<p>Thanks twinmom, we did not seriously consider GW, thinking it is known for IR and Politics (as other DC schools), in which D has no interest. Are they strong in visual arts? </p>
<p>NYU is on the list, although it is unclear where she can actually study visual art. She is mainly interested in Gallatin school, but we don’t know whether she would have a chance there, or whether such individualized study program would be a good fit for her. I originally suggested Steinhardt to her, but then learned that it’s also a BFA degree, so double major is questionable. We will try to visit this spring and clarify this. And of course, NYU is nothing like traditional “college experience”.</p>
<p>Vassar (and Wesleyan) are also on the list, but they are reaches. I’m trying to find some safeties/matches now.</p>
<p>With 6’s and 7’s predicted IB grades, assuming 3 HL and 3 SL, Skidmore is a “likely” school. You shouldn’t be looking at Goucher. Fordham Lincoln Center is a very pre-professional place, not the college community you as a mother might be seeking for your daughter. The right fit might be Vassar, but your daughter needs higher scores north of 2100. It sounds as if you can afford the best SAT tutors money can buy. This is not where you want to skimp. Have your daughter come to the States this summer, do something interesting and get some private tutoring on the side -or get online tutoring now. She should try the ACTwith Writing 3 times - April, June and October. The bar is very high for your daughter because she is not applying for financial aid. You have to give her a leg up.</p>
<p>I think Bard is a good idea too, and it has the advantage of being test optional. It’s in the woods - so she might either love it or hate it. It’s a bit small, but takes its education seriously and has wonderful arts facilities. About two hours from NYC. I have a cousin who majored in art at BU and got an excellent education there.</p>
<p>Actually Moonchild, at the top schools that are need-blind, the more economically challenged students get a thumb on the scale. Every student is evaluated within the context of his or her background and economic circumstances. As Bill Fitzsimmons at Harvard says, he would rather take the student who has gone from 1 to 6 than the student who has gone from 5 to 8.</p>
<p>I disagree, Damaris. Especially in this climate. And Harvard isn’t in the mix. We’re talking about small universities, LACs, most of which are very happy to give spots to full-paying students if they’re qualified and fit their profile.</p>
<p>And I’m speaking as a full-paying parent. I believe both of my kids were in no way disadvantaged by the lack of need. Their acceptances prove that.</p>
<p>I second Wash U - excellent art school, and makes it very easy to combine art with other majors. They encourage double majors across the schools. It is also possible to get a double-degree there, but will require more credits than double-major.</p>
<p>Another excellent option is Carnegie Mellon.</p>
<p>Boston U has a strong art program, and can probably be your safety.</p>
<p>Go down the LAC ranking a bit, and full paying does count. However, at Vassar, only the waitlist is not need-blind. A private school student, particularly one from a well-off, educated, professional family is expected to have very strong stats, while a first generation to college applicant may have SATs 200 points lower. I know that Vassar will be a little more flexible if English is not the primary language, but in this case, English appears to be the first language.</p>
<p>WashU is a great school, but would it have the kind of culture she is looking for? Mom mentioned that she’s not looking for something very mainstream- loves Brown and Wes.
Although it’s big enough that she would be able to find kindred spirits, but might be harder.
It’s also a reach- just as hard as Brown, Wes and Vassar, imo.</p>
<p>I was wondering about Hampshire College as a safety.</p>
<p>Demaris- if a school is need blind, it’s need blind and this student will not be at a disadvantage.
URMs are a different category altogether.</p>
<p>Moonchild, being need-blind doesn’t mean that the banker’s child with every economic advantage in the world and the inner city kid whose parents never went to college are evaluated using the same criteria. That is the case in the UK. It is not the case in America.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Moonchild - Hampshire looks very unstructured to me. The student needs to be very self-motivated and I’m not sure my D will handle such setup well.</p>
<p>Mythmom - can you compare SUNY Purchase and SUNY New Paltz? I don’t know either, but I like the town of New Paltz very much from few short visits. Which is better for visual arts? We may consider them, especially since SUNYs are a lot cheaper than many other colleges, even applying OOS. I also thought of SUNY Geneseo, although it appears to be very rural.</p>
<p>But what I’m responding to, Demaris, is your assertion that because she doesn’t need financial aid, she’ll need to have higher stats. It’s just not true. The percentage of true “inner city” charity cases is really much smaller than you might think at American top schools.
Yes, they’ll give a break to kids who are truly disadvantaged, but that doesn’t mean they raise the standards for those who are advantaged. Applying for aid will not, in itself, help your application, nor will not applying hurt it. That’s all I’m saying.</p>
<p>OP, when are you D’s “finals”? I suggest she take the SAT subject tests required [ or recommended, which should be read as “required”] by the colleges as close as possible to her finals, [hopefully this would be in May], while the course material is still fresh in her head, then maybe take the ACT in June, and plan on taking the SAT again in Oct, when she will have more material under her belt. You should buy her the Collegeboard SAT prep book, put it on her desk, and say nothing. Hopefully she’ll crack it open, carefully read the directions about how to take the SAT, and maybe do some studying and practice tests on her own over the summer.</p>