Can you recommend a college for me?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this and if it's not, I am truly sorry.</p>

<p>So here's my story: I live in Minnesota and have visited many WI and MN schools and I am not interested in any of them. I have read several college recommendation books, tons of articles, and investigated many websites to no avail. I'm not that well off so it's not like I can visit every college that sparks my interest so all I can really do now is give people my info and ask your opinions...</p>

<p>I am kind of a "different" person and sometimes find it hard to relate to lots of other guys. I am really into indie/alternative music - but not to the pretentious hipster extent. I have kind of a hippie meets indie meets 90's grunge rocker style going on. I know this doesn't seem important but I'd like to be surrounded by other unique folks, as silly at that may sound college is the first time I'll be able to chose what kind of people I'll be surrounded by so I'd like a college with a diverse group of people. (And yes, I know an important part of college is working with people who are different from you so I don't need the reminder:P)</p>

<p>So aside from the stylish non-jockey folks here is some more criteria I have:
-I play soccer so I wouldn't mind an inter-mural or lower division soccer program
-I am open to both a bigger city or college town campus as long as it has lots of life and is a beautiful city or the town is very scenic etc..
-I'd probably prefer a slightly smaller student body like 3000-10,000
-I do really enjoy the reefer and the occasional drink (I liven in Amsterdam for a summer) so I wouldn't mind a fun party/drug scene
-I'd prefer a more liberal campus
-I don't care about location as long as it's not in the bible belt..I know I said I live in MN but I'm open to almost any state
-Techy/Science school is negative..my strengths lie in writing
-Last but not least, the majors I'm interested in (so far) include: Communications and Advertising</p>

<p>More about me:
-I am middle-MIDDLE class, and I am the second child of 3 siblings so reasonable pricing is nice
-My high school gpa will be around 3.5-3.7 when I graduate (unweighted)
-I will have taken 4 AP classes by the time I graduate So far I've taken just ap Euro and received a score of 4 on the ap test
-I took about half of my coursework through an online highschool during junior year and didn't do amazingly..I know some colleges will see this as a negitive
-I am planning on voulenteering during my senior year, I have held down a job for the last year, and I play Jv soccer
-I am a white male</p>

<p>So now that you know a fair bit about me I am asking you to recommend a college you may have researched, visited, or even attended. I'd also really like to hear why you think I might like it or any other awesome info you could give me to aid my search.</p>

<p>*Please refrain from cliche' answers linking me to college finding website etc. I posted here because you people seem intelligent, objective, and knowledgeable!</p>

<p>Thank you for taking the time to read all this and possibly helping me to find the college of my dreams!</p>

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<p>You will probably receive more comments if you post that in the following forum:</p>

<p>[College</a> Search & Selection - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/]College”>College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums)</p>

<p>Did you visit Lawrence University? I think that you should consider Reed College (although there are solely about 1,500 students).</p>

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<p>Reed is expensive, really expensive</p>

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<p>Isn’t it around $35,000 per year? I suppose that might be too expensive. I suggest that you apply though. You might receive a sufficient amount of financial aid.</p>

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<p>Yes. I am paying very little for college due to financial aid.</p>

<p>lol Reed sounds like a perfect fit, however. In fact, comically so. Whitman College and Grinnell College seem like good personality fits as well</p>

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<p>bard… i think</p>

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<p>lol yes, Bard. My friend actually almost applied there for English. You will certainly find marijuana there I would expect.</p>

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<p>So basically you want a LAC…</p>

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<p>Try Northwestern. Great Communications school. </p>

<p>Btw, you are not that “different.” Stop claiming so in order to be seen as unique. Everyone here probably has a few people who are near identicals in terms of Academics and EC.</p>

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<p>Communications/advertising is often media studies in a true liberal arts setting. What style of education are you looking for? Hands on, practical, with a portfolio to hit the ground with upon graduation you might want to look at Emerson in Boston or any number of small universities. For a liberal arts education, Bennington, Bard, Pitzer, Sara Lawrence, Hampshire are the obvious ones that come to mind that match your style that you describe. You would need to be somewhat self motivated for Hampshire, but you might love it. I’m not sure you have the stats for Whitman or Reed. If you need merit aid, consider Goucher (another “quirky” reputation college), Allegheny, etc…
I think Northwestern also would be too much of a reach.</p>

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<p>If you’re really alternative… maybe Bennington?</p>

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<p>^^^Except OP wasn’t referring to their Academics or EC’s (unless you put listening to music down), so what you’re saying is pointless.</p>

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<p>Reed is around 50,000 per year all together…And they don’t give merit aid, plus you won’t qualify for FA (it’s limited).</p>

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<p>^Are you sure? If that’s true, then I also suggest some of the schools listed on post #10. I think that you should still apply though.</p>

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<p>That is a very long post…</p>

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<p>@Warts Yeah, I’m sure. My dad keeps groaning whenever I fanboy about wanting to go there, hahah. I’m still applying too.</p>

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<p>

IMO, Northwestern FA suuuuuucks.</p>

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<p>For me, it was… okay.</p>

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<p>Well thank you guys very much for the suggestions. I will certainly look further into all of the colleges you mentioned, and I am also going to post this thread in the college search section…sorry I posted it here I didn’t see that section before.</p>