I would’ve just majored in Physics if I applied, astronomy is just a possibility in my future not a definite
“My parents think that once I take a gap year I’ll end up never going back to school. When I brought up doing a gap year they said I should just continue straight through and get it over with.”
The people who take gap years that become never-ever-ever going to college situations are the same kinds of people who drop out after a year and never-ever-ever go back. Also the typical reasons for never-ever-ever going to college are having a baby and needing to support that child, getting incarcerated, having a mental breakdown, etc. If you aren’t the type of person who is headed for one of those, then your parents needn’t fear a gap year (or two).
Well, through Schreyer, you could take Calc 1 Honors (proof-based, requires you to have taken calc in HS, 35 students), a foreign language honors (24 max), the freshman honors seminar (16 students), Mechanics Honors (20 students). You’d be living in the Honors residences, which have their own little community with a board, activities, etc., and if you wanted a closer knit one that focuses on world affairs you could apply to Global (which is honors-within-honors residential). You wouldn’t be hanging out with 56,000 students.
But, as I said, you might be better off taking a gap year.
Studies show that students from families or communities that value education are MORE likely to return to and succeed in college after a gap year (which is why the Ivy League strongly supports them - Princeton even has one for admitted students: https://www.princeton.edu/bridgeyear/about-the-program/ )
Thanks, I’ve never heard of the global honors with honors residential at Penn State. 80% of people in SHC are from Pennsylvania so it would be good to have an international feeling experience
for a. Science major, Schreyers is the obvious choice
Actually, fewer than 70% Schreyer students are from PA (last year, 69% domestic applicants, with 31% OOS… plus about 10% internationals).
Mount Holyoke will have about 30% international students and students from all over the country, if you prefer more geographical diversity.
My daughter is a first year at Mt Holyoke. She had 1550 SAT, 4.8 weighted GPA with 13 AP classes. She is a conservatory level musician. She was accepted at 13 other LACs including Smith, Grinnell and Oberlin. If you aren’t going to attend Mt H please decline as soon as possible because the waiting list is long and full of incredibly talented smart women who would greatly appreciate the opportunity to attend.
if you don’t end up liking where you go, transferring is always an option
I think you’re more likely to find yourself, and yes I know how cheesy that sounds, at a LAC. If astronomy is an interest Mt H has plenty to reccomend. There was an article in the NYT recently about NASA sending moon rocks to MT H, as well as to other schools, for research purposes. Look up the Astronomy dept on their website.
You mention big fish/small fish been an issue. Again, I’d favour a LAC if this is an issue but understand you might just be a same sized as everyone else fish. You are going to go to school with some really smart people and a few you’ll wonder how the hell they ever made it out of middle school. Be nice to them.
Try look past the rankings. Some of the criteria used to determine rank are questionable at best. Also consider when you have five schools tied in 11th spot the next school on the list isn’t 12th.
Mt. Holyoke and Honors Penn State are two great and distinct options. Do you pros and cons list and check your gut. Spend time digging through courses and prof bios online. Read all the student reviews you can find. Then pick one, and If it really doesn’t work out you can transfer.
Personally, I think turning down an affordable opportunity at Villanova is a really bad decision, especially if you want to stay in Pennsylvania. The Villanova name is all the prestige you would need in the Philly suburbs, and the connections made would be invaluable. Even if you’re an atheist, it wouldn’t hurt you to take some theology classes. Heck, I have a good friend who is a rabid atheist, but he went to Georgetown for grad school and cherishes his Jesuit education. To say that the school “wouldn’t like it” if you didn’t conform to Catholicism is really silly.
But it’s up to you. If you really hate your choices, take a gap year, work a little bit and start over. It might actually be good for you to mature a bit before heading off to college.
^To be fair, grad school is completely different from undergrad so a Jesuit education has a different meaning for grad students.
I agree that theology and philosophy classes wouldn’t hurt but OP doesn’t want to be surrounded by priests and crosses. Villanova is Catholic and welcomes all faiths but does expect students want their philosophy and values.
PSU Honors College is really an achievement - I know some very high stat, accomplished kids who did not make the cut. I also know one who turned down an Ivy to attend. If this or Mt Holyoke aren’t enough for you, then you just really need to step back and reassess your path.
Well if not being around priests and crosses is more important than getting fantastic education that will open a lot of doors for her, then yes, OP should avoid Villanova.
If you have a hang up with Catholicism, a Jesuit education should still be fine. Jesuits are often considered the looser side of the faith.
Villanova is an Augustinian school, but still - pretty chill.
For someone who doesn’t seem to like school much and wants a high paying job, your major choice makes little sense. Grad school is pretty much required for any job in a physics or astronomy field, at least if you want to work in that field.
You have several choices. 1) Pick a school from that group that accepted and see how it works out. You won’t be the only one there for whom the school is not their first choice. Work hard, and also keep in mind the case for transferring to some schools you think you’d prefer. Your college grades and wanting more depth or choices at another school are the things colleges count heavily in transfer admissions.
2) Take a gap year and go through the process again, including more schools that you like better. 3) LOok for a whole other school, and go there. Perhaps commute, work part time build up credits, grades, reasons for transfer. Save money for college
Be aware that if you are reapplying as a transfer, your options for financial aid and scholarships may be limited—a lot. Schools tend to have the most money for first time college students, not transfers.
I know Muslim and Jewish, atheist, Eastern religion folks who go to or work at Fordham and not a one feel that it’s Catholic identity is overbearing. But that is a personal thing.
Plenty of schools are still accepting applications.
What specific schools would you like?
People who pursue prestige are never satisfied and tend to be unhappy in general. Why? Cause their perceptions of themselves are based entirely on what they believe others think. That’s a really crappy way to live your life. In the end, they are striving for a superficial meaningless outcome instead of pursuing things that have genuine meaning. Perceptions are nebulous illusions. You’re on a losing path but it is not too late to switch gears and start driving to something that has more meaning and is more likely to steer you towards more solid ambitions.