<p>I am helping a student with her college apps. She's a good student, 3.9 GPA, good class rigor, 2100 SAT, multi-lingual, and a talented violist. Her college list is WAY heavy on very reachy, very expensive schools -- Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Amherst, Williams, etc. And she has a couple super-safeties (in-state publics).</p>
<p>What she's missing is a few good match schools where she could be eligible for merit-based aid. She is also a potential candidate for a music-based scholarship, and while she doesn't feel as though she wants to make music her life's goal, she is willing to double major with music being one of those majors if it's helpful in securing a scholarship.</p>
<p>She's fairly open as to big vs. small, rural vs. urban, but I think she'd be happiest in a small to mid-size school with a good music program. I'd deeply appreciate any thoughts! She does have Oberlin on her list and Tufts and places like that, but we need some less selective, but nonetheless academically strong schools that offer merit aid.</p>
<p>Thank you! She's a really nice kid and I just want to help her. I can easily see a scenario where she is rejected by all those super-reachy schools and is disappointed with having only the state school to fall back on.</p>
<p>Can her family contribute anything towards college?</p>
<p>Does she qualify for Pell? What is her likely EFC?</p>
<p>Is she a URM?</p>
<p>while she doesn’t feel as though she wants to make music her life’s goal, she is willing to double major with music being one of those majors if it’s helpful in securing a scholarship</p>
<p>The double major option is honestly not for the faint of heart, and I would not recommend a music second major for a non committed or semi committed participant. A lot depends on her academic aspirations (a BS and a BM becomes almost impossible in less than five years, a BA/BM is achievable, as is a BA/BA but the key is the support of both the school, the department, and often the instructor). Oberlin, Bard and Lawrence are the most seamless in combining a BM and an academic path. A BA/BA tends to be very approachable within the LAC’s and CLOC schools, but quite often, what is stated on the website is far from the reality. Some noted programs exist on paper only, and/or are beyond highly selective.</p>
<p>Depending on exactly where she may want to head, I can point out additional info or direction.</p>
<p>A violist approaching conservatory level may well receive a warm reception at some of the selective small LAC’s, simply from the paucity of the instrument. However, if continued private lessons are desired, many of the smaller programs do not have viola dedicated faculty or adjuncts. The policies on teachers and costs can vary widely, so it is important that a thorough reading of each school’s guidelines and policies be done.</p>
<p>I agree with Kenyon and St Olaf and might add DePauw. They have a solid music program in a new facility. They also can be generous with their merit aid.</p>
<p>Mid 50% SAT at WUST is 710 - 780 for Math, 680 - 750 for English. How high-achieving would a student need to be? (It seems to me that all the students there are high-achieving.)</p>
<p>Might look at Holy Cross(don’t have to be religious)-very good school comparable to Tufts. Holy Cross offers the Brooks Music Scholarship. HC has very nice campus-1 hour from Boston and a great alumni network.</p>
<p>but we need some less selective, but nonetheless academically strong schools that offer merit aid.</p>
<p>'rent…</p>
<p>What is her situation?</p>
<p>For match/safeties…does she need “huge merit”…such a full-tuition plus? </p>
<p>Some of these above-mentioned schools might give her some merit, but if her family and a Direct student loan can’t make up the rest, then those won’t work.</p>
<p>Have her check out Grinnell, in Iowa. Lots of kids who apply to Oberlin, apply there as well. Grinnell is one of the few top LACs providing merit aid, and the overall cost of living in Iowa is lower than on either coast (offset a bit by the cost of transportation into and out of the two nearby cities: Des Moines and Cedar Rapids). 11% of the student body is international which might appeal to her.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your responses and ideas! There’s a lot to go on here, and it will be a great help. I really appreciate the great links and tips. Sometimes it seems like coming up with a good list of schools is the hardest part.</p>