<p>That’s a hard part of senior year - not only don’t you know where you’ll get in, but you don’t know where you’ll get sufficient money to attend. You have to learn mechanisms to cope with the “not knowing”, and it’ll help you later on. :)</p>
Guidance counselor said I have no chance at top schools. Native American female artist w/ a 3.4 GPA?
<p>My advice would be to stop worrying about whether schools are above or beneath you and start thinking in terms of what you need to thrive academically (class size, course offerings, research possibilities, participation in artistic pursuits, etc) and emotionally/physically/spiritually. The idea that only a handful of schools can meet a student’s academic and personal “needs” is really not reality in most cases. Students can thrive and succeed at lots of different options. </p>
<p>OP. I looked back through this thread and I don’t see that you answered the questions about whether or not you need financial aid. Northeastern is not known for good financial aid… If you ARE looking for significant need-based aid, I want to make sure you understand that some of the schools discussed in this thread provide excellent aid ( they are “meets 100% need” schools) such as Cornell, Mount Holyoke and Smith. The others may not provide anywhere near as much. They MAY, since you are such a unique applicant, but it’s worth considering when deciding where to apply. In addition, it’s my feeling that the smaller LACs (again, like Smith, Mt Holyoke, Wellesley) are more holistic in their admissions process and more willing to look past a lower GPA, than some of the larger universities which are more rigid and “by the numbers”. Again, just something to consider.</p>
<p>Have you tried ‘test optional’ colleges/universities?</p>
<p>IMO, Your SATs are in line with top schools. Lead with art talent. All top schools are a crapp shoot even for top students.<br>
Here’s some ideas for matches
Smith (small but access to 5 college)
UVM
Vassar (reach - but they love true talent)
Bennington (small but a great place to nurture creativity).
Drexel big U in Philadelphia, look specifically at Westphal school for media arts. </p>
<p>Please keep in mind that top schools will recalculate your GPA according to their formula. For example my d GPA was 3.6w but recalculated to 4.2 for univ of ca schools. A lot of schools just use </p>
<p>@MYOS1634 My guidance counselor would laugh if I told her I was applying to Williams. Right now, Skidmore is my #1. I am waiting to hear back from Cornell, Northeastern, and UMass. However, the other five colleges (in addition to Skidmore) that I am applying to are:
BU (not my top choice for campus-wise)
Syracuse (not entirely interested, but GC insists)
Ithaca (safety according to Naviance)
Stonehill (safety according to Naviance)
UConn (match)</p>
<p>Should I throw in more reaches? My parents don’t want to drive me around to colleges for visits. It is challenging to write supps without seeing the colleges. :(</p>
<p>@cmgrayson Should I not submit any test scores?</p>
<p>@staceyneil I am not sure if I am too keen on Smith, Mt Holyoke, and Wellesley due to the lack of male students. I know there are transfers from surrounding colleges, but still…</p>
<p>@dyiu13 I don’t have the stats to get accepted to Stanford. :(</p>
<p>While Skidmore is a match, have you considered Hamilton as a reach (ACT 29-33 25/75 percentile range, they have a diversity fly-in but 0 Native American students)? Are you retaking SATs or ACTs?</p>
<p>@ItsJustSchool I am taking the SATs this Saturday 
Yes, I have considered Hamilton. In fact, talked to an admissions officer who visited my school. However, my GC said that overall, it was like my current school – filled with an overwhelming number of students who love to show off their money and judge you by the labels on your clothes. </p>
<p>Also, I read on here that it is extremely hard to do well at Hamilton. I know that is expected of a top LAC, but at Cornell I did well, and the professor admitted the course was harder than usual because it was crammed into 3wks.</p>
<p>
I’d say yes, but I’d concentrate on those that value artistic talent, e.g., Williams, Wesleyan, Hamilton, Middlebury, Conn College. Also Haverford, Vassar, Conn College Smith.</p>
<p>These are all similar in personality to Cornell and Skidmore:
*Williams may be a super reach but I think you have a lot to offer that would be of interest to them.
*Wesleyan is only slightly less selective but is known to take chances on borderline students.
*I think your counselor’s impression of Hamilton is somewhat skewed. It has excellent academics, strong arts offerings and an engaged student body. There’s a lot of cultural overlap with Cornell.
*I don’t think of Middlebury as an art destination, but since you already have a connection with the school (and can write that essay) go ahead and apply.
*Conn College strong arts and interdisciplinary programs. Seeks to recruit diversity.</p>
<p>These are more liberal leaning:
- Haverford is an outlier but is less focused on grades/scores and more on holistic attributes.
- Vassar, as @momneeds2no said, loves talent.
- Smith is definitely one that takes chances on students that haven’t performed to their potential. The all women’s aspect is somewhat mitigated by the accessibility of the consortium schools.</p>
<p>You’ve been in an academically rigorous environments at Cornell and Middlebury and enjoyed the challenge. Despite your counselor’s pessimism I think you owe to yourself to stretch your application list. If you fail, you fail. So what. Once again, if you don’t try, you’ll never know.</p>
<p>If you get into Cornell you’re done. You’ll know soon enough. If you get one or two EA acceptances then you can cut back on the safeties. I see no reason to apply to colleges that you don’t like. There are plenty that you would like out there; why start off with a negative?</p>
<p>As for writing the “Why X” essay when you haven’t visited, spend some time on the colleges’ websites to get an idea of how they present themselves culturally. Think about what your life experience can contribute to the campus community. Employ those creative writing skills.</p>
<p>I’d make a little more effort to do some visiting in the next three weeks. You live in the Northeast, right? All of the colleges listed above are only a few hours drive. Can you drive yourself or ask a friend to go with you? Seeing the campus will make a huge difference in your perception of the place.</p>
<p>I hope you are submitting an art portfolio supplement.</p>
<p>I agree that Syracuse is not necessarily an environment that seems to match what you want, but if it mitigates your guidance counselor’s disapointment that you’re not listening to her more… let us say it’d be an offering to keep things going as nicely as possible for you and your GC.
But while, yes, Williams is a big reach, why not try? I wholeheartedly agree with the post above. You have a lot to offer and you’ve shown that you’re able to do well in an intense, high-level college environment. I’d be surprised if you didn’t get into some of these “reach” schools if you didn’t get into Cornell.
I agree that you don’t need to visit to write the “Why X” essay. Most students don’t (outside New England, it’s very hard to visit college and may require hundreds and hundreds of miles). Look at what they say about themselves on their website and in the brochures they sent you: what do they highlight? How do they define their difference? How can you fit in and contribute?</p>
<p>I definitely understand the reticence about all-women’s schools. However, if you’re driving through central Mass at all on your way to look at other schools, I’d encourage you to take an hour or two to check out Smith and Mount Holyoke, at least. A lot of women who initially were dead set against women’s colleges do change their mind after visiting, attend and love it. Both of those schools are part of the 5 College Consortium, which includes Amherst College, UMass, and Hampshire. There is a free bus that connects all the schools. My daughter and her friends use it several times per week to visit the other campuses for both academic and social events. Students from the other colleges take courses at her school, so there are often men on campus. She and her friends love that they can easily socialize in a co-ed environment, yet come back to their (relatively more) quiet, peaceful home campus and be able to concentrate on their studies without as many distractions. Women’s colleges are also less party-oriented, and very supportive environments. </p>
<p>I looked at Skidmore today. I liked it, but I barely saw any guys around and read on a few student boards that a lot are gay or not interested in dating. I know that seems unimportant, but let’s be honest, I’ll want a boyfriend in college. Supposedly there’s a lot of competition among girls for the few single/attractive ones. Also, there <em>appeared</em> to be cliques and a lack of social mobility.</p>
<p>@momrath @MYOS1634 @staceyneil Thanks everyone! I still desire to look at more universities rather than LACS. I am confused. I don’t know what I want. One visit can’t measure how happy I will be there for one or four years.</p>
<p>Is Brown too much of a reach? My mother’s friend is an alum and offered to write me a rec. My aunt (in law) could write me a rec. for Tufts.</p>
<p>A couple of universities to check out: </p>
<p>Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, approx. 23K undergrads, highly ranked fine arts programs and health related majors, including psychology. Richmond is a very vibrant city with lots to do and a lively arts scene. Composite ACT 25%-75% range is 21-26, 60 % admit rate,so a high match/safety for you.
<a href=“Facts and rankings - Virginia Commonwealth University”>Facts and rankings - Virginia Commonwealth University;
<p>Also Rowan University in NJ, nice medium size, approx 10K U/G students, goods arts and health sciences, in a nice suburban area, not too far from Phiadelphia. <a href=“Home | Rowan | Rowan University”>Home | Rowan | Rowan University;
They did not report ACT, but 25% to 75% SAT is 1480-1820, 59% admit rate, again a high match/safety.</p>