Find a Fit for My Kid

Parents Forum
1

<p>I've been reading the threads in this particular forum with great interest. I'd like to pick the brains of the experienced parents here to aid us in suggesting some schools for my S to consider. What I'm interested in knowing is not so much his chances of being accepted at various top schools, but rather what schools you think would be a fit for him based on the following--rather lengthy, I'm afraid--description.</p>

<p>What sets him apart from a lot of other HS students, I think, is that he's truly an intellectual. (He actually reads Dostoyevsky for pleasure. <g> Not that that's the only evidence.) He has done well taking the most rigorous course load at our public HS--he's actually taking more than the maximum load, because of an independent study--but he isn't a grind. He enjoys running and ultimate frisbee and music. He has a long-term interest in philosophy, which he studied for three summers at CTY, and would lean in the direction of majoring in philosophy or something incorporating it. He also enjoys languages: he's taking both French and Spanish (the only modern languages our school offers, or he'd probably be taking German in order to read Neitzche in the original), skipped Spanish 1 entirely, is double-accelerated in French (AP as a junior) and taking AP French Lit as a 2-yr independent study because our school doesn't normally offer it. (He has top-5 placements in the national exams in both languages several years, only kid in the school to be in the honor society in both languages.) History is another significant interest and possibly major, and he's in the highest track in that also.(5 on the AP MEH exam as a sophomore.) He likes math, and is in the highest track, taking AP Calc next year. He likes science, especially chem and physics, and is in the highest track our school offers, taking AP Bio this year, AP Chem and perhaps AP Physics next year, but I don't think he wants to be a scientist. He's not an engineer, either. He's taking the AP English "thread" of courses. He's an excellent writer, but unlikely to be an English major, I'd say. </g></p>

<p>He has always been a 3-season athlete, mostly devoted to track. He's pretty good, gets a varsity letter and qualified for states, but is not a star. He plays the violin, is in the regional youth symphony, plays occasionally in other venues as a service, plays for school drama productions, and goes to an invitation-only string quartet seminar. Again, he's pretty good, but not a star. </p>

<p>He's done some public service, including a 3-week stint in Central America, but is not one of those kids who is dedicated to community service. He has some other ECs, such as World Quest and Model UN, but nothing major. </p>

<p>He's rather an introvert, very independent, but his teachers seem to like him a lot and say they enjoy his wit.</p>

<p>He hasn't taken the SATs yet, but his PSATs were 80M/80CR/71W, which should make him a NMF in our state. He's taken one SAT2--7 months after finishing the course because the state track meet is ALWAYS scheduled on the June SAT2 day, argh--and got a 760. His GPA is 95.5 unweighted (That's an A. He does well, but isn't the kind of kid who will push to get a few more grade points.) Our school neither weights nor ranks--at least not officially. They release info that enables schools to estimate percentile, though, using the unweighted grades, alas. He's definitely top 10%, possibly top 5%. He's regarded as one of the top students in a class with an unusually large number of smart boys, and we are located in upper New England. </p>

<p>He despises the idea of frats, and doesn't want to go to the school in the Deep South. He'd like to study abroad at some point, but finances prevent that now.</p>

<p>Any suggestions?</p>

2

<p>University of Chicago</p>

3

<p>or Swarthmore, depending if he would like to attend a larger university or a small liberal arts college</p>

4

<p>Really, anywhere. He sounds great, and someone who would be in a position to take advantage of any first-rate college. It's hard to think of a place that wouldn't be a fit.</p>

<p>That said. When you mentioned Dostoyevsky, I thought "Chicago", and then a few sentences later I thought "this has to be a joke, because the OP must know s/he's describing the ideal Chicago student." I think most people will have the same kind of response. Swarthmore and Reed are similar, but LACs.</p>

<p>Specifically, here's why Chicago: (1) Every single kid there, pretty much, is someone others would describe as "truly an intellectual". Many of them (not all) have read Dostoyevsky for pleasure; it would not stand out as unusual there. (2) Interest in philosophy is rampant. The core involves a lot of it. (3) DIII athletics, opportunities to participate if he wants them. (4) Very strong language programs; many people taking German so they can read Nietzsche (and Heidegger, and Hegel, and Freud). (5) Lots of introverts hanging out together. (6) Lots of music, in and out of the University. (7) Because of whom the core attracts, everyone there respects polymaths, and there's no social line between the scientists and the hums.</p>

<p>But, honestly, he could probably stick a pin in a list of the top 50 schools and be perfectly happy. He doesn't seem difficult to please.</p>

5

<p>Sorry to be so bold, but will your lack of finances mean that he will be eligible for fin aid at the need-blind Ivies? No sense falling in love with Harvard or Yale if you cannot pay for it.</p>

<p>If not, then I suggest you look at the thread entitled "Schools known for good Merit Aid"--and find a few on the list to fall in love with. Your son sounds like a perfect Merit Scholarship candidate.</p>

<p>As for the intellectual side, be assured there are amazing professors in nearly every school. My personal theory is: you cannot go wrong if you choose a school in a location which draws lots of academics---greater Boston, Manhattan, San Francisco/Palo Alto, Washington DC (for history or IR majors).</p>

<p>One sticking point might be the core curriculum. My sons are readers, not quite at the level of your son, and the older one nearly died in his freshman core courses. He started taking grad level courses in sophomore year. Look closely at schools which do not require a core curriculum--like Brown. Or, if your son gets a full ride to a Merit School, see if you can negotiate a pass on core classes.</p>

<p>One of the most interesting majors is the International Relations major. It is one of the most popular majors on campus these days because it blends the study of current politics, history, economics and languages. If that major is at all interesting to your son, be sure to spend a day at the School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown. If my experience in their foodcourt is any indication, SFS is jammed to the gills with intellectual students like your son. PM tlaktan, a current SFS student, for further details.</p>

<p>Good luck! He should have lots of choices next year!</p>

6

<p>We all think alike!
Definitely run some numbers if money is a problem, because that can greatly influence your strategy.</p>

<p>Chicago, definitely, Carleton also came to mind, and MacAlester, Tufts. He should look at some of the specialized programs like SFS, and maybe those at Penn.</p>

<p>Investigate the Core at Chicago, he will either be totally thrilled or totally turned off. Also does anyone know about languages at Chicago?? Although it sounds as if he only needs to be pointed in the proper direction.</p>

<p>Good luck, you have a great year ahead.</p>

7

<p>I'm refraining from any specific comments at the moment because I don't want to prejudice anyone's suggestions, but I do want to let those who have replied know that I appreciate your feedback.</p>

8

<p>I'm at the University of Chicago now. It sounds as if he'd do really well here. Feel free to post here or PM me if you have any questions.</p>

9

<p>Let me also throw out Columbia--after all, they invented the core! :)</p>

<p>(PLease don't flame me, U of C people!)</p>

10

<p>I also thought Chicago. But perhaps others more familiar with it than I could comment on the opportunities for a 3-season athlete.</p>

<p>I also agree that he sounds as if he could thrive at any of the top schools, so it's more a matter of finding a school of the right size, location, and social scene , and the right finaid package if this is a consideration.</p>

<p>EDIT: I also thought of Columbia, but don't know about the sports scene there.</p>

11

<p>Columbia is D1, but Ivy-level D1, which is more like D3.</p>

12

<p>My S was accepted at Bard - ultimately decided not to go - but it sounds like it might be a great fit for your son. He wouldn't be bored by the traditional core courses and he would be able to pursue all of his various interests, including athletics. It looks like a great school for intellecutally curious students who are independent thinkers. Also only 2 hours north of NYC and a reasonable drive from New England. I'd check out the website for more info if I were you.</p>

13

<p>Also, if he wanted to venture further from home and isn't prejudiced against Texas, Rice is a wonderful school for kids like your son. Decent merit money too.</p>

14

<p>U of Chicago, U of Chicago, U of Chicago!!!! Consolation, your S could be my son's twin.</p>

15

<p>There is a huuuuuge gap between Ivy-level DI and Chicago-level DIII.</p>

16

<p>I am not sure that Consolation's son intends to do intercollegiate sports in college. I think that his mom/dad was just mentioning it in describing his h.s. activities.</p>

17

<p>The U of C is definitely on our list. (I went to grad school there. <g>) His current strong favorite is Yale. He's been interested in Swarthmore for a while (haven't visited) and liked Brown a lot, until it was overshadowed by Yale. Of the other places we've formally visited--as opposed to a drive through--Columbia is a possible, Princeton is out. (Hates the eating clubs.) Doesn't like Cornell (and the separate schools would be a problem). We are going to visit Amherst and Williams next month. Then there's Harvard. (Great university, but not known for undergraduate teaching.) I'd like to take a mid-Atlantic sweep at some point and visit Swarthmore, JHU, U Penn, and possibly Georgetown, GWU, and U Va. I suggest St John's to him, but he wasn't enthusiastic. I wouldn't rule out Carleton, but isolated and rural is not a plus in his view. (Somehow small town Minnesota seems more so than small town Massachusetts.) He doesn't want to go to school in Maine, which lets out Bates/Colby/Bowdoin. </g></p>

<p>Any thoughts on whether we should bother trying to fit in visits to UVa and GWU? Would he be a fish out of water?</p>

<p>Oh, and I didn't mention that he has considered himself an atheist since age 6. I'm wondering if that would be a problem at Georgetown? (The IR programs there are appealing.) I don't think he would want to be in Texas, which lets Rice out.</p>

<p>We could definitely take advantage of the financial aid policies at the Ivies, which is a big plus. But first he has to get in. The chances are so slim for everyone...I wonder if going EA at Yale amounts to virtually throwing away his trump card. As for many, I suppose, the trick is not reaching, but finding a place that is a comparative "safety" that you would actually love to go to.</p>

18

<p>U of C football against any of the Ivy schools would be hilarious. </p>

<p>In my experience, the U of C tends to have a more intellectual feel than Columbia, perhaps because Columbia's Ivy distinction draws applications from students who aren't all that interested in the Core. Both fantastic schools, of course, with good core curriculums.</p>

19

<p>He may be interested in the Residential College at the University of Michigan or the Great Books program at Notre Dame, if he wouldn't mind a Catholic atmosphere. I considered both. Would be be interested in Reed at all?</p>

20

<p>Please have him consider University of Chicago</p>