Desperate Need of Suggestions

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I spent the evening with one of my friends today, and she admitted that she hasn't started researching colleges and has not applied to or requested recommendations for anywhere. She also told me she never took the SAT II and has know idea about schools out of state. I sort of panicked for her, and I convinced her that she needed to start research NOW (she's a senior). </p>

<p>Anyway, I got her stats, and I was wondering if anyone could give me any suggestions for schools that she would have a good chance of getting into (she's signed up now for the SAT II's in January, if that makes a difference). She and I have very different activities and classes, so I don't really know what to suggest for her. Here they are:</p>

<p>Note: She switched schools in Sophomore year to go to a more competitive high school. This means that she had to drop most of her clubs from the first two years and join new ones, since the two schools had few of the same clubs, so she didn't have a chance really for leadership or dedication to show.</p>

<p>SAT:
Reading: 800
Math: 800
Writing: 670</p>

<p>ACT: 34</p>

<p>GPA: (unweighted) 4.0
(weighted) 4.2</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:
Band: She has a ton of band related extracurriculars and wants to major in music. She's won district and state competitions, played at Disney World, been in marching, honor, city wide bands, etc.
Junior Classical League: Junior and Senior year.
Art Club: Freshman and Sophomore
Girl Scouts: Freshman and Sophomore
Ballroom Dancing: Senior</p>

<p>Leadership: First Chair Flutist in various bands (that's about it)</p>

<p>Work: Has had a job every year
Worked at church's Vacation Bible School in summers</p>

<p>Sorry this is so long, I'm just really worried about her. She's incredibly smart and really doesn't want to go to the State school just down the street (it is Louisiana, after all), but I don't know where to suggest. Please help!</p>

2

<p>Tufts seems like a good choice for her- it accepts the ACT in place of all of the SAT's (including subject tests.)</p>

3

<p>Actually, speaking of Louisiana, Loyola University of New Orleans is supposed to have one of the best music programs in the country (according to my friend, a fellow music enthusiast). </p>

<p>She could also try James Madison in Virginia (they won an award for having the best marching band in the country). Aside from that, USC and Chapman are also supposed to be really good, if she doesn't mind moving west.</p>

4

<p>Hm, I didn't know that about Loyola, thanks for the suggestion.</p>

5

<p>blair school of music at vanderbilt. not sure if you've ever heard of that, but it's top notch in academics and in music theory</p>

6

<p>Bambee, some very good schools for music that she may be interested in are University of Miami, St Olafs and University of Rochester.</p>

7

<p>Agree with atrophicwhisper's suggestion -- just wanted to add that Tufts' music department enjoys state-of-the-art facilities and fabulous faculty... in addition, there is also a dual-degree conservatory program she might want to consider -- hard to get into, but worth a shot if she's interested in that, with the NEMC.</p>

8

<p>This student scored 2270 on the SAT, 34 on the ACT, she has a perfect GPA, and the colleges we're recommending are James Madison, Loyola, Miami, St. Olaf, and Rochester?</p>

<p>These are all fine schools, of course, and in music some of them are more than fine, but with these numbers this young woman is competitive just about anywhere.</p>

<p>True, she has not started thinking much about college at this late date, which might mean that on some level she fears or does not want to compete for a spot in a great college or university. And if this is the case it's okay. Really. Not all smart people go far from home for college and graduate from a Williams or a Princeton.</p>

<p>But if she really does want to leave Louisiana for college, and if the original poster, her friend, can get her truly, not perfunctorily energized about the process, there's not a college or university in the country where she'd be an automatic turn-down. This student is likely to be competitive for admission at any school in America where she elects to make a serious application. (This not to say she will for sure be admitted to her first-, or second-, or third-choice school; she should have a couple of safeties.)</p>

<p>How serious is the music interest, and how talented a musician is she? If music probably or certainly will be her major, and if she wants the greater attention, sense of community, and generally quieter atmosphere of a small college, three places to consider very strongly are Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio; Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin; and St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. All are wonderful small colleges with superior music programs. If she is certain about music and would enjoy a large university, almost any of the great American public or private universities would do. Indiana comes to mind, but really there are so many places where she would be fine.</p>

<p>For this to work, for her to find a college or university where she will be thrilled to spend four years, she has to get invested in the process of the search. If she finds herself uninterested or scared about this, I advise that she talk frankly about her worries with a parent, her school counselor, a professional counselor outside of school, a pastor, or any trusted adult. She should do this pretty soon.</p>

<p>Maybe she'll get into the search for a college, maybe she won't. Maybe after talking with friends and counselors whose judgment she values she will decide to take a year off from school to figure things out, or just to attend a more familiar local college or university. Neither would be any kind of disaster. For many kids a "gap year" or settling on a familiar local college or university is the best choice.</p>

9

<p>You might want to start a thread on this in the parents forum.</p>

10

<p>U of Tulsa. Excellent all-around college with a noted music program.</p>

11

<p>A music major? Well..that changes EVERYTHING. Look at Music Conservatories and schools with GREAT music schools. </p>

<p>Vandy and Furman have SUPERB music programs in the South. Both have notable alumni who have made it BIG!
i.e. Conductors of major orchestras.</p>

<p>Peabody School of Music in Baltimore that is aligned with Hopkins.
Eastman School of Music in Rochester aligned with University of Rochester.
Oberlin Conservatory aligned with Oberlin College in Ohio.</p>

<p>I have heard that USC and UCLA have good music schools. USC has some FAMOUS virtuosos on faculty.</p>

<p>Berkley School of Music in Massachusetts. Curtiss School of Music in Philadelphia. Both highly regarded stand alone conservatories.</p>

<p>Beyond that, she could pick anywhere....even some Ivy League Schools....I think Yale is probably the best for music majors. </p>

<p>Its getting VERY late...so she better hurry up and decide! Many have January 1 deadlines for REGULAR decision.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

12

<p>Notre Dame is not bad in music either, I heard.</p>

13

<p>oh...and I second that recommendation about Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin....they have a very nice Conservatory there as well that is gaining in its reputation. But its VERY COLD in the winter....brrrrr......</p>

14

<p>Tufts still seems like a good place if you're interested in music. Tufts' music facilities are state-of-the-art (Distler Performance Hall has the best acoustics on the east coast) facilities but also great professors in a tight-knit environment. Furthermore, if you're interested in a conservatory education tied with a liberal arts education, you can apply for the five-year BA/BMus dual degree program with the NEMC. Or you can just study music at Tufts, which is also great.</p>

15

<p>"Band: She has a ton of band related extracurriculars and wants to major in music. She's won district and state competitions, played at Disney World, been in marching, honor, city wide bands"
I second the recommendation about USC-the Thorton school of music is great, and the Trojan band is always looking for musicians-and if she HUSTLES, and gets her application in by DEC 10, she will probably qualify for at least a 1/2 off tuition scholarship. Did she take the PSAT and what was her score? Does she need financial aid to go out of state? USC has lots of money for needy students .</p>