<p>So, My parents really want me to go to any Ivy and I really don't want to go. I would rather go to a nescac school or another small liberal arts college... small, cozy and not too intense. I've already gotten into MIT (EA) and I applied to Columbia, Cornell, Yale and Dartmouth...I also applied to Oberlin and Wesleyan.(Probably won't get into the ivies anyways) What should I do? is there another school that I should apply to?</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0/4.4
ACT: 33
SATS: M: 790 W: 770 CR: 770
(Taken them twice)
EC: artclub, art awards...etc. (a lot of stuff- nothing ridiculously impressive)
White, Female, no Financial aid needed. Legacy at Yale and Cornell...Grandparents went to Hamilton College and UPenn. </p>
<p>I'm an artsy person, I take lots of art class, and photography classes. I'm kind of laid back, and I really don't think any of the ivies will fit me. I don't play sports, and I'm more on the chill side. Art History Major...my parents want me to be an engineer blah blah blah.</p>
<p>Wow. Impressive Stats… I think you’ll like the quirky schools, like Wesleyan, Reed, Oberlin, try Bates and Hamilton (Since you’re a legacy) Have you looked at NYU? or like the art schools? RISDI (or something) </p>
<p>Kinda stinks that your parents are overpowering your decisions like that, but I mean you have obtained really great test scores, and you have an amazing gpa, I can see why they would want you to do more with them. Just go with your gut, and apply to what ever freakin school you want to. good luck.</p>
<p>Look at the highly-ranked LACs. Amherst is probably not what you’re looking for…but maybe Swarthmore or Pomona, Middlebury, Vassar… hopefully your parents might be willing to compromise on some of these great schools.</p>
<p>I’m surprised you haven’t considered Brown. It’s often considered along with the top liberal arts colleges and Dartmouth, and as an artsy person you would totally enjoy the fact that RISD, considered the best art school in the country, is nearby and you can take classes there. The academic climate is also very chill and laid back, especially with the Open Curriculum. In fact, it sounds perfect for you and it would please your parents since it’s an Ivy.</p>
<p>However, there’s no point to worrying about any of this right now.</p>
<p>Apply to the ivies and your favorite LACs and see what shakes out in the spring. :)</p>
<p>As you say… * Probably won’t get into the ivies anyways * … so, if that happens then your parents can’t make you go, right? :)</p>
<p>So, relax for now, apply to schools that you like along with your ivies, and then see what happens. :)</p>
<p>Do you have any plans to do campus visits? Perhaps if your parents see that you’re happier at non-ivy schools, they’ll change your mind.</p>
<p>As for the choice of major, just politely, but firmly say that you don’t want to major in engineering. If they persist, remind them that without a desire, it’s impossible for you to do well in the major.</p>
<p>Thanks Everyone! That’s such great advice! I have considered Brown, except my brother goes there… it’s a great school though. I’m sorry you don’t know my brother,he’s the total opposite. Pompous, annoying, conceited, preppy white boy everything rolled up in one. Sorry I cannot go to the same school as him. I have considered RISD, however. That was a no from the parentals (thanks, Pwilcox and schrizto though) </p>
<p>Williams, ahh yes. Middle of no where though?</p>
<p>I think my strongest candidate so far is Columbia, I guess I want to be near the city and the great art museums… plus it’s an ivy…I will look at Swarthmore and Vassar, but Pomona is FAR. I live in New England . Ahh, well the further the better.</p>
<p>thanks mom2collegekids! You make very valid points. It’s my choice, my parents cannot dictate. Well, they’re not dictating, they’ll just be “disappointed,” which I find worse. Ahh! Well, I’ll apply to a few more schools, and I’ll let everyone know in April!</p>
<p>please keep giving me advice, I think i have until January first-ish? depending on the school. I can whip out essays too if I have to…</p>
<p>Except for Yale, you’ll probably get into every school on your list. </p>
<p>Dartmouth is a good choice, due to its LAC qualities. If you’re not confident about getting in, as others have said, Brown is also a good LAC-like university.</p>
<p>As for LACs, people have already mentioned Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, Pomona, etc.</p>
<p>Why don’t you pick a school that is good for art and engineering (they are interrelated to a certain extent)? It’s possible that in college you may end up choosing one or the other (or neither).</p>
<p>It’s actually curious that you applied to MIT since you seem much more into the liberal arts… parental influence? Heck, you might even have ended up getting an advantage at MIT since you were different from all the AIME qualifiers or whatever awards math whizzes have.</p>
<p>Greene, You want “small, cozy and not too intense” plus a good art & art history department and you applied EA to MIT?! You don’t have a whole lot of time here but you seriously need to hit the reset button.</p>
<p>For art & art history, I would have thought Brown too, but okay you have your reasons. Among the rest of the ivy league I would focus on Yale. For LACs: Oberlin and Wesleyan are good. I would add Williams and Barnard. </p>
<p>Williams has an outstanding art and art history program. No it isn’t urban, but then neither is Dartmouth or Cornell. If after visiting you feel it’s not for you, fine, but I wouldn’t eliminate the option yet.</p>
<p>Columbia albeit urban sounds like the antithesis of what you’re looking for. Consider Barnard – you get many of the advantages but with a nurturing atmosphere.</p>
<p>You might also think about adding some less selectives or safeties (unless you really would go to MIT). I’d suggest Hamilton, Smith or Skidmore for art & art history.</p>
<p>Have you prepared an art portfolio as a supplement to your application? Again, time is tight, but this would be a big plus to your application to highly selectives like Yale, Williams.</p>
<p>Sounds weird. Usually, when one child gets into an Ivy, it takes the pressure off the younger ones to follow suit. But, whatever. I think if you’re not entirely sure about engineering as a career, you should give yourself some breathing space and consider a 3+2 joint program which many LACs offer in conjunction with top engineering schools (I know Wesleyan and Pomona sponsor one.) Otherwise, you will be spending the next four years taking required courses you may not need in an engineering school you probably didn’t want to attend in the first place. Just my .02 cents.</p>
<p>Haha yeah the whole MIT thing was not my idea… more or less my grandparent’s influence (yes there are more forces against me) i gave in though cause it’s early action, non-binding or anything so I thought it would be okay. I’ve actually visited some of the schools that many of you have suggested, and I really liked some of them. Yes, I have sent in an art portfolio. I have extra prints, as well. I have also thought of studying to be an architect…kind of blends engineering with art history (kind of)…that’s why i need to go to a liberal arts school, i need to explore everything!</p>
<p>So here is my updated college list because I don’t have a lot of time!</p>
<p>MIT, Columbia, Yale, Cornell and Dartmouth, Wesleyan and Oberlin = Already Applied. </p>
<p>I have done some research and listened to many of suggestions, and this is what I came up with: </p>
<p>Williams, Reed, Swarthmore and Pomona. Any last minute ideas? = will apply this week. </p>
<p>My parents are letting me apply anywhere, but i think they’ll pull the leash in april, when i need to decide. </p>
<p>For liberal arts plus architecture, Brown + RISD packs a tremendous one-two punch.
Does the fact that your brother is at Brown really matter so much?</p>
<p>ah, Yes that sounds amazing, but brown is just not big enough. Do you have siblings? Would you like to go to the same school as them? I mean he’s my brother and I love him, but the next four years are the years where I can kind of stray away from my entire family, and I’m hoping to individualize myself.</p>
<p>Yes, California might be a nice change from Connecticut.</p>
</p>