<p>(If there's any, sorry for my grammar mistakes; I am still considered an English learner.)</p>
<p>I am currently a Junior in high school and an aspiring writer.
Since I came to US last December 2009, I didn't participate in any sort of competitions, sports, or activities at school (just two clubs), which might be a disadvantage to me during colleges admissions.</p>
<p>What are good places for somebody pursuing a writing career? Preferably on the East Coast, with great academics, good atmosphere, good students... I don't wanna be (if it's possible) surrounded by jerks and dumb people who mess up in class, nor big classes... A place where I'll learn a lot, have a good social life, but most importantly, have time to write.
I am interested in Psychology, English, Creative Writing (but I don't wanna major in it, maybe take a few classes of it), Biology, or something to do with people, since I am good with people.</p>
<p>Sorry for coming here and asking for something too specific... I considered the Ivies, some LAC (Hamilton, Dickinson), Emerson College, Vanderbilt, but so far I didn't find the closest match to 100% yet... If I don't find anything 'til next year I'll go with my plan be, be a pre-med D:</p>
<p>I have 3.9 GPA (3.86), but I scored badly on my PSAT: 143 (I didn’t study for it, though).
My only concern is on the math part, but on the writing and critical reading I can do better (I intend to improve in all areas, though).</p>
<p>I don’t mind any setting, but I would rather be close to big cities to visit or hang out maybe. I want at least to have peace in campus =P</p>
<p>On the east coast, I was thinking about New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts more specifically, due to the high concentration of good universities out there. However, if there’s any hidden jewel in another state out there, I am cool with that, since I don’t know about the US that well (back in my country they talk about Harvard-Yale-Princeton mostly).</p>
<p>My thing is writing; I am just not sure where would be the best place for me. It doesn’t mean that I want to be away from things such as sports or arts as an spectator, though (I actually intend to participate on campus).</p>
<p>I checked out their website, info, and even a cool flash video, and asked for info.
However, I am kinda afraid about their acceptance rate… 73%…
I know it’s wrong thinking that only colleges who accepted <30% are good, but if I get into one like Goucher, will it mean that I didn’t work hard enough for college, that I am lazy?
(I just don’t wanna be around the stupid people I am in my school…)</p>
<p>This is, so far, my college list:</p>
<p>Dickinson College
Emerson College
Hamilton College (NY)
Harvard College (family pressure, and at least to push myself harder in my studies lol)
Pomona College (in-state option)
Sarah Lawrence College
UC Merced (in-state option)
UC San Diego (in-state option)</p>
<p>Assuming your test scores stay below 1800, you may want to look at SAT optional schools like Bates (Lewiston is a small city in Maine) and Bowdoin (a college town also in Maine), where your grades will put you among the top applicants. Of course, this assumes you don’t need much financial aid. If you do, you will need to consider schools where your grades (and test scores) put you in the top 25% of applicants.</p>
<p>I would also think more broadly about extracurricular activities - they aren’t just school clubs. Are you working? Do you have major responsibilities at home for a sibling or disabled parent? Are you providing translation skills for non-English speaking parents? Are you doing a lot of writing on your own, which you could submit as examples of your work? It’s not too late to get involved in a school literary magazine or to try submitting some of your writing for publication in teen magazines or creative writing journals. Do you have hobbies that take up a lot of time - running, cooking, etc…? Are you active in your church? Remember, your extracurricular activities are really just a way to show that you would be an active member of your community and have something of value to contribute.</p>
<p>Well, I do write on my own, but I never submited anything. I am going to create a club next semester which will combine international students of my school with community service (it’s good for everyone). I don’t go to church, but I’ve applied to several volunteer opportunities, but didn’t get a reply of any yet.</p>
<p>I actually need financial aid, and actually a full ride, since my family can’t afford the high college costs here in US - in Brazil (where I am from) we don’t pay.</p>
<p>Any more suggestions of flexible schools like those two?</p>
<p>You do realize that Pomona College is a private institution and that there is no advantage to being from California either for admission or financial support, yes? You call it an in-state option. Generally on CC when posters refer to in-state they are referring to in-state publics at which they will have various admission/financial advantages. Perhaps you were thinking of Cal Poly Pomona, which is a state institution?</p>
<p>Bard College in New York State has many of the attributes you’re seeking, is SAT optional, and does extend financial aid to international students.</p>
<p>I second the Bard notion. You should be a good fit, and it has solid creative writing and is an intellectual place. Also Sarah Lawrence, which is already on your list. Emerson has very good “practical” writing (journalism, speech writing, etc.) but isn’t a very intellectual place. USC has a pretty strong creative writing department these days, with some impressive faculty members.</p>
<p>My Ds both had not-so-great PSAT scores. D2 was more driven to increase the scores than D1, so did a moderate amount of Xiggi-style practice-test taking, and it helped. It really helped with the ACT. She went up quite a bit. So consider searching the forum for the Xiggi method and doing some solid self-directed prep before you take the SAT. It really works.</p>
<p>According to the US Census Bureau, Brazilians are not Hispanic (part of the former Spanish Empire) but I’m not sure whether schools use a broader definition to define URMs which might include Brazilians. Perhaps someone here can opine on whether being Brazilian might get you consideration as a URM?</p>
<p>I’d take UC Merced off your list. Not the most selective UC. Check out Carnegie Mellon University - they have a renown writing program. Also, as long as you’re applying to Harvard - consider Princeton. They have a world-class writing program where some of the hottest writers around attended/teach</p>
<p>I am South American. Therefore, I am considered Hispanic or Latino.
I am born in US, though.</p>
<p>The thing is: I don’t want to stay here in California, I want to go to the East Coast. So, UC Merced & UC San Diego were just options if the worst happened.</p>
Do you know what your EFC is/will be? Even though you’d like FA you might not be eligible for much. Off hand I don’t know of any SAT optional schools that meet full need.</p>
<p>Note that pre-med courses can be taken in any major, not just the popular biological science majors. Most humanities and social studies majors, as well as math and statistics, leave plenty of schedule space for pre-med courses (some of which will fulfill breadth requirements). In some cases, a non-biological science major may be helpful in some ways (e.g. various cultural studies giving a better understanding of how patients of different cultures view medical services, or business administration being useful if running a small practice).</p>
<p>What do you like to write about? You may want to consider majoring in something you are interested in writing about (you may find the term papers the most enjoyable part of the courses). In the library, you will find many books, articles, magazines, etc. written about science, medicine, art, literature, politics, history, economics, sports, and numerous other subjects. On the web, you will find articles and blogs about all kinds of subjects.</p>