<p>My younger sister is going to be a senior next year and so is beginning to look at colleges. She is feeling very lost and so I thought that I would ask for advice from those that know.<br>
A bit of general background-she attends a very underperforming public high school in a small, diverses community. She is interested in majoring in either art or acting, and has expressed little interest in other subjects. Our parents are, however, pretty sure that they want her to apply to liberal arts colleges, so she isn't locked in to one thing. She doesn't care too much about location, but wants a school on the smaller side. Money is an issue, I qualified for need based aid and my parents' finances certainly won't change in a year, and since I'll be in college next year I'm assuming they'ss qualify for more.<br>
Her GPA is a weighted 3.6/4.7 and for the past three years she has taken a full course load of honors classes (the highest the school offers). She is also in the band and plays the baritone sax. Her senior year schedule is far lighter than in the past, as she is taking band, two art classes, an elective history class, musical theater, Honors Spanish and AP English (the first and only AP class the school offers). As for math and science she has taken up to Algebra II Honors and Chemistry Honors.
Her SAT scores are 640 CR, 540 Math and 580 Writing. She doesn't really want to retake them, but is disappointed in the writing.
As for EC's she has tons. She has been a member of the Student Council for four years, and was the Secretary this past year and will be the Historian in the coming year. She was a member of the Student Advisory Board for the state, and has gone to many leadership conferences. She is in the National Honor Society and participates in her class activities. She has been the varsity field hockey goalie since sophmore year and participated in the varsity tennis team but isn't really interested in playing in college-she only played for fun. She has been in a couple of youth theater productions, is a Girl Scout, works at the local supermarket for about ten hours a week and has organized two fashion shows for charity-designing and making the clothes, getting other students to model, doing publicity and so on. Her main hobby is painting. She is a vegetarian, agnostic and politically very liberal.
I'm sorry this is so long, but I wanted to try and give an accurate picture. Thank you for any suggestions.</p>
<p>You sound like a caring sister to be taking the time to guide your sister through the college process.</p>
<p>It would help to also provide the following info: </p>
<p>Your state (because often state public colleges provide the best options, particularly to students with average SAT scores who aren't URMs).</p>
<p>Your parents educational levels and jobs (because if they are blue collar/pink collar/farmers and if they haven't gone to college, that may open some doors). It also would help to know their income because that would give us an idea about what they could afford.</p>
<p>mortgatta - You're to be commended for helping out your sister. In my experience creative people often appear to be "lost." (Have you seen "Capote?") Since getting into college is very "rote detail" oriented, I'm sure you sister will benefit from your assistance.</p>
<p>There are many LACs with strong creative departments. Some are really hard to get into, like Fordham/Lincoln Center. Others are more doable. I'd suggest Muhlenberg and Goucher for starters, both of which would be academic matches for your sister. </p>
<p>Good luck to you both!</p>
<p>In additionn to NSM's qx, when we look beyond the in-state publics, it would be helpful to know how far she and your family would consider her travelling for out-of-state schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for taking an interest! We live in MA and my parents are both human service types with master's degrees-so no real help there, I guess. She's interested in staying in the northeast, New England, New York, New Jersey and PA. I would estimate that my parents make about $50,000 a year, and they're willing to take out loans, and for my sister (and I) to also have loans.</p>
<p>does she have SAT-II scores?</p>
<p>I was just at dinner last night with some people whose son is in the theater program at Arcadia College (outside Philadelphia), and they are very happy with it and impressed by the quality of the program.</p>
<p>Human services jobs w/ master's degrees - and combined income they make a total of $50,000 a year???? That doesn't make sense, unless we are missing some info. Mortgatta, are you sure?</p>
<p>I know someone with similar stats and somewhat similar interests who had an excellent experience at Skidmore. I believe they offer quite a bit in the arts.</p>
<p>anixousmom- my dad only works part time (nights). (And its in the high 50's, probably- no one was home to ask for sure when I posted).</p>
<p>If she'll consider a women's college...Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley could be a great fit and does not require SAT scores. Excellent theatre and arts programs (can major in either) -- but core requirements that will require her to get exposure to other areas of the liberal arts.</p>
<p>Will find lots of other students there with similar interests, and political leanings.</p>
<p>May I just add I went to a Shakespearian performance by the students at Arcadia and it was really good.You know with a modern spin. Very creative.</p>
<p>I second the suggestion of Goucher--also look at Drew in New Jersey, another place going SAT optional. Bennington in Vermont might also be of interest--drama department is good there.</p>
<p>Bennington will also be SAT optional by Fall of '07 and sounds like it might be a good fit. The theater department is strong and the 24 hour art facilities are fantastic. At Bennington she can get a liberal arts education, but spend most of her time focused on her interests. Because of the small size of the student body there are many opportunities for leadership. She will also have no problem being a vegetarian there, the dining commons is quite varied in that area!</p>