<p>My son applied to Vassar, UCSB, Willamette, and others last year. He was rejected from Vassar but accepted to UCSB, UCSD, BU, Emory, Trinity College CT, and Willamette. He chose Willamette. His stats:</p>
<p>unweighted gpa = 3.44; weighted gpa = 4.12
SAT = 2130
ACT = 32
Many strong ECs; strong recommendations</p>
<p>There was a thread last year titled something like “GPA 3.3 to 3.6, applying top 20” and that might be worth finding. Again, we all understood that to be an unweighted gpa range. Among the posts in that thread, I believe the only students who were accepted to a “top 20 school” like Vassar were those with an unweighted gpa of 3.5 and above and SAT scores around 2100 and above. Students accepted to top schools tended to have a much higher weighted gpa.</p>
<p>I still think Pitzer might be a possible reach. Colorado College draws students with higher stats, as far as I know. Google “Colorado College common data set” and you can find out the profile of students admitted there last year. </p>
<p>Wow CalAlum, your son must have had almost all Honors and AP courses to have that large of a gap from UW to W. Good SAT/ACT also. I am sure that helped everywhere, but I guess not enough at Vassar. But Emory a very strong, competitive admissions school, so it shows it is possible with an UW GPA below 3.5 if everything else lines up right.</p>
<p>I hope he will be very happy at Willamette. I have heard wonderful things about it. Not to hijack, but what made him settle on that school compared to the others, especially Emory?</p>
<p>NYU makes a point to highlight in bold that they will not meet demonstrated financial need (let alone merit!). I’m an alum (grad school) and when the Madoff scandal came to light, apparently they lost quite a bit due to their financial planner investing without their knowledge…it was a begging letter of alums to give. Then I believe money was given to the school recently but it was directed to Stern only.</p>
<p>Setting aside the prestige factor, Willamette was a much better fit. He spent two days on both campuses. Emory is large, and most of the students appear to aim for the business school or the sciences. My son wanted to major in English and minor in Japanese, or perhaps double major. At Emory, the Japanese program is located in a tiny department in a small building on the edge of campus: REALC (Russian and East Asian Language Center). Not many other students with similar interests. Plus, he sat in on two classes, and some students he talked with felt that some of the Emory professors were not that interested in teaching undergraduates.</p>
<p>Willamette is much smaller, like a liberal arts college that just happens to have a law school and a business school attached. It also is next door to Tokyo International University, where Willamette students can study. TIU students can enroll in Willamette classes and share rooms with Willamette undergrads. He had a great overnight experience with his hosts and enjoyed all the students he met. Very friendly student body, very personal warm staff. Extremely responsive faculty members. Lots of internship opportunities right across the street in the state capitol in Salem and great study abroad and community service opportunities. As of last week, my son has spoken with folks in the career center and in TIU, and it looks as if he may be able to obtain a part-time job as a tutor for Japanese students in Tokyo International University this coming spring.</p>
<p>But what really tipped the scales is that Willamette made it clear he was wanted there. They kept in touch, offered a good initial merit package and then upped it significantly when his senior mid-year grade report came out. He will be taking the train up to campus tomorrow. Sort of like going to Hogworts, only it’s Oregon.</p>
<p>P.S. There is a typo in my previous post. My son’s weighted gpa was 4.02, not 4.12. Can’t type quickly for beans.</p>
<p>That’s so excellent CalAlum. Sounds stupendous. Just make sure he doesn’t try to get on the train by running through a brick pillar. It is fiction, after all. LOL.</p>
<p>Re: Goucher. Visited there with my son. Good suggestion. It is a bit idiosyncratic, I think, in terms of atmosphere. But if it fits, it can be a great choice.</p>
<p>My 2140 boy got into Vassar this Spring. His unweighted GPA was 91 officially and 97 weighted. (It was only that high because of 98s and 99s in orchestra.) In his favor I think he came across as a good fit. Well rounded, interested in both history and ecology. Had been involved and pretty successful at Science Olympiad. For his “My space” part of the application he sent in a pair of origami earrings. (He’d written about origami for his essay.) So I wouldn’t rule Vassar out if it looks like a good fit. I’d be more concerned that it’s pretty far from NYC (though it is on the Metro North line for those determined to take advantage.) It probably also helped more than it should have that he had a 790 CR score. (Due mostly I’m sorry to say to his addiction to Star Wars books!)</p>
<p>He still has to decide which college he should apply ED (Vassar, Pitzer, or NYU), which is a huge decision.
American was on his list, but he thought the atmosphere was too “politics-oriented”. He wouldn’t even get out of the car @ Goucher.</p>
<p>I’m dragging my rising 10th grader to college tours with my neice & I was trying to work Goucher into a time he could come along (on paper my son likes some of the same schools as your son & has the weather issue).</p>
<p>Pitzer – remember SAT is optional; take that into account when reviewing the statistics.</p>
<p>I would take Rochester OFF the list. I know 2 students who transferred because of the “depressing cold” weather. Are you IS for NY? If no, then Bing. should come off too for the same reason.</p>
<p>I have no personal experience, but I understand Colorado is very holistic in their admit process. It may be a reach, but one I’d keep on.</p>
<p>We were in DC looking @ American & GW. His “educational consultant” put Goucher on his list as a safety, however, he felt it wouldn’t be a challenging enough school for him. I was trying to encourage him to see it anyway, so we drove through on the way out of DC. He said it looked like a high school & he had no interest.
We are not IS for NY, but would like to consider a Suny as a safety (?New Paltz).</p>
<p>Yes, judging from the list in your original post, and the pros and cons you listed next to each school, Colorado College is worth a look. His stats don’t make him a shoe-in, but with good essays and LORs he should be in range.</p>
<p>Colorado College is less selective than Vassar; not rural at all (it’s in a mid-sized city but close to Rocky Mountain recreation); more structured than New College (but still with a bit of edge). Winters are not as cold as in Northern New England or Minnesota, and CO is one of the sunniest states outside of CA or the SW. Academics are very good but you do have to be on board with the one-course-at-a-time Block Plan. Hippie, preppy, athletic, outdoorsy, arty, and intellectual kids all seem to mix at this school.</p>
<p>I would recommend taking UMiami off the list if he doesn’t like “party/football/frat school -dislikes jappy/preppy atmosphere”. UM has all of the above in full force. My son transferred out of UMiami to SUNY New Paltz. He is so happy that he did. New Paltz is a very down to earth school with lots of creative people and a great atmosphere.
As a side note, I went to NYU, so if I can help with any of these schools feel free to ask any questions!</p>
<p>Great thread! I recommend Pitzer as well…my daughter was accepted there, Lewis and Clark and Oberlin…Oberlin was a bit of a reach but she was also a recruited athlete (their athletics are not great btw). I would not say Vassar is impossible, nor Oberlin for that matter. My daughter visited Pitzer, adored the campus but did find the 2 classes she sat in a bit lacking in academic vigor but that could have happened at any school. She had a 3.6 GPA, and she adores Oberlin for all it offers her! She is very happy there!</p>
<p>I keep hearing great things about Oberlin. Our only concern is the weather. I’m not sure if that should be an issue, however; college is only 4 years! On the other hand, we want him to be happy.
I’ve heard U of Miami is somewhat preppy, so it’s not at the top of the list.
Glad to hear someone likes New Paltz. Our son is going to check it out soon.
Has anyone visited New College of Florida, Occidental, or UC Santa Cruz?</p>
<p>If you have any questions about American, let me know–my son is a sophomore there. Perfect school for my son (not an overly political kid)–he couldn’t wait to get back.</p>
<p>Bard
Suny New Paltz
American
all will have similar weather to Oberlin! American has had TONS of snow in winters, of late. Oberlin has very early springs and late falls of warm weather.</p>