Help me lower my (very long) list!

College Search & Selection
21

@juillet I guess I should have elaborated more on the size aspect!

There are several things about big and small schools that appeal to me for both, and I guess I’m willing to go in either direction if I think that the school could be a good fit. I’m definitely willing to look at smaller schools in urban or very, very close to urban areas. But places like Kenyon, with practically nothing, wouldn’t work for me. I want to be able to make some connections with people, and though I feel that I would be more “at home” in a liberal college, I also worry about it being too small and not being able to have a place as transfer student. I typically like smaller class sizes, but I don’t want to be forced to participate all the time, which is why some larger schools appeal to me. Mostly, for larger schools, I like that they seem to offer a variety of courses, especially in digital art.

In short - I guess so long as it’s not isolated I would be fine with a smaller school if I believe I can fit in there and they have decent course offerings! I guess that’s not super helpful in narrow down the list by size though, oops…

I don’t have the U of M on my list because it honestly doesnt appeal to me at all. It seems too big and chaotic for me, and I guess it’s just not a place I can see myself. I think the reason I have those larger OOS universities is mostly because of the digital design aspect - if the more medium/smaller ones offered this then those would probably drop from my list quickly.

If it helps, the colleges that stand out to me the most right now are Macalester, University of Vermont, University of Puget Sound, Lewis and Clark and Vassar.

22

American University
Augsburg = not strong enough; look at St Thomas, Hamline?
Boston U = doesn’t match criteria
Brandeis University
Clark University
Conneticut College
Emerson = doesn’t match for academics
Evergreen University = if you didn’t like Johnson, you won’t like Evergreen (which is like Johnson times 10)
Fordham University = 17-course core probably wouldn’t work
Goucher
Illinois Wesleyan
Ithaca
Lafayette = sounds too Greek
Lawrence University = replace with Beloit, which is in WI, also small, but wothin easy driving distance to Chicago
Lehigh University = definitely too Greek
Lewis and Clark
Loyola chicago = urban but doesn’t sound residential enough
Macalester = sounds like a great fit
Northeastern University = very preprofessional
Reed = very reachy
Skidmore = good reach
Syracuse = very Greek
The New School = probably appeals on paper but not much of a campus
Trinity College = quite preppy though
UNC Asheville = good safety
University of Michigan = too much of a reach
University of Oregon = FA unlikely
University of Pittsburg = FA unlikely
University of Puget Sound = good match
University of Richmond = good reach
University of Rochester = good reach
Vassar = big reach; add Marist if you like the location (would be low match)
University of Vermont = good match but no financial aid
Virginia Commonwealth University = why not… doesnt seem to match much
University of Washington = reach and no financial aid
Williamette University = match

Look into St Olaf (45mn to Twin cities), Concordia Moorhead (safety), Denison (25mn out of Columbus). UMN Duluth can be another safety.

23

The bus ride from Beloit to Chicago (downtown) is 1.5 hours.

24

My updated list thus far (I think I’ve probably cut it in half so it’s getting there!):

American University (Don’t know much, maybe too political?)
Brandeis University (Don’t know much)
Clark University (Very strong pysch programs)
Conneticut College (Possibly too isolated?)
Goucher (Already accepted, keeping as a safety but not preferred)
Ithaca (Possibly too isolated?)
Lawrence University (Not into the size, but love the strong programs)
Lewis and Clark
Macalester (Definitely applying)
Reed (Definitely a reach)
Skidmore
UNC Asheville
University of Michigan
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburg (very close to taking off…)
University of Puget Sound
University of Rochester
Vassar (Definitely a reach)
University of Vermont
Virginia Commonwealth University (Good art department?)
University of Washington
Williamette University

Any thoughts? I know that some of these are reaches for sure.

25

It’s a more reasonable list.
What’s your parents’ budget (from income+ savings)?
Now, run the NPC and list net cost next to each of them.
(Net cost = (tuition, fees, room, board) - (scholarship, grant))

26

I live in Richmond. The University of Richmond and VCU are complete opposites. UR is a small LA school similar to suburban LA schools you would find in the NE. It’s gorgoeus and nestled into one of the wealthiest areas in RIchmond. VCU is a large urban university with a lot of diversity and a prominent artistic/progressive vibe. It offers pretty much any major and sounds like a school you should consider. While it is a large school, more than 7,000 of its students are graduate students. Ungrad pop is about 24,000. The school is 44% white, 20% black, 14% asian, 9% hispanic, 13% other. It is located in the Fan District of Richmond with a lot of neighborhood bars and restaurants and has some pedestrian only areas too. Great architecture and a real passion for the school’s basketball team (if that matters to you).

27

Another way to do this is to do some whittling based on reach/match safety.

I’m assuming that your CR+M is around 1200-1300, unless you performed really lopsided. So to that end, University of Rochester, Vassar, Reed, Macalester, Connecticut, and Brandeis are reaches. Why not choose just two or maybe three of them to apply to? Vassar and Macalester really appeal to you, and I think Reed is a good fit based on the description gave of them, so I’d do 2-3 of those.

Michigan is a reach for you too. Given the size, the fact that it has an athletic reputation (although it’s pretty diverse and I’m sure has hipsters) and the fact that financial aid is unlikely for you there I’d drop that too.

American, Lawrence, Skidmore, Clark, Lewis & Clark, Ithaca, UPS, Willamette, UVermont, UW, and UO are all matches for you (some of them safer than others). I’d leave this your biggest group. Maybe get it down to like 3-6 depending on how much money and time you have to apply. Based on your requirements, the ones that seem to fit you the best are Clark, Lewis & Clark, and UPS on the private side (maybe Willamette), and UVermont and UO on the public side. Out of all the ones I cut Skidmore is probably the closer fit for your desires, especially the first two requirements (liberal and hipster).

UNC-Asheville and VCU are good safeties, if cost is no concern.

Then you have

Clark University (Very strong psych programs)
Goucher (Already accepted, keeping as a safety but not preferred)
Lewis and Clark
Macalester (Definitely applying)
Reed (Definitely a reach)
UNC Asheville
University of Oregon
University of Puget Sound
Vassar (Definitely a reach)
University of Vermont
Virginia Commonwealth University (Good art department?)
Willamette University

28

Vassar sounds like a very high reach. The rest make sense .

29

Awesome, thanks so much! Yep, my score on the SAT was around 1300 - very strong in reading and writing, not so much in math.

So, I’ve got it down to…
Lewis & Clark
University of Vermont
University of Oregon
University of Puget Sound
University of Washington or University of Michigan (I have heard that UW doesn’t accept very many OOS students? But UM would be a reach)
Macalester

My only concern is if I will have enough safeties and matches on here? I would include VCU as a safety, if I needed another one - although I seem to have gathered that their graduation rate is pretty low…

So that comes to 8 total, which is much more reasonable than before at least!

30

Now that list is too short unless all are 100% sure affordable.
Can you answer the questions for #24?

31

Is the 3.8 the college GPA or the HS GPA? Are you completing your first college semester now?

32

I think your list is too short now. I think you should keep UNC-A… What can your parents afford?

33

Yikes, okay. What should I be aiming for in terms of how many I apply to?

In terms of money, I’ll be able to afford these. I’ve discuased with my parents and they have said that its not an issue. While I agree it would help, it doesn’t seem to be a huge factor to them?

So, my high school GPA was 3.16 which I’ve been is roughly equal to a 3.8 at nearby public schools. My high school did weigh GPA’s slightly differently because of being a college prep school - so that is a factor that colleges will be looking at, I think. It was a pretty rigorous school (not trying to brag, but just trying to give info). I completed one college semester, was working for a year, and am now about to start a couple of online ASU courses to get some more credits.

34

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for schools that might fit my criteria, I’d love any. I’m starting to really stress myself out about this (probably more than necessary). So, I’d appreciate any advice!

(I am thinking about putting Willamette back on the list as well)

Thanks again (:

35

The issue is that regardless of what your high school says, colleges will take the 3.16 for a 3.16 - unless a guidance counselor writes up a school profile and includes it in your application.
Colleges WILL look at school rigor but only if they’re provided with tangible criteria (%students who go to 4-year colleges, average SAT/act …) You can write 3.8 weighted in common app but you’ll need that documentation.
Do you know your EFC? Or whether your parents make more than 125k or less than 60k a year?
Run the NPC and bring results to your parents- check they can afford each price (you’ll quickly see they’ll be different) from income and savings.
Willamette, if you like it, could be one that’s easy to put back on the list (express interest by filling out the request information form).

36

I like Macalester, UVM, Ithaca, Clark U and University of Puget Sound for you. All solid matches. Pick two reaches (Vassar, UMichigan and ConnCollege are far too reachy IMHO)…maybe Skidmore as a low reach and Reed ? Pick two safeties where you are 99% guaranteed admission. Done. 9 schools.

37

@codecat How many college credits will you have? Just wondering if it will be enough for colleges to consider you a transfer rather than a Freshman.

38

My parents make more than 125k a year, and my EFC on my FAFSA was 346367. Again, I would discuss the money with my parents but they have told me that they are willing to pay for all of these. If it helps, my sister went to Kenyon and they paid for her full tuition+travel expenses?

Would Macalester be considered a match or a reach? I was assuming it would probably be more along the lines of a reach? Skidmore and Reed I took off my list for various reasons. As for Clark and Ithaca, I’m mostly unsure about the surrounding areas and the strength of their art programs. I guess there is nothing that particularly makes them seem like a great fit for me…But if anyone has any info regarding them or something, I’ll check them out again.

I’ll have 16 from Redlands and then 9 from ASU - so a total of 25. I don’t know if I will be including ASU’s however, because I won’t be done with courses by the time I send in applications. Will it make a huge difference (mostly in terms of acceptance) if I’m accepted as a freshman vs as a transfer?

39

My son is also applying currently as a transfer for next fall. And in researching the ins and outs of transfers we are finding that the percentages for acceptances is lower for transfers than freshman. Hard to find exact numbers but I am finding some info in specific schools data. Also in some schools it is not up to you if you are considered a freshman or transfer student, they will be looking at your credits to date. Schools like transfer students but smaller schools take less. So my suggestion is to be sure to look at each schools information that is specifically geared to transfer students.

40

What was your GPA with your college courses? The colleges are going to look more closely at that because it’s an actual indicator of how you actually did in a college setting (instead of a predictor, like a high school course is)