Looking for a great fit LAC

College Search & Selection
721

Hello, @Grinnellhopeful I’ve been following this thread a long time, and I just wanted to chime in with my thoughts. Unlike many posters, I’m a high school senior. I’m also interested in chemistry, have a FAFSA EFC of 0 (my family income is arround 20K or so), and love to sing. I also really want a college that is full of quirky, intellectual, nerdy students.

Congratulations to your daughter for her new ACT score! That’s wonderful.

I’d really advise another look at Dickinson, Smith, Mt Holyoke, and Bryn Mawr.

When I initerviewed with a Dickinson alumna (who majored in chemistry) she told me that the support her advisor gave her was phenomenal.

In regards to scholarships, look into the Hagan Scholarship (it’s a scholarship that specfically targets high achieving high school seniors who live in rural areas. I checked and there is a long list of high schools from Kansas. You do have to check if your daughter’s high school is listed under eligible schools, though).

Do you mind stating your daughter’s major? I’m planning on majoring in chemistry and computer science. I could forward a list of scholarships that might fit your daughter.

722

https://wp.stolaf.edu/registrar/advanced-placementinternational-baccaulaureate/ gives St. Olaf’s policies for IB and AP credit. Note that placement and general education subject credit are listed in the tables.

723

Has anyone mentioned the Common Data Sets for the mentioned schools? This is St. Olaf’s most recent CDS.

https://wp.stolaf.edu/ir-e/2017-18-common-data-set/

724

@Mom22039 Yes, and I’ve looked at it more times than I can count. She should be fine based on her scores and GPA. But that’s never a guarantee admission anywhere but state school. The AO told me she was fine with her other ACT score. StO is very holistic in their approach. But as mentioned before she has a tremendous amount of need. There are a lot of kids out there that have done well under extraordinary circumstances, maybe they are better served by a generous school?

I really believe they look at more than just how a kid scores on standardized tests and grades. I am biased, I think my D is exceptional, but she’s mine.

725

@Kelvin82 Thank you for sharing your experience and insight. I love hearing from other seniors. My D wants to study Chemistry for sure but is a little torn between anthropology or linguistics, Japanese, and some kind of cultural studies as a double major or minor. Chemistry has always been her primary goal. Although, she has really loved physics as well. She is drawn to science but isn’t interested in Bio, she did well in it but she did 2 years of Chemistry for IB and that hooked her.

Did you decide where you will attend yet?

726

When I answered @Kelvin82 post something important came to mind, which makes Knox and Earlham seem like very good matches. My D has proven that she’s a student 1st, she loves learning for the sake of learning. As we have talked through the last 4 years and her love of science became clear, I’ll admit that I tried to steer her to chemical engineering, pharmacy, even vey school, med school, etc. pre-professional type programs.

She was consistently adamant that was not what she wanted. Although, pharmaceutical research or a degree in animal science and a PhD in chemistry sounded like something she might want. But it is the research aspect that has the most appeal to her. She put in her common app her career goal was “Scientific Researcher”.

She needs a PhD…when she is finally in school, she will hone in on what exactly it is that she wants to ultimately research and how to fit the pieces together of the things she’s interested. But she sees herself in a lab, and if you met her, you would immediately be able to envision her in a lab someday.

I believe when you look at her LORs, her commitment, her attention to detail on the things she chooses to focus on (maybe not common sense) it becomes clear that she will be successful as a long haul kind of student, one that will go one to grad school or continue in academia.

I hope that is shining through on her application. She knows this 4 years in just the beginning for her. And if you could meet her you would see that too. So, if an admissions committee is looking at potential for outcome in their students they admit, she will be a good one for them to have, because she will follow through.

All of the schools on the list have good grad school outcomes. The mom in me still wishes she would have considered chemical engineeringor pharmacy, just because I know she would get a job immediately earning a decent salary after graduation. There are many things she doesn’t know at 17 but she knows that is not her desired outcome. Those suggestions were always met with a very hard NO.

Truly, there is something special about her and you can see that what she says she wants to do fits her personality. Research…she wants to work in research…this will require a PhD.

ETA: She might get to her ultimate school and literally NEVER leave…lol

727

@Grinnellhopeful just wanted to jump in and let you know that I’m hoping that your daughter gets good news from StO shortly. The waiting is tough and I think it’s great that you are thinking through all of the questions and what ifs. Also want to let you know that while I agree with the comments about her looking for a job now, my daughter is diagnosed with OCD (not sure your daughter is or you were using loosely) but I think it’s hard for others to understand that telling a child like this to let their work or grades slide is not as easy as it sounds. My daughter is just not capable of doing that. You can share all the logical reasons that it’s ok to get a C or a crappy grade on an AP test, but it’s not logic that is driving the behavior. It’s something deeper. Not to say you shouldn’t try, but wanted you to know that I understand the struggle.

Fingers crossed for good news soon!

728

@Dancer41 Thank you for understanding. It’s not as simple as people think. I’ve probably shared more than she would be comfortable with in my attempt to defend her character. Also, being OCD/ADD are comorbid, aren’t bad things, she often views it as a gift, believe it or not. Her brain fires a little differently, and different is good sometimes. It makes her a dedicated student, and her happy place is found in things that stimulate her mind.

When I say she’s not social, I mean she’s not social. Not to say she isn’t friendly, helpful, thoughtful, and very intune with what others are feeling and wants to offer comfort when she senses something is off.

But she really doesn’t socialize much, social life to her is study groups and choir. Because that’s what makes her happy. She’s very very routine and structure driven and goal oriented. All these things make her a successful student but disrupting her routine or schedule that she created for herself, or swaying her from her goals, it’s just not happening.

Her work in the election office was perfect. Quiet, routine, she wasn’t engaging with the voters. She was calibrating the polling machines.

But there would a lot of unneeded stress for her if I said she had to stop focusing on her goals she set 4 years ago, and she simply wouldn’t do it. I’d rather figure out what I can do to help build up some money in her bank account for August. It was mentioned somewhere that maybe I could sell some things…I’ve been thinking about that. I don’t really have an excess of items in my home because we live pretty simply. But I’ve still got some time and I don’t know yet what she’s looking at for FA packages and where she is going.

I’m so grateful you get it. Thank you.

729

I think I am but one of many on this thread with fingers crossed for you both! St O, Earlham, something good :slight_smile:

I think I mentioned i know several Earlham grads and current students. I went to a Quaker high school so it was a popular choice, even from NYC. Now living in Ohio I know a lot of kids there, very happy, doing extraordinary things.

730

@OHMomof2 I feel very peaceful when I think about her attending Earlham. I know most people would scoff when I refer to the way I “feel” about a school or a situation. But trusting my intuition has kept me intact these past several years.

I would love to hear more about your Quaker high school experience.

ETA: I cannot tell you how much I value the power of good thoughts, vibes, prayers, whatever one refers to it as. I do think it helps. Thank you for yours.

731

@grinnellhopeful one more quick push for F&M-I do not feel it is a big reach for your daughter now that her ACT is a 30. The level of support they provide their students is incredible and their financial aid package was fantastic. But whatever you and your daughter decide to do, I wish you the very best!

732

Generally speaking Quakers are very progressive (there are a small handful that aren’t). So the education is broad and emphasis is on social justice. We called our teachers by their first names, we didn’t have grades for a long time (changed now), just 1/2 page narratives from our teachers about what we were doing well and what we could work on. Travel experiences are a big deal (most study abroad and financial aid follows) and I’m pretty sure Earlham has a renowned Japanese language program.

I attended my high school on almost a full scholarship and gratefully support it now with what I can.

My Earlham grad friends feel that way about their school too. If Earlham becomes an option I’m glad to talk more to you about it and/or put you in touch.

733

Especially for a Chem major.

734

I was wondering if your D’s OCD would be difficult with a roommate in college. If so, if you have a documented diagnosis then you may be able to request a single room. Maybe it’s not an issue, but just in case there may be ways to circumvent issues. I believe they can fill out roommate preference forms for most schools and you can be matched with someone who is as neat or messy as you and who has similar sleep patterns etc.

735

@citymama9 She mentioned wanting to use her accommodations to request a single. But they may be able to match her with a roommate that is also very tidy and quiet. That’s a tough call, what’s best for her in that regard. We will cross that bridge when we come to it. I mean she has to live with me and her sister and we aren’t quite as tidy as she would like us to be. :wink:

736

FYI
Per SO website, singles cost $1000 more than other rooms.

https://wp.stolaf.edu/reslife/roomdrawprocess/

737

@OHMomof2 I love love love everything you said. And I know that that would be an amazing and nurturing atmosphere for her. Obviously she’s ED with StO which will be a great place for her, too. But in my mind Earlham is the very strongest of contenders. They said they would do a flyin and I have a feeling when she gets there she will also feel what I feel, and will be a great fit for her personality.

And she isn’t dismissing it, she initially thought it would be too Religious but we talked at length about the Quaker values and coincidentally the adjectives she used to describe what she was looking for in a school match exactly almost verbatim their values or principles (forgive me if I am not referring to it correctly).

My D has emailed with her AO to ask more questions about how the Quaker principals are incorporated into the education and campus. She did it on her own and the two of them had good dialogue about it.

I don’t know much but it seems to me like Quakers are the least religious of religions, if that makes sense? It’s quiet nobody’s imposing a belief system, it’s not directed by clergy, it feels pure. Nobody is going to try indoctrinate her. Plus it lines up with her own personal value system.

I’ve always had a good feeling. I’ll be anxious to see how it works out.

There’s more than one good fit out there.

738

Exactly right. The Inner (Inward) Light, in Inner Voice and all that. A Quaker meeting is literally people sitting in silence. With the space for anyone to say something if they feel moved to.

My HS classmates were Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu and atheist and I probably missed some.

You hear form Earlham in 3 days? When is St O’s decision coming?

739

@Cornellian88 Sounds like she’ll just have to adjust…such is life. Like I said she has to live with me and her sister and she’s doing alright. :wink:

740

@OHMomof2 StO notification is 2/1 and I believe they try to get the FA package out pretty quickly after that. I cannot be certain if they update th portal or if will have to wait for snail mail. With respect to both schools. I’ve heard the portal may hold clues like deposit info prior to a snail mail letter?

I’m not sure if ED2 handled a little differently than ED1? All I can say is it’s not soon enough!