Great scores, fantastic writer - where to look?

Parents Forum
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<p>My daughter is just beginning her college search. We are a low-income family that has looked into our EFC and is aware of net price calculators. We are simply very disconnected from the world of university admissions; CC is a wonderful resource that we've only just begun to use.</p>

<p>She is a wonderful student and test-taker. 2330 SAT, 2240 PSAT, 3.9 GPA, 800s on subject tests. She is prepared to take five AP tests this year but is unsure whether they're really necessary. This summer, she has decided to pay to take two university courses on her own volition. She is extremely intellectually curious. Her "passions" are probably learning and writing; she's never been too interested in playing sports or an instrument (except her ukulele!), but she spends hours on end taking free courses online and jotting down story ideas.</p>

<p>She works 20-30 hours each week to fund her interests, like those university courses and the trip she is taking this spring to rural Appalachia to help build a school and teach a class to the children. She is a lead volunteer tutor for an independent organization and VP of her school's creative writing club. Last summer, she took part in a creative writing workshop, leading to a few published pieces in a major state lit journal. She also contributes to the local paper and self-published a novel. As far as I know, she started a blog several months ago that has become fairly popular, but I couldn't tell you anything more about that.</p>

<p>She's interested in economics, education reform, anthropology, and English. She's indifferent on rural vs. urban and not tied down geographically. No interest in large schools or Greek life as of now.</p>

<p>I have a few concerns for her as she moves on to college life. She is prone to depression, extremely introverted, and thrives in small communities, but she is also very ambitious and private. Ideally, her school would have a caring but not incestuous or stifling environment, plenty of resources for her to study abroad and find internships and the like, and an outlet for her to decompress, whether it be a few hiking trails, a town where she can find a quiet spot, or a city for her to become anonymous when she needs to.</p>

<p>I really believe that her essays will be the high points of her applications; she truly is an eloquent, funny, charismatic writer who knows how to use words. Thank you for reading this far, and thanks in advance for any advice you might have for her.</p>

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<p>Sounds as though your daughter will have many options. She will most likely be a NM semi finalist with her PSAT scores, so you will want to look at the list of schools that offer great scholarships to NMSF. She will also want to think about city versus college town, school size, and type of school–college or university. </p>

<p>If your daughter is interested in lots of different potential majors, she will want to go somewhere that will give her the option of changing her mind without transferring.</p>

<p>I think the AP tests are agood idea because they give a bit of a cushion once a student starts college. They can help give some wiggle room for students who want to double major or who might want to drop a class along the way without having to take extra credits later.</p>

<p>I am assuming she is a junior, so she should start creating a list if she has not yet done that. Good luck with the huNt.</p>

3

<p>Your daughter sounds like a very successful student and interesting person overall with diverse interests (the ukulele sounds awesome!). It seems like she’d be very happy at top LACs. Perhaps consider Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, etc. Although ranking may not be important to you, this list could help you get started looking for schools: [National</a> Liberal Arts College Rankings | Top Liberal Arts Colleges | US News Best Colleges](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges]National”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges)</p>

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<p>Your daughter could be an appealing candidate for just about any school. And while the LAC route is certainly one way to go, don’t discount large schools such as Yale, Harvard, Princeton etc. These schools have residential colleges which offer the individual support and tight-knit communities of an LAC, but within a larger (both academically and socially) context that might appeal to an individualist.</p>

5

<p>I don’t know but I just immediately thought Pomona. The FA is 100% meet need with no loans. They also provide loans through Pomona for parents to cover EFC at 0% interest - I assume you must qualify for those loans.
Pomona is small @ 1600 students (with small classes) but part of the Claremont Colleges (the 5C’s) so there are more students around at the other colleges (5-6k total). The campus is gorgeous (as is the weather). Students can take classes at any of the 5 schools, and eat at any of the dining halls. Just a thought.</p>

<p>PS They have ski & swim n February (the ocean & mountains are both close enough to do both in one day)</p>

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<p>^^ Pomona could be a good place, however, I would caution that it’s a school you really need to visit before attending. (I get the feeling OP is from the east.) A lot of people I’ve met love Pomona the school, but really dislike its location.</p>

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<p>Colorado College sounds like a great choice for her-- very unique academic calendar, where you focus on one course only for three and a half weeks, could suit her well and allow her to really dive in to each subject, especially since she’s so intellectually curious. Also has a phenomenal study abroad program, and is in a beautiful setting- plenty of ways for her to get away (hiking and of course skiing). They’re pretty good with matching need (92%)</p>

<p>Bowdoin is known for having a great community that might be good for her. As a freshman, students are assigned to a social house to belong to (think Hogwarts). The setting is gorgeous, and the school is known for having some of the happiest students around (also has great dorms and food). Academically, it is a top LAC, and meets full need aid.</p>

<p>Middlebury is known for having one of the best study abroad programs, and has a good outdoorsy campus in a nice town. Also check out Macalaster</p>

8

<p>University of Chicago comes to mind, although I don’t know what their financial aid is like.</p>

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<p>It is not the highest rated, but Beloit College has great financial aid, a strong creative writing department as well as anthropology, an intimate community, and lots of study abroad options. Beloit appeals to many with highly individualized interests.</p>

10

<p>I’m not going to suggest a school, just offer some thoughts. These are just my opinion, so feel free to reject any or all of them.</p>

<p>She should take the AP tests if she took the courses. It’s expected, and may come in handy.</p>

<p>If she’s prone to depression, you might lean toward schools in areas with better weather. (This removes a lot of great schools in the north from the list, but many excellent schools still remain.)</p>

<p>Internships during the school year are much easier to come by in urban schools.</p>

<p>If she’s interested in creative writing, look for a school where creative writing is one of the most popular majors. That’s where you’ll find the most active and supportive writing communities, and that’s important for a major like creative writing.</p>

<p>I would not aim for a Top 20 school if she is introverted and prone to depression. Students often underestimate the competition and rigor at some of these schools, and find themselves shouldering a burden they did not anticipate. A good, solid LAC like any of the Colleges That Change Lives or schools like them will challenge her, but at the same time give her an opportunity to thrive. Being recognized for excellence by professors and peers will encourage and motivate her and make it easier to assimilate into the community.</p>

<p>If home is a place of comfort for her, stay within about an eight-hour drive if you can. Sometimes the psychological distance of being 1000 miles away can be greater than the geographic distance.</p>

<p>It sounds like she’s a great kid with a lot of potential already inside her who just needs the right place to blossom. You’re going to take her to visit a lot of schools, and then one day you’re going to take her to one of them and leave her there. If she chooses the school she most wants to be left at, chances are she’ll have made the right choice.</p>

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<p>@Katliamom, we are from the East Coast and I and my whole family love Claremont and Pomona College! I think location is actually one of Pomona’s greatest appeals, as many students want to escape cold winters during their college years. Beautiful campus, Spanish-style architecture with stunning view of the mountains, palm trees in the foreground, charming town with much cleaner air than twenty years ago, which is what many parents remember, AND terrific access to L.A. concerts, museums and sporting events!</p>

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<p>The Association of Writers and Writing Programs has an undergraduate program search for majors tied to creative writing at: [url=&lt;a href=“http://guide.awpwriter.org/]The”&gt;http://guide.awpwriter.org/]The</a> Guide: AWP’s Guide to Writing Programs<a href=“scroll%20down;%20it’s%20below%20the%20graduate%20program%20search%20box.”>/url</a></p>

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<p>Kenyon, Vassar, and Haverford come to mind as possibilities</p>

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<p>Introverts do well at large schools. She should not discount them, especially if your flagship is a top one. There is more room to be left alone and not have to do the extrovert social scene at larger schools. She may also end up changing her major and shouldn’t limit her choices to writing. Large research U’s also tend to offer many more unusual courses- something that would appeal to her and give her knowledge unavailable at small schools. Foreign language offerings and Lit in Translation courses from a wide variety of cultures will be available at large U’s. She can find a like minded peer group there. They also do have resources devoted to students for any potential “depression”. She may want a school without the pressures of a Greek dominated campus as well. You will also find that while she seems to be a “fantastic writer” and does well with academics/tests she will find many who outshine her in college, including in Honors programs at public flagships.</p>

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<p>I would look through this: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>Hollins U. may be worth a look if she is not averse to a women’s college. They seem to emphasize their writing program.</p>

17

<p>As a low income family, you should look into Questbridge (there’s a subforum under the FA & Scholarships forum) and colleges with low income FA policies:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1278555-list-universities-provide-full-financial-aid-less-than-60k-income.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1278555-list-universities-provide-full-financial-aid-less-than-60k-income.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

18

<p>I’d be wary about Swarthmore (recommended above). I’ve heard from multiple sources that kids prone to depression do not do well with the atmosphere there.</p>