College Recommendations for a COOL college prospect

College Search & Selection
1

I’m a junior at a public high school in Northern NJ. I’m starting the college process and feeling overwhelmed. I know what I want in a school but I haven’t found a place that satisfies all of my needs. I know I won’t, but I’d like to find a match as possible. Not sure if this is relevant, but I’m interested in applying EA or ED, to speed up this soul-crushing process.

GPA: 4.38 on 5.0 scale (hopefully gets higher (4.4+) by the end of this year)

AP classes: Took 1 last year, taking 3 now, will be taking 5 next year

SAT: Aiming for a 2100 or higher in January, so far Writing has been my strongest section

ECs: Student Council Freshman and Junior Year, I’m part of specialized government program within my school and hope to be Vice President of it next year, I’m Treasurer of my school’s film club (which I’ve been in since Freshman year) and make films/volunteer for a local film festival, I’m a paid contributor to Rookie, I’m the story editor for my friend’s online magazine (which has gained attention from many blogs), I’ve done community service @ an elementary school and for a local running program for tween girls since Freshman year… This summer I hope to work as a camp counselor as I did last summer and take part in the Iowa Young Writers’ Workshop

These are the things I’m looking for in a college:
-Liberal arts school, likely in the Northeast (proximity to home + I like having seasons)
-Despite what I just said, I would like to be at least two hours away from my parents in NJ
-A rigorous Institution preferably with a very good reputation
-Preferably private, as I need all the financial aid I can get and they have the endowment$
-Lively party scene
-Liberal and artistic student body
-Politically aware/socially active student body
-Accessibility to study abroad/internship programs (I really want to study abroad at Oxford at some point during college)
-If not in a city, I’d like to be in a good college town
-Strong English department, and an existent/(preferably) strong Film Studies department
-Small or medium sized (wouldn’t want more than 10,000 students on campus)
-Nice facilities
-Strong professors
-Community vibes ~~~~

ALSO, my parents would like for me to apply to at least one Ivy. Which Ivy do you think is the best match?

Here are some examples of schools I’m thinking about:
Bard (great match, but worried I won’t be challenged enough)
Oberlin (worried about getting bored in Ohio)
Dartmouth (I LOVE this school, mainly for the D Plan, parties, and reputation, but I’m worried it is too conservative)
Bowdoin (worried too sporty/not artsy enough)
Emerson (seems too musical theater-y I know this stigma can easily be cleared by visiting)
Vassar (heard the social scene is weak)

2

Hamilton College seems like the right fit, but that’s my opinion. Maybe Colgate or haverford

3

I know it’s not in the geography you’d prefer, but check out Reed. They specialize in ‘angular’ students which might be a fit for you and Portland, OR is a nice little city. Their study abroad options include 2 programs at Oxford: https://www.reed.edu/catalog/programs/off_campus.html

Hampshire would be the NE equivalent, though not as academically rigorous. Macalister in Minneapolis, MN also sounds like a possible fit.

Bowdoin and Dartmouth are both very preppy. Are you up for that? If you want artsy, Brown would probably be the best fit of the Ivies, not because Brown students are so very artsy but because of the partnership with RISD. But that’s just because your parents seem to want it - I’d give it a miss in favor of some of the better fitting options.

4

Wesleyan literally sounds perfect for you! It matches your description exactly (liberal, artsty, politically aware, great party scene) and has a very well-respected film studies department!

5

Most applicants who feel that Dartmouth is a good fit for them socially are not going to be drawn to Reed’s social life. Just super different vibes. Like, opposite.

6

Bard’s location is a big drawback. It’s really in the woods. But it would probably be a good safety for you.

Vassar is in a small gritty city, but has a lovely campus that means you can have easy access to the city without having it in your face. I’d be really surprised if the social scene was weak. My son applied but wanted something larger. Friends who did go were happy there. Dartmouth has a noisy conservative contingent, but I don’t think they are the dominant force on campus at all. I agree Wesleyan sounds like a good match.

7

Wesleyan, Vassar, Skidmore, and as a reach Brown

A less obvious idea might be Fordham - Lincoln Center

8

Have you considered Barnard? It’s a women’s college with ties to Columbia University. You might enjoy a school like Barnard.

Also, I think it’s super cool that you’re a paid contributor for Rookie. I love that website.

9

I would suggest Skidmore as well (especially for a match), Macalaster if you don’t care that it isn’t New England. What draws you to Dartmouth other than the D plan? It is the total outlier in the group you posted.

Other reachy possibilities would be Bates if you like a small LAC, and Tufts if you prefer the larger more urban environment.

10

I think the Ivy you have the best chance at is Cornell.

11

Is your family low income? If not then going for FA may not be the best strategy. Run the Net Price Calculator on each school’s web site and see if your family can afford them. Otherwise start considering merit aid schools. And you need to lighten up. Your a junior and are already calling college apps a soul crushing process. Think of what you’ll feel like next year at this time.

12

Bates is a good suggestion for having a peaceful mix of student types and not extreme in any way, plus its a good location in close proximity to cool towns and the airport.

13

-Boston College
-Brandeis University (Smaller city)
-Mount Holyoke College

Tufts & Providence only have film minors, but they match the rest of your criteria.

14

Tufts has a new Film and Media Studies major that may interest you.
https://ase.tufts.edu/cms/fmsmajor.html Not sure if that is the official link, but it’s a start.

15

UNC Wilmington has most of what you’re looking for. Nine hours away, great reputation, lively party scene, highly comprehensive study abroad program. It’s in a gorgeous port city, and campus is five miles from the beach. It has one of the best film studies programs in the country, being that Wilmington is nicknamed “Hollywood East”. Wonderful facilities, very strong professors, medium-sized university, incredibly mellow vibe. I think it’s a fantastic fit.

16

Some suggestions:

Amherst pops out - the Amherst/Northampton/South Hadley area is a pretty thriving college town and super-liberal. Another possible suggestion is College of the Holy Cross, which is in the Boston metro area (sort of) and is also pretty liberal and seems to have a decent social scene.

Skidmore and Union are both located in the Capital District of NY. I had a couple of friends who went to Skidmore and they seemed to have had fun, but I’m not sure what the social scene really looks like.

Not in the Northeast, but otherwise fit: the Claremont Colleges (especially Pomona and Pitzer), Colorado College, University of Richmond, Macalester, St. Olaf (more of a match/safety), Occidental (ditto), Furman (same).

In the Northeast, but in small college towns vs. larger cities: Bates, Middlebury, Colby, Hamilton, Colgate, Bucknell (particularly well known for their good social scene!)

Not sure about “lively party scene,” but otherwise might be a good fit: Wesleyan, Trinity College, Connecticut College,

Another suggestion for you is Oxford College of Emory University. Oxford is a small LAC attached to Emory; you spend two years there in the small LAC environment and then automatically transfer to Emory for your last two years. Oxford is about 45 minutes away from Atlanta, and Emory is in Atlanta proper.

If you’re a young woman, I also recommend Barnard, Smith, and Mount Holyoke.

17

Dickinson seems like a really good fit with what you are looking for.

18

holy moley!! simone! i read your diaries on rookie – good luck with your college search girl!

19

Are we trying to match you up to a cool prospective college, or are you the cool component of this potential pairing?? I’m struggling with the syntax of the thread title. Either way consider this: 1. colleges aren’t really ‘cool’, except maybe SOKA, that place sounds cool. 2. Nothing about North Jersey is cool. It’s driven, competitive, high-achieving, diverse, and aggressive, sure, but not cool. 3. There is nothing less cool than declaring yourself cool.

Now, as for college recommendations for an artsy kid with scholarly aspirations, well, basically every half-way decent small liberal arts college between Morristown, NJ and Burlington, VT could fit the bill, some might even have a few cool kids.

20

Hampshire, Amherst, Reed, Brown, Wesleyan, Smith, St Johns College, Tufts. Hampshire and Bard are perfect options, as it is self designed and you can challenge yourself as much as you want to. If it isn’t challenging enough, you can check with faculty and change things. I would say it’s more challenging than a lot of other schools you’re looking at since one has the freedom to make it exponentially difficult