That’s not too far off. UC President Clark Kerr envisioned the 10-college residential model at UCSC to be a coalition of Swarthmores under a larger institution. The residential college experience is intended to provide an LAC experience in a larger university setting. I think UCSD is the other UC with the same design.
That being said, BMC and UCSC are completely different college experiences. At UCSC you have the smaller community of your residential college, nestled within the larger UCSC community. BMC is very insular, and Mawrters with cabin fever don’t have the larger university to escape to and still remain within the community. The City of Santa Cruz is in a different universe from the Main Line. I also agree with others that you are exposed to a greater diversity of people at a place like UCSC.
You know, what a state of affairs in which we find ourselves when a kid who volunteers as a tutor is viewed by admissions as “solid but not spectacular.” I say that because a kid who achieves everything else yours did has little to no extra time and uses it in a sincere, helpful and logical way - sharing her talent with others so they too can excel in school.
If I were an Adcom, that would be more than good enough for me. Frankly, I’m rather cynical about many of the over-the-top ECs and the ridiculous lists of them. Many are just unbelievable … literally unbelievable.
Anyway, congrats. Impressive accomplishments. Your D is going to be just fine wherever she goes.
I’m sure this is around somewhere but I didn’t find it quickly. I think your kiddo got into Grinnell and Mount Holyoke and did not get into Wes, Case and now Bryn Mawr, among a few others, correct?
Well, as a parent of a Wes alum, it’s their loss … all of them who didn’t take her. She’s impressive. But Grinnell and Mount Holyoke are good gets. Is there a financial issue with either?
Also, and I know this won’t be helpful to you now, but I am curious whether she applied to Smith? Smith has a huge endowment (larger than Holyoke’s), a campus just as stunning as Holyoke’s and is in a better town. Northampton >>> South Hadley. This is just a very general impression that I have, but I feel like I see posts about kids who apply to the women’s colleges and other LACs that you’d expect that kid to apply to and Smith is often missing. If she did not apply to Smith, I’m curious as to why. That might have been another really good get, and with your mention of STEM, Smith as you probably know is one of the few LACs with engineering. Ford Hall at Smith is a really nice facility and there is a great STEM education to be acquired there.
I hope she finds a way to be happy with her achievements. I completely understand the confusion and frustration, but both schools are enviable admits and she will do great.
She applied to Wesleyan, Grinnell, Bryn Mawr, and Mount Holyoke as great LACs, but also because they specifically have the 3/2 program with CalTech (CalTech was # 2 moon-shot, after MIT; UChicago was a close #3).
At this point I believe Mt Holyoke is her top choice, unless she gets off the WL at Wesleyan or CWRU or Bryn Mawr. Going out there next weekend for admitted student days for her to be sure.
Mount Holyoke is fantastic. As you know, the oldest of the 7 sisters. Will she have a car? That will make the Pioneer Valley more enjoyable. I wish one of my girls had chosen a 7S. I love their traditions.
Again, congratulations to her. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the Wes and BM waitlists. You never know.
Mt Holyoke turned out not to be a fit in the end for my D and she didn’t apply, but it was the first college she fell completely in love with and it influenced what she continued to want in a college. We know a couple people who attended and absolutely loved it. I hope your D loves it too!
Just got official notice that waitlist closed and status did not change. She had already decided to go to Oberlin so not sure an offer would have changed anything.