<p>Wellsley??? That’s a women’s college. So either it is your typo, or your son isn’t too thorough in his search ;)</p>
<p>And I can’t imagine choosing Rutgers OOS over UNC.</p>
<p>Uh oh, that was me, hahaha, not him. It’s Westleyan University, (smiles). Going into fix that one right now. :)</p>
<p>Just “fixed” it. That would have been way too quirky, lol. Thanks for the heads up. :)</p>
<p>My daughter wanted out of Maryland in the worst way, but she did apply to UM College Park as a financial safety. Looking back, she says that she would have attended Maryland with the scholarships she was offered before she would have gone to a school that would have required her to take out any loans.</p>
<p>She would also be a quirky kid IMO. She ended up shying away from the small schools that she was originally attracted to (like Swarthmore and Beloit) because one of my colleagues brought up the point that at a small school in a major with a small number of kids you can easily get stuck with professors and students that you don’t really like. At a larger school, there is often more depth in the departments and in the student body. My daughter is VERY personality driven, so she decided that she needed a bigger place and attends Pitt (on a very nice merit scholarship).</p>
<p>I’ve talked to him about Davidson, (which is in state, small, well respected, and with enough aid). They advertise that they can meet 100% through grants and work. I would love for him to visit them. He does not glaze over when I mention UNC Chapel Hill, but because it’s in state it’s not as important to him. I think he considers them a given. I’ve talked about UNC Asheville, and UNC Greensboro, (for the music). He likes Duke, but I don’t think I can afford it, and I will have to explore a bit more.</p>
<p>I agree, drop Rutgers it doesn’t fit the genre well very, there’re undoubtedly an in-state public for you that is similar and Rutgers may cost more than an in-state public. Amherst seems abit of an outlier and highly selective. If he’s willing to leave the coastal corridor you might read up on Oberlin, Lawrence, Kenyon, Beloit, Kalamazoo, Carleton, and St. Olaf all attract quirky kids, most have music and science. Most have cross admits and appear on similar college lists by students. If he has the stats to consider Cornell and Amhert he might garner merit at the better midwest colleges and clearly he’s not afraid of snow.</p>
<p>He’s a junior at the NC School of Science and Math. 10th grade his GPA was weighted 4.250 and unweighted 3.625. He’s taken the PSAT twice and did pretty good, of course this is the year it counts. SAT taken once in 10th grade, (Math 570, Critical Reading 550, and Writing 470). He’s set to take it again next month, and knows he has to improve the writing, and up the other scores if he can. He was also selected and attended NC Governor’s School this summer for instrumental music. He’s a club dabbler, (considers this a part of his quirky nature).</p>
<p>If he’s not receptive, I guess he must have the $$$$ to pay for college himself??</p>
<p>Your money, your call…</p>
<p>Geeps20, he’s broke. (smile) He’s rich in potential though, and I hope to help him see/learn that life comes at a cost, and sometimes the cost is not readily affordable. A lesson I should have probably started sooner.</p>
<p>Davidson - They’re only going to meet the need they judge you to have. Find out what your EFC is so you have an idea what to expect. Also, according to college board, Davidson’s SAT middle 50% is 630 - 730 for reading, 630 - 710 for math, and 640 - 720 for writing and they have a 26% acceptance rate. Congrats to you son for getting into the NC School of Science and Math! Great school that is very well respected. Also congrats on Governor’s school.</p>
<p>BUandBC82, thanks for the Davidson stats. I’m hopeful that his SAT scores will increase over time, as our plans are for him to take it this October and probably an additional time. He will take the ACT, as well. His school encourages it, and I do, too.</p>
<p>He loved, loved Governor’s School, and has not stopped shouting it’s praises since attending. He had the opportunity to visit NCSSM as a 7th grader and again a few more times since, and never forgot them, so it will be a very exciting time for him these next few years. :)</p>
<p>NCSSM should have great college counselors who will sit down with both of you and talk through choices based on 1) money he’ll need and 2) experience of recent graduates. His stats don’t look great, particularly for some of the schools he likes, but you have to see where they fit for kids coming out of his particular school, since it’s not your average high school. The admissions stats coming from NCSSM will be different.</p>
<p>Have the college counselors already met with Junior parents as a group?</p>
<p>No meetings with counselors as of yet to discuss specifics. I sent his counselor an email this morning regarding the National Achievement Scholarship Program. He’s still growing, and he’s a go getter, so I think there’s hope for his stats at this point, especially for instate schools. </p>
<p>I think I will gather information on all of these schools he’s loving and show him where he is, and where they are. Not that I think this will in any way dissuade him from seeking them out, it will at least give me a leg to stand on.</p>
<p>I could take the “I’m the parent and these are your choices,” view, but I think I prefer to let this be a teachable moment, in which my pocketbook will win in the end, but he learns. Right now, he’s not as receptive as I wished he would be.</p>
<p>Oh, and we had College Eve this weekend where a ton of colleges were in attendance and we got to walk around and talk and pocket brochures. I loved it. He added a few more out of state colleges to his list, lol.</p>
<p>Mama1, For science + music + academic rigor + excellent NEED based aid your son should take a look at Williams. It’s in the same academic range as Swarthmore/Amherst/Wesleyan/Davidson, but, in my opinion is the strongest in the combination of science and music. Many dual majors and performance opportunities even for non-majors.</p>
<p>All of these really depend on how your family qualifies for need based aid. Use the calculator. Then you’ll know how to proceed.</p>
<p>To the excellent list of midwest colleges provided by Momofthreeboys I would add Grinnell. Merit money increases as you get farther from the eastcoast.</p>
<p>If your son is serious about his instrument he should submit a performance tape even if he doesn’t ultimately plan to major in music.</p>
<p>Any diversity factors here? Like race, ethnic group, religion, economic status, first generation college student other life experience? Colleges, especially the smaller ones seek diversity to balance students’ backgrounds. In addition to academic excellence they are looking for multifaceted talent and experience, i.e., what can you bring to the campus community.</p>
<p>At many (but not all) selective schools admission usually leads to a financial package that makes attendence possible. In other words, if they want you they’ll figure out a way for you to attend.</p>
<p>Momrath, we are Black, (African American), not 1st generation college. I am a single parent, and raising along with my son, 2 foster kids who are my cousins. I’m trying not to look at them as an increase in family size (they may be returning to their mom, although they’ve been with me for the last 2 years).</p>
<p>Mama1, All of these factors will be significant positives for your son in college admissions. Selective colleges are sincerely interested in building a class of students with diverse backgrounds. </p>
<p>Colleges and universities that are located in rural environments or in the midwest are especially responsive to high achieving minorities as African-Americans and Asians tend to gravitate toward urban locations. I would put Williams, Amherst, Hamilton, Bowdoin, Carlton, Kenyon, Grinnell in this category. There are others.</p>
<p>When your son starts applying in earnest he will need to think about how to express his life experience in his essays. That plus his science and music accomplishments will, in my opinion, open the doors to some selective colleges. No guarantees of course, and he still needs a balanced list of reach/match/safety.</p>
<p>I would concentrate less on SAT/ACT scores and more on how your son presents himself in the subjective parts of the application: essays, recommendations, interviews, supplemental materials. Small colleges especially view applicants holistically and they are attracted to kids who bring experience and talent to the campus community.</p>
<p>It sounds as if your son has an interest in the small liberal arts colleges. As I said above, large State Universities can provide an excellent education, but, to me, the personal attention that students get at small LACs can be a life changing experience.</p>
<p>Good luck to you and your son and keep in touch as he continues on this journey.</p>
<p>Yes and the midwest schools appreciate geographic diversity as well as ethnic diversity. Most work very hard to increase out of regions statistics. Definitely the OP should run some finaid calculators both the federal FAFSA calculators and the institutional calculators. Pay attention to the college websites of colleges that use the CSS profile or their own finaid forms as some will have calculators specifically for theit college. Generally the colleges will also have their available scholarships listed and some will have the specific qualifications needed for those scholarships. Have fun researching and come back and ask questions.</p>
<p>“Williams, Amherst, Hamilton, Bowdoin, Carlton, Kenyon, Grinnell”</p>
<p>I had the opportunity to take a quick look at Hamilton, and Bowdoin. I think he’d like them, but I’m shaky on the distance of Bowdoin. I know, he’s the student and I have to get over my mommy jitters. </p>
<p>I am compiling a list of their current class profiles, so that I can share them with him. Thanks for the words of encouragement, and help. I will keep you all posted.</p>