LAC/General Queries from a Senior interested in History and Chemistry

College Search & Selection
1

<p>As stated above, I am interested in majoring in Chemistry and, as a second choice or double major component, History. I have been considering a range of Liberal Art Colleges due to my dislike of large cities, my concerns with regards to the Ivies and equivalent national universities, and claims on the part of various sources that Liberal Art Colleges are generally very effective with respect to undergraduate education (moreso than many comparable universities). </p>

<p>I am a Connecticut resident, and have thus far been considering universities such as Wesleyan, Reed, Amherst, Oberlin, and other such schools. Foremost among these at the moment are Wesleyan and Reed. </p>

<p>My SAT composite is a 2260 (700 M, 770 CR, 790 W), andI intend to retake to see if I can eke out a somewhat higher score. I am in the top 3-4% of my 400-person High School class, all of my AP Exams (5 across Junior and Sophmore year) have been 5's, I've gotten to the National Exam level of the ACS National Chemistry Olympiad, I've received Bausch & Lomb Corporation's/The University of Rochester's Honorary Science award, I'm a Semi-Finalist for the NMSQT, I'm in Science National Honor Society, I've consistently participated in regional Science Bowls, etc. However I am somewhat lacking as far as volunteering/clubs go (only around 60 hours of Hospital volunteering, although I've held a fairly menial job at a local pharma for the past two years), which is part of the reason why I'm avoiding the Ivies (I don't exactly have much to back up an organized/non-academic social life or leadership).</p>

<p>Reed, due to its proximity to the only family I have in the country, and Reed, due to the fact that descriptions (as found in the Princeton Review's descriptions of the properties of the college within its "368 Best Colleges" book) of life at Reed seem highly consistent with my own views and ethics. Namely, the extensive emphasis on rigorous academics and intellectualism, and the general tone of campus life. Furthermore, I am committed to pursuing a doctorate in whichever specific field I end up majoring in and preferring, and furthermore firmly desire to invest my life in Academia. Reed, as I have been made aware, tends to produce a large number of successful applicants to top natural science Graduate programs, which is also quite desirable in this regard. </p>

<p>However I'm worried that my aim might be off. While, according to the descriptions of the college, Reed is very academically oriented, the SAT, ACT, and GPA ranges provided in the Princeton Review's "368 Best Colleges" seem to contradict this. According to that book, the range SAT scores were (CR: 760, M: 710, W: 730), appreciably lower than in many comparable colleges, and only 61% of those in the Freshman class assessed in the 2009 edition of the book were in the top 10 percent of their high school class. This seems profoundly low when compared to, say, Amherst, Williams, the Ivies, or even Wesleyan (especially when given the apparent emphasis of the school). Is Reed ultimately what I should be looking for given my academic credentials?</p>

<p>Wesleyan, on the other hand, is close to my current location, and thus the only family I have in the entire country. Furthermore, it has a very liberal course structure that would facilitate a double or triple major, something I am certainly interested in pursuing, and also is noted to have a strong natural sciences program (as well as considerable interest in developing its natural sciences student base). I am concerned about compatibility with the student base, however. Wesleyan apparently has a reputation for " unwashed/shaved hipsters", intense political and social activity, etc., while I am somewhat reserved (although quite sociable with those whom I do become closely acquainted), take my greatest pleasure in academic and intellectual pursuits and engagements, etc. Finally, I'm uncertain as to my chances of getting in with my credentials considering that I am also a Connecticut resident. For an aspiring (exceedingly liberal) academic interested primarily in the sciences and secondarily in history without much interest in wild partying, substance abuse (although I'm aware that Reed also has severe issues with this due to under-regulation), etc., is Wesleyan at all an appropriate environment? </p>

<p>However, my greater concern is with the overall prospects for graduate school offered by a Wesleyan. I've rarely seen Wesleyan in "top" rankings for feeder schools, LAC academics, etc., although I am aware that it is still a highly ranked, most-selective college. Regardless, I do wish to attend a top-ranked Graduate school if possible, and I'm very concerned over whether Wesleyan has sufficient clout/name recognition/educational efficacy to reliably get me into a Berkley, Columbia, etc. Natural Sciences (or, if I change my mind, History) graduate program. This has not been helped by the enormously inconsistent rankings/descriptions I've received on Wesleyan and on LACs vs. National Institutions in general. </p>

<p>Thanks for any responses and apologies for the long post.</p>

2

<p>If you want better weather, but similar to Wes, look at William & Mary as well as Davidson. Both may be a little more to your liking socially. Excellent academics for your fields of interest.</p>

3

<p>I’ve read the OP’s post twice, and any stated preference for hot weather escapes me…but that’s neither here nor there.</p>

<p>Reed and Wesleyan are both well regarded in academic circles. Virtually any top LAC or mid-sized university will have a history department that prepares you for an excellent graduate school. The natural sciences may be a bit more variable, but I believe that Reed is regarded as strong in that area. I would suggest that you consider Swarthmore. It would appear to be a good fit for you.</p>

4

<p>Yes, I’ve also been considering Swarthmore. However, I’m not really certain if my somewhat…sparse extracurriculars activities* would give me a good shot at getting in (I’ve heard that it’s the most selective of the LACs) , even with early decision. Would these (to post a more complete and readable list) be the kind of academics Swarthmore would be looking for:</p>

<p>(Approximately) 4.3 GPA
SAT: 2260 (M 700, CR 770, W 790)
SAT-II’s: Literature: 770, US History: 780, Physics: 780, Chemistry: 790
AP Exams: US History, Physics B, Chemistry, European History, English Language and Composition: All 5’s
Current APs: Calculus AB, English Literature, Biology, and Psychology
National Chemistry Olympiad Regional Finalist and National Level Participant
Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award Recipient (Provided to the Junior considered to be the most able science student within his or her class)
National Merit Scholar
NMSQT Semi-Finalist
National Science Honor Society</p>

<p>I’ve lived in both California (South and North) and Connecticut for significant periods of time, and don’t have any real preference for weather other than an aversion to extreme summertime humidity (which is why I’m not really looking much at Southern schools). </p>

<p>*Comprised of two years of a part-time job, Science National Honor society Senior year, Academic Quiz Bowl senior year, Regional Science Bowl Sophomore, Junior, and Senior year, a one month Chemistry internship at Trinity College last summer, and a cumulative sixty or so hours of volunteering at a local Hospital since Junior year (their time slots for each individual volunteer are unfortunately rather limited). Furthermore, I’ve been practicing a martial art since late Sophomore year.</p>

5

<p>Young fella, only on CC could you think that your resume doesn’t qualify you to be competitive at those fabled Ivies. Not that I disagree with you that LACs may be a better fit for you anyway.</p>

<p>That said, your apparent inference that the average SAT scores at Reed are a negative indicator is really kind of silly. Those numbers actually demonstrate that Reed’s students are really smart. And believe it or not, if they were 50 or 75 points lower across the board, they still would do so.</p>

<p>Look, there are at least 50 – if not 100 – LACs in the country that would prepare someone with your ability and motivation just fine for what you want to do. So take your head out of the numbers for a while, and just find one that you like. Some place where you like the trees or the color of the brick in the buildings or the location or the change of seasons or the chess club or whatever. You’ll not only succeed – you’ll be happy while doing it.</p>

6

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<p>It’s just possible that after four years, more people at Wesleyan decide to take a leap of faith and try their hand at the workplace. It’s produced a Who’s Who of film/television producers, writers and directors over the last twenty-five years; there isn’t a non-conservatory affiliated, LAC of its caliber with a comparable music scene; not to mention, two coaches in the National Football League. Maybe it’s something in the Middletown water supply. And, as for those great unshaven masses? You sound close enough to visit and judge for yourself, why don’t you?</p>

7

<p>Wake Forest
Davidson
William and Mary
Swarthmore
Williams
Amherst
Bowdoin
Washington and Lee</p>

8

<p>As far as Ivies go: I’ve been under the impression that the Ivies and their kindred (Stanford and whatnot) have stressed such things as unique national level achievements (such as, say, the ACS Chemistry Olympiad’s tertiary-level training camp) as well as extensive leadership. While I have a few things going for me as far as extracurricular academic merits go, I don’t have much in the way of leadership (President of Club X or League Y and the like). At the same time, I lack anything like straight 800’s on my SATs, Valedictorian status, etc. Hence why I haven’t been overly optimistic at my prospects for the Ivies (and extremely paranoid and pessimistic as far as virtually all applications go). It might be that I’m simply brooding overmuch on what I don’t have, but my investigations across the internet, and especially here, have raised quite a range of doubts and complications.</p>

<p>With regards to Wesleyan stereotypes: While I am attempting to arrange another campus visit (including a tour of the laboratories), I was hoping that someone with long-term, thorough experience with the Wesleyan community (which is to say, a student or relatively recent graduate) here might be able to provide a better picture of how prevalent such things truly are at the university.</p>

9

<p>You might also want to take a look at Middlebury. It has much of what you are looking for in a school and is not that far away from home. </p>

<p>Reed is a unique institution. I think the fact that it scores are somewhat low is more of a reflection on the fact that they look beyond the statistics to find true intellectuals who want the kind of education that Reed has to offer. It is not a school for everyone. And Reed is fine with that.</p>

10

<p>Have you considered Carleton? It’s excellent in the sciences.</p>

11

<p>Wesleyan does just fine for elite graduate school feeding, ranking right near Middlebury, Johns Hopkins and Cornell: <a href=“wsjclassroomedition.com”>wsjclassroomedition.com;

<p>in general, despite their small sizes, LACs do just as well as their national university counterparts in grad school placement. schools like Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, Middlebury, etc. are comparable to schools like Brown, Dartmouth, Tufts, Duke, etc… </p>

<p>as for the atmosphere at Wes, it’s more mainstream than its reputation suggests. yes, the campus as a whole is more liberal than most institutions, but most people I know, regardless of gender, are well-groomed. you really wouldnt notice the difference being on the Wesleyan campus versus being at Amherst or Haverford for the most part. are there more hipsters? definitely. do they dominate the campus? not even close. you’ll find every type of person at Wes.</p>

<p>as for History PhDs, there are few schools more prolific than Wes: <a href=“http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html[/url]”>http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>I would suggest: Carleton, Grinnell, Haverford, Swarthmore, and Williams</p>

13

<p>An esteemed liberal arts college shouldn’t be a consolation prize to an Ivy League school, if that is your desire. It is a personal commitment that you must want and cannot take back.</p>

<p>“a very liberal course structure that would facilitate a double or triple major… somewhat reserved (although quite sociable with those whom I do become closely acquainted), take my greatest pleasure in academic and intellectual pursuits and engagements… overall prospects for graduate school”</p>

<p>Amherst.</p>

14

<p>Holy Cross and Bowdoin. Holy Cross is strong in chemistry and has a new science facility.</p>