I’m working on helping my D22 build a college list based on her preferences which are:
preferably a city/urban setting (with the exception that it not be in Los Angeles or the South)
a liberal/progressive campus
no religious affiliation
undecided major although possibly psychology
no budget constraints
Her stats:
4.0 unweighted GPA from a decent school in an mid-sized city. She has taken 6 AP’s and will have taken 10 by the time she graduates (AP Chemistry, AP World History, AP Calc BC, AP Physics, AP US History, AP Lang). Taking AP US Govt, AP Psych, AP Stats, AP Lit senior year.
1350 SAT and she is hoping to raise it in August
EC’s:
internship mentoring girls for summer STEM program
volunteering 5 hours/week at homeless shelter and packing harm reduction kits
part time job at grocery store
part time job at an ice cream shop
She would be open to Seattle, Portland, NYC, greater Boston area, possibly Chicago, and Washington DC, and I am happy to try to get her excited about other cities that might be a good fit if anything comes to mind!
Budget? Are there any budget restrictions? Can you pay $80,000 per year without taking on any debt?
What is your home state?
McGill comes to mind as a very good school with very stats-oriented admissions (which makes admissions very likely with a 4.0) that is right in the middle of a very attractive city and which is definitely not in the south.
Yes, she is extremely fortunate to have a trust that is specifically earmarked for this that will enable her to pay full tuition anywhere. Our home state is Utah (SLC). McGill is a great call, thank you!!
I’ll be a bit outside your zone - but the first school I thought of is #1 - forgetting you said not South.
You will consider College of Charleston as the South…but while it has Southern hospitality, it has tons of Northeasterners. I’d add U of SC as a 2nd.
2… GW is urban - and over priced. American is close enough although suburban.
3.BU / Northeastern - both will be reaches
Pitt
Minnesota/Macalester - out of your geographic zone but both will work.
U of Denver - connect to city via public transport
Lewis & Clark in Portland
Arizona would hit your target - and have great merit. Definite liberal bent.
Occidental - ok, it’s in LA but i would check it ou.
Trinity San Antonio
Case Western
Drexel
UVM
Most schools - unless they’re hard core conservative, will have all viewpoints welcome. You’ll find conservatives at American, rated liberal. And liberals at schools like Auburn known as conservative.
Unless it’s Hillsdale, BYU, Liberty, etc. you’ll get all types politically.
City University of New York Hunter College has a highly regarded psych program. Out of State tuition is a bargain at ~ $19K/year. The school is in a great neighborhood - Park Ave in the 60’S.
Her stats are probably in the range for the Macaulay Honors program. Don’t think OOS students get full Merit scholarships for tuition, but I believe they do get partial + other benefits.
If she wants to pursue psych as a career, grad school is probably in the offing. A well regarded, relatively inexpensive undergrad program would save money that could be applied to graduate education.
I agree re: most schools having all viewpoints welcome/or even a liberal bent but she’s especially insistent this be on her list because we aren’t far from BYU and she very much wants the opposite!
With 10% acceptance this year - it is reach for everyone - but she has some nice EC and grades. If she is interested- she should interview over the summer, attend online programs etc. Big % from east coast, so West and Utah are good. Wellesley comes to mind too - easy to get to Boston and cross registration with MIT.
I’m confused about the recommendation of U of Arizona. When you first posted “Arizona” I assumed you meant ASU, although for locals “Arizona” is the U of Arizona. But apparently you do mean U of Arizona. U of Arizona is a good school, but Tucson is not exactly what I would call an urban setting.
University of Rochester! Rochester is a city, although not too large, but it has a great culture for its size. Fantastic psychology program, open-ish curriculum with tons of opportunity for exploration, liberal, rigorous but too far of a reach to make sense for her.
