing. If so, you should also consider Kenyon, they have a fantastic reputation for their writing and literature programs. I love their campus and student body. I will echo what emeraldkity4 said about the weather in Northfield, it will be an initial shock for someone from the south.</p>

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<p>Ok, two more colleges to add: Vassar and Grinnell. Thanks Erin’s Dad for sparking my interest in the latter. </p>

<p>Really, I am not a huge “Geek”, but I guess my interests are a bit “Geeky”. I’m creative, definitely. </p>

<p>Bobby from CT, I’m considering being a biology/history/psychology major- with hopes of going on to medical school. I adore Biology- and medicine is far more practical, sadly, than being a “writer.” </p>

<p>NewHope 33, I will not be reqesting financial aid. </p>

<p>Emeraldkity4, the weather does bother me-I’m used to wearing shorts into September, sometimes October. I would have to do some serious stocking up on ski hats, scarves, and boots. I’m hoping to visit over fall break to see if I could handle the chill. </p>

<p>*One of the reasons I have taken such an interest in Carleton is, trivial though it may sound, their campus. No, not seventies style buildings-the actual campus. From what I can tell from pictures, it’s naturally very…pretty. The arb, two lakes, the Japanese garden, the labynth(sp?). I’m a nature girl, so campus beauty is a must.</p>

8

<p>Please, keep the comments coming. I’m actually kind of shocked that no one has said flat out that Carleton is a major reach school. I mean, it’s ranked what, eight? I’m not going to be offended by the truth. I don’t exactly have a flawless transcript.</p>

9

<p>I recently visited Macalester, and they said that generally speaking, they have trouble attracting kids from the South due to weather. The same may be true of Carleton, so you may have geography going for you.</p>

<p>My nephew from California at Carleton is having no difficulty with the weather (although his semester abroad was timed strategically). I’d encourage you to visit, and as long as you’re there you should check out Mac. IMO, its location is prettier than Carleton’s.</p>

10

<p>Macalester also seems more appealing to me- I go bonkers in the country for too long.
However- strategic semesters abroad are well used at Carleton.
A neighbor went to Mali.
;)</p>

11

<p>Qialah- Did you find Carleton’s campus UNattractive- or just not “knock you down” beautiful? There’s something about Mac…they sent me their literature and I got bad vibes…I don’t know…I can’t pinpoint it…There were suspiciously few photos of the campus…and the layout was odd. OK, I think I may take the crown for the worst reason not to be interested in a school- but, really, it bugged me.</p>

12

<p>Oh my. I found Mac’s campus very pretty, in a very pretty part of town and nicely laid out. While the dorms were so-so (as was the Carleton dorm I saw) The student center, the library and the athletic facility are absolutely world-class. </p>

<p>Carleton has some pretty parts of campus, but to me it has the feel of being plopped down in a former cornfield. Doesn’t have the same number of charming tree lined paths that Mac has. My nephew lived in a dorm by the lake, and his walk to anywhere must have looked like trekking through the tundra in the winter.</p>

<p>Carleton used have have underground tunnels connecting the buildings, but they have all been closed. All of Macs dorms are connected underground so, as the tour leader said, you can visit anyone in your bedroom slippers. </p>

<p>If you are going to make the trek from TN to MN, you really ought to see Mac for yourself.</p>

13

<p>Another reason to visit Reed
[The</a> Trees of Reed College](<a href=“Trees of Reed”>Trees of Reed)</p>

<p>I sure miss that red oak outside the Paradox cafe- it was magnificent</p>

<p>If I could go anywhere ( and I wasn’t afraid of working my a$$ off) I would go here myself in a flash</p>

<p>[LOVE</a> REED](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/canyon/]LOVE”>Canyon - Reed College)</p>

<p>But actually all your schools are great choices- one of D’s friends is @ Tulane med school & she loves it and the area.</p>

<p>Kenyon is well known for nuturing writers ( I also would look at [College</a> of Wooster](<a href=“http://www.wooster.edu/en/About-Wooster.aspx]College”>http://www.wooster.edu/en/About-Wooster.aspx))</p>

<p>Hamilton is also in the back of beyond ( I assume it is the one in upstate NY?), with harsh winters.</p>

<p>Whitman isn’t quite in no man’s land, but it is in Eastern Wa–
( while cold, the cold is a " dry" cold) and although it was instate and my daughter qualified for a governors scholarship, I couldn’t get her to look at it.</p>

14

<p>OK, well, Qialah, you have inspired me. I will visit Mac if we make it up to MN. I’m not sure I know what you’re referring to with the “underground tunnels” but it sounds like good fun. Maybe to escape the freezing temperatures? Honestly, though, is Carleton’s campus mediocre in the looks department?..It seems homey, from what I’ve seen in their propoganda/viewbook.</p>

15

<p>Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You need to check it out for yourself.</p>

16

<p>Emeraldkity4- Reed looks beautiful, but again, I’m almost afraid of the funk factor. Would I fit in? 50/50. Would they find me dead under a pile of unfinished homework assignments? quite possibly. The South is very conservative and Christian. Reed is not. I think that’s why I’m drawn to it. I’m ready for a change. </p>

<p>Tulane is a great school- I think it’s a bit underrated, too. And New Orleans is fun. Maybe even too much fun (Bourbon street, Mardi Gras, need I say more?) I’m kidding, but self control would be a must.</p>

17

<p>So, what you’re saying is that it could be argued either way?
Hmmm…not so sure that’s a good sign…</p>

18

<p>* funk factor*</p>

<p>Explain please
Or are you talking about " literal" funk- having heard stories about the library smells during finals week when even my own kid didn’t go back to her room to sleep ( or shower) and librarians would have to walk through periodically spraying Febrezze)
:stuck_out_tongue:
My daughter who is preppy looking- a non smoker- pretty much a non drinker- she wasnt a cheerleader but she was a camp counselor for years, loved Reed.</p>

<p>( but her carpool partner in high school, the one that wouldn’t start on papers until the morning they were due and would drive around the block because he was too impatient to wait at a red light loved Carleton)</p>

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<p>Emeraldkity4- By “funk factor” I was leaning more towards the school’s reputation as being a little off-beat- granola crunchers, strange hobbies, etc…Though I have heard not all Reedies shower. The Febrezze deal is hysterical- and it’s nice to know they look out for their students haha. I get the feeling Reed is a college I MUST visit to completely understand. It seems so traditional with the curriculum and yet it’s arguably among the most- if not the most- liberal college in the country.</p>

20

<p>I agree with looking into schools such as Kenyon, Grinnell, and Mac. Frankly, Carleton will be a mega-reach for you given your low GPA, projected test scores, and lack of a major hook (athlete, URM, legacy). I know two students with much higher GPAs, higher test scores, and ability to pay full price that were rejected in the last two years. Both were female.</p>

<p>At this point, you would be best served by looking at other excellent schools. Grinnell, for example, would still be a reach for you, but is more in the ballpark. This year, about two-thirds of the entering class came from the top 10% of their high school class. An ACT of 33 will only put you at the 75% percentile–test scores are high.</p>

<p>Best wishes to you. You show a lot of initiative in your college search and that’s one of the most important qualities for being successful!</p>