Your list is fine - make sure all are test optional. He may not get into a Pitzer, for example, but will into the UPS, Bard, Whitman, Willamette, etc.
Good luck
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Thanks very much!
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Yes, it’s important to distinguish what’s “enough” as a human being from what’s enough for this school or that school. Frankly, I think that most kids these days are doing plenty just getting through school, parents, grandparents, music lessons, COVID, puberty, media, the collapse of society, etc. But I get that there’s a system out there that rewards certain kinds of involvement over others, and that is what it is. I have no desire to make my kid anyone other than exactly who he is, and if that’s not enough for school x or y, that’s ok too. My point about the EC’s being “light” was more just contextual. I know that there are lots of great kids doing lots of splashy impressive things that will stand out more than perhaps his will.
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btw - I didn’t get into the issues everyone raised - because you didn’t. You wanted a look at your list -in order to apply to 10-12.
A couple things I’d say - with common app, if you go over, don’t worry. My daughter applied to 21. You have the essay done and recs done. If you have one off essays, you’ll find out you’ll have 3 or 4 total that will cover all or most.
You say money isn’t an issue. You may be well off - but it doesn’t mean you need to spend it. My daughter’s EFC was in the 6 figures - but - she’s not going to Washington & Lee - the best school she got into. Why? In part, her choice but even if it wasn’t - dad doesn’t see the value in spending $320K. It’s a personal choice.
So you’re not going to apply to a U of South Carolina or Arizona State - but their Honors Colleges are like, in some ways, liberal arts colleges - and you’ll save a boat load of money which could be used on cars, future down payments for your kids, or otherwise. Again, it’s a personal call.
OK - I wasn’t going to throw one out but Dennison has 5% Jewish population and is known for performance arts - so there might be an avenue there for you. Of course, with small schools, there’s not going to be a huge jewish population.
Well again it’s a solid list - great luck to your son. You’ve done a great job on paper.
Now go see as you are - and if you are near a school you took off the list, go see it too - because you may find out that you love it!!!
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I realize that many people apply to a lot of schools, especially this year, with the whole pandemic/test optional situation, but I wanted to warn the OP that it’s harder than it might sound. My daughter (high school class of 2020, so pre-pandemic applications) applied just to 7 schools, 6 LACs and our state flagship, and she was exhausted. It didn’t help that our state flagship didn’t use Common App, so she had to write two separate essays for her first-choice and second-choice majors and attend an open house with the resume/interview for the second major (theater). Some LACs still require additional essays. She also applied to a bunch of artistic scholarships when colleges offered those, from music and theater to creative writing, and those required more essays, resumes, audition videos, etc. So, if the OP’s son decides to pursue some music scholarships, for example, there will be additional application materials, and this can be time-consuming. I’m not trying to discourage anybody from applying to more schools, but people need to be aware what it may involve.
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It will depend on the schools applied to and majors - A U of Texas or CA has it’s own app. Most the schools are on common. Essays start to blend, etc.
I see TO the other way - too many applications - a kid with a 27 ACT would never apply to Harvard, but now they do. So the competition is fierce, especially if you see merit.
My daughter’s valedictorian with a 36 ACT applied to 18 schools. 16 were in the US News Top 20. Rejected at all. She got into NYU but no merit (they’re not known for merit) and is going to U of Tennessee in their Honors College instead
Yes, to get merit or more merit does require work and kids have to pick/choose which to go for - because most are unachievable. We sought after “easier to get” such as through my employer.
You have people who say to apply to 7 and others who say 27.
I think, if you have a safety on your list and you’re perfectly acceptable to that school, then there’s no reason to apply to a ton - unless you have needs such as aid - which this student doesn’t. Just make sure the safety is truly a safety.
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I agree with you re TO–too many applications, this is why I said people applied to more schools in this cycle (also because things were less predictable). My daughter applied in 2019-20 for the fall 2020 start, before the pandemic, so everything was more normal then. She did have a solid safety in our state flagship for her major and even got into the campus honors program, but she really wanted a LAC, and this honors program doesn’t carry a significant merit award, so it was easier to pass on it.
One mistake I see people make. They get into their safety and feel “forced” to go.
People have to pick a safety saying - if there is where I end up, I’ll be perfectly happy.
For my daughter, we got lucky - one of her “many” safeties is the school she felt most comfortable at (College of Charleston) - so even though she got into Washington & Lee, Florida, America, UGA Honors, etc. she just fell in love with Charleston.
After she accepted in late April - and don’t try this at home - but they sent her another $9K in aid based on a simple scholarship form they filled out.
In her case, she “chose” the safety over others. Other times people are forced into their safety and are upset. So my advice to anyone is - pick a safety that you can be happy at - and there’s a lot out there that aren’t in your state that are cheap (U of Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Florida State and then small publics if you want a LACs). There’s also cheap privates such as Bradley U, that give wonderful aid.
In the end and everyone’s different, but money matters.
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Absolutely! Our wonderful high school guidance counselor always emphasizes that a safety school is the one you’re very likely to get admitted into AND you’d be happy to go to. Because LACs are usually private and expensive, the state school was our financial safety (our daughter would have been fine there, she didn’t hate it, she just preferred a smaller, more intimate environment). Her favorite safety was Knox College, but it didn’t have all the academic offerings she was interested in and she was fortunate to get generous merit and some financial aid from other LACs. She basically liked all her schools, so it was a hard choice (but not the worst problem to have). Anyway, no intention to hijack this thread, I hope this information is somewhat helpful.
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Glad it worked out. Yep. Having too many possibilities is actually a great problem to have !!
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I think Lawrence is wonderful, but it is in a small town and I don’t think he’ll find a lot of Jewish activities at the school or in the town. Maybe that’s what he’s looking for (nothing religious), but Appleton is going to be more christian focused. I went to a concert there years ago and I’m pretty sure it was in a church on campus.
If he wasn’t so set on a smaller school, I’d recommend U of Denver. He could major in music but still get the teaching certificate. The college of music is on the edge of campus so in its own little world (of course some classes would be with the riffraff of regular students). The concert hall is gorgeous. There are D1 sports but no football, the Greek life is pretty small. Many (most?) students do part or all of junior year abroad. There is an active Hillel group. His stats would get him merit aid. Because DU is in Denver, there are a lot of music opportunities in the city - symphony, jazz in the park, opera, clubs, etc., all available via light rail.
@cosmopolitan2022 I’d agree that it’s better to be conservative about your child’s chances, but I think you’re leaning a bit too conservative. I don’t see 2 B’s in 9th grade as being significant. What I do see is an almost all-A student with outstanding recommendations, no financial constraints and a primary EC that is both deeply and broadly focused. His podcast is a plus (and would most likely make a good essay topic).
Your son will be a person of interest to LACs that don’t host conservatories but still promote music performance in the form of multiple ensembles and orchestras. I would encourage him to submit a performance supplement and include a music oriented resume.
Your upcoming visits will help a lot with material for the very important “Why X?” essays. Bear in mind that LACs are interested in knowing not only why applicants think the colleges would be a good fit for them culturally but also what they can bring to the campus community.
As for other ideas: I would join those that have suggested Wesleyan and although definitely a reach he might also research Williams on the basis of its vibrant music program. Both have ample performance opportunities for non-majors. I don’t know much about Grinnell’s music program, but it sounds like a good cultural fit.
I know that Covid has changed the outlook on standardized tests, but since he has another 5-6 months I would reconsider the test optional option. Schools understand that kids are often lopsided; they need STEM majors AND humanities/social science majors. His math score doesn’t need to be at MIT level, just respectable.
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Money is what’s most important. Just take the dean out for dinner and see what happens.
The Stare University of New York has some interesting options. One of its best kept secrets is Crane College of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Much better known is Purchase College (SUNY) in the NYC suburbs, which is excellent for Music & the Arts.
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I agree that Grinnell would be a good fit. Last time I checked they had free private lessons (30 minutes long) and some scholarships for longer or additional lessons.
Grinnell would not be good for a Jewish student.
Why not? It’s located in rural Iowa, yes, but it’s not a regional college, it’s quite diverse. I know a Jewish family whose son just graduated and had a great experience there. And my daughter considered it seriously…
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Not sure about the conservatory aspects of these but they have high Jewish populations according to Hillel.org
Clark 500 Jewish students out of 2349
F&M 300 of 2314
Union 300 of 2189
Trinity 220 of 2221
I imagine it depends on the student. If you want to be amongst Jews and have an active life, it’s not there. You won’t have issues per se but there won’t be others to bond with. Per Hillel, there are no students. They don’t have Jewish Studies. If you look for articles about being Jewish there, most are ten years old.
They have had a staff rabbi in the past and maybe now but there’s no heft. It’s why we eliminated it. My daughter, growing up in suburban Nashville with few Jews around, struggled amongst all the other kids who had a dominant religious life.
So if you seek a vibrant Jewish life, to me, I would not consider Grinnell. If you just want to not feel uncomfortable but know you are one of few, it may be fine
I second this, but did not want to intrude.