I NEED SAFETIES (and matches, and probably some more reaches)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>White female from competitive suburban public school in New York</p>

<p>Hi, I’m a rising senior and I really need help finding colleges to which I should apply. I have a few schools, but I think they’re all pretty much reaches so I need several matches and at least one safety. Of course, I wouldn’t mind a few more reaches as well. </p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>GPA: weighted 3.92—this is a slightly different weighting system, it’s on a 4.5 scale, and no freshmen classes are weighted (upward trend)
No ranking at our school, but guidance counselor informed me I’m within the top 10%
Hardest course load</p>

<p>Tests:</p>

<p>SAT: 800CR/800M/710W—Am I crazy for considering retaking it in order to improve that writing score?</p>

<p>SAT II’s: Have not taken any yet. I will definitely take US History and Math Level I, but as for the third I am unsure. It will probably be Chemistry, Math Level II, English Literature, or French. I am hoping for 750+ on each of them, but who knows.</p>

<p>AP’s:
US History: 5
Chemistry: 5
Next year I am signed up to take French Language, English Language, Law & Gov’t, and BC Calculus</p>

<p>PSAT: will almost definitely be National Merit Commended</p>

<p>EC’s:</p>

<p>These are a little weak, I will admit. However, my one possible excuse is that I was seriously ill eighth and ninth grade (missed a lot a school, went to the hospital several times) and basically did not have the time or energy to “get involved” during those two years.</p>

<p>Flute: Lessons for 3 years, first chair/section leader in high school band Junior and Senior year, member of the highest level of the local youth orchestra, made regional group (hoping to make state group this year, but that will not happen on time to put on my application), member of selective pit orchestra for high school play past two years.</p>

<p>Piano: Lessons for 10 years, no awards or competitions. However, I am a fairly serious student and my teacher and I are considering sending in a supplemental tape with piano and flute pieces. </p>

<p>Music Camp the summer before junior year for 2 weeks</p>

<p>Sports: probably shouldn’t even mention them. JV softball freshman year, “tennis manager” sophomore year (which meant that I did absolutely nothing), and intramural squash sophomore and junior year.</p>

<p>Clubs:
Band. Already mentioned it with the flute part, leadership position.
Debate team. Nothing too special there, however I did go on to the state finals tournament with my partner sophomore year. Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts junior year and probably senior year make it difficult for me to attend more than one or two tournaments during the year.
Tri-M Music Honors Society: Kind of a joke. But I’ve done the performances and the service hours required.
National French Honor Society: we’ve never actually had a meeting
I’m not in the National Honor Society and am debating whether or not I should even bother with the application next year since my branch’s selections are pretty much arbitrary.</p>

<p>Volunteer:
Church youth group, went with them on a mission trip last year for a week.
Volunteer with special needs child in CCD program
Volunteer at a tennis camp for minority children in neighboring town</p>

<p>Other:
I do a considerable amount of babysitting. I have been a mother’s helper for three families this summer, and will have made about $2000 by the end of the summer. I am also continuing to work for one of the families during the school year.</p>

<p>1 ½ week exchange trip to France sophomore year.</p>

<p>What I’m Looking For:</p>

<p>Size: middle sized. I don’t want any tiny liberal arts schools or huge flagship universities, between 3,000-10,000 undergraduates is about right.</p>

<p>Location: East of the Mississippi, north of the Mason-Dixon with a greater emphasis on the Mississippi part. I would prefer to stay within an 8-10 hour drive from my home (southern New York) but a short plane ride would not be too much to handle. I would like to be at least somewhat close to a big city, so nothing in the middle of nowhere. Close proximity to some ski mountains is a definite plus.</p>

<p>Student Life: I can deal with frats and sororities as long as it’s possible to have a social life without joining one. I don’t want a super-traditional conservative type school, but I also don’t want some hippy liberal school, I love the happy medium. I also wouldn’t mind a big sports program (as a spectator).</p>

<p>Majors: This is where I’m so flexible, I’m restrictive. I really need a school where I can do some exploring during the first few years. I could literally see myself doing anything from pre-med to journalism. I’m also interested in a obtaining a music minor, but if that’s not possible then I would at least like to be a part of a performance ensemble and continue taking lessons.</p>

<p>Other:
None of those preppy Hamilton, Colgate, or Bucknell like deals
No NYU or Boston University</p>

<p>Right now I have a very small list of reaches/high matches:
BC (legacy)
Dartmouth
Georgetown
Northwestern </p>

<p>I would really appreciate input on where I stand at those schools and other schools that I should look at to apply. Thanks so much you guys!</p>

2

<p>"None of those preppy Hamilton, Colgate, or Bucknell like deals"</p>

<p>BC, Darmouth, Georgetown and Northwestern all have very similar student bodies to those schools you mentioned you DONT want!</p>

3

<p>No, I wouldn't bother re-taking the SATs. Most colleges aren't using the writing portion, and your score is 710! </p>

<p>As for colleges, look at Cornell. Yes, it's huge, but with the individual schools, there is a lot of room to explore. If you haven't visited it yet, you should take a look at in the fall (beautiful). Also, think about University of Rochester (Eastman is there for the music), and Carnegie Mellon. </p>

<p>Safeties? Well, SUNY Geneseo, Binghamton and UBuffalo come to mind.</p>

4

<p>Smith College is definitely worth considering. Smith is known for academic excellence, small classes, terrific advising and mentoring, and available, committed professors. It has an open curriculum, and students have many opportunities to get to know faculty well, and to do research projects with faculty or independently if they wish.</p>

<p>In addition, Smith is part of a 5-college consortium (with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Univ Mass). You can take classes at any, and there is a free shuttle bus to get to classes at the other campuses.</p>

5

<p>Your criteria basically screamed Northwestern to me, and I see it's already on your list. :p</p>

6

<p>I probably should have worded the no colgatate, hamilton, or bucknell (gettysburg) criterion better, their preppiness is not the only thing about them that bothers me, it's the fact that they're in the middle of nowhere and the way that people seem to exalt them above other schools that are in most ways equal.</p>

<p>but thanks for the advice you guys (and keep it coming ;) ), smith does interest me a lot but the all-girl thing worries me, I just don't know how I would handle it. I've heard of a lot of people from my area going to Cornell and absolutely hating it, but I'll probably look into it. University of Rochester is good, but a little too close to where I live and Eastman might be too intense for me. </p>

<p>I forgot to mention my graduate class has about 350 kids</p>

7

<p>Fordham would probably be a good low match, same with Northeastern. NYU wouldnt be a safety at all but you might like the Gallatin program where you make your own major.</p>

8

<p>Take a look at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore as a reach. </p>

<p>Possible match/safety: George Washington University</p>

9

<p>tinytunes690, I understand how Smith being all women concerns you. IMHO, Smith is an amazing place. Here’s a great perspective from SmithieandProud (from another post):</p>

<p>
[quote]
Just for the record, I really liked Smith on its own merits, independent of it being a women's college. It had the right atmosphere, opportunities, and academic reputation I was looking for. It fit me, i could tell that right away when I got to the campus, and I think I've really been thriving there. </p>

<p>I think the support at Smith is really great, not just academically, but also career-wise and socially. Smithies love to help other Smithies get up the ladder, and that network is so, so valuable. On top of that the sense of "we're all in this together" is something I really appreciate. We're women, so we're almost always in the minority in whatever career field we go into, so we pull together support each other, and promote each other's success. And I know it sounds cheesy, but I like feeling like I'm part of a sisterhood, like a global sorority of cool women. </p>

<p>There's an expectation of leadership at women's colleges that probably isn't present at co-ed schools (though having never been to one, i can't say for sure. You're expected to think big, and to occupy the lead role. That can be frustrating sometimes, but it also pushes you to succeed at a higher level.</p>

<p>And women's colleges are fun. I like not putting on makeup before I go to class, walking around in my pajamas. I like that I can compartmentalize my life into study/work/friends time and party/boy/date time. I like hanging out with smart girls. I like that the campus comes to a stand still when Project Runway is on. I like that our gym is outfitted with machines designed to fit a women's body. I like a lot of things about it. </p>

<p>I guess the best advice I can give is to . . . evaluate Smith aside from being a women's college. There's nothing that makes a person a good fit for women's college, but there are things that make a good person a right fit for Smith. But you kind of have to judge those for yourself. SmithieandProud

[/quote]
</p>

<p>With the 5-college consortium (Smith, Amherst, Mt. Holyoke, Hampshire, U Mass), you can take classes at any, participate in clubs and lots of other activities, and there's a free shuttle bus, so there are opportunities to meet guys. </p>

<p>In the end, choose whatever college is the best ‘fit’ for you.</p>

10

<p>bump (10 chars)</p>

11

<p>I've got to second Pageturner on Cornell. With you mix of interests (and in-state residence) take a good hard look at the College of Human Ecology.</p>

12

<p>update: i'm applying early decision to BC, do I have a shot at the honors program?</p>

13

<p>edit: i meant early action</p>

14

<p>BC has no ED...</p>

15

<p>Maybe you should let some complete strangers make the decision that you are too lazy or afraid to make.</p>

16

<p>Hopkins certainly has a strong pre-med program, so you might be surrounded by a lot of science people.</p>

<p>I'd consider taking a look at some ivys. Brown, Columbia come to mind. Brown has no core so you're open to take whatever classes you like. Columbia on the other hand has a very hefty core but one way to look at it is that it will provide you with a very broad education early on, and could help you explore your interests. Unfortunately, I don't know very many east coast safeties so I can't help you there.</p>