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And your method for evaluating schools is?</p>
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<p>Use one of the available search tools to develop a list of potential schools that match the interests, stats, and budget for your situation. Look up the factual information available on CC and the CB website. Visit those schools. Ask lots of questions. Talk to faculty members in your son or daughter’s area of interest. Spend lots of time on their websites. Ask for opinions from people who have gone there, or who have kids who have gone there, or who know people who have gone there - but evaluate the opinions you get based on what else you’ve learned.</p>
<p>Of course, that’s all a lot harder than looking at a defunct magazine’s website or asking anonymous posters on the Internet for their opinions. </p>
<p>My D’s list is currently 10 schools. For one of them, UIUC, I have a general idea of where it ranks (somewhere in the middle of large state research universities). The other nine I have no idea about, nor do I care; because of the six we’ve visited so far, I know they are good matches for my D, and within the next couple of months, we’ll know whether the others are.</p>
<p>Of course, I’m different than a lot of parent (and student) posters on CC: I care more about educational quality and fit than about prestige. Fortunately, my D (who will ultimately make the decision on where to go to college, subject only to budget constraints) agrees completely.</p>
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<p>Amherst has Greek. It’s Williams that did away with the Greek system. Yes, Middlebury and Swarthmore would be reaches for anyone.</p>
<p>Hi all,
I have posted this orginally on the parent forum and now here - need some help. I am looking at schools for my Xth grade daughter - an early start if you will. </p>
<p>When we say dream reach and safety, here is my understanding-
*am i looking for colleges by their SAT scores (most closely matches D2 projected scores)
- their acceptance rates (selectivity)
- their financial aid %
- the common data sets?
- search on selectivity?</p>
<p>How does one go about creating such a short list? I am hoping that this will help me plan the schools to visit when we are in the US later this month. </p>
<p>thanks again!! And apologies for the silly q!!
a</p>
<p>East Coast, not too far south, probably a match/safety? I’d look at Hamilton (in NY), Colby/Bates in Maine (I’d see Bowdoin as a reach purely because of its selectivity), maybe Dickinson or Lafayette in Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>Annasdad, that’s a good way to eval possible schools but not a one-size fits all. Some people don’t have the money or time to visit all their possible schools. I’m not a super fan of US News ratings nor are my children beholden to them, but they do offer a preliminary way to size schools up.</p>
<p>People don’t have the money or the time to visit schools where they propose to spend four years of their lives and tens of thousands of dollars?</p>
<p>I can understand that if it involves airfare. But we live in north central Illinois, took a long weekend, and visited schools as far afield as Rochester, N. Y.</p>
<p>Sometimes, timing may prevent an effective visit. For example, visiting during the academic year on a weekday may give a more accurate picture of the school, but the prospective student is likely to be attending high school or community college during that time.</p>
<p>OP, I think you should look at the women’s colleges, especially Mount Holyoke and Smith. They should be solid matches for you, have good FA, and are in a consortium with Amherst. Wellesley is reachier, but still a perfectly reasonable choice for you, has good FA, and has the advantage of being just outside Boston with MIT cross-registration. I think reesezpiecez suggestions of Hamilton, Bates, and Colby are also worthy of consideration for safer match schools. Bard and Skidmore are more possibilities, although you should check on the bio departments to be sure. </p>
<p>Don’t overlook some of the possibilities in the midwest, especially Carleton.</p>
<p>If I’m not mistaken, Haverford is known for its track team.</p>
<p>I’d suggest Williams, but it is just as reachy as Amherst.</p>
<p>Some of these schools have better FA than others. Make sure your parents do the online FA calculator if a school offers it. And if you need substantial FA, cast a wide net. If that means you apply to a reachier school or two that has deeper pockets, as well as some California state schools, then so be it.</p>
<p>Whoops, sorry. Yeah, I mixed that one up with Williams. </p>
<p>I’ll check out the colleges you mentioned, Consolation and reesezpiecez. I’m not too keen on women only colleges and prefer co-ed, but I’m willing to keep my options open. And yes, Haverford is known for their track and cross country teams!
I’m being recruited by both Wesleyan and Haverford and have been keeping up to date with the coaches. I’ve been looking at Williams as well, and have been to one of their Cali talks- I really liked it, especially their tutorial program, but I’m just worried it’s a little too rural for my taste.</p>
<p>Regarding visits- there is no way I’m going to be able to visit an out of state school. Because of my parents’ work schedules, my schedule, financial issues, other family members, it’s just not possible. I’ll be going down to socal next week to see Pomona and CMC and that’s about it. But in all honesty, it’s not so much of a problem for me because I find that I can get along well almost anywhere I go (I guess that’s a plus to having moved around so much when I was younger). </p>
<p>Thank you all for your suggestions though. I appreciate the help!</p>
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<p>Completely agree. You can use the wealth of info that USNWR provides without being one of those tools on CC who thinks that #8 >>> #10. And there are a lot of great LAC’s in the #20- 40 range. My kids, who each got into a top 20 (one uni, one LAC) both had as their strong second choices LAC’s in the #20 - 40 range, and we would have been very pleased if they had wound up there, too.</p>
<p>Holy Cross has a decent track&field program that competes in the prestigious Patriot League. HC has done very well in recent college rankings-both Forbes ans CNBC’S payscale study. The Holy Cross campus is very nice and 1 hour from Boston-not nearly as remote as Williams, Amherst, Colby, Bowdoin. HC ALSO IS need-blind for admissions and has good diversity.</p>
<p>If you love Amherst, definitely apply to Williams and Middlebury, as your credentials will make you competitive at all of them. Connecticut is a good choice for a match, but absolutely look at Kenyon as well. Otherwise, Hamilton, Vasser, Wesleyan, Colby, and Bates.</p>