I'm a Shopaholic, and Shouldn't Look at Anymore Colleges

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I have the nasty problem of shopping for colleges the same way normal people shop for shoes... I've been looking off and on since sophomore year, so I have some pretty good ideas of what I like. I just could use some feedback on what I have so far (and what else I might want to give glance too), so I can stop before I end up applying to 20 schools. </p>

<p>Stats:
- White Male
- Competitive, Nationally Ranked Kentucky Public School
- 3.6 GPA (Unweighted, no grade inflation. An A=93%+)
- Difficult Courseload (Only two non-advanced or not AP courses)
- 31 ACT (Retake in Sept.)
- SAT I: Taking in October
- SAT II:World: 800; Bio: 740; Lit: 650
- APs: Human Geo (9th); Bio and World History (10th); US History and English Language (11th); Stats, Psych, Euro, and English Literature (12th)
A's in all AP course except English Language, and 5's on all tests except... English Language
- EC's: Academic Team, Science Fair (several awards), NHS Vice President, Drama Club, Young Democrats, Volunteer with Obama campaign (yeah, that will really stick out... not), Internship with local Symphony, Governor's School, Working</p>

<p>What I Want in a School:
- Small student body
- "Liberal" e.g. Socially and Environmentally Conscious (both school and students)
- "Sophisticated" (The NY Times in on sale on campus... the cafeteria has organic ethnic food for dinner)
- My favorite seasons are autumn and winter... so I like cold.
- I tend to prefer urban areas, but I appreciate small towns and would be fine with a solid Internet connection
- Fairly groomed grounds, natural beauty, and students who take advantage
- Arts present on campus, accessible to other students (i.e., Drama Clubs, Exhibitions, Music)
- Politically active
- Other Liberal Arts School "stuff" (good accessible professors, a competent administration, low red tape, etc.) </p>

<p>My future plans are to become a lawyer, and I'm interested in a lot of pro-bono work (legal aid), environmental law work, civil rights law work. I'll probably major in Political Science, Environmental Studies, Sociology, and whatnot</p>

<p>So Far I'm looking at:
- Transylvania
- Centre
- Oberlin
- Bowdoin
- George Washington University (in the large university genre)
- Middlebury
- Macalester
- Kenyon</p>

<p>The first two on that list are financial/academic safeties. Financial aid is important (my family will probably have a very low EFC), but not a deal breaker for an excellent school.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

2

<p>Smith College has all of the characteristics you list as wanting in a school. </p>

<p>Also, 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.</p>

<p>It 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>

3

<p>Except the student's male :-)</p>

4

<p>If you like GWU, take a look at American - it's very similar, but somewhat less selective. Both are great for poli sci, IR, and anything in that area. You could look at Georgetown, too, as the ultimate political school, but that'll be a lot reachy-er than the other two.</p>

<p>You might want to take a look at NYU, too. It's probably a lot larger than you'd like, but as I read through your ideal school's characteristics, all I could think was NYU - it's basically the definition of sophisticated, urban, and arsty, with stellar academics to boot. Not sure about what kind of aid you'll get, but it's definitely worth checking out.</p>

5

<p>Thanks Pizzagirl--somehow I missed that!</p>

6

<p>You might want to consider applying to U. California Berkeley if you are into the liberal side of things.</p>

7

<p>Amherst? Definitely a reach, but it's a reach for just about everyone and it seems to fit most of your criteria.</p>

8

<p>LOL, i love the title of this. :) i'm a college shopaholic too...and it's way too early for me! :&lt;/p>

9

<p>Bowdoin and Middlebury are definitely good choices. I don't know much about Bowdoin, but when I read the description of what you are looking for it screamed Midd. small, liberal, environmentally conscious (in a major way, best I've seen out of literally any school, check out their organic gardens and 'living roof' on the dining hall), academically rigorous, cold, nice campus, active students, all that stuff. Really try visiting if possible. I'll be able to tell you a lot more in about a week and a half lol but as of now I think that would be perfect for you.</p>

10

<p>definitely tufts. seems like a perfect match to me.</p>

11

<p>I think Bowdoin, Middlebury, and Macalester are winners; I can't speak to the others on your list. The one concern about Middlebury is that it's about as far from "urban" as you can get. Sophisticated, yes; but it's remote. Also, check out Wesleyan. Middletown, CT is a small city, but it has a bit of an urban feel and you're definitely in the Boston-NY corridor. Very artsy and politically active, mostly on the progressive side.</p>

<p>Your stats are good, but I think these schools are all reaches (or at best "high matches"). You need more in the match and safety range (though perhaps Centre and Transylvania do that for you).</p>

12

<p>Yeah, I am a bit heavy on the reaches... if anyone has any suggestions for a good match, I would appreciate it. (Though I do think Oberlin would be a good match, based on stats I've seen. I also would be very happy at both safeties, so I'm not worried.)</p>

<p>I don't necessarily want an urban campus... it's a plus, but I can do without. NYU isn't on my list because it's such a big student body (and notorious for lots of lines and red tape, to borrow from the PR.) </p>

<p>I haven't been impressed with American's website. That sounds trivial, I know, but in 2008, one almosts expects a modern, well designed website. Especially considering it's the first thing you see about the school. It says a lot about how the rest of the school will be, it seems. </p>

<p>I didn't mention, I do want to stay within reasonable distance of Kentucky. Macalester and Bowdoin are probably as far as I want to go. (We have family Upstate, and Middlebury is only and hour from their place, conveniently.)</p>

13

<p>Reed...it satisfies everything.</p>

<p>Small student body - ~1100
"Liberal" e.g. Socially and Environmentally Conscious (both school and students) - Yes
"Sophisticated" (The NY Times in on sale on campus... the cafeteria has organic ethnic food for dinner) - Yes
My favorite seasons are autumn and winter... so I like cold. - Portland has the autumn/winter that keeps on giving...rain...but it stays under 60 from October to April
I tend to prefer urban areas, but I appreciate small towns and would be fine with a solid Internet connection - Portland's population is ~560,000
Fairly groomed grounds, natural beauty, and students who take advantage - Yes
Arts present on campus, accessible to other students (i.e., Drama Clubs, Exhibitions, Music) - This is a trademark of liberal schools
Politically active - In the 'People's Republic of Portland', yes, it is
Other Liberal Arts School "stuff" (good accessible professors, a competent administration, low red tape, etc.) - Yes</p>

14

<p>I was just going to say this screams Carleton! You also may want to look at Rhodes.</p>

15

<p>Except, obviously, your distance requirement. Carleton is what you want, then.</p>

16

<p>WashU and Vanderbilt and Wake Forest are not on your list? Did they not appeal to you? On our "tour" of Vandy 3 years ago, our tour guide was from a small competitive school in Kentucky. </p>

<p>Just a thought. But otherwise, your list is fine. Middlebury is highly selective and known for quirky admissions. They are the number one school for language training by the way.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

17

<p>If you like Oberlin, than I definitely second my school, Wesleyan (in CT), as another good reach. It fits all of your requirements. Except that the New York Times isn't for sale on campus...it's free! And no drama club, just an entirely student run theater that puts on mostly student produced shows :D</p>

<p>Vassar might be another good reach, and I also agree with the Carleton suggestion. </p>

<p>Have you checked out Grinnell? Another great school that might be slightly easier to get into than it’s East cost peers because location = not quite as many people applying.</p>

18

<p>I'm not sure about WashU, Vandy, and Wake Forest. They all seem a little big. </p>

<p>Rhodes is far too Southern. My only Southern traits are elongated "I's", a love of sweet tea, and politeness. I also enjoy bluegrass music. </p>

<p>Thanks for all the help! Tonight I'm going to make a spreadsheet to compare admissions stats so I can see where I'm going to stack up... does anyone have any more match suggestions?</p>

19

<p>Possibly Earlham?</p>

20

<p>Carleton, Haverford, and Wesleyan are exactly what you describe (more so than some of the others on your list).</p>