help needed in developing college list

<p>Hi all -- our much-loved and highly thought of school college counselor left over the summer. The new one won't talk/meet with juniors or their parents until the spring. My daughter would like to get a jump on the college process, which feels a little daunting at the moment. She has spent hours on various sites looking at different schools and here's what she's (broadly) narrowed things down to. I welcome your suggestions for other schools for her to look at.</p>

<p>She has a 3.6 GPA at the start of this, her junior year and takes AP and honors classes. She has GREAT extra-curriculars (started and runs her own charity) and has won numerous community service and leadership awards, was featured in a national magazine as one of four "teens who inspire us" (because of her charity). She also has a compelling "essay" story -- we adopted her from China when she was 5.5 years old, she struggled to learn to read until the fifth grade -- and is now an honor roll student acing AP classes. BUT she still has learning challenges and will not do well on the SAT/ACT. </p>

<p>She isn't a partying kid and wants to actively avoid campuses known as party schools. She has only the broadest ideas of possible majors -- would like to save the world basically, maybe work in the nonprofit world. She's been an Outward Bound wilderness leader, loves the outdoors. Runs Cross Country & Track/Field, plays soccer.</p>

<p>She would like to stay in California IF she can. Thinking small to medium size socially aware liberal arts school with a strong international/global focus. She needs a nurturing place with good academic support for kids with learning disabilities. She can thrive, but she will need help. She visited Occidental College and that's a possibility although her test scores may be a problem for her there. We've also thought of:</p>

<p>Mills College (all women, she'd prefer co-ed but we will visit)
UC Irvine/Riverside/Merced/Santa Cruz? (appreciate thoughts on all)
Cal Poly SLO (may not get in)
Pitzer (because it's SAT optional)
Mount Holyoke (sooo far! but great program for those interested in non-profit work)
U of Arizona (a party school, not many Asians, but they do have a good program for challenged learners)
Lewis & Clark College
Reed College
University of Puget Sound
Western Washington University (my concern is that it isn't very diverse)
University of Oregon</p>

<p>Thanks for helping us add (or subtract) from this list.</p>

<p>Dolce, could you please clarify who is the poster for,this screenname? On this thread, it appears you are the parent. On your other thread (about Northeastern’s programs for learnng challenged) you post as the student.</p>

<p>Which are you?</p>

<p>Also, in this post, you say the student wants to stay in California. But Northeastern (the other post) certainly isn’t in CA!</p>

<p>Please clarify!</p>

<p>Check out Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Great LAC with an active outdoor community.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Does she have documented learning disabilities? She can apply for accommodations on the SAT and the ACT (usually extra time). </p>

<p>You have some good choices on the list. Pitzer sounds like a fit. </p>

<p>Here is a list of test optional colleges:</p>

<p><a href=“ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest”>http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>Also Washington College in Chestertown, MD. Very far away from CA but another excellent LAC that is very accommodating to students with learning disabilities.</p>

<p>Some of the smaller (but more residential) public schools in California may be worth a look (check for appropriate academics):</p>

<p>CSU: Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, Sonoma, Humboldt
UC: Merced</p>

<p>Not in California but how about Willamette in Salem, Oregon. </p>

<p>Linfield College in Oregon. I second Willamette too.</p>

<p>Thanks all. I am the parent. We have a shared computer and may have left one account open. Yes she has a 504 plan and will be applying for testing accommodations. And yes I know that Northeastern and Mount Holyoke are far away. I appreciate hearing the names of a few places we haven’t looked at!</p>

<p>If she’s considering MHC she ought to look at Smith also: they are part of the same consortium, and Smith is also test-optional.</p>

<p>Is her 3.6 GPA weighted or unweighted? Is that a B+ at her school?</p>

<p>weighted (meaning it includes extra wattage from taking honors classes). And yes, a B+. She’s taking an AP and 2 more honors classes in this, her junior year – doing well so far. Will look at Smith, thanks. University of Puget Sound – thoughts?</p>

<p>CSU Stanislaus. In california and not too bad of a school. And definitely not a party school</p>

<p>Also consider these CSU’s:</p>

<p>Humboldt State
Sonoma State
Monterey Bay</p>

<p>I would take Sonoma Honors over Stanislaus in a heartbeat - if only because Sonoma is rather residential, kids stay around in the evenings and weekends, so it really feels like a college, whereas Stan is heavily commuter and often feels like a large extension of HS. Just a personal opinion though. :)</p>

<p>Edited to add: just checked. 80% Stanislaus freshmen live at home, vs. 10% Sonoma State freshmen. That accounts for the huge difference in vibe. Selectivity is roughly the same.</p>

<p>If she really does want to stay in CA what about University of Redlands?</p>

<p>What about Whittier? It would seem to fit your specifications nicely.</p>

<p>Hi there, I go to University of Arizona and can elaborate in regards. UA is NOT just a party school, while it might have that component to it, so does every other major public university in this country. It is a wonderful academic establishment and was recently listed as the 86th best university in the world on Times Higher Education Rankings. Also, there really are a lot of Asian students here contrary to your belief - while not as high density as the UC Berkeleys or UCLAs, we have a large Chinese and Korean population in the student body. About 50% of the student body is comprised of kids from out of state - CA, WA, TX, and IL being major contributors. You are also correct about the programs for challenged learners here, there are some great resources to make it a worthwhile college experience for challenged students.
I personally can’t say enough great things about the UA, as is true for every other student here, and couldn’t be happier with my decision to attend here over UW, USC, Ivies, etc. I would love to talk to you more if you have any other question!</p>