Help! My list is going to eat me!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My list has gotten out of hand and I feel that it is too reach-heavy. I have a 3.7 (uw)/4.5 (w) gpa, 1400/2050 SAT, 780/770/600 (<<ew, I know) for BioM/US Hist/Chem SAT IIs, and my ECs are pretty plain (standard sports, a few clubs and leadership positions within those clubs, lots of volunteer work, and a 15 hr/wk internship). I'm also a bit concerned about fit; I'm absolutely in love with UChicago and Carleton, and I'm worried that some of the schools (my parents' favorite, Vanderbilt, in particular) don't quite match. So, any input as to how I could shorten (ideally, I'd like no more than 10) and balance my list more?</p>

<p>University of Chicago
Rice
Yale
Emory
Vanderbilt
Middlebury
Carleton
Davidson
Smith
Scripps
Bryn Mawr
Mount Holyoke
Furman
College of Charleston
Lawrence</p>

2

<p>It's hard to make really good suggestions without some idea of your interests or FA needs, but....her are mine:</p>

<p>If you love Carleton and the U of C, take Davidson off the list. You don't need 4 women's colleges on the list: pick 1 or 2. I'd forget about Yale because it's too much of a reach, based on what you've said. I'm sort of assuming that the last 3 are safeties?</p>

<p>How about these as a basic group, to which you could add back a few:
U of C
Carleton
Rice
Smith/Bryn Mawr: pick one
Scripps (because it's geographically different)
Furman/College of Charleston/Lawrence: pick one</p>

3

<p>I would drop Yale if I were you--that looks like a long shot from what I have picked up on CC.
I would drop Emory if you don't want to be a physician. Emory just screams medical to me. We couldn't find the actual campus when in Atlanta, everywhere there were hospitals or the medical school or the nursing building. We weren't that interested, just wanted a look-see, but it was too hard to find and we gave up. Also, the one person I know who is going is, you guessed it, hoping to attend medical school.
What do you want to do with your life? Any ideas at all?
Your stats are similar to my d's. She wants science, she thinks, so we are looking at mostly state universities.</p>

4

<p>I'm interested in history and political science.</p>

5

<p>3xplosion,</p>

<ul>
<li>I would retain U of Chicago, Rice, and Carleton as your highly-selective schools.</li>
<li>I would consider dropping Yale, unless you really wanted at least one ivy in your list.</li>
<li>I would pick one from Vanderbilt or Emory to retain. I would lean more towards Vanderbilt, since your parents like it, and Vandy has some good merit aid,</li>
<li>I would pick two from Davidson, Smith, Scripps, Bryn Mawr.</li>
<li>I would pick two from Mount Holyoke, Furman, College of Charleston, and Lawrence.<br></li>
<li>I would put the state flagship university on the list.</li>
</ul>

<p>That would leave you anywhere from 8-10 schools left in the list (depending on whether you left yale on, and put the state flagship in), which you can pare down more with some research. Good luck 3x.</p>

6

<p>^^^
Agree 100%, but OP is unlikely to get merit aid from Vandy or Rice.</p>

7

<p>scripps seems a perfect match. You can take classes at CMC and Pomona too, which will be really good in Poli Sci and History.</p>

<p>You might consider substituting Brown for Yale... slightly less of a reach and right up your alley of interests.</p>

<p>Drop Smith... you're way overqualified. It's the least selective of any school most people have heard of.</p>

8

<p>What about Agnes Scott? Closer to home, it sounds like, so it might carry over some regional prestige with it. I don't know what sort of reputation it has in your area, but I liken it to a lot of other womens' colleges you've been considering.</p>

<p>What's so great to your parents about a school like Vanderbilt? If it's the name and the athletic prestige, perhaps you'd be better off at a school like Berkeley? Big sports and big geeks.</p>

9

<p>Oh goodness sakes......not very good advice being given here. Let me give you my two cents and you decide.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Your list is fine and I think very well thought out. Good job. Congratulations!</p></li>
<li><p>Your scores are fine...not uber high, but very, very respectable. Congrats on them too. DONT BEAT YOURSELF UP OR COMPARE YOURSELF TO THE PEOPLE ON THIS SITE WHO SAY THEY HAVE 1580 SATs etc. It may or may NOT be true. You never know. Just look in the mirror and be happy with your results, proud of your accomplishments and self confident (not cocky, just politely confident.)</p></li>
<li><p>Some of the schools on your list will be much more holistic in their approach than others. For some you may be on the bubble. Worry not. YOU are interviewing THEM as much as they are considering YOU. Never forget that. If they dont take you or waitlist you, so be it. Move on. You will get into MANY on that list.</p></li>
<li><p>Specific schools I LIKE on your list: SCRIPPS (relatives went there and LOVED IT. FABULOUS SCHOOL. WORLDS BEST DORMS) Furman (many friends are there now and it consistently gets ranked highest for the happiest students and its WELL DESERVED. Wonderful school, gorgeous campus, strong programs, excellent feeder school to grad and professional schools; Lawrence University in Wisconsin (relative went there and its a REAL GEM....but colder than you know what in the winter. A fabulous music conservatory. I like this school a lot.); Davidson......just one of the finest LAC's in the country and very, very competitive....Davidson kids are very well educated and get into the very BEST graduate and professional schools with relative ease. A fine school with a fabulous tradition. One of my faves. Every year. We have a friend at Mount Holyoke now and she absolutely adores it. Its a fine school with great traditions. College of Charleston is a state university. Its in downtown Charleston which is both good and bad. You either love it or you despise it. I have heard both reports. Its also large. Emory is a great school that I hear very positive things about, but I have no experience with it. We did not apply. We are not Atlanta fans. I also love Vanderbilt. A very special place. If you get in, its very hard to turn down. So much fun, wonderful sports, fabulous education. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>That means that schools I either dont now much about personally or dont have a strong feeling about are suggestions (but ONLY suggestions for you to consider dropping): Bryn Mawr. UChicago. Yale. Rice. </p>

<p>I dont know you to recommend which three to embrace and focus upon. But I think Furman should definitely be one because you fit their profile perfectly. Davidson and Vandy are a tad bit of a stretch, but not out of reach at all. I think you fit Scripps just fine. And Lawrence will snap you up real fast. </p>

<p>I wish you luck.</p>

10

<p>Furman and Davidson do not seem to be the kind of schools that appeal to someone who declares big love for two schools for the intellectual and quirky: Carleton and the U of C.</p>

<p>Nor do schools that appeal because of "fun" and "sports" or pre-professionalism.</p>

<p>But maybe I'm reading you wrong.</p>

11

<p>Wow, that's an interesting list. You're looking north, south, east, and west, at a bunch of really good schools. I agree with Consolation in #2, that if you love the feel of Carleton and U of Chicago, then you can probably drop several of the Southern schools from your list. If it were me, I'd keep Lawrence in consideration. It was my daughter's first choice until she lost her heart to Carleton. (Just finished her freshman year there.) I'd recommend you also look at Grinnell and Oberlin, which strike me as Carleton-esque, in that they are "quirky," high-academic schools. ... Scripps is interesting because it's across the country from all of your other choices and it's part of the wonderful Claremont Colleges consortium. ...</p>

12

<p>Consolation: </p>

<p>in fact a lot of kids who apply to Davidson apply to UChicago and Carleton. Furman is not as well known nationally, but in the South and Southeast it has an excellent reputation.</p>

<p>I am not a proponent of Carleton or UChicago, as I agree they are somewhat unique schools with a different student body. </p>

<p>I just think the list was fine and showed a fair amount of work and creativity and a desire to look outside the box. It also showed breadth of geographical interest. There is nothing wrong with that. Its simply a list she is working on and will eventually whittle down to the ones where she will apply.</p>

<p>There is no rule that says kids have to apply to schools that are all variations on the same theme or clones. In general terms, students either prefer something smaller and private or they prefer something large and public. Do they cross interests at times? Sure. I see it all the time: "I applied to UNC, Georgia, Michigan and then Washington and Lee and Wake Forest." </p>

<p>Kids are kids. And some kids are happy go lucky and would really be happy anywhere they go. Others are very much in one camp or the other.</p>

<p>My kid was vehemently opposed to anything large and public with the singular exception of UVa. Which is a relatively small public by comparison to its public peers. (Though not as small as public William and Mary).</p>

<p>But when a kid does a great job of creating a list like this young lady, I think she deserves to be complimented and encouraged. I give her my vote of confidence.</p>

<p>She will be just fine.</p>

13

<p>^^Who was criticizing her? She asked for advice.</p>

<p>Unlike you, I <em>am</em> a proponent of schools like Carleton and the U of C precisely because they are unique schools with a "different" student body.</p>

<p>To each his own. She will decide, obviously. At the moment, we have no idea what appeals to her about the two schools she says she loves, but I'm willing to bet it isn't the presence of a lot of conservative, well-to-do, Southern sorority girls and frat boys, or big time sports...because neither of them have that.</p>

14

<p>but I'm willing to bet it isn't the presence of a lot of conservative, well-to-do, Southern sorority girls and frat boys, or big time sports...because neither of them have that. Consolation.</p>

<p>Oh my goodness. I find that a bit offensive. </p>

<p>I wasnt beating up on UChicago or Carleton or any of the schools I didnt overtly recommend to her. I specifically said that either I dont know anything about them (sufficient to comment with alacrity) or what I knew was perhaps just not my cup of tea. Its not about me, its about her. So if I cant say anything, I said nothing. </p>

<p>You are correct that she didnt offer us much about her personality and particular interests. So we had to glean what we could from her initial posting. But I see nothing wrong with her having an interest in diverse schools...diverse as Carleton is from Davidson and Furman. But it would be a gross injustice to assume that Davidson and/or Furman are full of southern frat boys and sororities girls focused on sports. In fact, both are highly selective schools with Davidson being a tad higher in selectivity. Both are academic schools with great traditions. Yes, both are southern schools and that attracts kids from the south as well as the northeast and midwest. Wake Forest and Duke are FULL of northeastern kids.</p>

<p>Neither are Davidson and Furman totally conservative. The faculties in fact are decidedly liberal. The student body is mixed while leaning perhaps conservative. She may or may not desire that......whether she is conservative or liberal. </p>

<p>If you love Carleton and UChicago for what they are, then good for you. Its not a value judgement on my part. I respect them immensely for their academic rigor. Just not my cup of tea. It may be for her.....and that of course is entirely HER decision. And that is wonderful if it is. I simply recommended the schools I know and love and tried to give her some meat on the bone, so to speak.</p>

<p>Kids pick schools (and ultimately make final selections) based on all kinds of whimsical notions.....and sometimes surprise their parents, friends and counselors. </p>

<p>The other thing I would say to her (and impliedly to you) is that while the "college experience" can vary a great deal depending on where you go (size, public/private, location, prestige etc) it also has a lot of commonality to it. Thus, classes, studying, cafeteria food, dorms, etc are not so different from school to school as to make for black and white decisions MOST of the time....its more of a nuance, or particular subjective interests and reasons. All admissions officers/alumnae and others can do is "put it out there for kids to see" and let them make up their minds.</p>

<p>For example, we have friends at Duke. We had relatives attend Duke (on the AB DUKE scholarship I might add.) We have friends who have generations of Duke in their blood. Its a fabulous school by any measure. But is it ubiquitous ? Meaning, if a kid gets in is it a SURE THING they will go there? No. My D walked on campus one weekend and said, "this is not me." Her decision. We shrugged and moved along. That is not a value judgment on or against Duke. Its a fabulous school as I said. She just didnt want to go there for her own reasons. Was she correct in her feelings? I have no idea. Maybe, maybe not. Maybe she will go to grad school or professional school there. Who knows?</p>

<p>But Davidson and Furman are also wonderful schools and have wonderful people there and the kids we know attending (a BUNCH OF THEM..not just one or two) are all very, very happy there. </p>

<p>And I still think the OP's list was well thought out and very interesting. She should be commended.</p>

<p>Peace.</p>

15

<p>And finally, I did NOT mean to suggest that Davidson and Furman are full of fraternity boys and sorority girls with a conservative bent and BIG TIME sports. They are I-A or I-AA depending on the sports and they have strong traditions in all of them. Student bodies support their teams and they get fairly decent regional and national coverage. They both have gorgeous campuses. They both have national sororities and fraternities, but are not e.g. like Washington and Lee where 80% pledge.</p>

<p>Whether that is her interest and/or desire, I have no earthly idea.</p>

16

<p>Yeah, Furman, Vanderbilt, Davidson, CofC, and even Emory are kind of standout-ish. I'm mainly applying to Furman and CofC because they're in-state, and Vanderbilt, Davidson, and Emory are ones that my parents really like because they're great schools that aren't terribly far from home. We plan to visit all of those in the fall, so I'll be able to get a better idea of fit. What attracts me to UChicago and Carleton is the quirkiness and intellectualism.</p>

17

<p>nocousin, this isn't about you.</p>

<p>You called everyone else's advice bad, suggested that people were criticizing the kid because they did WHAT SHE ASKED and suggested criteria to use to pare her list down, and now you seem to have misread an OR for an AND. I did not say that Davidson or Furman had big time sports. (I was in fact referring to your earlier characterization of the virtues of Vandy.) And please do note that he word "conservative" has meanings other than the political. But more to the point, I didn't say that the generally-agreed-upon characteristics of those schools were BAD, I just said that they didn't seem like a fit for this kid, based on what she said she LOVED. There was no need to take offense.</p>

<p>I see you joined this month and have a total of 22 posts here...maybe you should get used to the idea that not everyone is going to agree with you, but that it is not some kind or personal or regional slight.</p>

<p>OP, lots of times people find that they like different schools for different reasons. Things will become clearer when you have a chance to visit more places.</p>

18

<p>I didnt criticize EVERY comment, that is misreading my post. I made a general commentary about bad advice to avoid being specific. </p>

<p>I can take criticism, when it is deserved. I dont believe your criticism of me is deserved. </p>

<p>FWIW, Vandy does have big time sports and it is a huge frat and sorority scene, but just the same, its a fabulous school, and its a lot less southern than people presume and its not as conservative either. Whatever.</p>

<p>I just think we are talking essentially about the same thing from perhaps a different angle. And my original post was meant to give the OP some support for her ideas and to clarify someone else's suggestion that she drop off Furman and Davidson, because I think that is unfortunate advice. But we have discussed that enough.</p>

<p>I dont care if she picks and ends up at Bates College in Maine. If that is what turns her on, WONDERFUL! </p>

<p>I just want to ensure that people have a more open point of view about southern schools, that is all.</p>

<p>Have a nice day.</p>

19

<p>To the OP. If you are instate South Carolina, that is wonderful. Then I dont need to explain things to you about the way of life south of the Mason Dixon line, nor the wonderful opportunities to ALL students at southern schools. </p>

<p>Please dont misread my commentary with Consolation on UChicago or Carleton as being NEGATIVE on those schools. If they excite you (after a visit, of course) wonderful. You might also consider WashU in St. Louis.</p>

<p>If you are instate SC, then why is CofC the only public school on your list? What about Clemson and USC-Columbia: both fine schools. </p>

<p>Anyway, I just thought your list was fine. Good luck to you.</p>

20

<p>My only advice is that you shouldn't apply to any college just to satisfy your parents, unless you have their promise that they want you to consider it, but won't force you to go there.</p>