<p>Smith sounds ideal for you.</p>
<p>Beating a dead horse a little bit here, but yes, Vassar is at least at the level of most schools on the list, and probably above some. Not a safety, but it should definitely be considered as it does fit the criteria.</p>
<p>free tuition for 3 yrs to Gallatin? I'm guessing a parent works there?</p>
<p>Please, share. lol</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses y'all. Now let me respond to all of your thoughtful comments:</p>
<p>bclintonk: That's a good point about Haverford. Based on my friends who have visited both, it seemed as if people tended to be partial to one or the other with hardly any overlap. I had assumed it would be the case, but I'd be more than willing to check it out when I head down to Philly.</p>
<p>The way I felt about Smith was that it was between Bryn Mawr and Smith, and since I would love to be in the Philly system and BM has a great peace and conflict studies program, Bryn Mawr seemed to be the better choice of the two. </p>
<p>Earlham... it's funny, Earlham keeps popping up into my college search. Everything about it sounds great... except I think that I feel very strongly about the urban part. The reason, however, transcends merely a bias: music is extremely important to me, and I would really like to be surrounded by it in a city setting, where I would have easy access to voice teachers and live music. I may pursue music later on as a professional career, and while I don't intend to study it seriously in college, I have the luxury of being a vocalist and being granted time before I have to make a real commitment. At any rate, I feel strongly about being close to the arts and music in a way that surpasses merely the college campus. </p>
<p>Another reason I want a city is because I really value independence and time alone. I like being able to be with people, and then head off to a city to escape the bubble even for a couple of hours and recharge.</p>
<p>ericatbucknell and dancerad64: Hmm. I live about half an hour from the city, so I know Eugene Lang, but I had never considered it. I had been under the impression that it was mostly for continuing ed.... But, that's interesting...</p>
<p>juillet: Maybe it's a Northeast bias, but Atlanta fails to appeal. I've heard that it's a hard city to navigate by foot, and I think I'm looking for a place more embracing of the arts. If these are unfair assumptions, please feel free to correct and set me straight.</p>
<p>Isn't Dickinson located in a suburb? I'd really like access to a city with ample arts venues and opportunities. I'll look more into the programs at Hunter and CUNY-- I know that for certain tracks, they have great offerings. I know Saratoga (and thus, Skidmore) quite well, and though I love it in the summer, I think I might go crazy if I had to deal with that tiny town for an entire year.</p>
<p>bluejay: I am aiming to get my math SAT score up to a 700. And yes, I feel a little insecure about my lack of math next year. It's just that the teachers teaching the senior math classes are quite awful, and I know I would do horribly since I wouldn't really understand what they were teaching. Is this a serious mistake? </p>
<p>DagnyT: I'm planning to take the APs this upcoming May, but obviously, it's too late to take them so that colleges will see them. Oh well. I know it's not an objective standard, but I got a 98 in my APUSH class at home and a 91 at boarding school, as well as a 91/91 in APES and a 92/88 in AP French. Just for the record, the 88 in AP French at boarding school is the one grade in the 80s I have on my entire record, and that's an unweighted grade.</p>
<p>unalove: Sarah Lawrence is too small, I think. It's also about 15 minutes from me, and just feels too safe-- not in terms of admission, but in terms of living arrangements and all. And while their excellent english program strongly allures me, I haven't heard anything about their international programs/focuses.</p>
<p>New College's location in Sarasota, FL also isn't very exciting to me. Florida isn't exactly the cultural haven that I'm craving.</p>
<p>Katliamom: I am not opposed to the West, but I am opposed to snow! I just feel so trapped when I'm surrounded by miles and miles of snow...</p>
<p>classof09: As much as I wanted to love it, I kind of hated Vassar. It just felt so, well, rich. And I hated it's location. I know Poughkipsee well, and it seemed so obnoxious and unnecessary to place such a gorgeous and ridiculously expensive college in the midst of such a slum.</p>
<p>momrath: Read my response to bclinton. But why do say that it sounds ideal? Please elaborate. ;)</p>
<p>paperplatethesis: My dad is about to start a job at NYU, and he was told that I would get free tuition. However, the terms are still not finalized and the whole thing seems too good to be true. But, oh dear, I hope that it's not just a fantasy! -- Cause that would be incredible. :)</p>
<hr>
<p>Rereading all of these, I know it seems as though I'm rejecting everything. Really, I so much appreciate all of your input and thoughts. Maybe I'm sticking too closely to my ideal vision-- that's quite possible. But if any of you have any objections/corrections as to the above/anything else, I would LOVE to hear it.</p>
<p>Thanks so much guys!!</p>
<p>Well, the difficulty is seeking the ideal that is also a safety. </p>
<p>You might want to look at Fordham to add to the list. Beautiful campus in NYC and there's this program: <a href="http://fordham.edu/academics/programs_at_fordham_/peace%5B/url%5D">http://fordham.edu/academics/programs_at_fordham_/peace</a></p>
<p>This program: Peace</a> and Justice Studies</p>
<p>Schools I am surprised they are not on your list, unfortunately not safeties
Tufts
Brandeis
Wellesley</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Why does it need to be one or the other? I'm not suggesting that Smith bump Bryn Mawrt on your list. My D is very interested in Bryn Mawr for much the same reasons you are (although right now she's got Haverford #1, Bryn Mawr and Wesleyan tied for #2), But given that it's a bit easier to get into Smith than Bryn Mawr with your stats, I'm suggesting keeping Bryn Mawr as a match (and higher on your list of preferences) and adding Smith as a reach (and somewhere lower on your list of preferences).</p>
<p>I completely understand the urban thing; again, that's why my D has Earlham as a safety, and definitely farther down her list than Haverford and Bryn Mawr. Smith isn't exactly in an urban setting, either, but Northampton is a lively little college town, and there's a lot going on culturally in the five colleges area and Western Mass more generally.</p>
<p>The question you need to ask is, what if you DON'T get into ANY of your reach or match schools? You've got Hampshire on your list as a safety; that may be all you need. But Smith seems to meet mre of your criteria than Hampshire. As does, arguably, Earlham (more intellectual than Hampshire, IMO), except possibly for the urban thing--but that requires you to stipulate that the five colleges area counts as more "urban" than Richmond, IN, and surely Northampton is the most urban part of the five colleges area, so doesn't that count as a point in favor of Smith?</p>
<p>Have you looked at Occidental? It's right in the middle of LA. </p>
<p>Lewis+Clark, which, like Reed, is righ toutside of Portland, might also be worth a look.</p>
<p>I read the entire thread to see if anyone said Occidental and sure enough the last post did. Oxy is my recommendation (and I have no connection to it so it's an unbiased rec).</p>
<p>You might also check out Rhodes College in Memphis as a safety. Is the poster curmudgeon still around and kicking? His very intellectually curious daughter was admitted to a lot of excellent schools, chose Rhodes, and has had a blast there.</p>
<p>All great schools on your list but for additional schools beyond those already mentioend that are a bit easier to get into than most of your list you could consider:</p>
<p>Muhlenburg
Franklin and Marshall
Bard
Skidmore (think someone mentioned them already(
Connecticut College
Drew</p>
<p>Not all meet your location prefererence or other considerations but that often happens when adding "safety" schools.</p>
<p>Also, I would second the suggestion to check out Haverford, give Vassar another look, and what about Wesleyan or Oberlin while we are adding instead of substracting!</p>
<p>Earlham is in a corn field, however, it has a liberal, funky student body, mostly from out of state, and with Quaker roots it has the programs you were looking for. I would consider visiting.
Are you taking a fourth year of math? It doesn't have to be AP or Calculus, but four years almost a necessity for college admission.</p>
<p>Rhodes College or Colorado College come to mind.</p>
<p>Trinity College is in the city of Hartford. It is not a safety but could be a match for you.</p>
<p>S knows someone who went to the Mountain School for a semester, similar stats to yours, and got into Middlebury ED (this was two years ago). Is this too rural for you, though?</p>
<p>Check out Case Western. In Cleveland, take courses in the Cleveland Inst of Music.</p>
<p>Try Kalamazoo College.</p>
<p>Holy Cross and Tufts.</p>
<p>Burlington is a smaller city but its star is on the rise. Check out Burlington College; it might be a good safety for you.</p>