<p>Hi there! Thanks for taking a look at the thread! :)</p>
<p>As the thread title implies, I'm an average high school student looking for some help with finding compatible LACs. The school list I'm applying to includes a lot of bigger public universities, but recently I've really been drawn to the LAC emphasis on a well-rounded education with a lot of attention dedicated to the individual. I've been stuggling to find a couple colleges that I would have a decent shot at getting into, and I'd be so grateful for any suggestions that any of you all might have. :)</p>
<p>Here are my sub-par stats:
ACT: 27 (retook, believe I scored either a 28 or a 29)
UW GPA: 3.2 (terrible freshman year with a 2.7 both semesters, but a huge grade trend reflected with a 3.88 both semesters junior year)
W GPA: 3.7
I have decent extracurriculars, mainly with a focus in sports. But nothing with a wow factor.</p>
<p>I'm hoping to become either a high school or middle school teacher eventually, and I'd love to teach English, so a LAC with a strong English department would be a huge bonus. I'm also considering teaching earth science as well.</p>
<p>At this point I'm not really focusing on cost even though eventually that will be a factor, but I do believe I'll receive some need based aid. Anywhere I could possibly receive merit aid would be a big plus.</p>
<p>In terms of LACs I've already looked at, I'm applying to Allegheny because I'm really intrigued by their emphasis on unique combinations of majors and minors, but I'm also considering Denison as well. I know that with my grades and test scores, I can't exactly afford to be picky about schools, but I'm not into Greek life and I'm not a huge partier. I'd love to go to a school with an intellectual atmosphere where people are passionate and dedicated to what they're studying. :) I'm kind of quirky so a campus that's a little offbeat would be amazing.</p>
<p>Thank you once again for your time and hopefully your suggestions! :)</p>
<p>Double major in English and physics or geology?</p>
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<p>While LACs’ smaller size and undergraduate focus is often helpful for many students, note that not all LACs emphasize a well-rounded education. Some LACs are also specialty schools with a limited selection of majors (more limited than a small school in general would have).</p>
<p>Your budget will, in large part, determine which schools are reach, match, and safety. A true safety must be a school that you will be admitted to, and which you will definitely be able to afford.</p>
<p>If you’re willing to go as far as Allegheny College, then consider Juniata College and Susquehanna University which are also in Pennsylvania. They’re both very rural, though, which may not appeal to some students. Juniata is very small, has no Greek life, allows you to design your own major, and has very generous merit scholarships (in addition to any financial aid you may qualify for). They have an online calculator that will give you a decent estimate of the aid you’re likely to qualify for (plug in your weighted GPA in the calculator). Susquehanna is a slightly bigger school, has a beautiful campus and a strong writing department. It does have Greek life, but I didn’t get the impression it’s overwhelming.</p>
<p>And please don’t call your stats “sub-par”. An ACT score of 27 is in the 87th percentile, and many schools will look at your weighted GPA of 3.7 which is also very good! There are many fine colleges that will be thrilled to have you as a student!</p>
<p>The big question is how much can your family afford.
Have your family run the FAFSA estimators online to see what your expected contribution will be for school. It may surprise them. And the vast majority of schools will not meet that need.</p>
<p>College of Wooster. It is in northeast Ohio and north of Denison. It sounds perfect for what you want. It is not a super preppy campus…I think quirky would describe it. I would say it is a little better than Allegheny but you should get in with your stats. They give good scholarship too. </p>
<p>Excellent for English and writing. </p>
<p>My D is applying to Wooster along with Wittenberg, Ohio Wesleyan and Earlham, 3 more you should check out. I think Earlham is the most liberal off beat campus of the four, followed by Wooster.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your advice and comments. I just got my ACT scores back and I actually by some miracle scored a 30, and I’m wondering how this will help boost my options? I’ve always been really interested in Kenyon and Oberlin, but didn’t think I had the scores until now. Even though it will be a stretch, how far of a reach do you think these two scores will be, weighing in my grade trend? I would also say I’m a talented writer, so I don’t think essays will be a problem.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus - I was considering to double major in English and geology. I also talked it over with my parents, and came to the conclusion that they’d be willing to pay for 30k per year including room and board, but they’d prefer 20k. </p>
<p>@horsfeathers - Thanks for your kind words. I’ve been looking into Susquehanna and it seems like a great school, thanks for your advice!</p>
<p>@lynxinsider - Those are both great schools. I considered Hendrix for awhile but decided that I probably wouldn’t want to go to college in the South.</p>
<p>@mspearl - I’ve heard great things about College of Wooster! I’m very happy to hear more positive information about it because I feel that it’s a bit underrated. The thing about Denison that I don’t like is the prevalence of Greek life, so I’ll definitely look into it further. By any chance do you know anything about Kenyon or Oberlin?</p>
<p>University of Minnesota, Morris is a small school (under 2,000 students) that offers English and geology majors, and whose cost of attendance is $22,352 per year (no out of state tuition surcharge, though financial aid is likely less for out of state).</p>
<p>If you intend to teach in K-12 schools, you may want to check on the credentialing requirements for school teachers in the state where you want to teach. This may affect choice of college or university you attend.</p>
I’ve been looking into Susquehanna and it seems like a great school, thanks for your advice!</p>