Help! No colleges are a "fit"

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'd say I'm a mildly competitive candidate. Decent GPA (3.78), decent SATs (2050, 780 CR 600M), pretty great ECs (showing drive and curiosity). </p>

<p>I'm having a huge problem finding a college that looks like it's a "fit" and is also not a reach (UChicago seems perfect... but I'm just out of their range to call it a match). I'd like a small-ish student body near a place with culture (preferably a big city). Campus aesthetics are very important to me (I love my Neo-Gothic architecture!), but so is academic quality (as in, wanting to learn for the sake of learning and top academic programs). The reason I am drawn to UChicago is because it fits each of these needs. </p>

<p>Are there other universities that are similar to this? Thanks for your help!</p>

2

<p>Rice would be perfect for you. Also Swarthmore or Haverford. Chicago looks at a lot more than just stats (and yours are excellent), so go for it!</p>

3

<p>Rice looks AWESOME.. but is a bit out of my reach (doesn't mean I won't apply, though). What else do you suggest?</p>

4

<p>Rice is not out of your reach. It isn't a safety, but you have a good shot. Don't rule schools out just based on stats. I assure you that there are plenty of Rice students with stats comparable or lower than yours.</p>

5

<p>:) You've made my day! Feeling slightly optimistic during this process is rare, but you've given me hope. </p>

<p>Are you really familiar with Rice?</p>

6

<p>Yes, I am. My daughter is a 2007 grad and I met lots of other students during her 4 years there.</p>

7

<p>I'm assuming she really loved her time there!</p>

8

<p>She did. I feel it is just about perfect in every respect. Lots of fun, great education, plenty of intellectualism, great music program, lots to do in Houston. She was surprised at how much she enjoyed the cultural offerings around Rice and in downtown Houston. Rice has a beautiful campus and the residential college system is great.</p>

9

<p>I saw that Rice had a residential college system. I visited a friend at Yale and was familiarized w/ the res. college system.. and I find it an awesome way to unify students. Very few colleges have this system anymore, which makes Rice all the more alluring.</p>

10

<p>You might want to look at Reed. Not neo-gothic, but a very attractive campus. They might be too liberal for you, but the academic program is extremely strong.</p>

11

<p>If you're female, you might want to look at Smith College. It has great academics, small classes, and wonderful mentoring. Smith is part of a 5-college consortium (with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Univ Mass). You can take classes at any, and there is a free shuttle bus to get to classes and activities at the other campuses.</p>

12

<p>university of rochester</p>

<p>small uni, city access, less selective than chicago</p>

13

<p>Smallish student body in or near a significant city:
Chicago
Rice
Tufts
Brandeis
Haverford
Swarthmore
Brown (medium city)
Rochester (medium city)
Tulane
Vanderbilt
Clarmont Colleges
Bryn Mawr, Wellesley or Barnard if a woman</p>

14

<p>Maybe Macalester would appeal to you: Macalester</a> College: Private Liberal Arts College</p>

15

<p>Make it clear in your application that you love learning for learning's sake, and you will be in. I agree that Rice, Rochester, and Barnard are good backups. Also look at Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon.</p>

16

<p>If you want more of a match, look at Rhodes College. Outstanding Gothic architecture, located in Memphis, excellent academics.</p>

17

<p>Chicago seems to be a great fit. If you are adventurous, then consider the University of Edinburgh in Scotland as well as St. Andrew's. Both require, to the best of my recollection, a minimum 600 on each section of the SAT I. But if you truly are set on Chicago, then be sure to get recs from teachers that know you well & are excited about your love of learning for learning's sake.</p>

18

<p>Look into Emory in Atlanta.</p>