<p>I’m a Yale parent and think you would get great FA there. I don’t know if Brown would be quite as generous. As you can tell from my (hopefully gentle) nagging, I believe in you. You come across as so genuine in your posting, and I’m sure that carries across in your essays. The financial payoff is so big, it’s worth the possible brief sting of a rejection. I would LOVE for you to have time for theater and other things you love when you’re in college, instead of having to work all the time. In some ways I think you’re a big risk taker (hence the current hair color :)), and hope you’re willing to take the risk of sending those two apps. You are worth it.</p>
<p>2blue: i might just have to.
I wouldn’t want anyone from the CC community to be let down by me.
This place has become the greatest support system, which is why I always go here for advice.
I should probably just take it. I’ve not nothing to lose, right?
i guess it’s just a bit of cold feet</p>
<p>^ Brown’s FA will not be any better than Amherst’s or Bowdoin’s, maybe Wellesley depending on how things are calculated. Do apply to Yale if you would like it there. The residential colleges do mimic a LAC’s social setting, although academics are definitely university-sized (same for Brown).</p>
<p>So far as atmosphere, my son picked Yale in part because of the residential college system. It really is a nice way to make it seem smaller. Plus, there are lots of theater opportunities which is a great way to make friends. My son has been very happy there. He did the Directed Studies program so three of his courses each semester had very small sections with a professor teaching whom you got to know well. His fourth class each semester was a large lecture which he found to be a pleasant change of pace from the small discussion-based DS classes. I’m quite sure you would have a lot more large lectures at Alabama than you ever would at Yale or Brown. My son’s roommate has similar academic interests to you, so I could try to find out more about the roommate’s class sizes. You could also ask over on the Yale board. Also, Yale has freshman seminars. (See [Freshman</a> Seminars | Special Academic Programs | Welcome | Class of 2013 | Yale College](<a href=“Yale College”>Yale College))</p>
<p>From [STARS</a> 1 | The STARS Program | Special Academic Programs | Academics | Yale College](<a href=“Yale College”>Yale College)</p>
<p>"The STARS I academic year program starts in the freshman year and continues through the sophomore year. It is comprised of a series of study group workshops focused on the first and second year courses in Biology, Chemistry, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science. A faculty advisor and graduate student from each department supervise the workshops and serve as mentors to STARS students. Weekly study sessions, facilitated by upper-class majors, focus on problem solving strategies for class discussions and course assignments.</p>
<p>The STARS I Program is designed for students who have historically been underrepresented in the sciences. These include students of color, women, students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, first generation college students, and the physically challenged. The program seeks to create a network of support for first and second year students. This network is supported by strong undergraduate student collaborations, social events, faculty and graduate student mentorship, and a focus on sustaining interest and motivation in the major."</p>
<p>There’s also another program called Perspectives on Science which is for students with very strong math and science backgrounds. Either of those programs would give you that smaller group experience.</p>
<p>Well, you know the old saying. If you don’t try, your chances are zero.</p>
<p>What I think makes you so compelling is that when I read your posts I do feel like you’re a real person who has done what she loves. There are so many kids who just seem like they’ve been planning every last minute according to how it will look to HYP. I think you underestimate yourself. You have far more to offer than you realize.</p>
<p>Is there no chance of a fee waiver?? Maybe a credit card? This is so, so important – I’d send them all. But, I know you don’t approve of multiple apps…still…give yourself every chance and don’t worry about ‘letting down’ (?) anyone else by applying to a reach. JMO.</p>
<p>"I wouldn’t want anyone from the CC community to be let down by me. "</p>
<p>I won’t feel let down if you get any rejections. Based on what you’ve posted – which has impressed me greatly because of your work ethic and achievements – I’ll feel it’s the college’s loss.</p>
<p>I will feel disappointed if you don’t apply to some colleges that interest you because you’re afraid of rejection. For some of the colleges that you’re interested in – Yale, for instance-- the overwhelming majority of applicants get rejected because although they are outstanding, Yale doesn’t have the space to accept them. This may happen to you as it happens to thousands of outstanding students each year. Or… you may hit the jackpot and get accepted and get great financial aid.</p>
<p>Since you work and appear to be very determined, I think that if you really want to, you can find ways of applying to all of the schools that interest you. After all, their applications aren’t due in most cases until early Jan., so you have time to get more money for the app fees and to have the scores, etc. sent. </p>
<p>Do take a look at Barnard. I think you’ll like that college, too, perhaps even better than Yale since you appear to like LACs and women’s colleges.</p>
<p>When my kids played chess their coach used to say if you didn’t lose games you weren’t challenging yourself enough. I feel the same way about college applications. There’s no shame in a few rejections. Mathson got three rejections and a waitlist, but still got into Harvard and Carnegie Mellon.</p>