<p>So, I am a junior who is quite interested in the college search. However, there is only so much that you can find out without actually visiting the school. With that being said, 2 schools in particular that I can't visit as of yet, but still would like to know more about are Goucher College and Lewis and Clark College. These schools strike me as being quite similar, but I really have no idea.
These schools are both possible low match/safety schools along with TCNJ, SUNY Geneseo kalamazoo, however I will be able to visit both of these schools. (I have a loooong list)</p>
<p>I would like any feedback comparing Goucher and Lewis and Clark seeing as they seem to be quite similar.</p>
<p>I guess I ought to tell you a bit about myself… So, as of right now I am split between three majors: those being econ, bio and english. I will probably double major bio/econ with english. Until recently, I had ruled out for the most part schools that were near the city. However, a different part of me enjoys the excitement of city-life as well. I have been driven away by city schools because of my love for the outdoors. Also, most schools in the city tend to be larger and less academically driven. SO what do I want in a school? As both of these schools have, I would like a strong study abroad and internship/research opportunity. I would love a community feel, but at the same time I am starting to second guess myself if I really want a college about the size of my high school…</p>
<p>SO. I think i have told you enough about myself for you guys to readily compare the two schools for me…</p>
<p>I know alot about Goucher, since my son has just decided to go there. I don’t know about Lewis and Clark. I am confused about your listing TCNJ and Geneseo along with them as safeties? Did you mean you were interested in them also, but not as safeties? Any way, my son was admitted to Geneseo and TCNJ as well as Goucher. He decided on Goucher because he got a large merit scholarship, loved the campus, the 1 to 9 faculty to student ratio, the writing program. You sound a little scattered, but that’s okay since your a junior. You need to visit. Is money an issue?Where do you live? What are your SAT scores and GPA? If you are qualified to get into Geneseo and TCNJ, you would probably get merit money from Goucher.</p>
<p>Ha ha ha ok sorry. What i meant was that I have a really long list and that TCNJ, Geneseo, Kalamazoo, and Lewis and Clark are ALL possible low matches/safeties. Sorry…</p>
<p>I’ll just copy and paste my stats from another forum and change as needed…</p>
<p>I’m a junior in a semi-competitive school in upstate new york.
GPA: 3.81 unweighted
I don’t really know my rank, but I would assume somewhere around top 12%
I haven’t taken any tests besides the PSAT- 212
UPDATE: 33 ACT…ok…
EC’s: Vice President of Model UN since sophomore year (also a member of the club freshman year),
Freshman year sports: JV cross country Vars Nordic skiing JV Outdoor Track
Sophmore Year: (JV cross country, JV Indoor Track, JV Outdoor (could have made varsity if i wasn’t injured the final two seasons)
Junior year: Varsity cross country, Varsity Indoor, JV Outdoor (Injured…again)
I have a good chance to be named captain of xc and/or indoor/outoor next year.
I have been an editor of the school literary magazine since sophomore year and have published several poems/plays/short stories— I also have a decent chance of being named “Editor in Chief”
I have attended the Rochester Scholars Program at U of R over the summer and over april break for Medical studies and did a neurology internship over the summer there.
Spanish Club sophmore year and this year (most likely next year as well)
Great books club only freshman year</p>
<p>Classes:
I took one AP class as a sophomore
AP Euro–5
I am currently taking APUSH, AP stats, AP Chem, AP Language and Composition and am taking the AP Physics B exam
All honors except for spanish, which i opted out of honors this year because i had a 84 avg sophmore year</p>
<p>Hi, I’m currently a sophomore at Goucher College so I can give you some information about that specifically…
First of all, your credentials look great and you’d certainly fit right in with Goucher students as far as academic ability, involvement in extracurricular activities, and desire to be away from a city (in a sense), go abroad, etc.
We definitely have econ, bio and english here- I am an English major. There are two different sections within the major: literature and writing. (I’m doing writing…) I don’t know much about the other majors but you should absolutely check out each department’s website and maybe even get in contact with the head of the department with any questions you might have.
For your love of the outdoors: Goucher has hiking trails right in its backyard. I personally have never been on them but I know people really enjoy their accessibility. The campus is completely closed off and some people claim the students live in a bubble. HOWEVER, it is right inside Towson, a great little city with PLENTY to do, and right around the corner from Baltimore. So you get the best of both worlds! There is a collegetown shuttle that will take you right to the Inner Harbor, as well as other schools nearby so it’s easy to get anywhere you need to go.
Size is a major factor in choosing a school, so take the time to really think about what you want. I went to a school last year that had about 2000 students, the same size as my high school. Now I’m at Goucher which has only 1450 (doesn’t seem like a big difference) but I LOVE the size of Goucher so much better. It honestly is quite a noticeable difference and something that make or break your experience. As you said, visiting is a great thing to do to get a feel for the size as well as everything else.
Study abroad as I’m sure you know is required at Goucher. That said, the school works to provide as many opportunities as possible so that every student can study exactly what they want where they want. There are a ton of 3 week programs (I’m going to France for 3 weeks this summer to study theatre!) as well as semester and year-long programs. There are multiple Study Abroad Fairs throughout the year where many outside programs come to share information. So if, for example, Johns Hopkins is doing a medical program in Spain and that’s the trip for you, the two schools will work together and with you to make it happen! There’s even a Goucher Voucher that the school automatically provides to help ease the cost of the trip.
I have a friend in the 7year med program at TCNJ and she absolutely loves it! Other than that, I don’t know much about any of your other choices…
A final note: I’m assuming you’re fairly close to SUNY Geneseo since you’re in upstate NY (I went to HWS last year), so your options are somewhat spread out. I strongly encourage you to SERIOUSLY consider how you would feel being so close to home, or as far away as Goucher. The main reason I left HWS was because it was 6.5 hours away from my home and that really devasted me. At Goucher, I’m only 1 hour away and I don’t go home every weekend, but having that option is a big stress-reliever. So if you definitely think going far away won’t be a big deal, go for it! Otherwise, take the time to consider your options close by, etc.</p>
<p>Good luck!!! Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about Goucher! And the Admissions Office is always a phone call away, and they’d be happy to answer any questions as well (at any school of course…)</p>
<p>Thanks ncgoucher for the real detailed post! Regarding going away, I think I won’t mind being that far away from home. About goucher, I have heard that it is sort of a ‘super liberal pot smoking hippy school.’ Is this stereotype true?</p>
<p>HA! No it is not.
Hippy is a very general term that people use to describe the students, but the number of actual hippy-looking hippies on campus are few and far between. It is definitely super liberal, and because of that everyone can be and do whatever they want and not be judged for it. Which also feeds into the hippy thing: a lot of people walk barefoot to class when the weather is nice, people wear some funky looking clothing, etc. all because they are free to and don’t feel like they will be looked down upon. Which is a REALLY nice feeling
People smoke pot yes, but obviously not everyone and I honestly wouldn’t even say the majority of the students. There’s no peer pressure to do so and you may smell it occasionally near a dorm but for the most part it’s not something you see or have to deal with if you don’t want to.
Kids are just happy here. That’s the best way to generalize them. I know there was some article about us somewhere that said we were the happiest liberal arts students or something. Which I can definitely see everyday… It’s a very chill place, but people still take things seriously- a perfect combination!</p>
