Help!! I love EVERY college...my list is overflowing

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Kinda long...sorry:</p>

<p>So here’s my problem: I love too many schools. A lot of them are definitely reaches, but I’m in the range (2300+ on SATs, 4.1ish GPA, two varsity sports (captain of one), peer mentor, tons of backpacking, other EC stuff) where I think that I want to at least enter myself into the crapshoot that is the elite colleges. However, since that leaves me unable to eliminate a tier based on selectivity, I’m back in the same position of not being able to eliminate any schools. </p>

<p>I’m a total nerd, but I’m also a pretty social nerd. I love going out with my friends, going to basketball games, going to parties, going to whatever’s going on at school, or just hanging out at someone’s house. At the same time, some Saturdays all I want to do is spend my day sitting in Barnes and Noble reading a couple books. I want to go to a college that is filled with smart people. That’s definitely the most important factor in my mind: I want to be surrounded by people who are smart and like books and thinking and learning. On the other hand, while I’m looking for an “intellectual” school, I also want a good social atmosphere, with kids who like to party and have fun. I want a school that has plenty of diversity, living in California, and going to a private school that puts a HUGE emphasis on diversity, I’m used to being surrounded by all sorts of people and I don’t want to sacrifice that for a completely homogenous environment. On the other hand, I don’t want to stay too close to home, so preferably nothing too close to the San Francisco area.</p>

<p>Socially, like I said, I’m looking for kids who like to have a lot of fun. I’m not necessarily looking for the constant ragers of a school that is recognized as being a “party school”—coming from a small school with a notoriously quiet social life I’m pretty sure I would be okay with even the sleepier social scenes at rural LACs, but I do want kids who party and have fun, without taking that partying to a ridiculous level. Aside from that, I’d prefer a more athletic student body, or an outdoorsy one, the sort of school where people play lots of varsity and IM sports, and there are opportunities for wilderness trips. School spirit is also something I look for, because one of my favorite things about high-school has been rooting for my school’s (admittedly pathetic) sports teams. The athletic program doesn’t have to be a winning one, but I would prefer that students go to games to support their teams, and that the occasional body-painting wouldn’t be out of the ordinary. So far as a Greek scene goes, I’m not entirely certain about my preferences; while joining a sorority isn’t something that I plan on, it’s always possible that I wouldn’t be opposed to it if I got there and thought it looked like fun. On the other hand, I’d prefer a school where Greek life isn’t the only option for generally social, outgoing kids. I’m also a little skittish about the colleges that are described as “quirky,” because in my experience, quirky can mean seeming sort of forcedly strange (i.e. public cape-wearing) instead of quirky just meaning interesting and unique.</p>

<p>Academically I’m clearly looking for a place where I’ll get an amazing education, but I’m starting to think that I could probably get an amazing education at nearly any school in the country. Unfortunately, I have no real preference about class size, or about close relationships with professors. On the one hand, the anonymity and independence of a larger school appeals to me, and on the other hand the close relationships and more discussion based classes at a small school appeal too. Generally I have no preference about size, although I would prefer that schools had at least 2,000 kids. In terms of specific programs, I have no idea what I want to study, because my interests range from film to cognitive science to writing to business. Not a particularly math-oriented person, and definitely not interested in tech schools, but other than that I’m pretty wide open. I definitely want a school that has good teachers, interesting classes, and engaged students, but that doesn’t particularly narrow it down.</p>

<p>Location wise I also don’t have too much to say. I love the isolated LACs, with their pristine rural environments, but at the same time I love the universities in bustling cities. I’ve loved every college I’ve visited and haven’t managed to rule anything except women’s colleges and pretty much all the Southern schools out.</p>

<p>So here’s my question…can any of you think of schools that perhaps don’t belong on this list for some reason or another (although frankly, my requirements are so vague that I can’t really think of any)?</p>

<p>Colleges I’m Looking At (organized based on my impressions and the experiences that others at my school have had with admissions):</p>

<p>Likely:
Kenyon
Pitzer
U of Rochester
Colby
Colorado College</p>

<p>Safe Match:
Bates
Whitman
Oberlin
Occidental
Macalester
Hamilton</p>

<p>Match:
Colgate
Carleton
Haverford</p>

<p>High Match:
Tufts
Middlebury
Wesleyan
Bowdoin</p>

<p>Reach:
Yale
Dartmouth
Brown
Williams
Amherst
Stanford
Swarthmore
Pomona
Claremont McKenna</p>

<p>UCs:
UCLA
UCSD
UCSB</p>

2

<p>Yikes. Well, first question: have you visited any of these schools? Visits can really pare down a list. </p>

<p>I guess that I'd go about it something like this: ranking ALL of the schools according to my interest (pair 'em up..."if I got into School A and School B, which one would I go to? Okay, B goes above A..." and so forth) and <em>then</em> seeing how the safeties/matches/reaches fit in. You might find that of your top 8 schools, you have a great balance. And you also might find that all of your top 10 are reaches, in which case it would be up to you whether you wanted to spread yourself that thin or choose your top 3 (or whatever you felt comfortable with). Ultimately, you might just have to deal with cutting some schools that you like in favor of focusing on the ones you like more. Trust me, I understand the difficulty...I'm a chronic over-applier :p</p>

<p>I don't know too much about most of the schools on your list, but my two cents on those with which I am particularly familiar:</p>

<p>Pitzer: Not really to be counted as likely, nor to be used as a 'backdoor' into the Claremont consortium. As the Claremont with the lowest ranking and admissions standards, many incorrectly assume that this school is a good safety. But they're looking for students who really fit the school rather than just those with high stats, and recent threads indicate that admissions will opt for good fit over good test scores (which is certainly not to suggest that the two have to be mutually exclusive, nor is it to assume that you don't fit the school...just a warning, and I imagine that this is common to many LACS with distinct 'personalities'). And of the Claremonts on your list, Pitzer did not strike me as a fit for your preferences.</p>

<p>CMC: Even before I came to this in your list, it was in my head as a suggestion (just what you need, I know). Really fits with your preferences. The only thing that struck me as a potential problem would be diversity, but it depends on how you're defining that. The surrounding areas are incredibly diverse in many ways, and the campus has wonderful geographic diversity going for it, which is something that I really came to appreciate.</p>

<p>Pomona: Also sounds like a fit for your preferences, although didn't strike me as strongly as CMC. But there are definitely reasons that it should grab your attention. Be forewarned that Pomona does not offer merit aid (and on that note, you didn't mention whether or not aid is of any concern...it could really be a factor that could pare your list down a bit). Semi-similar (slightly lessened) comments to those above re: diversity.</p>

<p>I feel pretty unhelpful, so sorry for the rambling and lack of concrete advice! But the overall point here is that I know where you're coming from and I'm sure you'll get it sorted out. Speaking from experience, it's definitely worth cutting the list down and spending more time (not to even mention money) on fewer apps. For an early list, this looks great, but you'll really need to start finding a way to be more discerning. If possible, try to visit a diverse range of schools and spend a night, sit in on campus, etc. so that you can get a better feel for things like size. Anonymity might sound nice in your head, but you might hate it in the classroom (likewise for discussion and accountability).</p>

3

<p>Here's what I would suggest to you. Apply to all your Reaches because there is no gurantee you will get into any of them. Then out of all the other schools on your list, apply to say 5 that most appeal to you.</p>

4

<p>You can find out what major you like best! Then find the ranking on Internet, maybe this can help you select some real top schools both you like and nice.</p>

5

<p>I agree with meow. Apply to all of your reaches because it is very competitive and THEY will help narrow your choices. You can always visit later if you are accepted.</p>

<p>I would also visit as many schools as you can afford to--both financially and timewise. You say you've already visited some and ruled out women's colleges and Southern schools. What did you like about the schools you visited? (Just trying to look for a common anything since you are all over the place-lol.)</p>

6

<p>where are you from? do you need financial? since LAC enviroment seems to appeal to you you could eliminate UC's.</p>

<p>You need to narrow each catagory except maybe the real reaches,but even there I would rank your choices and see if you can eliminate a couple.</p>

<p>Where do you live now? warm or cold?</p>

7

<p>I agree with what's been said so far. You have a lot of backups. You only need one. If you have a fair idea of which UC is a match for you (I'm assuming you're an in-stater) pick one and be done with all the match/safeties.</p>

8

<p>You're probably overdoing it on the safety/ match category. The chances of you not getting into all of these is slim. There's no reason to apply to so many. Here's a shot at slimming down the list:</p>

<p>Likely:
Pitzer
Colby</p>

<p>Match:
Colgate</p>

<p>High Match:
Tufts
Middlebury
Wesleyan
Bowdoin</p>

<p>Reach:
Yale
Dartmouth
Brown
Williams
Amherst
Stanford
Pomona
Add: Brown</p>

<p>UCs:
UCSB
UCLA</p>

9

<p>maybe decide between some really similar schools (ones that are close to each other physcially and attract many of the same students, both have comparable students and academics, etc)
like hamilton and colgate
williams and amherst
all the claremont schools
macalester and carleton
etc
and why is stanford on the list if you want out of the bay area?</p>

10

<p>IMHO, I'd encourage you to take a close look at Tufts. Students are smart, social, incredibly kind and very active. Diversity and a global view are clearly present on campus and wilderness trips are certainly part of the culture for some. Maybe it's a fit for you, maybe not, but I think it's researching it is worth your time. </p>

<p>I also agree with slipper's strategy.</p>

11

<p>I don't think Colby is likely for anyone. The salutatorion didn't get in this year at my school.</p>

12

<p>If you are into the outdoors and would like to take one class at a time for 3-1/2 weeks and then take a 4-1/2 day break to hike ski, etc. look at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Social and active.</p>

13

<p>With 2300+ SATs, a 4.1 GPA, and solid extracurriculars you are selling yourself a bit short and should focus more on your matches/high matches. You will likely get into a solid number of these (though certainly not all given the crapshoot of college admissions today). I'd go further than Slipper1234 in eliminating small LACs given your listed preference. In addition, there really does seem to be a sense that you might be happiest in an wilder, more physically natural environment and surrounded by an athletic student body. I'll take a shot at narrowing down your list. I did include 2 LACs on the small side based on consortium arrangements and what I've seen of their general environments:</p>

<p>Safes:
Colgate
Colorado College</p>

<p>Matches:
Carleton
Middlebury
Wesleyan</p>

<p>High Matches:
Amherst
Brown
Dartmouth
Pomona
Stanford
Williams</p>

14

<p>I agree w/ the above list (just as it pertains to the OP, not as a general "best" list.)</p>

15

<p>Both of the above lists cut out CMC, which screams "fit" to me based on the OP's preferences (and could obviously be visited if the OP visited Pomona). I don't think anyone but the OP can actually create the finalized list, but this is what strikes me from the above.</p>

<p>It might be interesting/helpful if those creating cut-down lists gave reasons for eliminating certain schools (i.e. fact or anecdote that shows it going against the OP's preferences, or explanation that it's redundant, or whatever else to make the logic clear).</p>

16

<p>I would add, or at least consider, Northwestern (a UChicago student advocating Northwestern?! who knew!), Northwestern strikes me as a bit of everything for everyone: it's nerdy and intellectual, though not to the same degree as Chicago, and you'll find much school pride and social opportunities. It's also a bigger school than some of the ones you're considering, and I think that unless you are dead-set on an LAC or small university, you might consider a few more larger schools. Northwestern also stands by itself in terms of a beautiful campus and Evanston, but, oh yeah, there's also the city of Chicago next door.</p>

17

<p>Dude, go to Carleton. Have you visited? That place is amazing! Especially for nerds :)</p>

<p>Anyway, the way I narrowed down my options, was by a step by step process. I thought of the most important thing in a college, then the next most important, and on down the list. Anything that didn't fit, I cut.</p>

<p>So, for me it was:</p>

<p>1: Selective, smart students, good education, intellectual college.
2: Small liberal arts college (screw those big universities and ivies....)
3: NOT in the South :) (or east coast, as I found out after visiting a few of those places)
4: Interesting, nice students, who were like me, and i could spend 4 years with (this one requires a bit more research, and even visits)</p>

<p>This narrowed it down to about 3 or 4 places. Then, I visited them, and got a good impression about 2, and I liked one the best. </p>

<p>So, that's how I did it.</p>

<p>Try it yourself. Remember, do not just apply to schools simply because they have the highest SAT scores, or good prestige. Don't go somewhere just because you want people to be really impressed when they hear where you went to college. Go somewhere that you can grow as a person, make friends, and become smarter.</p>

18

<p>I did an East coast marathon trip this past winter (testing both whether I liked the schools and whether my Californian self could stand the cold) and visited Dartmouth, Middlebury, Williams, Amherst, Brown, and Bowdoin. Frankly, I loved all of them. I spent the night at Brown with a friend of mine and had a great time, and had an AMAZING tour at Williams, but I loved all of the other schools too.</p>

<p>I'm planning on a trip down to LA this summer to check out Pomona/Pitzer/CMC/Occidental/UCLA, and while I'm visiting relatives in the midwest I'll probably see if I can squeeze some days in to vist Carleton/Macalester/Kenyon/Oberling, but I'm afraid that those visits are just going to make me fall in love with even more schools. I guess it's probably a good problem to have, loving every school instead of loving none of them, but I definitely don't want to apply to 20 schools.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the help, guys.</p>

19

<p>i would take Haverford off your list because it is only about 1000 kids, i think that's a little small for you.</p>

20

<p>Flippy,</p>

<p>My daughter also loved all the colleges she visited. By the time application time came around, she had begun to sort through them mentally-- she knew the schools she wanted to apply to first, so that started everything off. The problem was (and it wasn't really a problem) that she saw herself as fitting in everywhere, mostly because she/we had already narrowed down the type of school.</p>