Help...lost in the college search! Mainly looking at LACs

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I am a junior in high school right now and feeling bewildered by the college process. I don't really know where to look and it seems like everybody else is ahead. Some direction would be great.</p>

<p>-Stats-
SAT: 2320
SAT IIs: took US today (think I did terribly though....probably around 700, maybe even lower =[ ), taking math in October (hopefully can get 750+)
GPA: ~3.7 unweighted, 4.2 weighted -- take all honors/AP
ECs: marching band (section leader and historian for 2 years), percussion ensemble, very involved in art/photography things (photographer for the school newspaper, etc.), piano </p>

<p>Financially, trying to do without college loans (my brother just graduated debt-free!), so the goal would be ~$25,000-30,000/year. Hopefully I can get some kind of scholarship.</p>

<p>Primarily looking at liberal arts colleges. My brother just graduated from Oberlin and I really liked the vibe there. The only issue is that my parents don't like that it is so far away from home (a grueling 9 hr drive from NJ). I like LAC's emphasis on the interest in learning and fostering well-rounded individuals. </p>

<p>I've become way too particular about what I want in a college and it's limiting my search. For the time being, I don't really care too much about size, weather, and suburb/city/rural. Ideally, I wanted to be in a city-ish area but I think it won't really matter if I find an environment that I like a lot. It is SUPER preferred to be on the East coast, in the Mid-Atlantic/New England area though.</p>

<p>I would like a college that has a strong arts/communication program. Not sure specifically what I want to go into but I am pretty talented in art, specifically photography. I don't want to major in art but want to incorporate visual design into my future. In addition to that, I have an interest in current issues/problems (I don't really know how to word this) so I would want to somehow merge design with that....I was thinking along the lines of visual/design communications, photojournalism-ish (I don't want to major in photojournalism though)...I watch a lot of documentaries/listen to radio programs and NPR, so kinda like that. Basically, I really want to help people and use art and design!</p>

<p>I'm not really into sports, Greek life, or drinking....I want to go somewhere fairly liberal. Also, I'm Asian, and live in a community where ~50% of the people are Asian (not even joking, it's crazy), and although I don't expect that kind of demographic in college, I would like a little diversity.</p>

<p>The only colleges on my list so far are Rutgers (safety), Oberlin, and Skidmore. Skidmore seems to have a nice focus on art which I really like. Over the summer, I will be visiting Skidmore and on that same trip, Colgate, Vassar, Hamilton, Haverford, Wesleyan...maybe Bard, but I don't like how isolated it seems (I was there like a year ago but didn't really pay attention)? I didn't really choose these colleges and don't know too much about them...my father just decided we might as well try to hit as many as possible. </p>

<p>Any places you guys can suggest that you think would be a good fit? I am open to ideas, even colleges that aren't all liberal arts. THANK you so much! I have learned a lot from CC and I appreciate all the help.</p>

2

<p>Williams, swarthmore, Amherst, vassar, middlebury, Pomona( in Cali tho)</p>

3

<p>Vassar sounds perfect for you.</p>

4

<p>Vassar </p>

<p>Sent from my Droid using CC App</p>

5

<p>Oh wow, I do really like Vassar. I’m not sure if I’m competitive enough to get in though. Do you think SAT IIs will play a large role in my acceptance? Ahhhh…</p>

6

<p>Vassar and Bard were the first thoughts that came to my mind. Perhaps Sarah Lawrence and Hampshire.</p>

7

<p>Hampshire has notoriously bad FA packages as it does not have much of an endowment. So that would likely not work for no loans on graduation.</p>

8

<p>Barnard (if you’re a girl) and the Bryn Mawr/Haverford/Swarthmore consortium sound like they might fit you as well.</p>

9

<p>Here are some LACss that aren’t quite as well-known, but great options nonetheless. Under “School Profiles” you can search by region. [Colleges</a> That Change Lives | Changing Lives, One Student at a Time](<a href=“http://ctcl.org/]Colleges”>http://ctcl.org/)</p>

<p>You might also want to get yourself a copy of Fiske Guide to Colleges.</p>

10

<p>yvette, make sure you understand the kind of aid that is available. Most of the select eastcoast schools only offer NEED based aid. If your family qualifies for enough need based aid, then you’re all set. If, however, you’re looking for merit based aid, you’re going to have to cast a wider net.</p>

<p>I wouln’t worry too much about your SATIIs. They won’t get you in and won’t keep you out.</p>

<p>You should put together supplementary materials showcasing your musical and artistic ability, even if you ultimately don’t end up majoring in music or art. Small school, especially, like multi-faceted, talented kids.</p>

<p>My son looked at many of the schools on your (or your dad’s) list. He ended up getting a dual degree in studio art/art history at Williams. Williams may be more remote than what you’re looking for, but I think you’d like the museum/art/art history focus. They also have a lot of music performance opportunities and like kids who can bring a range of talents to the campus community.</p>

<p>I would also highly recommend that you look at Smith.</p>

11

<p>A lot of these LAC’s would not fit the no-loan, $25,000-30,000/year scenario without serious need-based or merit (if applicable) aid. I suggest you look at the University of Delaware–a beautiful campus in a small city, smaller than the typical state school, a large percentage of OOS students, and pretty good merit aid which would make your cost range very possible.</p>

12

<p>Might look at Holy Cross-similar to Colgate. Holy Cross has very nice campus 1 hour from Boston and is need-blind for admissions. Another plus for HC is its tremendous alumni network for job placement and internships.</p>

13

<p>One of the thing that can help you garner some merit aid is providing geographic diversity to their class. So if the choice is the “grueling drive” (which I understand, as D1 is several states away at an LAC), or a scholarship that might knock something like 15K a year off the bill, we are good with the drive and some additional airfare expenses.</p>

<p>My guess from your post is that your family’s EFC is such that you won’t get need based aid, am I correct?</p>

14

<p>I don’t think we qualify for need-based aid, although does it mean anything that my parents will be paying one child’s grad school and another’s college tuition simultaneously? Anyway, I think we are near, but just enough above, the cut-off. I was hoping maybe I could get something from Skidmore. My expectations are unreasonably high and slightly delusional though, since my brother (who is miles ahead of me) did get $20,000 from Oberlin + other stuff I think.</p>

<p>Yeah, I was thinking about getting together some kind of portfolio, but I don’t know much about making a portfolio when you aren’t applying to art school…I’ll have to look more into that. </p>

<p>Thank you for all the suggestions. Personally, I would prefer not to go to a super-religious affiliated school or an all-girls school though.</p>

15

<p>Wheaton College (MA) (merit up to $17,500/year)
Connecticut College (CT) (no merit)
Drew University (NJ)
Bennington College (VT)
Hobart & William Smith (NY) </p>

<p>Trying to eliminate the 9 hour drive factor might be kind of tough, but your parents would probably take you & unload your stuff, see you on Family Weekend & then pack you up in May! (3 trips for them) You will probably end up making your own arrangements for Thanksgiving, Semester Break, and Spring Break. (i.e. you will make a lot of friends and end up getting driven to meet one of your parents to take you home at an agreed upon location!) Happens all the time! :)</p>

16

<p>Aid: Ask your parents to use one of those on-line calculators to get an idea of the amount of need based aid you might expect. It’s not foolproof but it’s a starting place for planning.</p>

<p>I’m not sure that Skidmore offers merit. You need to check further on this. As a general statement, the likelihood of getting merit money increases as you get deeper into the midwest.</p>

<p>Portfolio/Performance Tape: Don’t underestimate the value of showcasing your accomplishments when applying to LACs. See their websites for instructions.</p>

<p>Religious affiliation: Among those that have been recommended I don’t see any schools with “super-religious affiliation”. Maybe you’re mis-reading based on the name?</p>

<p>Women’s schools: This is a personal preference, but I would stress that women’s schools often have a extremely high level of academics at medium to low selectivity. Smith is part of a consortium which makes it less insular. Also, there is money there.</p>

17

<p>Holy Cross like Georgetown is a Jesuit school and not strongly religious.</p>

18

<p>Skidmore does not give merit to artists. It does to students pursuing sciences, and maybe there’s another category, too. But, it is definitely categorized.</p>

19

<p>[Scholarships</a> & Grants | Admissions | College of the Holy Cross](<a href=“http://admissions.holycross.edu/financial-aid/scholarships-grants]Scholarships”>http://admissions.holycross.edu/financial-aid/scholarships-grants)</p>

<p>Well, par72, Holy Cross does not appear to give much merit at all, only to a Worcester high school kid, a major in the classics and a major in the music department. So most of Holy Cross’s financial aid is need based. I believe the OP is looking for merit aid and with the COA at Holy Cross at $53,000/year, it might not be a great fit for her.</p>