Can you recommend a college for me?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a high school junior who is starting to seriously consider what college I will be going to in two years, and I'm a little bit lost. I'm wondering if any of you could recommend me some colleges to look at based on my specifications.</p>

<p>Basically, I want a college that is located in a small city, a college town, or a rural area. I don't want to go to a big city or suburbia.</p>

<p>I'm an aspiring vet, and I'm planning to major in something broad like biology. However, I would like to take as many animal-related courses as I can. Size of the school doesn't matter to me, but most small schools don't offer these classes.</p>

<p>I horseback ride, and I want to go to a college that has an active equestrian team, whether its a club team or part of the athletics department.</p>

<p>I'd also like a school that has a good reputation and rigorous academics. I'm not a perfect student, but I'm good enough to get into many top schools.</p>

<p>Also, due to my current family situation (which includes a rather messy divorce), I'd be willing to look at some schools that aren't quite as selective, but that will offer me a lot of merit aid. I'm definitely going to need all the help I can get paying for college!</p>

<p>Lastly, I want to go out of state - basically, anywhere but Maryland!</p>

<p>So far, the schools I've found that fit all or most of my specifications are:
-Cornell University
-University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign</p>

<p>If you can tell me some other school I can look at, that would be most appreciated. Let me know if you need more info. Thanks! :)</p>

2

<p>I’m very sorry about your family circumstances right now. </p>

<p>What’s your GPA and do you know what you got on your 10th grade PSAT’s? (since you haven’t yet gotten back 11th grade PSAT scores). </p>

<p>Virginia Tech has a pre-vet program and it’s 31K out-of-state.</p>

3

<p>Last year was difficult for me because of my family situation. I had a 4.0 UW GPA before sophomore year.</p>

<p>Currently, my UW GPA is 3.79 and my W GPA is 4.51. However, I’m doing much better in all of my classes this year, and even though I’m taking more APs I can handle the pressure. I’m shooting for an UW GPA of at least 3.85 by the end of this year, and a W GPA of at least 4.65.</p>

<p>Sophomore year, my PSAT was 212 without studying. I studied for this year’s PSAT over the summer, and am shooting for at least a 225.</p>

4

<p>Oh, WOW. You will have some great options with those stats. I am pm’ing you --my response just got too long and detailed, lol!</p>

5

<p>I don’t think UIUC offers much merit aid to OOS students. Here are a couple of threads to look through:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>

</p>

<p>[U&lt;/a&gt; of I Admissions: Scholarships for All Academic Disciplines](<a href=“http://admissions.illinois.edu/cost/scholarships_ALLdisciplines.html]U”>http://admissions.illinois.edu/cost/scholarships_ALLdisciplines.html)</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the info. That’s more than I thought they would offer. That would bring the COA down to $30-35K.</p>

8

<p>I will make a suggestion, Alfred University (NY).</p>

<p>Alfred University (NY) established in 1836, 2,300 undergrads, small classes-know your professors, Division III Athletics, many clubs & organizations, no Greek Life, housing for all 4 years, merit aid, need-based aid, honors program, co-op program for some majors, bus service to Rochester airport at peak break times, bus service to NYC at peak break times, small charming village of Alfred, NY with friendly people. </p>

<p>School of Art & Design
School of Engineering
College of Liberal Arts
School of Business </p>

<p>Princeton Review’s Best 376
Fiske Guide 2012
Fiske Best Value
USNWR’s Great Schools Great Prices
Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools
Fiske Small Schools strong in Engineering
Fiske Small Schools strong in Art & Design </p>

<p>[Alfred</a> University : Academics : Degrees/Majors](<a href=“http://alfred.edu/academics/degrees_majors.cfm]Alfred”>http://alfred.edu/academics/degrees_majors.cfm) Majors </p>

<p>[Alfred</a> University : Research and Outreach](<a href=“http://alfred.edu/research/]Alfred”>http://alfred.edu/research/) Research & Outreach </p>

<p>[Alfred</a> University : Honors Program](<a href=“http://alfred.edu/honors/]Alfred”>http://alfred.edu/honors/) Honors Program (must do interview with Admissions) </p>

<p>[Alfred</a> University : Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/) Financial Aid </p>

<p>[Alfred</a> University : Undergraduate Cost of Attendance](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/undergraduate_cost.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/undergraduate_cost.cfm) Cost of Attendance </p>

<p>[Alfred</a> University : Financial Aid : Undergraduate Freshmen Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/scholarships/]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/scholarships/) Merit Aid Incoming Freshmen </p>

<p>[Alfred</a> University Saxons - Equestrian](<a href=“http://saxons.alfred.edu/equestrian/]Alfred”>http://saxons.alfred.edu/equestrian/) Equestrian, English & Western </p>

<p>The COA for the College of Liberal Arts for 2011-2012 was $38,382 for tuition, room & board and required fees. Not a 50k plus school, so it is affordable & we have always found AU to be very generous, having met a high percentage of our need. </p>

<p>With their highest merit award of $14,000/year that brings the cost down to about 24K, if you qualify. </p>

<p>Alfred University is unique in that College of Liberal Arts & School of Business are private, some engineering majors are through NYS, and the School of Art & Design is through NYS.
NYS residents pay less for those engineering majos & School of Art & Design. </p>

<p>Best of luck in your college search! :)</p>

9

<p>Truman State in Missouri.</p>

<p>Equine program and equestrian team. Very good academics but is not well known outside of the Midwest. Very rural.</p>

<p>Inexpensive, $21,000 OOS tuition/fees/room/board. You would most likely qualify for at least $5,000 in merit aid and possibly more.</p>

10

<p>Alfred University and Truman both sound interesting, and thank you for the info on UIUC scholarships!</p>

11

<p>OMG! I can’t believe Iowa State University hasn’t been recommended yet. It’s everything you’re looking for!!</p>