Help with schools with a good English program

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello, I've really been struggling putting together a good college list for the past few months, because I can't seem to find anything other than really far reaches and really low safeties. Finding good matches is proving difficult.</p>

<p>I live in California, and my parents would prefer for me to stay in California, but they are not outright opposed to me leaving. I've gotten a mix of As and Bs throughout high school [my sophomore year was my dip year. Junior first semester I had five As and two Bs, including two As in honors classes and my second semester I only had one B].</p>

<p>As of next year, I will have taken four years of Japanese, now in Japanese 4 Honors, and I will be in only one AP [Lit, though I'm trying to switch from Gov/Econ to AP Gov/Econ] and two honors courses [including Japanese]. It will also be my second year in Journalism, which requires re-interviewing and runs the school newspaper and my fourth year in Drama.</p>

<p>My SAT I scores are a 650 in Reading, 630 in Math, and 720 in writing, and my SAT II scores are a 700 in Literature and 560 [ugh] in Math. I have not yet taken the ACT, but I am signed up and my practice tests indicate I will probably get around a 30.</p>

<p>I want to teach high school literature in the future, but I'm really lost when it comes to finding a good college list. My parents would prefer to spend $30,000 or less per year, but given I'm in California, that's going to be difficult. If you're willing to help me, please don't worry too much about price, because I'm more anxious about finding places that will accept me.</p>

<p>So far, I've been looking at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Pitzer, among a few other places, but again I don't know how I'll stand up and if they're reaches or matches or whatnot. I honestly don't know what other schools are out there with a good English program that fits me.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for the help; I really appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>What is your GPA and ECs?</p>

<p>What class sizes do you prefer? If you don’t mind going into smaller schools, it sounds like you could check out some LACs.</p>

<p>Bard, Middlebury, Kenyon, Vassar and Allegheny are known for their English programs. </p>

<p>Your scores seem on track for UCLA and UCB since you’re in state. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>The UC system have pretty decent English and Comparative Literature programs; beyond that, it’s the liberal arts colleges and the top research universities.</p>

<p>Here’s a decent website to find schools that match your interest. You can rank the schools by your own criteria in a PhD program of your choice. Keep in mind that the quality of a PhD program does not indicate the quality of its undergraduate program - in general, private universities have better undergraduate programs.</p>

<p>[English</a> Language and Literature Rankings — PhDs.org Graduate School Guide](<a href=“http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/english]English”>http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/english)
[Comparative</a> Literature Rankings — PhDs.org Graduate School Guide](<a href=“http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/comparative-literature]Comparative”>http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/comparative-literature)</p>

4

<p>If your goal is to teach, I strongly encourage you to attend a school in the state you wish to reside in after college. It is much easier to get your teaching certificate.</p>

5

<p>English is a staple program at nearly every university; virtually every reputable college will have a decent English program.</p>

<p>In California, any of the UCs and probably most of the CSUs would do. Among private schools, you also have USC, the Claremonts, Occidental, Santa Clara, Pepperdine, Chapman, and U Redlands; the last arguably has the best undergraduate writing program on the west coast. Other good schools on the west coast include Reed (OR), Lewis & Clark (OR), Willamette (OR), U Puget Sound (WA), and Whitman (WA). </p>

<p>How much you’ll pay depends on numerous factors. Try a financial aid calculator.</p>

<p>[FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator - Finaid)</p>

<p>[EFC</a> Calculator: How Much Money for College Will You Be Expected to Contribute?](<a href=“http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_welcome.jsp]EFC”>http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_welcome.jsp)</p>

<p>[EFC</a> Calculator - financial-aid - College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/financial_aid/efc.htm]EFC”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/financial_aid/efc.htm)</p>

6

<p>I think UCB and UCLA may be a slight reaches for you, however you may ALSO want to add UCSD, UCSB, UCI, and UCD to your list of UC’s when you get ready to apply. It is the same amount of work, you just check off a couple more boxes and pay the additional app fees. I don’t know about your financial situation, but you may also want to have a look-see at Santa Clara University. This would be a good match for you, given your current stats.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the help so far. My gpa at the end of my junior year [just for that year] was a 4.2 weighted and a 3.8 unweighted, if I’m not mistaken. Class sizes, I don’t really care about, I’ll take what I can get.</p>

<p>I looked at Bard, earlier, but it seems a little too far out of my reach to be an option. Am I right about that?</p>

8

<p>I think you’re a weak candidate for Berkeley. I can’t say about for UCLA. You should apply to other UCs such as SB and Irvine, where they have strong English/comunication programs too.</p>

9

<p>Manhattanville.</p>

10

<p>Bard is SAT optional I think, and they really like to see passion, so I would definitely give it a shot!</p>

11

<p>I forgot to mention I have an interest in photography and have taken photos for the school newspaper, on top of writing, for two years [counting my upcoming senior year]. I’ve also shot headshots and flyers for Drama shows and recently been commissioned to take someone’s senior photos. I’ve taken two Psychology courses at the local community college over the summer as well [getting a B in General Psychology and an A in Abnormal].</p>

<p>Does this college list look realistic?</p>

<p>REACHES: Bard, UC Berkeley
MATCHES: UCLA, Pitzer, Santa Clara University
SAFETIES: UCSB, UC Irvine</p>

<p>I want to cut my list down to five or six [preferably five]. Are any of these colleges in the wrong category/am I overestimating myself here?</p>

<p>Thank you all so much again. You’ve been great help.</p>

12

<p>UC Irvine has a superb English department. Davis, Riverside, and Santa Barbara are also very strong.</p>

13

<p>Santa Clara seems more like a safety than a match.</p>

<p>Don’t be afraid to put more colleges in your list. You never know what kind of offer you might get.</p>

14

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<p>Oho, not so fast. Financial aid is a huge factor in where you’ll end up. There’s no point in applying to a school if you know that there’s no way you’ll be able to afford it… unless you’re just curious as to whether you’ll get in or not.</p>

<p>Aside from FA though, you look like a solid candidate for UCSB, UCI, and Santa Clara. You have a decent shot at UCLA and UCB, but it’s not a definite there. I agree that LACs would be great for you, so take a look at some of those. Here’s the USNWR rankings list; do a little research and see which ones you like best:</p>

<p>[Liberal</a> Arts Rankings - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/liberal-arts-rankings]Liberal”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/liberal-arts-rankings)</p>

<p>Good luck. :)</p>

15

<p>Check out San Francisco State - it has always had a great English department, and could be a terrific safety for you - including financially. Also look at Santa Cruz and I second Riverside & Irvine - they have very strong English departments. If you run the calculator on the UC site, you’ll see what your odds are for acceptance to the various UC’s. I think UCLA and Berkeley would be real reaches for you, and I wouldn’t necessarily rate them any better for what you’re looking for than the other UC’s.</p>

16

<p>Hello again, and thanks so much to everyone that has already given me some tips. I’m working to finalize my summer college list by Sunday, but I just wanted to run it through this site once more.</p>

<p>I also have a general question. What exactly is the numerical definition of reaches/matches/safeties. Would a good safety be a school where your scores/numbers significantly exceed the average or are on the upper end of the average/just above? Also, is a good reach a school that is slightly below the average or just on the lower average score? Same with matches.</p>

<p>Here is my tentative final college list. Please tell me if anything doesn’t look right/there’s a school that is definitely too much of a reach/safety for me. Thank you all so much in advance!</p>

<p>REACHES: Bard, UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles
MATCHES: Pitzer, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine [would these two UCs be Matches or Safeties?]
SAFETIES: Loloya Marymount University, Sonoma SU [this seems like a BIG safety… I’m not sure about it]</p>

<p>Again, thanks so much for everything. It’s been a huge help for getting me through this process.</p>

<p>EDIT: Also, I recently talked to my parents about the location issue [they want me to stay near because they found scheduling with my sister when she went to a school in Missouri difficult] and they agreed that they would allow me to look at colleges in neighboring states as well. This would hopefully also help the cost issue because, well, California isn’t cheap.</p>

<p>So if you happen to know any schools with good English programs in Oregon, Nevada, Washington, or Arizona that could be better suited for me than some of the schools I listed, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks again!</p>

17

<p>I’ve been doing more research and I’m considering dropping Sonoma SU for Arizona State University. University of Washington also seems like a good Match or Safety. Would you recommend me dropping either UC SB or UC Irvine for Washington?</p>

18

<p>Reed is a reach but is known for good FA (if you qualify). Maybe Lewis and Clark or Whitman.</p>

19

<p>UCI and UCSB are both known for their English depts., and it’s just another click and application fee since you’re already applying to other UC’s. UW is a lot harder for out of state students to get in, so it may be a reach. Reed and Whitman both have great English depts. and similar selectivity–Reed kids have slightly higher SATs and Whitman kids have slightly higher GPA’s. I think they are both high matches for you but since they both have holistic applications your essays and fit would really matter at both schools.</p>

20

<p>REACHES: Bard, UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles
MATCHES: Pitzer, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, Whitman
SAFETIES: Loyola Marymount University, Sonoma SU</p>

<p>I want to try to get down to eight colleges, preferably. Any idea which is the odd one out? Also, are there any suggestions for better safeties or reaches.</p>