Can't really visit schools, how to narrow down the list

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So I'm having a bit of difficulty narrowing down my college app list. I lived on the West Coast for about a year and half before I moved back to the East Coast and because all my colleges were on the East Coast I wasn't able to visit a lot of the colleges that are on my list. I have started on my essays and I do have a couple definite choices
-UVA (I'm a VA res)
-W&M
-George Mason
-Georgetown
-Pomona*
-Williams* </p>

<p>The rest of my schools however are all in New York, PA or upwards and it's very unlikely I'll get to visit them as I wasn't able to during the summer. Here are the rest of my choices </p>

<p>-Fordham
-Brown
-Cornell
-Northeastern
-Boston U
-University of Delaware
-American
-Brynn Mawr
-Wake Forest (?)
-NYU</p>

<p>I really need to narrow my choices down, but it's proving difficult because I haven't visited any of these schools on the list except WFU. I'm pretty sure about Brown, but not too sure about Cornell simply because I haven't visited either. I'm really cautious about having too many reach schools because I'm super scared I'll be one of the kids who will be rejected everywhere. Seriously, I have vivid nightmares about it. It's also hard finding schools that are safeties (financial and academic) that I really like, and I'm concerned I have too few on my list. I'm trying to plan a trip so that I can at least get in some before the end of October, but that's not a given. Is there any way for me to narrow down this list without visiting? </p>

<p>As for as school criteria goes I like schools that usually in or near cities. It also can have good access to a city-like place by train or bus etc. I don't like isolation though I don't mind suburbs or rural areas if either the surrounding town is nice or I like to college to much to care. I won't go farther north than Massachusetts and no farther South than North Carolina. I'm not fan of frats or sororities, though I don't mind their presence. I just have to be able to avoid them if needed and there can't be a huge divide between Greek and non-Greek students. I like the Pacific Northwest, but I don't like the Midwest or the Southwest. The school should also have a good intellectual atmosphere and should have a campus where black students like me would feel comfortable being in the minority. Oh, and I don't like strict core requirements; </p>

<p>As far as academics go I'm a top student with great test scores. I'm also AA and female. </p>

<p>Note: I put asterisks next to Pomona and Williams is because while I like the academics of both schools the location gives me pause. Pomona is in Cali and while I have a few relatives there I don't know them very well. I also have good friends that live in Seattle that I could visit and who might be going to some Cali unis. I'm just not sure about the plane fare and not being able to see my family during the holidays. With Williams it's pretty much the same only the major problem is its isolation.
With Wake Forest I love the school, and hate the location. I also dislike how military style the campus looks and I've been hearing not so good things about their diversity and how the Greek system divides the campus.</p>

2

<p>You want us to help you reduce your list, a list you’ve spent some time putting together, but you don’t want to tell us your test scores and GPA. I saw on another post that your stats are roughly average for UVA, you say. That does not equate with “top student with great test scores” here on CC.</p>

<p>So it would be helpful if we knew your resumé. I’m struck by the similarity between your reluctance to tell us your stats and, on another post, your parents’ unwillingness to talk money :stuck_out_tongue: </p>

3

<p>Start your list by identifying safety schools that you like that you know you would be admitted to and know that you can afford.</p>

<p>If your list has no safeties, then your default safety is to start at a community college, do well there, and then transfer to a four year school (probably an in-state public) to complete your bachelor’s degree.</p>

4

<p>Yeah, no one can tell you what schools might be safeties or offer you merit aid unless you tell us your stats.</p>

<p>You also seem to have a lot of “non-negotiables.” That is going to make the choice more difficult for you.</p>

5

<p>Make time to talk money with your family. Schedule it and do so sooner than later. Your list includes some great schools, but even with incredible scholarships, the cost of attendance at some of those is still very high and more than a Freshman can take in student loans, so it may make a difference if they can or cannot help you out financially and with a specific dollar amount. (For example, the room and board rates at NYU are in the 13-20 thousand dollar range…even if you got a complete tuition scholarship, that is still a lot of money to anyone)</p>

6

<p>First, you need to clarify your financial situation. Before you can even begin to make a list you need to know what you can afford. Many of the schools on your list are only offer need based aid. If that works for your family, great, you can put together a wide list. If it doesn’t, then you’ll have to rethink and add some more schools that offer merit aid. </p>

<p>So whatever it takes, get your parents to run a few net price calculators on your top choices. You can’t evaluate the “safety-ness” of any school without this information.</p>

<p>In the event that merit aid is a must have, you might want to keep an open mind on geography. High achieving African-Americans are in short supply at colleges that are rural or in the Midwest (or both), so it might be a financial necessity to widen your scope.</p>

<p>Have you visited any schools other than Wake Forest? I don’t think you need to visit every one before you apply, but since your list is all over the place in size, location and culture, a few visits may help you narrow in on your preferences. </p>

<p>Finance aside, if you like Brown, then you might also like Columbia, Barnard, Wesleyan, Haverford, Oberlin, Smith, Reed. If you like Pomona and Williams (but aren’t sure of the location) you might like Mt. Holyoke, Skidmore, Conn College. If you’re open to Pomona’s location then look at Scripps and Pitzer for less selective and possible merit. If you’re open to Williams’ location, then look at Kenyon, Hamilton, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Davidson, Grinnell for similar culture and possible merit. If you’re set on an urban location, then forget about Williams, Cornell and look at Barnard, Haverford, Boston College, Wellesley, Holy Cross, Emory, George Washington, American. </p>

<p>You get the picture: once you settle on attributes that appeal you can expand to similars, in a range of selectivity.</p>

<p>But you do need to get clear on your financial limitations first, though. It will save you a lot of heartache in the future.</p>

7

<p>I dunno, @sally305, I can see a student from cali moving to VA and not wanting to venture too far into the south or too far into the countryside in the north. Californians and West Coasters think differently about race than we do on the east coast, no matter her race. She should know too that northeast schools aren’t known for their merit generosity. She has some great state schools in VA and shouldn’t underestimate what she can do there. </p>

8

<p>While you are waiting for your parents to share their financial information so you can have factual data to narrow down your list, try visiting ANY colleges that are close to where you live. Notice the TYPE of school it is, the location, size of campus, how many undergrads, rural/urban, etc. Walk the campus, eat in cafeteria, attend a class, etc. Talk with random students to get a reality check.</p>

<p>Doing this on several different types of campuses, even if you are not interested in that particular school, can be helpful in setting your likes/dislikes in priority order. Knowing that you would go stir crazy on an isolated campus is a good thing to discover now. And which factors are most important to you? Avoiding greek life? Finding the right intellectual campus? Diversity and attitude about minorities? How far from home are you willing to go?</p>

<p>You will most likely have to choose between several less than ideal colleges when it comes down to the decision deadline. Thinking about that now will help you make final decision later.</p>

<p>But, of course, taking schools off your list because they aren’t affordable for you and your family is the TOP PRIORITY.</p>

9

<p>You are very fortunate with being a resident of Virginia. You have some fantastic public options available to you.
As others have stated you need to do the research in regard to finances, academics and the particulars of the school, such as culture, size and location.
Will demonstrated interest be a consideration at some of these schools? It is at American, not typically so at the most selective schools.
College Data is an excellent source for reviewing those kind of things, review each schools common data set, read through each schools specific page here.
There is a lot you can do without visiting to refine your list.
Good luck to you!</p>