<p>After doing a lot of independent studies over the two years or so, it looks like this year I'll be doing a combo of home school/college and graduating early. I'll be two years early for the state where I live (PA), but only one year young for the cut-off in others (like NY). </p>
<p>I've attended a small, religious school all my life, and am looking for an environment that will give me a strong sense of community and social structure. I am thinking at this point of going to a smaller school (<3000). </p>
<p>I want to study math in college, and possibly music composition/theory as well. This year I expect to take Calc 2 and 3 (hopefully!) at the college level. </p>
<p>I am one of four kids, so cost is an issue. I'm hoping for scholarship money, probably for academics. Based on the scores last year, I expect to be a National Merit Scholar. I also have high SAT scores and GPA. </p>
<p>Do you know of any schools that would roughly fit these academic, social, and financial criteria? I would also like to stay within a day's drive of PA if possible. My parents and I are excited (but also apprehensive!) about the college search. </p>
<p>A small college (like an honors college) in a large university can give you the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>Deending where you are, you might look at Penn State (main campus), Pitt (main campus), and Temple. All have honors colleges. All are public and state-run or state-related, with corresponding costs.</p>
<p>Your math major also should offer small classes and a chance to get to know your professors. A larger school might well offer more outlets for music activities, though.</p>
<p>If you really want a small liberal arts college, you have many choices. Urban, suburban, rural? Coed or single sex? Religiously affiliated or totally secular?</p>
<p>Both of my parents finished high school at 16, and I turned 17 a month before graduation. All of us were fine when we got to college.</p>
<p>Upper division math courses are typically small, but you will likely have a larger selection of them (and graduate level math courses) at a larger university that has a graduate program in math (though a few smaller schools that include that subject in their specialties like Caltech may also be suitable).</p>
<p>If you give your stats as well as how much aid you will need, posters can provide more specific suggestions. You may also want to consider a gap year so you won’t be as young when you start college – while you certainly sound like you will be academically qualified, you may miss out on social aspects of attending college because you will be a good bit younger than most others.</p>
<p>Considering your religious background (as described), you may want to pay close attention to the social/intellectual/political atmosphere of colleges people recommend as well as the usual size, location and cost factors. I know a few kids who chose faith-based colleges such as Messiah (in PA!), or Concordia in order to have an college environment they and their parents were comfortable with. They would not have been happy at a super liberal college such as Swarthmore!
On the other hand, perhaps you do want to go somewhere with a great diversity of religious persuasions…I wasn’t sure from your post.</p>