Help! My list is too... small?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey there fellow CCers! The time is finally here -- I'm a senior and the season to begin college applications is in full swing! And yet, I'm facing a problem I never imagined myself running into: I don't have <em>enough</em> schools, even though I'm not that picky.. Help?!</p>

<p>For starters, the necessary "About Me" so you have an idea where I fit.
- white female
- senior at a public HS in Ohio
- GPA: 3.96 UW and we don't weight.
- Rank: ~3 or 4 out of 260.
- Scores: 2290 SAT, 34 ACT, 780 Math 2 and 750 Lit.</p>

<p>So, my criteria for selecting a school..</p>

<p>I want somewhere that isn't too intense. I visited Yale and the other kids there scared me. I want to be surrounded by people who are learning because they love to learn, where kids aren't too competitive with one another and just want to continually be engaged intellectually.</p>

<p>I'm looking for an open-minded school, somewhere where liberal politics and gay-friendliness are the norm. Shouldn't be too hard considering this is academia we're dealing with..</p>

<p>I'd prefer somewhere on the smaller end.. let's say between 2,000 and 10,000 students. But I'm negotiable on this one. A school isn't necessarily out just because it's too big or small.</p>

<p>I don't want any schools that are in the middle of nowhere, but I also wouldn't want somewhere like NYU where the campus is integrated into the city itself. Mid-sized cities and college towns are perfect. I loved Brown/Providence and Northwestern/Evanston, for example.</p>

<p>One last thing.. I'm undecided about my major, but I want to do something with English and/or the social sciences and/or communications. Anywhere with some strong majors in that area is fine with me, e.g. I'm very intrigued by "Modern Culture and Media" at Brown.</p>

<p>So.. does anybody have any suggestions for me? I know a bunch of people who are applying to 10+ schools and all I have for sure is:</p>

<p>Brown (ED)
Northwestern
Tufts</p>

<p>I'm obviously in desperate need of safeties. Occasionally, Boston College jumps back onto the list, but it's on probation again just because of the Catholic affiliation. Can't deal with somewhere where my agnostic beliefs and political views put me in the minority.</p>

<p>Help me?!?! Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Macalester for sure. Maybe Oberlin. If you’re interested in women’s colleges a few of those (notably Smith and Barnard) would be great as well.</p>

3

<p>Davidson would be a good match for all your interests (30 min from Charlotte NC), Also in NC - Elon has a great communications fellows program. Hope that helps a little</p>

4

<p>you could check out some california schools (if you dont mind the distance) like pepperdine</p>

<p>kenyon seems nice as a low match/safety</p>

5

<p>You need a financial safety. Although it’s much larger than you’re looking for, Ohio State might need to be on your list. Maybe Miami U.</p>

<p>American, Elon, Ithaca, and U Miami could be safeties/safe matches.</p>

<p>I strongly recommend Duke and/or Emory, although they’re quite selective.</p>

<p>[English</a> - Duke University](<a href=“http://english.duke.edu/]English”>http://english.duke.edu/)
[Journalism</a> and Media Studies - Duke](<a href=“http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/centers/dewitt/curriculum-certificate.html]Journalism”>http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/centers/dewitt/curriculum-certificate.html)
[Center</a> for LGBT Life - Duke](<a href=“http://lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu/]Center”>http://lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu/)</p>

<p>[English</a> - Emory](<a href=“http://english.emory.edu/]English”>http://english.emory.edu/)
[Journalism</a> - Emory](<a href=“http://www.journalism.emory.edu%5DJournalism”>http://www.journalism.emory.edu)</p>

<p>

You’re kidding, right?</p>

<p>[Pepperdine</a> snubs gay student group](<a href=“http://graphic.pepperdine.edu/news/2007/2007-03-01-gay.htm]Pepperdine”>http://graphic.pepperdine.edu/news/2007/2007-03-01-gay.htm)</p>

6

<p>I second Macalester, plus Smith and Barnard if you’re okay with single-sex. Oberlin’s town is pretty tiny, although I love it (but I hate cities). What I’ve heard about Davidson is that for religious kids, it’s feels very un-religious, and for non-religious kids, it feels very religious. They do have a religion course requirement. Pepperdine is a Christian school, not a good fit for you. Kenyon is in the village of Gambier and even tinier than Oberlin, OH or Williamstown, MA. Maybe Amherst? Though not safe in the least. Duke and Emory are good non-LAC choices; religious affiliation but not a religious atmosphere. Have you considered UChicago? Reed? If you like Reed, Lewis & Clark might be a good safety. Or consider the Tri-Co right outside Philadelphia–Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr (single-sex), Haverford. What about URochester? Vassar is technically in a city, and on the large side of an LAC.</p>

7

<p>Definitely, DEFINITELY add Rice to your list.
Vassar is still small-- maybe 2,800 or so last I checked. Poughkeepsie is rather underwhelming, but Vassar is wonderful.
Tulane would probably be an easy match for you (nothing with a ~25% acceptance rate or less is a “safety”)</p>

8

<p>I’m definitely going to look into Macalester and some of the other LAC’s mentioned, because I haven’t really researched liberal arts schools as extensively. Oberlin is a little too close to home for me, and while I like Kenyon, it’s not near…anything. My only concerns with Duke, Emory, Rice… they’re in the South. I know, I know, it’s a little bit of a stereotype, but I just question whether anyone as liberal as myself would feel at home there?</p>

9

<p>

Do some research before foolishly writing off an entire chunk of the country. As a gay kid born and raised in the South, I can firmly say that it’s not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. </p>

<p>Duke is in the Research Triangle, which is arguably THE most liberal area of the South. It’s certainly the most intellectual, with one of the highest collections of PhDs per capita in the country (one ranking put it 2nd behind Silicon Valley). The whole area (Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh) is quite liberal, and the universities are even more so. Read this post on [gay</a> life at Duke](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063054200-post4.html]gay”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063054200-post4.html).</p>

<p>Emory is in Atlanta, which for the most part is extremely liberal. According to one survey, Atlanta is 12th in the country for total LGBT population and 3rd for per capita.</p>

<p>All that aside, 64% of Duke students and 60% of Emory students come from outside the South.</p>

10

<p>Vandy
Emory</p>

11

<p>Vandy isnt as liberal as Emory, Tulane or Rice. IBclass06 made good points. Big cities tend to be politically a sea of blue even in a red state.</p>

12

<p>Texas am is ok size and is basically it’s own city with mostly college kids rice is a very good college or even smaller in tx of course st. Edwards or Concordia both next to austin but not downtown like ut or as big plus Austin is VERY liberal it sounds like an austin school would be good 4 you</p>

13

<p>There is no way in h*ll Miami of Ohio will ever work for this poster (trust me, the school is digusting, as I know from having similar thoughts and feelings about “campus atmosphere” in my own school selection).</p>

<p>Anyways, for serious cash and a wonderful atmosphere (really!!!), try the University of Dayton. It also has a great rep, a wonderful honors program, and a pretty cool location/atmosphere. </p>

<p>You probably have a real good shot at Brown, too, especially judging by your awesome stats, but her’s some places a little lower on the selectivity chart that may work out, as well…</p>

<p>Macalaster
U Chicago (although it is intense… but in a good way, I hear)
U Mich (yeah, not a natural option for an Ohioan, and it’s a little large, but you can major in ANYTHING and your degree will be stellar)
Carleton
UW-Madison
Wash U in St. Louis
U Pittsburgh (also has a really cool honors program)
U Rochester
Claremont Colleges (you’ll want to look more in-depth to pick you favorite)
Reed
Kalamazoo
Kenyon, as well, which has already been mentioned</p>