Finalized list. Thoughts?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Stats:
White Male from Alabama</p>

<p>3.2 uw GPA taking mostly AP classes (11 AP/honors classes over 4 years)
Barely in bottom 50th percentile. Ugh.</p>

<p>5 on AP Lang and 3 on AP US History exam</p>

<p>30 on ACT (35 English, 32 reading, 28 science, 26 math)</p>

<p>I've been told I have a great essay but I won't say anything regarding that because I don't judge my own work (except I will say that it stands out...if you want to read it, I have no qualms). Recs should be solid, if not really good.</p>

<p>ECs: intern for local record label, intern for Birmingham Weekly magazine, school newspaper staff, debate, propagandist for Young Democrats club, Events Coordinator for Latin Club, write for a couple online publications, took courses in creative and persuasive writing at a BU summer program.</p>

<p>I show a strong interest in writing/English. I'm really into non-conformist (some might use the term hippie) schools...unfortunately, I've found that they're rather expensive. Without further ado, the list:</p>

<p>Bennington
Emerson (#1 school, applying Early Action)
Fordham
Hampshire (#3 school, applying Early Action)
Ithaca
Macalester (huge reach, I know, might as well)
Manhattanville
New College of Florida
Northeastern
Oberlin (huuuuuuuuuuuge reach but I've really taken a liking to the school and I like my supplemental essay)
Sarah Lawrence (#2 school if I can afford it, I actually really like my essay for their supplement, which is rare)</p>

<p>What do you guys think? I think I might need more safeties. And if you want to chance me at any of the above, be my guest (please!).</p>

2

<p>anyone? :(</p>

3

<p>You might want to look at Bard & Goucher. Bard has an EA program as well. Marlboro is a possible safety. Beloit and Hendrix are other schools to investigate.</p>

<p>Men from Alabama may not be a dime a dozen at any of these schools.
.</p>

4

<p>I was going to apply to Bard, because I REALLY like their supplemental essay, but it seemed like a lost cause. I might apply to Marlboro, but the town meeting thing is kind of scary. Beloit sounds really interesting.
Thanks!</p>

5

<p>I would not think Bard is a lost cause for you... Your GPA and rank are not so hot but your ACT score looks good. Is there a reason that explains the grades? You don't want to look like a smart slacker.</p>

6

<p>I think you have a great shot at all of the schools- as mentioned, you are a male, from alabama, have interesting ECs, and have a great ACT score.
Fordham seems to be an odd choice on your list though- its a Jesuit, fairly preppy school .</p>

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<p>I know, Huskem. I don't really want to go there that badly, but I love NYC and I thought I may as well apply; however, I doubt I'd go there. To be honest, my parents just really want me to apply there. And there isn't an essay, so whatever, may as well placate them.
SBmom, there's really no reason to my low grades besides the fact that I did positively nothing my first 3 years of high school. I was lazy. VERY lazy. But I'm trying to remedy that now, in my senior year, though I doubt it will help my cause.
I guess I'll apply to Bard. Marlboro is a maybe, it just seems kind...creepy to me...like the Stepford wives for liberals, haha. I heard someone else use the term "drinking the kool-aid" in reference to Marlboro. I'm liking Beloit a lot, even though it's in Wisconsin.
Any other suggestions/tips/encouragement/censuring is appreciated. :)</p>

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<p>Warren Wilson in Asheville. Hippie school. Very good writing program. </p>

<p>It's an interesting place for the right students. Could be right for you.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

9

<p>If you don't get accepted somewhere you're happy with, you might be a perfect candidate for a gap year.</p>

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<p>Yeah, SBmom, I was thinking that. I think I'll get accepted at Hampshire and maybe Sarah Lawrence, but the thing I'm really worried about (perhaps more than getting in) is paying for them.
Inthebiz, I looked at Warren Wilson, but I think it might be too secluded for me.
Anyone else? All comments are very much appreciated. :)</p>

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<p>Hmmmm....thought I saw you on the Fordham blog.....whatever. A couple of points, mtngoat.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>If you are a slacker (lazy), then at least you got 10 pts for being honest. At UVa last summer on a tour, the head of admissions told us that someone made up a huge story about having some nasty illness...so they checked and found out it was a bogus story and needless to say that application was summarily rejected.</p></li>
<li><p>I concur with some thoughts above that fit is more important than anything....but I question your judgment...using the fact of whether they have an essay on an application and whether you like the essay question to determine if you will apply is foolish. The admissions office is NOT the school in any shape,manner or form. Its a red herring if anything. Do NOT judge a book by its cover. VISIT the top 5 schools you want to attend, or get accepted to. Your visit will either confirm your thoughts or convince you otherwise. In the meantime, do the research on the school....get your hands on their printed bulletin of course offerings....that is HUGE. It is what sold us on Fordham. Once we looked at the faculty (amazing, amazing faculty) and course offerings it was what sold us. Then the visit was icing on the cake. But that is us, not you.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>If writing is your thing, and creative writing is your thing, then look at schools that have STRONG creative writing programs. Your ACT is decent, your grades are not so hot. So be prepared to deal with that, NOT in your essay, but in a supplemental paper. I would simply tell them that you have matured and are now invigorated by school and more excited about THEIR program than anything and how it will light your fire.</p>

<p>College admissions officers are generally concerned about being equitable....they are empathetic to a point...but not to the point of being unfair to kids with BETTER scores and stats than you. So focus on schools that you can get into. Reaching is fine...just dont fixate on the reach schools. You may get in, you may not. On safety schools....dont be a slacker on them either. You might be surprised..they can smell slacker a mile away and they dont want ANY kids to come there and fail. Embrace your safety schools...visit them and talk with them and see if that is your best fit or not...and DONT apply to safety schools you dislike...because you could end up there. Ditto for match schools....but essential that you NOT do that for safety schools.</p>

<p>Warren Wilson College is actually very respected in its own right and its not far from Asheville NC, a beautiful city in the mountains, with a high degree of arts life...a LOT of people like that. Also, look at UNC-Asheville, one of the better UNC system schools with a strong liberal arts department.</p>

<p>But whatever you do, narrow it down to 6-8 schools, visit as many as possible and DONT apply to any school you dislike, particularly a safety.</p>

<p>Fit is a deeply personal thing. Its highly subjective. Your likes and dislikes are unique to YOU. Your priorities are unique to you. Preppy may not be your thing....but I dont think Fordham is overly preppy....its there, its not exactly an bastion of liberalism....but it has strong programs and an amazing faculty. But it also has a required core curriculum. </p>

<p>Maybe you need that discipline, maybe you dont. Maybe you would thrive, and maybe you would drown. But pick a school that will let you FLOURISH as a student and human being...and prepare you for graduate school and life.</p>

<p>I know someone accepted to Brown this year. At the last minute he got the heebie jeebies and wanted to find himself...so he is walking the Appalachian Trail and doing service work in the northeast. He took a gap year and got a deferment from Brown until next year. It happens.</p>

<p>Best of luck. In the meantime, work your behind off this senior year.</p>

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<p>Thank you for that post friedokra, it was very insightful!</p>

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<p>Okay, I've added a couple schools, making the total 13. I think that's too many. Anyone want to help me remove two or three? I really love the schools I'm applying to and it's hard. I'm thinking of not applying to Macalester and Bennington. I really don't want my parents to spend $600 applying to schools. What do you guys think?</p>

<p>Bard
Bennington
Emerson (#1 school, applying Early Action)
Eugene Lang
Fordham
Hampshire (#3 school, applying Early Action)
Ithaca
Macalester (huge reach, I know, might as well)
Manhattanville
New College of Florida
Northeastern
Oberlin (huuuuuuuuuuuge reach but I've really taken a liking to the school and I like my supplemental essay)
Sarah Lawrence (#2 school if I can afford it, I actually really like my essay for their supplement, which is rare)</p>

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<p>Okay, I removed Eugene Lang and Macalester. Good choice?</p>

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<p>To me Northeastern stands out as a lot different from your other choices (it's a lot larger, with lots of commuters), and it's really not particularly a "hippie" school. For example, it has a large engineering school and is known for that I think as much as anything else. So you might consider at least cutting that one, even though the location is great.
As someone concerned with potentially high cost, have you considered SUNY New Paltz as a possible "financial" safety? (<$12K/yr tuition OOS). I believe the environment there might be to your liking.</p>

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<p>Yes, I think I'll remove Northeastern. </p>

<p>Looking at New Paltz. It seems VERY interesting, I'll talk to my parents about it. Is there a large commuter presence? </p>

<p>So with Northeastern gone, would you guys say my list is at an okay size?</p>

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<p>New Paltz is not a commuter school at all. However, since it is fairly close to NYC and a lot of the student body is from the NYC metro area, there may be a good deal of outflow from campus on weekends. I think this is pretty inevitable with schools in or near large cities.
Bear in mind also that I am recommending this school as a kind of multi-purpose safety; the student body is overall probably not as "accomplished" as many of the other schools you are considering (Oberlin, Beloit, etc.) although I would think it is on par with Manhattanville. It is large enough though that I think you would encounter people of many different interests and abilities. I do happen to know a New Paltz graduate who makes his living as a freelance writer. Good luck.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much, I'm definitely looking into it. :)</p>