Is this a good list of LACs? (sophomore)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm just finishing up my sophomore year, and I've spent a great deal of time researching colleges. I'm mostly interested in liberal arts colleges, as I want an undergraduate experience that is not impersonal. I don't want to feel like a number, and I want teachers to know my name, all that. I'm thinking about a major in Environmental Studies, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me if any of these colleges are good, as well as if they fit my personality/what I'm looking for (also, are any of them too much of a reach for me, as of now)?</p>

<p>I'm looking for a school that is not preppy, nor focused entirely on drugs/drinking. I realize that drugs and alcohol will obviously have a presence on any college campus (some more than others), but as of now, it's not something that interests me. I want my classmates to be intellectual, but not completely obsessed with grades and have no interests beyond school. I'm not interested in a school that has a Greek-dominated social scene. I'm a fairly laid back person, so I would like a school that reflects that. The location can be urban or rural, it doesn't really matter that much. I like to make my own fun, even in the middle of nowhere. Like many students, I have a great interest in studying abroad, so I'd need a college that offers a lot of options.</p>

<p>Anyways, that's sort of the gist.
Here are my stats as of the end of sophomore year.</p>

<p>UW GPA: 3.7. I feel it's worth mentioning that I've gotten two C's in high school. (Freshman year: Honors Bio, and Sophomore Year: Science Research, which is an elective. Will these bad grades ruin my chances?)</p>

<p>My school has an unusual way of weighting classes, but my rank is 29/655, and I expect that will go up once the school year ends. </p>

<p>ACT:
Composite: 31
Reading: 36
Math: 28
Science: 28
English: 32</p>

<p>This last semester I got straight A's, with the exception of my elective, Science Research. Stupid class. I take a pretty rigorous courseload, entirely Honors and AP classes. By the time I apply to college, I'll have taken 5 APs.</p>

<p>My ECs are pretty good, two club presidencies and one vice presidency. The club that I founded is very unique. I'm also involved in a few other clubs, am a tutor at my school, and have a part-time job at a movie theater.</p>

<p>Soooo, yeah. Sorry about the rambling, I just want to get your opinion on how I'm doing, what I can do to improve, etc. so that I can go to these colleges, as well as any recommendations you might have for my tentative list.</p>

<p>Occidental
Colorado College
Macalester
Grinnell
Beloit
Pitzer (thought Pomona would be too much of a reach)
Whitman (too much drinking/Greek life?)
Rhodes (same as Whitman)</p>

<p>I'm also upper-middle class, White, male. Merit aid would be nice.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>My guess is that your best shot at merit would be Whitman, but you absolutely have a chance at all of those.</p>

<p>But, you are a sophomore. If you can keep up the straight As, improve your ACT even more (even though its a great score, good job!), and continue to stay involved, your GPA will go up and so will your chances for merit/admission.</p>

<p>You are on the right track!</p>

3

<p>If you REALLY want merit, look at schools that you are above average. Look into Drew U. It isn’t super well known or highly ranked but its a great school and they are looking for students of your caliber. Try that as a back up.</p>

4

<p>You say, “merit aid would be nice”. I take that to mean you won’t qualify for need-based aid, but your family is not fabulously wealthy, either. If so, you should add one or two financial safeties. All the schools on your list are expensive; they might not come through with big merit offers. You’re probably not looking at more than $5K-$10K from each (unless your grades stay high and your scores go way up). If your own state schools are too big, consider public LACs like SUNY Geneseo or St. Mary’s College of Md. </p>

<p>Otherwise, you’ve started a great list. Colorado College fits your criteria to a T. I think you’d love it … and would have a good shot at admission.</p>

5

<p>[environmental</a> studies | St. Lawrence University Academics](<a href=“http://www.stlawu.edu/academics/programs/environmental-studies]environmental”>Environmental Studies | St. Lawrence University)</p>

<p>St. Lawrence University (NY)</p>

6

<p>As a safety with a really good chance of a significant merit award, look at Wittenberg.</p>

7

<p>Well, financially, my parents aren’t quite ready to have that conversation, for whatever reason. I think I know a ballpark figure of what we make, but I don’t know any of that tax stuff, so I can’t fill out an EFC calculator yet. There’s time, though.</p>

<p>And thanks, I really like what I’ve read about Colorado College.</p>

8

<p>You’ve got a nice list there. You sound like a good fit for Grinnell, culturally. (See the “Why Grinnell” thread on the Grinnell forum. Outstanding sciences and merit aid, among other reasons.) Colorado College would also be a good fit if you like the block schedule. </p>

<p>Have you tried the SAT? You might find that you do significantly better with a little practice. Merit aid may require slightly higher test scores.</p>

<p>Take a look at Oberlin too. Definitely not preppy. </p>

<p>And don’t worry about the Freshman Cs. Schools are more interested in seeing the upward trend, especially for guys, whom they know mature a bit more slowly.</p>

9

<p>[Green</a> Mountain College](<a href=“http://www.greenmtn.edu/]Green”>http://www.greenmtn.edu/)</p>

<p>[Majors</a> & Minors: Green Mountain College](<a href=“http://www.greenmtn.edu/environmental_studies/programs.aspx#env_stu]Majors”>http://www.greenmtn.edu/environmental_studies/programs.aspx#env_stu)</p>

<p>Green Mountain College (Vermont) Cost of attendance is about $37,000/year.</p>

10

<p>(shameless plug) Carleton?</p>

<p>But for real it’s similar to Grinnell and Oberlin</p>

11

<p>Carleton would be a big reach. DD2 had a 34 ACT and a 4.0 UW GPA (Val) and was wait listed.</p>

12

<p>I would take a good look at the thread at the bottom of this post and learn some lessons from the OP. They applied to four private colleges and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, their home state flagship university, I would guess that the OP’s family is upper-middle class like your’s. They had exactly one financial safety other than their state school and if you notice the evolution of the thread, the OP bounced from one decision to the next over the space of six weeks. They’re now attending Pomona for purely reasons of fit, but not before a lot of soul-searching and ultimately playing Wesleyan and Pomona off each other for more FA. Lesson: include more financial safeties: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1114834-wesleyan-university-vs-uw-madison-vs-hendrix-college.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1114834-wesleyan-university-vs-uw-madison-vs-hendrix-college.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>I have a son who is a rising sophomore at Whitman and I wouldn’t say that drinking and Greek life dominate the social scene there. Fraternities and sororities are present, but in a kinder gentler way than is traditional. They are primarily focused on community service and Greeks and independents hang out together. Greek parties are open to all and serve to make the social scene more open than at some schools where parties are small and hidden in dorm rooms. Non-drinkers and non-Greeks don’t stay home and suffer, there are an amazing amount of activities on campus for everybody. </p>

<p>Whitties love varsity, club and intramural sports. They also have an excellent and very active outdoor program. The students are smart and very outgoing. The academics are rigorous, yet the faculty is tremendously supportive. Admissions are very selective, but they really like people who have done interesting things and will bring unique talents to campus.</p>

<p>Good luck in your college search, you are being very proactive and thoughtful in your approach. If you can, try to visit these places because while researching them can be very helpful, being on the campus will tell you much much more.</p>

14

<p>You have a great list so far. Agree with looking at Oberlin. Maybe College of Wooster and Ohio Wesleyan for more merit aid though. Determine parents estimated EFC if you can soon. Just keep doing what you are doing. You are on the right track.</p>

<p>Not quite sure if this is a good fit or not, but maybe Bard?</p>

15

<p>Go to Grinnell. :)</p>

<p>But yes, add Carleton to your list too.</p>

<p>@Erin’s Dad, that’s really odd. She’s way above average stat-wise. I would chalk that up to the unpredictability of college admissions with all the quotas and such the colleges are trying to meet.</p>

16

<p>What’s so great about Carleton? It seems kind of intense.</p>

17

<p>[About</a> Kalamazoo College](<a href=“Faculty and Staff Directory | Kalamazoo College”>Faculty and Staff Directory | Kalamazoo College)</p>

<p>Maybe you should take a look at Kalamazoo College. Big on Study Abroad, too.</p>

18

<p>

</p>

<p>Some would say that’s a big part of its greatness. Seriously, schools like the University of Chicago and Swarthmore have well-deserved reputations for being academic pressure-cookers, and that pushes many of their students to do great things. But it’s not for everyone. Carleton is similar in that regard. If you want a heavy-duty dose of academic intensity, it’s a good place. If you’re looking for a more laid-back atmosphere, it may not be for you.</p>

19

<p>Sounds kind of like Reed, which I was initially drawn to, but turned off by the drugs and the extremely intense-sounding education. I don’t know yet if such a high-stress environment will suit me or not, but it’s something to consider, I suppose. I bet most of the colleges I’m interested have a certain level of stress involved, but none of them are as intense as Reed or Carleton.</p>

20

<p>How about Lewis and Clark? Great location in Portland, a little less intense than Reed, great study abroad opportunities.</p>