<p>Carolyn - my daughter read your post regarding the definition of "preppy" and cringed when she heard about the miniskirt, pearls and designer pocketbook. Apparently she has a similar definition. I'm impressed that you've already started your search -- wish we had done that Junior year. Now we are scrambling trying to get it all figured out with no time to travel/visit. This forum has been extremely helpful. Re: Skidmore -- we had looked at that one, too. Strong in arts/music etc. Did you visit? Why did your D reject it? </p>
<p>I agree, emeraldkity4 -- diversity makes life interesting. Diversity (like "preppiness") comes in many flavors and degrees. </p>
<p>Pianomom -- thanks for the Pope quotes. My D was excited to read about it, and coincidnetally, their application arrived in the mail today. We are going to take a serious look at Lawrence. Nobody I've talked to here (AZ) has heard of it, even my D's music professor. But it sounds like a fine LAC. (Don't know if my D could handle a real winter!)</p>
<p>" Mini, actually my daughter's AP Euro teacher from last year - who went to Smith herself and also sent one of her daughters there - has been actively trying to get my daughter to at least consider Smith for some time now. Although it would be a huge reach for her, her teacher is right: Smith would be the right kind of school for her...if only they had some male chromosones there."</p>
<p>Well, if she should change her mind, know that her SAT scores will not work against her.</p>
<p>I met with the Admissions Department on last Monday - doing some consulting about homeschoolers for them. After two years of study by a committee consisting of the faculty and the office of institutitional research (originally convened by Ruth Simmons), they have received clear direction from the President to heavily de-emphasize test scores. They couldn't find any correlation between test scores and academic performance among students once they arrived, and the use of the test scores worked at cross purposes from Smith's historic commitments to economic diversity. The Admissions Director told me point blank that she can't even remember the last time test scores were used to make or break an admissions decision.</p>
<p>What they want is intellectual excitement, strong passions, proven ability to do the work, and excellent writing skills. As they say a dozen times on their website - "Heady and Nervy". If she proves to them that she is both, she is in (and without them, she is in trouble, regardless of test scores.) This is what accounts for what some folks have viewed as unexpected admissions decisions there, with some folks with very high SAT scores being rejected, and others with much lower scores getting in.</p>
<p>Can't help on the Y chromosome front, though. My d. never expected to choose a XX school (and she had already been attending Evergreen). It was the school itself, not the estrogen, that made the difference.</p>
<p>Mini, Very interesting about Smith. I love Smith personally - wish I could have gone there myself. Over the years, I've had close contact with several Smith alumni and they have all been among the most interesting and smart women I've known. </p>
<p>Coyotemom - Skidmore was high on my daughter's list until we watched a videotape of the school. Something struck her as off about it --- she didn't like the buildings and the people seemed intense to her for some reason. Since it was going to be a reach for her (and is very expensive!), I haven't pushed it since then.</p>
<p>One school you might want to check out is Southwestern University in Texas. They have some excellent music programs there and academics are top notch. They are trying to broaden their geographic reach. Beautiful campus from what we have seen in videotapes and pictures. Fireflyscout - a parent who posts here - is an alumni and has great things to say about the school.</p>
<p>We visited Skidmore and I liked it a lot - but my son didn't. The campus may not look great on a video tape, but in person it was very pretty in an Adirondack way. It feels like it is built in a little forest, not the formal garden atmosphere of so many LACs. Tell you the truth, so many of the LACs look the same I get them confused in my mind now. Skidmore does not have the old archticture, because it isn't that old (at least the current campus). There is no greater town in my opinion than Saratoga Springs. Not only do you have all the great opportunities of the Adirondacks right there (hiking, kayaking, skiing, etc) but you have a Gap on Main Street! </p>
<p>Unfortunately, we were on a tour with THE most bizarre families I've ever encountered. It included, for instance, one gal who spent the entire tour making out with her boyfriend (while her weird parents stood by looking oh-so-bored). Also featured a boy who could NOT stop talking about himself and who, not once, but twice, speared my with his umbrella! Another family featured a trophy mom who was so clinging to her son so much that we actually thought it was his girlfriend until we heard him call her "mom" (the dad was also there looking very impressed with himself). It was pretty creepy. I think my son was thinking, "Well if that's who applies here..."</p>
<p>Anyway, I still liked the emphasis on cultural activities that seemed to dominate the campus. But in the info session he looked straight at us and declared that they give absolutely NO merit money, and it will cost $40,000. That rules us out.</p>
<p>Weenie, LOL about the tour! Actually that is the vibe that my daughter picked up from the videotape. Whether it means anything or not, who knows? I'm trying trying trying to trust her gut instincts as much as possible, even if it means ruling out some very good schools.</p>
<p>Sounds like an entertaining tour, weenie! 40K and no merit aid -- that would eliminate us, too. </p>
<p>Carolyn - unfortunately, my daughter (who considers herself open-minded and tolerant!) refuses to consider any college in the South. I guess I should count my lucky stars that we've at least reduced the college search to half the country!</p>
<p>Coyoteweb: Looks like U of R has dropped below the horizon. It's a far better school than the PR rating gives it, although I have no knowledge whatever about the schools in Washington State.</p>
<p>If you're considering U of R, however, be aware that the fifth-year free program is offered only to a very small select group of students.</p>
<p>IT is easier when they can be clear about what they want.
My daughter was very definite about her criteria. Urban, smaller mid size u to liberal arts size, no womens colleges, and couldn't be too cold. when she threw in west coast only, that kind of took care of that, especially when she wasn't too interested in CA schools either!
She isn't so picky with her food thank goodness.</p>
<p>I just returned from 4 days at Whitman visiting my son, who is extremely happy there. The school doesn't strike me as preppy - very few students in Abercrombie, etc. And we happened to ask our son during the visit about where he thought he was in respect to other students' families economic status. (We are not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, and son gets financial aid - as do over 50% of the students). He thought our family was right around the middle, but did mention that there are some kids from very wealthy backgrounds. If you want any more info, I'd be glad to respond.</p>
<p>Your daughter sounds a lot like mine. We also checked out many of the same colleges you are considering. She ultimately chose Knox and loves it. In fact, we were just back there on a visit last weekend.</p>
<p>She loves the smallness (1100 students) the all-residential atmosphere and the close relationships with the faculty. There is a lot of drinking on campus (hey, this is a college, after all), but she found it easy to find a group of friends who don't party too hard, and she doesn't feel picked on because she doesn't drink or drug.</p>
<p>DD is majoring in International Studies so I don't know a lot about the music program except that there is a pretty good student jazz band on campus. The student literary magazine has won a lot of competitions.</p>
<p>Politically, the campus is moderately liberal. There are a lot of midwestern farm kids there who provide a conservative balance.</p>
<p>The drawbacks: It's damn cold in the winter (tough for a California girl to handle) and the college is in a small town that is in the middle of nowhere which makes it hard to travel to and from campus.</p>
<p>As I said, we visited many of the schools on your list. DD said this weekend that she is still happy with her choice of Knox.</p>