Finding a College!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi! :D I'm super lost and overwhelmed with all the college options out there. Phew! If you could help me narrow some down in response to my criteria that would be beyond appreciated! </p>

<p>Please list safeties, matches, and reaches!</p>

<p>CRITERIA
<em>2,000-5,000 size
LAC feel (but cost will be issue)
*suburban, with access to a good city
*in-between party/intellectual atmosphere
*a pretty campus, I spend a lot of my time hiking/outdoors so something that would match that
*</em><strong>liberal atmosphere</strong>*
*NON DOMINATING Greek Life
*Location: most parts of country with GOOD weather (not Deep South)--I'm from Boston but the distance doesn't matter that much
*non-religiously affiliated
*unified campus (high student happiness i guess)
*good reputation as a school
*good science programs; i'm considering Biology major
*good study abroad programs/opportunities would be a plus</p>

<p>Condensed STATS
Grade: Rising Senior
Sex: Female
Location: Boston area, Mass.
School: Public, ranked 2nd in state, very competitive
Race: White
Class Rank: n/a</p>

<p>GPA (unweighted)
9th: 3.32
10th: 3.52
11th: 3.66</p>

<p>GPA (weighted) 4.43
by UC weighting, 4.5.</p>

<p>TRANSCRIPT
Taken VERY challenging courses.
9th: all honors (no AP offered)
10th: all honors, AP US History
11th: all honors, AP Biology, AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics
12th: [next year] AP Environmental Sci, AP Psychology, AP Span Language, AP English Lit, lower level Calculus, Honors Anatomy</p>

<p>TEST SCORES
SAT I: 1980 (bad, retaking in Oct)
CR: 630
WR: 690
M: 660</p>

<p>ACT: 32 (single sitting, without studying, retaking in Sept)</p>

<p>SAT II:
Bio (M): 750
Us Hist: 730
Lit: 620 (bad, not sending)</p>

<p>AP:
Bio-5
US Hist-5
AP Macro-5
AP Micro-5</p>

<p>Many leadership ECs (class VP, leadership committee, town education board, National Honors Society, President of COmmunity Service, Yearbook Committee President, Founder of Democratic Party Club; to name a few)
I also do a lot of Community Service in and around Boston.
Despite my leadership ECs, I am only on JV Cross Country (4 years) and am not an amazing sports star. Neither have I received many honors or recognition awards.
Letters of Recs should be excellent. </p>

<p>I realize this is long, but thank you for reading this far!</p>

2

<p>What kind of science? Pre-health bio or environmental?</p>

<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC</p>

3

<p>Either. Please list schools for both! I would be deciding between Pre-Med and Environmental for sure.</p>

4

<p>Look at Goucher. Expensive, but I think your stats would put you at the top (meaning you’d be more likely to get merit aid). Might be slightly small for you - 1500 UG, 800 G.</p>

5

<p>I was also going to suggest Goucher, but they are more health sciences than environmental I think. Others to consider, st lawrence in ny (more rural, but otherwise good for what you want.) And SUNY New Paltz.</p>

<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC</p>

6

<p>Have you tried collegeconfidential’s screener? It’s a good place to start.</p>

<p>[College</a> Search - College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/)</p>

7

<p>For Reachier options, Smith, skidmore, oberlin. </p>

<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC</p>

8

<p>What are my chances of U Washington, Beloit, Reed College, George Washington you think?</p>

9

<p>Beloit and gwu would be good matches, but I dont knw how you’d like the campus. Beloit is a little smaller. U Wash, not sure about OOS, but much bigger…</p>

<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC</p>

10

<p>trinity (ct), barnard if willing to look at womens schools</p>

11

<p>I would seriously look at Kalamazoo College. Pretty campus (and K-Zoo is a nice little city as well); no Greeks; relatively close outdoor activities; not too far from Chicago; intellectually challenging but not crazy competitive. Seems to fit most of your criteria.</p>

<p>I would also check out Oberlin as well. While it does not meet all of your criteria, it does check off a number of your boxes.</p>

<p>The third school that comes to mind is Whitman. While it may be too isolated for you, academically it seems to match what you are looking for.</p>

<p>Of these three schools, my guess is that Oberlin is the most competitive in terms of admissions, followed by Whitman and then Kalamazoo. However, please do not equate admission selectivity with academic rigor. All three schools will stretch you academically.</p>

<p>Good luck. Chances are, there is not the one perfect college out there for you. However, my guess is that there are a number of places where you will receive a quality education and where you will be happy spending four years of your life.</p>

12

<p>Sounds like Rice might be a good fit. Small, LAC-like feeling, nice campus, good sciences, decent weather (you’ll be away in the summer), suburb of Houston, no Greek life, and your 32 puts you at the 50th percentile or so. Hiking is probably not a big option there, but easy to be outdoors in the winter.</p>

<p>I’d also consider Pomona - a reach - because of the Claremont consortium, which means it’s a LAC but with 5 LACs with of activities on contiguous campuses. Suburb of LA, no Greek life and lots to do year round - ski and beach!</p>