<p>I'm gunna be a senior next year. I have reach schools and safety schools.</p>
<p>I have one match school.</p>
<p>That being said, suggestions are fantastic.</p>
<p>I'm definitely more of a liberal, I'd like a school that embraces free love and all of that, with an open atmosphere. Sort of like a liberal arts college!</p>
<p>However, my GPA and my SATs are totally different, one terrible (below or at top 25%), one good (2300+). So I can't figure out this match thing. </p>
<p>Other stuff like ec's and recs are fine. Maybe even good. </p>
<p>I also don't know what I want to study, really, but I've narrowed it down to colleges with good English/Cog Sci/Biology/Psychology programs. Or anything similar. </p>
<p>3.75, decent freshman year, really good sophomore year, terrible junior year. except my school’s rankings are so annoying cus it’s only unweighted. but still. and it’s not really an official ranking, just some class profile thing but i’m sure that’s really important. </p>
<p>I love Vassar and Reed. My father would never pay for Reed though because he read that thre were no grades or anything and apparently everyone does drugs and since I’m SO easily influenced…I mean. But I love Reed. I’m gonna apply for suuuuure but unless I get a full scholarship or a realllly good one (prob won’t), that’s not gonna be an option.</p>
<p>Reed does have grades. They just aren’t reported regularly, but they definitely exist, and you can see them at any point. </p>
<p>Also, I doubt you could graduate from Reed if you were really into drugs. You might consider pointing out (to your dad) that Reed’s curriculum would make heavy use very difficult. Plus, my understanding is that there are plenty of Reedies who don’t use drugs at all. </p>
<p>When I was on campus as a prospie, I felt absolutely no pressure. Anyway, yeah. Good luck!</p>
<p>I would really suggest Brown. It is similar in size and location to Yale, has an open curriculum, and is known as one of the more liberal Ivies. Also look into Bard, Swarthmore.</p>
<p>I agree about Oberlin - super super liberal. I’m applying there
Also if you aren’t against big schools, University of Wisconsin is pretty liberal. At least I felt that way when I visited. Madison in general felt pretty liberal.</p>
<p>Reed is a fantastic school, who does in fact give grades, but doesn’t regularly report them. However, they are available to view upon request at any time. And almost any college is going to be a “party school” with drugs and alcohol, but that doesn’t mean everybody does it. There is, however, a LOT of cigarette smoking at Reed.</p>
<p>Something else to keep in mind about Reed: they meet 100% of demonstrated need, which means all you have to pay is your EFC (Expected Family Contribution). This takes the price down from $50,000 to around $15,000 (in my case). They also don’t let you take out more than $1000 dollars in students loans every year, so that when you graduate, you are guaranteed to have less than $4,000 in student debt. Definitely look into their financial aid if price is a concern.</p>
<p>And don’t rule out a college you like just because your parents don’t until you visit it. My parents didn’t think Reed was good until we visited, and then they fell in love with it (mostly because of the price, admittedly :)).</p>
<p>Lewis & Clark, U Puget Sound, Whitman, Bard, Oberlin, Vassar, Warren Wilson. Your downward trend is going to be the big obstacle here. Your first semester of senior year will obviously make you or break you in admissions. I would definitely suggest having personal interviews if you can at Vassar or any other school that gives you the opportunity in admissions (you can check all their sites to register for interview opportunities in your local area or go visit and include an interview). Do not write your essays about hardships during junior year etc., but do include some explanation in sections of supplements if it gives you an additional area to include more. Make sure you take responsibility for the downward trend and then show how you have changed. Some will be more willing to give you a chance and especially if they’ve met you personally. Read the book On Writing the College Application Essay by harry Bauld (former Brown admissions office -great book and will tell you other bad subjects not to write about!) Work HARD!!! Good luck!</p>
<p>If you like Reed, then take a look at Weslayan, Grinnell and Oberlin. Similarly intellectual, but in Grinnell’s case, a little less ‘out there’ and more ‘individualistic and quirky,’ I’d say.</p>
<p>Grinnell also has especially strong sciences, no distribution requirements, generous financial and merit aid, and extraordinary faculty advising and mentoring.</p>
<p>jkiwmom-I’m taking a ridiculously difficult senior year schedule, so how significant do you think that a 4.0 first semester would be for me at schools such as Vassar and Wellesley and Oberlin? Because a few people have told me that they don’t really take a signficant glance at the mid-year. </p>
<p>Wellesley is a great school, but I doubt it’s a fit for you. Try Smith, Hampshire, Bard instead. Consider Sarah Lawrence. It’s a very interesting place.</p>
), williams, cornell</p>