<p>I'm a current senior that will be applying to college this year, and I feel like I'm experiencing a sort of mid-life crisis with determining where I want to apply. I've been searching for schools since my freshman year and I have a large list by now, but yet I don't really feel any connection to most all of them, and after searching for so long it's almost as if I don't really know what I'm looking for anymore and I am frustrated and anxious and I'd really like some of CC's help. </p>
<p>What schools would you recommend for me?
I am looking for a school that is strong in its neuroscience program - I know that for sure. I strongly intend to get my undergrad in neuro (or in a concentration of neuro in biology? is that as strong?) and my master's and then go into research.
I am 5th in my class, have a strong GPA and have a 2300 SAT (740/760/800) and mid-strong extracurrics (strong work in multiple theatre and choir programs, many related leadership positions, NHS, volunteer work at a therapeutic riding center...).</p>
<p>I feel, though, that I'm not really sure what I'm looking for in a college anymore, so I'd like to refrain from describing any aspects directly and would instead like to just describe the experience I've always imagined.</p>
<p>I want a school where I can not be a number, can connect with my professors, but that isn't small enough that it doesn't have the resources necessary for me to pursue research at the undergrad level, which I fully intend to do. I want to be involved in many social activities as I am now but I do not want to be pressured to go Greek - the whole atmosphere is not what I want. I want great academics. I want nice, involved, well-rounded people that aren't stuck-up or self-involved. I want a school that people love to go to.</p>
<p>I hope that's enough. If you read this and a college comes to mind, I would really, really appreciate the suggestion. I'm very frustrated and just incredibly stressed about this whole process and I could use all the help I could get.</p>
<p>Have you tried the SuperMatch feature available on this website? I push it a lot to students so that we can have a list of places it thinks you’d like. For an awesome Neuro program, I’d check out Brown (shameless plug).</p>
<p>Do you think you want an LAC or a bigger university? For LACs, you sound like you might like Wesleyan, Amherst, Swarthmore, or Williams. For larger, possibly Tufts, Stanford, or Northwestern.</p>
<p>I’ll need financial aid, yes, and my mother would like me to stay on the eastern half of the US. Sorry, I forgot to mention those.</p>
<p>As for an LAC versus a larger university, that’s one of the things that I’m struggling with. I originally stayed away from LACs, looking only at large universities, but I don’t know anymore. If you were to want to go to grad school and then into research, which would you think would be better? If it even matters at the undergrad level.</p>
<p>Are you shy, outgoing, social, antisocial…those are things to take into account when picking between a big state school and an LAC. Another thing to take into consideration is would you rather go to a “ivy caliber” school and probably have a harder time getting aid, or choose a non ivy school and probably get more aid. Once you narrow down your criteria, you will probably have a better idea of what you are looking for.</p>
<p>For any reference, I think of myself as outgoing in situations in which I’d be comfortable. Big Greek parties and etc, I would not be comfortable which is why, as stated, I’d like to stay away from that. As for “ivy caliber” with less aid versus non ivy with aid, I would go for ivy caliber with less aid. Aid is not my primary determining factor in choosing schools, but it is a factor. </p>
<p>Oberlin sounds nice too, but I guess my hesitation in small schools and LACs (though I love the undergraduate focus and the ability to have a close relationship with professors) is that I feel like I would be limiting myself if I were to go to a smaller, lesser known school than, say, a Northwestern or a Princeton (using suggestions previously given in this thread). Would you say my hesitation is valid? Would it be less advisable, given my intentions, to go to a small LAC? Do they have the same resources and graduate success as larger ivy-caliber schools?</p>
<p>I think a lot of it has to do with the schools individual program, for instance the University of Illinois has a great science program (and neuroscience major) and is a highly respected school across the Midwest, but you would get more attention and probably more research opportunities at a smaller LAC. It is quite a perplexing situation you are in.</p>
<p>Since you need FA what state are you in? Also try Case Western and RPI. I’m not sure about their neuro programs but they are well known for the sciences.</p>
<p>There are personal issues with College Park - one parent only agreeing to pay for certain schools, and UMD is one of issue. I would, because being in-state I could be relatively sure I’d get in, but it’s not worth the conflict between parents.</p>
<p>Any other ideas? I appreciate every suggestion you all have given so far.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad raises an interesting point, remember earlier when I asked if you wanted to got to an “ivy caliber” program or a non-ivy? You might want to look at Honors college within a non-ivy program, doing so would give you higher quality academics…and it would also allow you to have a more social opportunities that you might not get at a tiny LAC.</p>
<p>Do check out Tufts, and consider Northeastern. Tufts will offer you the rich intellectual environment plus its medical school could be a place for you to get the research you want. </p>
<p>Now about Northeastern: with your stats you’d get into their Honors program and probably get good aid. Northeastern’s co-op program, and their ins with the local research community means you could probably start working at a lab right away, then get a very good co-op. My D did just that, by the end of her NEU experience she’d had five years experience of working in a lab including 2 co-ops at a Harvard research lab. Her friends co-opped at MIT and some of the hottest biotech labs in the northeast. These graduates had no problem finding jobs even in this economy, and many are headed to top grad schools, thanks in part to the hands-on experience they got at school.</p>
<p>An honors college may be nice. I don’t know much about honors colleges, to be honest. Are they better at some schools than others? In other words, should I look at specific places because their honors programs are known for being good?</p>
<p>I received a PM strongly recommending Tufts, katliamom, and it was one that I originally looked into, so I’m pretty sure I will end up applying there. I’ve heard about Northeastern’s strong co-op program from a good friend who visited there, not expecting to like the school but ending up liking it a lot due to the program. I will most definitely look into it.</p>
<p>What schools have you looked into already that you feel you don’t click with? This might give us a better idea of what doesn’t work for you.</p>
<p>Liberal arts colleges I would say have much better social atmospheres than large universities; because of their small size they often have tight campus communities, and most are not heavy on Greek life or the type of social life you’re not interested in. Many LACs also have much better reputations (especially on the east coast) than places like, say, Northwestern.</p>
<p>Also regarding Northwestern: if you do not want to feel pressure to participate in Greek life I would absolutely not apply there. It is pretty heavily Greek.</p>
<p>I don’t know about your grades or the type of school you currently attend, but you have some pretty solid SAT scores. I’d say definitely apply to some Ivies–many of them strike a nice balance between the resources of a large research university and the smaller campus size and closer community of an LAC. Columbia and Brown (which apparently has an excellent neuroscience program) both come to mind from what you have mentioned about what you’re looking for. If you’re absolutely sure you want to work within the sciences this will probably be your best bet; most LACs don’t seem to be strong in the sciences, and have fewer lab resources. </p>
<p>Don’t get too dismayed by this! If you have the chance and haven’t already, try to go on a few trips to look at colleges, even if you’re not initially attracted to them. A campus visit gives you the best idea of what a school might feel like if you attended.</p>
<p>Dcu, I like everything about Dartmouth (the size and undergrad focus, research ops, and D-Plan is fabulous) but the Greek scene, because I’m aware of its strength on campus and Greek life just does not seem right for me. I see from your posts that you go there - am I rightfully concerned? Is it as strong of a presence as the numbers imply?</p>
<p>Honied_dreams, I guess what I’ve recently come to realize is that maybe a smaller school is for me, fit-wise, because I want that undergraduate focus and closeness with professors. I’ve always strayed away from small schools and LACs because I fear that at a small LAC I won’t have the resources and breadth of classes and high-quality research that I would have at a larger university. I felt (feel) I’d be limiting myself by going to an LAC rather than a research university in that way. </p>
<p>Finding a balance between the prestige, breadth of classes and research, and resources of a large university and the social aspects, undergraduate focus, and connection to professors of a smaller college or LAC is, I guess, my ultimate goal, as you’ve suggested. I am absolutely sure, yes, that I want to go into the sciences, so I’ll try to overcome the trepidation of the single-digit admissions percentages and look at Ivies in more detail. Thanks for the advice.</p>