<p>University of Iowa has a special undergrad writer's progran affiliated with their graduate writers workshops. Might be worth a look, at least on paper.</p>
<p>If she can't stand hippies, she might have trouble with Hampshire or Evergreen. And I don't see Grinnell as hippie-quirky, but the majority of students are politically progressive. There is a Republican Club though, not that it sounds like ZS is Republican either--is she apolitical, would you say?</p>
<p>Arty, expressive but socially conservative?...Sounds like Grinnell and Earlham to me.</p>
<p>PM carolyn for a rave review on Earlham.</p>
<p>Did anyone say UCSC yet? By your description I think she could find a fit there</p>
<p>I don't remember if UMich was mentioned--but they've got something for everyone, along with exceptional academics (not that i'm biased or anything....)</p>
<p>I think Blossom makes a very good point (as always) but I do understand your wanting to acquire as much frame of reference as possible.</p>
<p>And, you know, I bet there really are people out there she can connect with. My own politically progressive but personally conservative (didn't smoke, drink, date; wouldn't wear anything remotely revealing, no makeup, no piercings, etc etc) took a couple tries to find a place she felt she fit, and when she did, oh, did she stretch her wings! (and not so personally conservative anymore, though that's another story...)</p>
<p>Kids ideas and preferences are often irrational. (My kids' preferences were.) If your daughter has friends now she will undoubtably find them in college. If not, then that's someting to think about. </p>
<p>I also think NYS schools are a great place to start. If New Paltz, Geneseo, Purchase, Binghamton, Stony Brook, Albany & Buffalo are all unappealing, find out why and you'll have info. about which direction to go.</p>
<p>My daughter discovered she wanted NYC (She felt "home" there), and she liked "shopping period" and other trappings of Ivies. I can only say some spirit was watching over us when Barnard accepted her. Her considerations were many.</p>
<p>S wouldn't say what he really wanted until acceptances were in. The only clue we had was his nos. He would never say what he wanted, just the schools he didn't. Eventually he gently steered us to what he wanted. He was finally able to let us know his "college experience" was more important than strictly academic considerations.</p>
<p>Zoosermom, the more you reveal about the young zooser, the more I think she'd like the midwest! I would say she <em>probably</em> wouldn't be interested in the typical, off-beat eastern LAC (or Reed). Kalamazoo College might interest her. The other midwestern suggestions (Earlham, Beloit, UMich, etc.) are also good starting points for her search. Another suggestion would be Hendrix --- it's in Arkansas, but don't let that scare you! There have been lots of good small school suggestions, and a few large school suggestions. The only thing missing are the medium schools --- does anyone have any good suggestions for medium schools? Tufts is way-cool, but we were extremely disappointed in their financial aid (there was no way we could swing it). What are some good ideas in the 4000-9000 student range?</p>
<p>If she is considering U Mich and she has any interest in studying a language, she may want to check out the Residential College there. Artsy, values/accepts wierdness, has all the resources of the university plus courses open only to RC students.</p>
<p>
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One thing I will say is that D was rejected (OOS -- NY) from W & M and it had the nastiest rejection letter.
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</p>
<p>I have heard this actually! But I have never seen it. I am curious LOL It also seemed to me like they waitlist a fair amount but maybe it was just among the people I knew. I didn't know anyone waitlisted at UVA really (maybe one) but I knew at least five waitlisted at W&M. Maybe it is the size thing, or maybe it was just a coincidence. </p>
<p>It is hard from NY. I would imagine from NYC, that is a competitive applicant pool and generally seems to be a lot of OOS interest there, so it's going to be rough. I think Zooser's daughter has a shot. Hard to say before the courseload/test scores fully play out to be honest. Over the next two years she may also develop some extended project that could prove to be a good hook. Time will tell. And of course she may completely change her mind by then.</p>
<p>We learned some valuable advice at the William and Mary admission session that we attended when d was in 10th grade. The AdCom was very direct-it was her opinion that SHE liked to see both physics and calc on the students transcript. She was aware that kids tried to get around that by taking statistics and AP Psychology or other science/math courses but she felt that the "strong" applicant would take the hardest coursework available and that included both physics and calc.<br>
My d who was planning not to take physics, decided to take it in her senior year as she was interested in Wm and Mary. I guess it helped cause she was admitted- and we too are from NYS.
It's funny though- we thought our nastiest letter came from UVA- What is it with Va schools?? And I'll agree with previous poster- the nicest rejection letter was from Brown.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The AdCom was very direct-it was her opinion that SHE liked to see both physics and calc on the students transcript. She was aware that kids tried to get around that by taking statistics and AP Psychology or other science/math courses but she felt that the "strong" applicant would take the hardest coursework available and that included both physics and calc.
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Oh, dear - my daughter, who loves W & M, is a rising senior who has opted for AP Bio instead of physics on any level (she's done AP Chem). She made the decision because the physics teacher at our hs appears to be in over his head, and even the most gifted science students in the school (including state champ SO kids) find AP physics hard slogging. They're essentially teaching themselves, and my d had serious reservations about her ability to do well (or even adequately) in the class under those conditions. I hope that few people would see AP Bio instead of honors physics as an attempt to get around a tough workload - my d really does enjoy Bio, and is now well-launched on her summer reading for the subject, so there won't be any second-guessing about her science choice (from her, anyway :) ). She is doing AP Calc. </p>
<p>Many folks on these boards have a different impression of W & M than I do (mom of a recent alum). I must have a low quirkiness threshold, because I'd certainly consider W & M quirky instead of prep. I think the campus is quite accepting of gay students of both genders. Haven't personally seen many goth/emo kids, though I do feel there's a prevailing attitude of tolerance on campus.</p>
<p>Hampshire out in a cow field? No it isn't. It is a large campus about 2 miles from the town of Amherst where the college and UMass are. The 5 college bus takes you everywhere including Northampton, where Smith college is, about 10 minutes away and it is an awesome, large, town with everything one could ever want. Also, transportation to New York, Boston, and points beyond is very easy and convenient. I have heard, also, that financial aid is not bad at Hampshire.
zoosermom- The whole not liking hippies thing is tricky. I go to Bennington which might be a thought for your daughter in terms of being edgy and loving literature and writing. I would say it is full of mostly smart hipsters, but there are some hippies too. I have to admit that they can drive me a little bit crazy too, though I often just think they are funny, but what drives me more crazy, which we luckily really don't have at Bennington, is the jock/drinking mentality.
I was very definite that I did not want any greek life, or a jock feel, at college. I wanted something more intellectual. I don't know how your daughter feels about that, but it is hard to find a school without that element that doesn't have some hippies in attendance!
I am interested in what you mean when you say she is not liberal (sorry if I missed that somewhere in the thread). Do you mean politically? Socially? In the way she conducts herself? She sounds like an interesting mix.</p>
<p>"I am interested in what you mean when you say she is not liberal (sorry if I missed that somewhere in the thread). Do you mean politically? Socially? In the way she conducts herself? She sounds like an interesting mix."</p>
<p>She is, in some ways, a stereotypical New Yorker. Moves very fast, lacks patience and knows exactly what she wants. I would say she will be a lot like me politically, a conservative (by New York standards), leave-me-the-heck-alone-so-I-can-live-my-life person. She is passionate about words and loves classical literature. Whatever she does for a career, she hopes to be able to read the ancients in the language(s) in which they were written. When I say that she doesn't like hippies, it's not about values, but about the speed. She moves way too fast to really relate to that and she's a more goal-oriented person than someone to go with the flow. She knows she wants to leave NY to see something different, but I don't think she would be happy in an extremely liberal school. She does want a campus, though.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the University of Redlands Johnston Center for Integrative Studies? <a href="http://www.redlands.edu/x28601.xml%5B/url%5D">http://www.redlands.edu/x28601.xml</a></p>
<p>You mentioned that your child is interested in classics...BU has competitive scholarships in both latin and ancient greek...full and half-tuition scholarships are given to students who score the highest on test in latin or greek given at BU in the fall of senior year of high school. Student does NOT need to major in classics...must take a class in latin or greek in each of the first four semesters at BU and maintain GPA...this is a renewable scholarship for all four years at BU regardless of student's major.</p>
<p>I know I'm repeating myself, but when you say passionate about classics and goal-driven--that really says she's got to give Bryn Mawr a try.</p>
<p>Zoosermom - I didn't pick up on it at first, but Zoosergirl now sounds something like the D of a friend of mine. She is a rising senior, too. Perhaps no NYC go go edge to her personality, but otherwise an interesting mix of conservative and liberal with a dash of alternative. Reinventing herself, not rapidly, but still actively for a high school senior.
She liked Oberlin a lot, Wooster OK, disliked Allegheny, was unimpressed by Kenyon, is looking at Hendrix and Kalamazoo. Beloit was too far, Carleton too cold and a reach.</p>
<p>UChicago? because it's a city that New Yorkers like once they get there. They also have a great books program, which might appeal to her appreciation for classic texts.</p>
<p>Chicago doesn't just have a great books program (and would deny having a great books program at all). It has some of the most active classics and ancient-language departments around. It is very high on the lists of serious Greek-and-Latin types, as well as Akkadian, Sumerian, and Hieroglyphics types. It also has a decent number of political conservatives around, and a real campus, and a high tolerance for New Yorkers. And just about 0 hippies.</p>
<p>"Chicago doesn't just have a great books program (and would deny having a great books program at all). It has some of the most active classics and ancient-language departments around. It is very high on the lists of serious Greek-and-Latin types, as well as Akkadian, Sumerian, and Hieroglyphics types. It also has a decent number of political conservatives around, and a real campus, and a high tolerance for New Yorkers. And just about 0 hippies."</p>
<p>Really? Wow! But isn't it impossible to get into? (Off to check collegeboard.com)</p>
<p>Going off topic:</p>
<p>We lived in the Boston area and once tried to visit Hampshire college. If it's not in the middle of cowfields, it's pretty close to some. We had quite a job finding the entrance! It's not close to Boston. It's a good 2 hours by car, and at least 3 by bus.</p>