<p>I admit it...I'm obsessed with my child's upcoming senior year, her GPA, her test scores, and her applications. Yes, I know it's "HER" however, I'm afraid because she (a) has a 3.5 GPA and from everything I read this seems "just average"; (b) has adequate test scores 1340 SAT plus 690 writing but again these seem "just average"; (c) has not found a cure for cancer, created her own non-for-profit, etc and is just an all around good kid I'm PETRIFIED she's not going to get into college. She's interested in small liberal arts colleges. Any wisdom as to where she'll (a) get in :-) and (b) have a great experience (those two are equal in my mind...in fact, having a great learning experience is far more important to her/me than the "name brand"). I'd love to offer her a broader list than the ones that she already knows.</p>
<p>Where she will have a great experience is totally relative--you need to give more information about what she seeks in a college experience...</p>
<p>There is a "chances" thread section here on collegeconfidential. To help her (and you) limit down the choices a bit, it helps to know a bit about different things--like her interests, geographical preferences, and the like.</p>
<p>Over on the "chances" section there is a thread entitled "how to improve your chances on the chances thread", which tells you the kind of stuff that help people like me (and others on CC) help advise her and you on a few college possibilities.</p>
<p>The chances thread can be found here:</p>
<p>P.S. With a 3.5 GPA (unweighted, I presume?) and a 2030 SAT score, there are lots of great colleges she can get into.</p>
<p>She can get into a many very excellent schools, just make sure you research them and apply to them. Now the top tier of lacs are probably out of reach, but there are many very good lacs that are easier to get into. There are something like 3000 colleges and universities in this country, and certainly more than 1-2% of them offer a good educational experience.</p>
<p>Besides why the would you be petrified she was not going to college unless she ridiculously only applies to reaches. While her stats are average compared to people applying to the top 20 schools in the country they are certainly better than most applicants as a whole.</p>
<p>as to where specifically, sorry, I don't personally know anything about lacs since I wasn't interested in them, but others on this forum are very knowledgeable and if you provide a few more criteria as to what she's interested will provide a good list of places to check out. While you wait, you could always look at U.S. news and world reports lac list and just skip to number 11 or so and look at those for some matches and safeties.</p>
<p>Btw just average would probably be a 3.0 and a 1200/1800(and even that is above the literal average which is supposed to be around 1000/1500 according to the college board)</p>
<p>What state do you live in? What does she want as a major?</p>
<p>The big secret in American higher education seems to be that difficulty to get into doesn't necessarily correlate to excellence of faculty. Places like U of Kansas, Indiana U., U of Colorado, U of Iowa, Clemson, U of Oregon, Purdue, and Michigan State are relatively easy to get into, but have really good professors.</p>
<p>Get the book "Colleges That Changes Lives" by Loren Pope from the library and check the colleges in the areas of the country she is most interested in. There are some "often overlooked" but great colleges in there, and she is a likely admit at all of them, I think.</p>
<p>or there is a CTCL web site. But I like the book much better.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'd love to offer her a broader list than the ones that she already knows.
[/quote]
Which ones does she already know?</p>
<p>Does she have a geographic preference? A weather one? Rural, urban, suburban? Will she look at women's colleges?</p>
<p>Thanks! You've all been really helpful - my first post on College Confidential - a neurotic newbie :-) AND you made me feel better!</p>
<p>We live in Ohio. She wants to attend a small, liberal arts college where she can study either (a) international relations (b) art history (c) minor in education. Geography is not THAT important to her - she'd rather stay MidWest and East, but might consider West. She'd like a campus but has visited and stayed for a summer program at American University which she enjoyed. Currently she's in love with Bowdoin (which she knows is her BIG REACH school - a miracle would get her in). Also likes Macalester, Oberlin and Brandeis.</p>
<p>I'm going to visit the chances thread...THANKS A TON FOR ALL YOUR INPUT!!
:-)</p>
<p>rbsilver, the chances threads are NOT going to help you feel better. </p>
<p>I'd suggest you wander over to the parents forum instead!</p>
<p>Have your daughter check out Muhlenberg as a safety, and Lafayette, Lehigh, and Bucknell. Also Colgate, Union (New York, also a safety I think), Skidmore, and Hamilton.</p>
<p>All are very realistic schools for your D and would probably make great fits for somebody who likes the schools you listed.</p>
<p>This website really gives you tunnel vision-- I started out with PSAT scores much lower than your D's, and I know what it's like to feel like opportunities are being closed off. Don't feel that way!</p>
<p>rbsilver, I would also suggest you look at the Fiske Guide; schools that are safeties would be those where your daughter's grades & scores put her at or above the 75th perceintile for the school. Also, look at the school's acceptance rate, which for a safety should be at least 50%. Fiske is good because it gives you, for College X for example, a list of other schools that students interested in College X also applied to. That will give you more ideas. Fiske also tells you each school's most popular majors--but you still can look at each school's website for a list of majors and minors.</p>
<p>Good luck! I am a year ahead of you, and my D had many of the same critieria and stats as your daughter. Believe me, it goes faster than you think.</p>
<p>Bucknell,
Skidmore,
Susquehanna,
Wooster,
Salem, and
Calvin College
have Education, Art History, and International relations.</p>
<p>Several other schools have Art History and International Relations but not education. Not many LACs have education.
Schools with Art History and International Relations include:
Bowdoin
Connecticut C
Oglethorpe
Wellesley
Mount Holyoke
Wheaton
Carleton
Hamilton
Marymount Manhattan
Middlebury
Richmond
Roanoke
Beloit
Sweet Briar</p>
<p>Swarthmore has all three.</p>
<p>First of all...just sit down and BREATHE! It will all be okay. We went through this two years ago and it all worked out. Next, make sure she researches colleges THOROUGHLY THIS SUMMER and has made her final list of all applications by August BEFORE school starts. Start making applications to the schools (3 or4) that she is a DEAD ON MATCH for and where she WANTS to go as a preference in September. If you have a reach college in that bunch, fine. Get the ones she wants first done first and completed and mailed off EARLY. Not necessarily early admission or early decision..that is another decision in and of itself, but ALL OF THEM MAILED OFF EARLY even if they are regular decision schools. If any of them are rolling admissions she will hear back from them quickly. Trust me. </p>
<p>Now the list:</p>
<p>THERE ARE HUNDREDS of schools she will be qualified for. The list above by college help is a good start. But there are many more. </p>
<p>Fordham, Skidmore, Rochester, Syracuse, Manhattan College, Holy Cross, BU, BC (with a hook or connections) Lehigh, Lafayette, St. Josephs, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Maryland, Goucher, American, George Washington, Rutgers, Hollins, James Madison, Randolph College (formerly Randolph Macon Womens College), UVa (if you are in state), UNC (in state) NC State, Wake Forest, Furman, Clemson, College of Charleston, Emory (I know someone with stats like your D who got in), Georgia, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina, South Florida, Rhodes College, Sewannee, Kentucky, Xavier, Miami (Ohio), UMiami, Stl Louis U, Marquette, Michigan, Michigan State, Albion...is that enough? I could go on and on.</p>
<p>You will be fine. She will be fine. Stay focused, do a good job on the applications and get them in EARLY. The early bird gets the worm. Got it?</p>
<p>Let us know how you do! Good luck.</p>
<p>You mentioned small liberal arts colleges and I listed a bunch of state schools as well and some larger schools.....so pardon me on that. But just the same, they are there for her if she changes her mind.</p>
<p>Here are some more by the way:</p>
<p>Elon, Wofford, Willamette, Denison, Kenyon, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Centre College, Grinnell College, Kalamazoo College, Loyola, Providence, Tulane, Trinity, Whitman.</p>
<p>Second for Denison. My friend's D was admitted to Berkeley (too big and not a good fit for her), Bowdoin, Kenyon, Scripps and Oberlin. Chose Denison for fit and for the merit aid and has not been disappointed. Lovely campus, wonderful professors who give the personal touch. And a Denison alum helped her get a summer internship here in CA no less.</p>