Help Expanding My Tour Roster!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey guys! I'm currently a Junior in HS, and I'm trying to figure out which colleges to visit in the Spring. I'm wondering if any of you have suggestions on places to look into! Thanks so, so much in advance for your help :)</p>

<p>Stats:
-competitive public HS in MA
-3.78 weighted GPA (I know this is bad, but it will definitely be >3.9 by the end of this year
-211 PSAT (have not taken SAT yet, but always get ~2200 on practice ones)
-school does not report rank, but in top 15% for sure
-AP World (3), AP Euro (independent study, 3), currently taking AP US and AP English Language & Comp </p>

<p>*Intended majors: Political Science or English. Also interested in Theatre/Drama, Psychology, and possibly Pre-Med </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-Student Government since freshman year (President now)
-School Committee student representative
-Site-based school council student representative since sophomore year
-Regional Student Advisory council since sophomore year
-MA State Student Advisory Council (advisory council to State Board of Education)
-Chief of Staff for in school's Junior Statesman of America chapter
-part of a local Shakespearean theatre company (actor in summer two productions, director of three summer youth productions, and ongoing assistant teacher of school-year Shakespeare classes for young children)
-In the process of founding a Shakespeare Club at my high school
-Dual enrollment classes at local state college since freshman year (A's in all college courses taken)</p>

<p>College Wish-list:
-good liberal arts reputation
-beautiful, self-contained campus
-not near a city! (I know it's weird, but I like rural locations)
-small class sizes
-socially liberal/open-minded student body, big on diversity
-would prefer loose/no core curriculum requirements
-extensive extracurricular opportunities
-the smaller, the better (in terms of number of students)
-NICE PEOPLE - I know it sounds stupid, but this means so much to me. Really.
-East Coast, preferably - New England, New York, and DC are my top choices for location
-good financial aid (my family is middle income, and we will most likely need financial aid for college, as I have three younger siblings, too!) </p>

<p>THANKS GUYS! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!</p>

2

<p>How much can your family afford? This will be the driving factor in your college search. If you don’t know the exact dollar amount ask them. If their income is high, but they won’t contribute too much money, you’ll need to look for schools which give good merit aid. Also what’s your home state? </p>

<p>When I read your preferences, I immediately thought of either Amherst, which is a big reach, or Hampshire College. If you can answer the two questions above, we can recommend more schools.</p>

3

<p>East coast only takes out some really good schools from the running. Maybe try Vassar, Wesleyan, Colby, Colgate, and Hamilton?</p>

4

<p>To poulsonl’s list I would add Bates, Bowdoin, Conn College. Also Kenyon even though it’s outside of your geographic range. I would also strongly suggest that you look at the women’s colleges, especially Smith & Holyoke. Williams would be a super reach but it fits all your requirements and they like theater involvement.</p>

<p>Be sure to submit supplementary materials highlighting your theater experience.</p>

<p>As mentioned your financial needs are a major factor in making your list. Many colleges in the Northeast do not offer merit aid. The women’s colleges are a notable exception.</p>

5

<p>Maybe Amherst or Colby? If you are willing to move from the East coast, Carleton and Whitman are good choices also (small, not very close to big cities, etc)</p>

6

<p>Holy Cross, Colby, Bates.</p>

7

<p>"-not near a city! (I know it’s weird, but I like rural locations)"</p>

<p>Holy Cross, in the middle of all those corn fields in bucolic Worcester?</p>