Can you help me with my college list?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi,

I’m a high school student (currently Sophomore) from eastern/central Europe and I made a small (well, not that small) college selection. I would appreciate your help with each college. If there’s anything I should about them, please tell me. The higher they are on my ‘list’, the more I would like to attend them (more or less). I need full financial aid too. So, here it goes:

  1. Columbia/Harvard
  2. Duke
  3. Colgate
  4. Macalester/Wellesley
  5. Kenyon College

Now, about me: I predict something around 3.8-4.0 GPA (well, in US scale, since polish grading is very different) when I will be applying. SATs around 95%. I am, however, torn in case of the SAT’s. I don’t know which ones should I take. I’m thinking about US history, Biology, French and Math II. Help me pick two, please :). My extracurricular activities at the time of application will be:

  • video game blog for 3 years,
  • art classes for 3 years,
  • class president (1 year now, might be more),
  • MUN participation,
  • I'll also make art for a video game (at least one, maybe more, don't know about it's success), might make the rest for it (programming etc) alone or with someone else, not sure yet,
  • and maybe a winner of national english and/or geography olympiad (with emphasis on maybe). Some other things will probably roll in along the way as well as not very meaningful awards.

As you might figure out by now I want to major in art/media/visual thingies or something like this. If you could tell me which of the colleges I mentioned earlier are best at art, I’d be grateful. Oh, and if you happen to know any colleges in Nevada with decent art majors and financial aid, than please tell me about them, because I find Nevada really awasome, yet couldn’t find any colleges meeting my requirements there.

I will be really thankful for your advice or any useful information (just don’t tell me that Harvard is a crap shot or anything like that, since it’s not very useful).

PS I want to take US history because I consider it very interesting (more so than world history), not because I think it’s easier.
PPS Is there any chance that in 2018 there will be SAT Geography? :))
PPPS Is taking math on SAT Subject Tests crucial, even though I want to major in art? By that I mean, will it look bad if I don’t take it? I would probably do well, but I rather spend my time studying something else.

2

I think you know that all of the schools on your list are very difficult to get into. I would add a few safety schools to the list. You seem to be competitive but without an SAT/ACT it is hard to tell.

As an international student you need to research what each school’s policy is on financial aid for international students. Many US schools have very very limited financial aid for international students. You have time so go to each school’s website and figure out what their policy is on aid to international students. There is no one rule that all (or even most) schools follow. If a school offers no aid to international students don’t bother applying. Writing applications is difficult.

Not all schools require SAT subject tests and not all of them require math. If I were you I would make a spreadsheet laying out the testing requirements of all the schools on your list so you can see them all in one place. It will make it easier on you. Most schools only require 2 (there are a few exceptions) if they are required at all.

If none of the schools require math don’t take it. When it comes to taking the subject tests I would go with what you know best, not what you like best. I think that if you do well on French it will be impressive. That would mean you are fluent in at least 3 languages.

Good luck to you.

3

For art, Kenyon would be excellent, and perhaps would be the strongest school from your eclectic list. Columbia and Harvard would be two others with notably strong art programs.

4

Proudpatriot - I’ve already checked if they offer financial aid, it would be pointless to write in here about them if they wouldn’t. :slight_smile: By information about them I meant how’s the community, are there any interesting places nearby and things like that. Also, none of the schools require math II I think, but I was wondering if not taking it would make me look flawed. After reading your post I suppose it wouldn’t. As for my fluency, I’ve heard language SAT’s are pretty easy, I would probably pick the one without listening too. That leaves me with US history, French and Biology. Out of them I probably know US history the least, but I’m still not sure about French. Is it worth taking the one without listening?
And can you recommend me any ‘safety schools’? I don’t really know what makes a school safe to apply to.

merc81 - Oh… In case you wonder, I’ve placed Kenyon last because it looks a bit like a castle, and that frightened me a bit hahaha

Thank you both for advice. Still, what about Nevadian schools, do you know any?

5

Beyond your current favorites, these colleges would represent a sampling of those with excellent art programs and offer a range of selectivity options:

Williams
Hamilton
Vassar
Scripps
Smith
Skidmore
Bard
Sarah Lawrence
Wheaton (MA)
Lake Forest

6

I’m not sure you understand how SATs work. You must take either the SAT or the ACT. The standard SAT which some people call the SAT1 covers English/reading skills and math. In addition there are the SAT subject tests which some schools require. Not all schools require the subject tests so you should check on that for the schools you are interested in. As I mentioned there is also an alternative test called the ACT which has sections on reading, writing, math and science.

7

me29034 - I do understand how they work. I was talking about SAT Subject Tests all the time. I was just wondering if not taking math II on SAT subject tests will make me seem worse. I do know about the regular SAT. Also, I can’t take ACT in my country.

merc81 - thank you again. However, I don’t think all of these offer full financial aid. I heard that at Bard’s there are lots of hipsters and weed smokers, is that true? :-?

8

Yes, you should screen suggestions made on this thread by their financial aspects:

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2016-09-19/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need

Regarding Bard, the students may differ somewhat from what might be considered typical, though you would be free to choose your own path there.

With respect to Nevada, I can think of no school in the state that would be particularly suited to your interests.

You can screen potential choices by rough selectivity here:

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-50-smartest-colleges-in-america-2016-10

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-610-smartest-colleges-in-america-2015-9

However, it would not be advisable to use these lists for the establishment of strict preference hierarchies.

9

In terms of settings, Colgate resides in an authentic countryside village that Forbes regards as one of America’s 15 friendliest:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrennan/2012/12/19/americas-friendliest-towns/#41feb97a6a60

Reaching conventional suburban amenities would require a bit of a trip, however.

Regarding subject tests, at least one quantitative test (not necessarily math) paired with at least one humanities exam will typically represent the most impressive combination – especially for international students, who may be otherwise challenging to evaluate – though none may be required of course.

10

Thank you, very insightful and helpful answers. So for example Biology + French/U.S. History would be a good pairing? I’m not sure whether foreign languages are considered humanities, are they? And if yes, which one would be better paired with biology? Or by quantitative you mean only math, physics and chemistry? Also, could you please explain to me how early action and decision work, and what’s the difference between them? Sorry if I’m overwhelming you with those question, but it’s very important for me. :slight_smile:

11

Quantitative SAT 2s would typically include only math, physics and chemistry.

Non-native languages would be considered humanities. In some ways, the requirement here may be less stringent for internationals than for U.S. students, in that TOEFL or IELTS exams may be sufficient for many purposes.

By all means, consider any exam that you could fully prepare for and on which you believe you would perform well. As a future art student, your choices can be somewhat flexible within reason.

Early action relates to application and response timing; a commitment to the school would not be expected. Early decision requires attendance if accepted, barring defined circumstances.

12

Okay, everything is clear for me now, thank you. However, I would like to know your opinion - is it worth it to take math II in combination with French/US history if it would require me to spend reasonably more time preparing than biology?

13

My opinion would be that any scientific exam (even if not quantitative) would be reasonably contrasting to your humanities testing. So biology paired with one or both of French/US History would seem to be fine. When you take the SAT I, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your quantitative skills in that format. You could get by even without the biology SAT 2 for reasons along these lines – though this should depend on where you feel your strengths and preferences lie, as well as the stated requirements of individual colleges of interest.

14

Thank you again, finally I have no doubts about anything college related. :slight_smile:

15

Wishing you success moving forward, @TalkingFish. Posters will be around to help you as you proceed in your search.

16

With respect to your original choices, Columbia’s location would be among the safest of any of the world’s big cities:

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-20-safest-cities-in-the-world-2015-1

17

Btw, your other threads indicate you are male. This would eliminate Wellesley, as well as the suggested Scripps and Smith, of course.

18

Oh… Well, I didnt realize that. Than again, there are no gender-exclusive colleges in my country.

19

Great suggestions from @merc81 as always.

On the other side of the country, USC has an excellent art/design school. It also appears on this list of schools that give generous aid to international students:

http://thecollegematchmaker.com/65-colleges-give-generous-aid-international-students/

Bard also appears on the above list, and would be a great school for art/design.

CalArts would be a great school - they do have scholarships for international students but they’re very competitive. Could be worth a try though. https://www.calarts.edu/financial-aid/international-students

20

Most of the selective schools on your initial list base their financial aid on demonstrated need, which means the applicant’s family’s ability to pay. If your family is low income (by U.S. standards) then there’s a good chance that you would qualify for enough need-based aid to cover your costs (not including transportation) at schools that demonstrate to meet full need for internationals. Not all do, so you have to check their policies on their websites.

After analyzing your family’s financial details – income, investments, property etc. – the colleges will determine an estimated family income. American applicants can use the colleges’ net price calculators to get an idea of their EFCs, but these are less reliable for international students.

Merit aid is based on your accomplishments and is independent of your family’s income. Merit scholarships are less available to international students than need-based aid. Thus if you’re hoping for a significant amount of financial aid you should apply to a wide range of school.

In addition to the colleges with strong art departments already suggested I would add Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL), Carnegie Melon (CMU), Wesleyan, Conn College and Brown. I would note, however, that studio art at many academically rigorous colleges tends to focus on traditional media and less on digital, new media, though the some are catching up. You should browse through the art department courses to get an idea of what’s on offer.

CMU, USC, University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and the University of Colorado Boulder have strong technology based, interdisciplinary art programs. Others like this can be found at art schools, like RISD or CalArts, though these may be less generous in financial aid for internationals. Brown, which has a partnership with RISD, is another option.

Also in the U.S. there are two types of art degrees – the Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) and the Bachelor of Arts (BA), majoring in studio art. Colleges usually offer one or the other. The BFA is more art intense and the BA offers the opportunity to experiment across a wider range of academic disciplines. The BFA is often a 5.0 year program.

Can’t help you on Nevada. California and Colorado are in the neighborhood. :slight_smile: