<p>Those are good picks. I definitely need to look at Colby and Colgate. I think I really have a strong interest in Colgate. I looked a Princeton and it is gorgeous, but yeah I prefer Dartmouth as my big reach! Cornell scares me because it seems depressing haha. Middleberry may be good, but with Bucknell I’m not sure because a lot of people from my school go there and it may be almost TOO preppy/perfect (almost like my problem with BC)</p>
<p>Why do you guys think Colgate would be good? And any other ideas?</p>
<p>Villanova isn’t a safety for anyone; at worst it’s a match. </p>
<p>And, since you don’t have any SAT or ACT scores yet, who knows what is a reach, match, safety for you. A 730 on the SAT II for Biology is not a high score (it’s the 75th percentile). It’s not like a 730 on a section of the SAT I.</p>
<p>If you want reaches, then you’ll have to accept that you’ll have to “hit the books” a lot.</p>
<p>BTW…my kids are at their safety schools, and they have to hit the books even at their safety schools because of their choice of majors.</p>
<p>What was your PSAT score?</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>I took the test in 2008 Biology (E) which according to College Board is the 87 percentile. As a freshman at the time, I think that is a VERY good score and 87 percentile is a VERY good place to be. Also, I was not referring to Villanova as a safety- more Marist and Loyola. Sorry if I was not clear about that. Also, I don’t care if your kids have to “hit the books” at their safeties. I am not talking about the work load that I will face at college, but rather what colleges I should be looking at as targets, reaches, safeties. I do not think with my academic and EC record that Marist and Loyola would be targets. </p>
<p>Any other suggestions?</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>I meant any other suggestions from other users?</p>
<p>Bob Jones sounds like it might be about right for you, in every way but the lack of sports.</p>
<p>What about Emory?
Its a hard school to get into but still possible known for being preppy w/ a strong greek "party: life and a lot of wealth
its medium sized</p>
<p>It’s south.</p>
<p>I just want the people that respond to know that I still want a very academically oriented school. As I said in an earlier post, Dartmouth is my top reach. I’m not just about the partying, elitist attitude- though it is something I would not mind in a school. I do want a respected and academic institution as well.</p>
<p>bumpbumpbump</p>
<p>bump2 sorry obnoxious</p>
<p>take a look at Colorado College.</p>
<p>lol, people are starting to suggest schools that the OP has definitely ruled out or asking questions that have already been addressed. levirm, you’re joking right? </p>
<p>btw, Villanova is a reasonable safety for many.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Well when you talk about safeties, often they are not as academically oriented as you would like them to be. That’s to be expected. Once you move away from the USN top schools there are many party schools, but not many that also are big on academics.</p>
<p>^ I completely agree. You’re going to have to compromise somewhere in terms of the academics/partying continuum, so I would get used to that thought. These people are just giving you suggestions based on very little information, so there’s no need to blast someone for suggesting a school you don’t think you would like.</p>
<p>Yes, schrizto, that was tongue in cheek but I am picking up an attitude here that is elitist, unwilling to consider other views, unwilling to mix with people in different socioeconomic groups, very very picky not only about schools but about who she associates with, and if I were an admissions officer picking up on this attitude I would reject this candidate. Maybe the OP does not intend to come across this way but she does; I would suggest that she either change her attitude or, if I am reading this wrong others are too, and she needs to change the way she communicates her attitude. Mom2college, who helps everyone, said “No. Good luck.” And I think that maybe she was being sarcastic about the good luck part!</p>
<p>You might want to take a few days off of pondering your search and let the dust settle. You write some pretty weird things, like you visited the Georgetown campus but don’t know how you feel about it. And you didn’t like BC because the students looked happy. These sorts of comments might indicate you’re overwhelmed need to regroup a little before plunging forward. (By the way, only SOME of BC’s freshmen dorms are on the satellite campus.)</p>
<p>And yeah, I’d agree with the posters above who said you’re coming off as sort of a spoiled brat…even for someone from NJ.</p>
<p>I AM very picky, and that is one of the reasons I decided to come on to this forum and ask others to help me narrow down some school suggestions.</p>
<p>“You write some pretty weird things, like you visited the Georgetown campus but don’t know how you feel about it. And you didn’t like BC because the students looked happy.”</p>
<p>The Georgetown campus was pretty at some parts… but in the back it was very condensed and unattractive looking. It was a little to small and close together for my taste- sorry I did not elaborate. At BC the students looked freakishly happy, and all together the same. The tour guides sounded like fine tuned salespeople which was really a turn off.</p>
<p>“And yeah, I’d agree with the posters above who said you’re coming off as sort of a spoiled brat…even for someone from NJ.”</p>
<p>What does “even for someone from NJ” mean? Also, I’m not a spoiled brat, and you don’t know me. I’m sorry if my attitude seems a little bratty, but I’m being honest. I want a school where I will fit in and be happy. </p>
<p>“Yes, schrizto, that was tongue in cheek but I am picking up an attitude here that is elitist, unwilling to consider other views, unwilling to mix with people in different socioeconomic groups, very very picky not only about schools but about who she associates with, and if I were an admissions officer picking up on this attitude I would reject this candidate. Maybe the OP does not intend to come across this way but she does; I would suggest that she either change her attitude or, if I am reading this wrong others are too, and she needs to change the way she communicates her attitude. Mom2college, who helps everyone, said “No. Good luck.” And I think that maybe she was being sarcastic about the good luck part!”</p>
<p>This is totally uncalled for. Please stop trying to stereotype me. I’m being honest! Do you know how many people want to go to a highly academic, conservative, less diverse, somewhat elitist school? ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GO TO THEM. I am just not scared to honestly say that that is what I want. Also, I gave mom2college attitude because she totally misread my OP (continuously) and then gave me false stats on my SAT II percentile. I don’t know how my “attitude” would be portrayed through my application. I’m an extremely dedicated student with a plethora of ECs. </p>
<p>I like to read and learn, and I have a passion for writing. I love history and english classes, and I really want to be a teacher when I’m older and have gathered some other job experiences. I tutor a French family in town that had trouble assimilating to an American way of life, but now the girls get straight A’s (a few B’s) and I could not be more proud of them. I love being part of a community, which is one of the reasons I am looking at smaller schools, and I love giving back to my community and surrounding communities by being a Big Sister for the Big Brother/ Big Sister organization, and spending my summers as a counselor for the local day camp. </p>
<p>Sunday night to Friday afternoon, I am completely academically and EC focused, but yeah I do like to let loose on the weekends. Sorry. I don’t want to go to UCSB or Penn State or any other notoriously party school. I want to go somewhere where I can work hard and learn in a challenging environment, but also have opportunities to really let loose a few nights a week. </p>
<p>I’m sorry that you guys don’t like me, but in my OP post I was simply honestly laying out my credentials and my wants. </p>
<p>“I completely agree. You’re going to have to compromise somewhere in terms of the academics/partying continuum, so I would get used to that thought. These people are just giving you suggestions based on very little information, so there’s no need to blast someone for suggesting a school you don’t think you would like.”</p>
<p>You’re completely correct, and I agree. I shouldn’t snap back if someone suggests a school I am not completely fond of.</p>
<p>mksuperfan, one school that may have escaped your attention is Claremont McKenna College. It’s part of the Claremont Colleges consortium. Very strong academics and a reputation for being relatively conservative compared to most other top LACs.</p>
<p>Closer to home, from more to less selective:
Reach
Dartmouth
Williams
Middlebury
Colgate
Match
Trinity (Hartford)
Dickinson College
Loyola - MD (“dorms like palaces”)</p>
<p>Sounds to me like Colgate would be great. Solid academics combined with Greek/sports/party scene (including D1 hockey). Sometimes said to have the most beautiful campus in America. I’m a parent so I don’t want to comment on the alcohol aspect; check it out for yourself.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned Colorado College. My son attends and absolutely loves it, but I’m thinking it’s not the right fit for you. Though I could be wrong, so at least check it out. Dartmouth and Middlebury are big “cross-over” colleges for Colorado College admits. It’s a work hard, play hard place but you have to be on board with the unusual one-course-at-a-time “block plan”, which is intense, demanding, and not for everyone.</p>