Help trim this MUCH-TOO-LONG-FOR-MY-OWN-GOOD list of over 14!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi.</p>

<p>Rather than explaining my stats and award and stuff like that I'm going to tell you what KIND of a person I am...and if you could, could you give me suggestions on which colleges I would "fit in" the best?</p>

<p>ME
-laid back
-but still work>party (I don't want drinking to be the main form of entertainment/relaxation/weekend activity)
-multitasker (and if I may say so, a phenomenal proscratinator)
-sociable but not preppy/popular by any means
-prefer medium/large sizes (no gigantum classes)
-want more focus on the undergrad
-prefer collegetown/suburban/urban area (just not out in the cornfields)
-like strong sense of community
-would like a vibrant music environment (the orchestra/band type, heh)</p>

<p>Okay, so the list. Please don't judge based on so called "prestige" or things like that..just tell me where I would be...er happier. Other suggestions are of of course welcome too. MUCH thanks in advance! :D
1. Yale
2. Brown
3. Stanford
4. Princeton
5. Harvard (frankly, I don't see myself here, but parental pressure is forcing me to apply..grr)
6. Rice
7. Duke
8. Dartmouth
9. Northwestern
10. UMich (I know it's big, but this one's an exception)
11. John's Hopkins
12. Oberlin
13. UNC-Chapel Hill
14. Vanderbilt</p>

2

<p>JHU, I know is a school with big emphasis on grad students. Harvard also does not fit your descriptions. Check out the number of grad students in the other universities. Lots of grad students mean they are going to be teaching alot of the courses despite what rankings may say. Also that is where school emphasis will tend to be.I hear Oberlin is out in the boonies.</p>

3

<p>I'd let go of Princeton and Harvard and rethink Dartmouth, Northwestern, and Duke.</p>

4

<p>I think Yale and Rice are the best choices.</p>

5

<p>drago2owl - Yale is my FIRST ABSOLUTE FIRST choice. And Rice is my FIRST non-Ivy choice. But if I get into a non-Yale Ivy and Rice, I'll probably choose Rice. ; )</p>

<p>fangsup15 - how are Dartmouth and Duke not compatible with me? Could you explain a little? (Northwestern I'm keeping, though, 'cause I've spent summers there and 1. I liked it there and 2. they have a good music program - but thanks for the input :D)</p>

<p>cptofthehouse - JHU was already on my iffy list...it seemed that students were pretty lax (although there IS that perception that JHU is really cutthroat). I think I'll take it off. Thanks! As I stated in my first post, Harvard really hasn't inspired me TOO much..YET. I don't know how things will go in the next few months, but so far, the students seem really stressed and etc etc. Oberlin, again, is from the phenomenal conservatory.. : ) I'm rethinking a little on that one too..</p>

<p>(I just figured out how to BOLD things! How exciting!!)</p>

6

<p>No Dartmouth. No Vanderbilt.</p>

<p>Someone already talked about JHU.</p>

<p>You can add Emory/Tufts?</p>

<p>Here, I'll answer your last post.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt is among the preppiest places this world has/will ever see.</p>

<p>
[quote]
-prefer collegetown/suburban/urban area (just not out in the cornfields)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Dartmouth is located in the middle of nowhere.</p>

7

<p>Bourne - I do suppose Darthmouth, despite its focus on the undergrads, is a bit rural...and same for Vanderbilt.</p>

<p>Can you tell me a little more about Emory and Tufts? I only know that they are smaller.. : )</p>

8

<p>Duke loves to party, i've known a few kids who have gone there and they spend thursday-early monday getting completely ****faced wasted. I'd include Vandy in that too, my Dad frequently visits the area on business trips and hes been told to avoid anywhere around it on weekends/at night. Both also have huge Greek scenes</p>

<p>I included Northwestern because of an old friend whose a Sophomore there now who loved to smoke/drink/party and came back saying the school was perfect for him. I've also heard tons about Dartmouth, but it could be a fit for you hence the "rethink".</p>

9

<p>Emory and Tufts are both in nice urban areas -- Boston/Atlanta.</p>

<p>Tufts is a bit overshadowed by the other Boston schools, but it still carries much weight within the academic community. Smaller school. Boston itself has a great nightlife/theater scene -- Dunno about Tufts. It fits most of your other standards though.</p>

<p>Emory is said to be a bit boring, but it also fits most of your other standards.</p>

10

<p>Dartmouth definitely focuses well on the undergrads and is a nice size -- Rice is in Houston and the weather there can be hot and muggy -- what about Macalester? Medium sized, close knit community, artsy . . . </p>

<p>UNC-Chapel Hill -- have never been there, but isn't it on the huge side?</p>

<p>I like that you are open to the idea that you could be happy at a number of places. All the schools on your list are well regarded -- maybe a comb through thinking about climate and finances could narrow the list. . . also, some on your list are big sports schools and others are not --- does that matter to you?
Good luck!</p>

11

<p>Yep, I would say add Tufts! I don't know about Emory though, my friend transferred out because she thought it was a bit snotty.</p>

<p>Drop Duke and Vanderbilt.</p>

12

<p>I would cut JHU. My friends who go there say it's very intense and has almost no social life other than frat parties. It's not so great for undergrad overall.</p>

<p>I would also think about dropping Duke. Social life at duke = getting wasted. I spent 4 nights at Duke and there was literally nothing else to do. </p>

<p>Like others said, I would think about adding Emory. They have an AMAZING music program, you should really check it. Lots of people double major in music and a subject of their choice. Everyone is very friendly and laid back, and there is always something fun to do around campus.</p>

13

<p>Wow. Thanks for all the input guys! Almost unanimous = drop Duke, JHU and Vandy (this is AWESOME. :D)</p>

<p>Fangsup, thanks for clarifying. : ) I'm hoping that I can find a right social circle that DOESN'T focus on all that. On the other hand, I have some close friends who go there who, like me, prefer dry environments, and they love it. But in combination with the bad dorms and etc, I think it'll stay, but lower on my list. </p>

<p>HoppingLass, sports doesn't really matter to me. Not a big fan...intramurals is good enough for me. I did consider Macalaster, but I think it's on the too-small side for me (I know, I know, I have Oberlin, but once again, the music..sigh. It's great there. I play flute and Debost is phenomenal, heh)</p>

<p>So, so far, I think I'll revise my list to:
1. Yale
2. Brown
3. Stanford
4. Princeton
5. Harvard (frankly, I don't see myself here, but parental pressure is forcing me to apply..grr)
6. Rice
7. Dartmouth
8. Northwestern
9. UMich (I know it's big, but this one's an exception)
10. Oberlin
11. UNC-Chapel Hill
12. Emory/Tufts (I'll probably only apply to one of these)</p>

<p>As for UNC, I'm still in the "research" process for this school. So far it's in my list because of it's good academics+music combination and (haha, don't laugh) weather/campus. I shall look into a little more. : )</p>

<p>I WISH I could take Harvard off, but ARGH to the parental units. ;) Princeton, I like, though, because of its smaller size and relatively higher focus on undergrads.</p>

14

<p>I would slice Oberlin for the cornfield thing. I love the school, but it also seems to be an outlier with respect to the other schools on your list.</p>

<p>Agree with the Emory/Tufts addition.</p>

15

<p>wow. so many agasint Oberlin. I guess my other schools (Rice, NW, UMich) were chosen because of the flute faculty, so I don't REALLY need ANOTHER "for music in addition to academics sake" school. </p>

<p>Oberlin, you're on my watch list. :)</p>

16

<p>mihan, unless you have specific reasons because of the flute faculty at Emory, Brown, or Duke, I would look elsewhere within your list for stronger music departments.</p>

17

<p>I think my basis was:
1. if I get into a highly competetive school (as in high ivies. ick, heh), then I won't be able to do much music anyways, especially since they don't offer BMs in the first place
2. if I get into a very competitive school ("lower" (HA) ivies, etc) then I can do more music but maybe not necessarily BMing it.
3. on the other schools, that I dare to think that I can probably make it into (shudder, this is going to come bite me in the butt later on hahah), I figure I can handle a BA/BM courseload, especially with AP and PSEO credits.</p>

<p>I'm not really considering music to be my BASIS of decision, since I'm not planning on become a professional, but I would like to participate as much as I can (hence the possibly BMs at certain schools and regard for good flute faculty)</p>

<p>violadad, I have already taken Duke off my list. Somebody mentioned Emory had a vibrant music life (and I'll "check into" this, since this IS the internet. And though I do trust posters, I'm the seeing is believing kind. hahah - no offense), but I guess it's going to be lower on my list, but still there as a "back up" (oh I can already feel the jinxes, hahah)contender. Brown, I just like. It's very lax but still competent and though from what I can see, the music isn't that GREAT, I can accept that.</p>

18

<p>I know you're looking to cut down on your list but how about considering the University of Rochester? It fits the criteria on your list and I believe all students (no matter the major) are allowed free music lessons at the Eastman School of Music (the school's music college). If you are applying to Ivies and such you shouldn't have a problem getting in and could be a good safe-match school to add (its ranked #35 on USNWR fwiw).</p>

19

<p>You need a safety.</p>

<p>Even if you have a 2350 and are a valedictorian, there is still a very legitimate chance that you won't get into ANY of your schools.</p>

<p>A good safety would be trinity in texas.</p>

<p>It haws good undergrad focus and is pretty, and you really need to be a safety because you will feel pretty irked if you don't get into any schools.</p>

20

<p>Wacs - I DID consider Rochester, actually. Eastman. MAN, that place is awesome. One of my pianist friends made it there. She is sickly amazing. But <em>I</em> chose not to include it because I didn't really like the campus that much. I can't really place my finger on it, but I just didn't really "connect." But thanks for the suggestion! Sigh, if only I had the time and money to apply to ALL these amazing places.</p>

<p>jmanco49 - I was hoping that if I applied to UMich early, I would have a pretty good chance, and that could be my "safety." I was planning on sending all my materials by Nov. 1st anyways, so if I don't get Michigan or Yale (YIKES!) by the early notice deadline, I'll add a REAL safety of University of Iowa. It's a huge drinker place, but since I know many people here, I'm sure I could not get whipped up in all that. Plus, I know could be happy here..if I get some scholarshipness - which I think is reasonable. And since it's in-state, the tuition is pretty low in the first place. :)</p>