<p>I'm an incoming senior who needs to seriously reconsider some colleges I previously held on my list...my top choice is Columbia U, but I'm not so sure about the other ones. Looking for schools with an urban location (preferably the East, but any other locale is fine...heck, I'll even go for suburban), mid-sized undergrad population, and a strong liberal arts program. Yeah, I know that's kind of broad :/ I'm undecided as of yet, but I will more likely than not major in history, english, philosophy, or something else related. Please help...I'm starting to feel pressured because I'm running out of time. Oh! And strong music/theater arts would be appreciated too, now that I think about it...</p>
<p>Can you give us an idea of your stats? No sense in making recommendations of schools that might not be an admissions fit for you.</p>
<p>Well Columbia, Harvard, Yale, Brown all fit that profile.</p>
<p>Haha...Carolyn, you're right. Sorry about that. Um...this is embarrassing to note, but I haven't taken SATs or SAT IIs yet...procrastination is a deadly habit, I know. I will take SAT I's in October and SAT II's in November.
I took three AP tests this year: English Lang/Comp and US History - 5's, but the AP Chemistry score - well, let's just say I didn't pass :) Ranked 1/291 students at a crappy public HS in Las Vegas, NV(most kids don't graduate.) GPA is 3.9 uw, 4.5 w. Myriad of extracurrics, mostly in the theater/music arena (President of Thespian Troupe, Nevada Thespians State Board member, etc.) African-American female, single-parent home, blah blah blah. Senior schedule next year consists of three performing arts classes, 4 APs, and an Honors Physics class.</p>
<p>Yes, I realize Columbia is an uber-reach....:/</p>
<p>Based on your GPA and ECs you sound like a good fit for Columbia... Do well on your SATs and you have a great shot at Columbia, Brown, and Yale, all mid-sized urban liberal arts schools.</p>
<p>i wouldn't call Yale and Brown "urban"...neither of them is exactly in a bustling metropolis...</p>
<p>Yale and Brown are in cities (albiet smaller ones). They aren't suburban, they aren't rural, they basically have to be urban. Both are in the downtown areas of their respective cities. Small, medium, or large, a city is a city...</p>
<p>Smith. English, philosophy, history, music, and theatre arts all very, very strong. Located in a really nice town - not urban, but you are in happening town in a two minute walk from campus. One of the largest LACs. Very economically diverse (largest percentage of Pell Grant recipients of any highly ranked liberal arts or private university in the country.) 5 colleges in surrounding area with more than 30,000 students.</p>
<p>(Should have added: larger music and theater departments than virtually any of the other LACs.)</p>
<p>Swarthmore/Haverford/Emerson liberal arts.....near metro. Mills College in Oakland CA.</p>
<p>Check out Fordham, also in NYC for a back-up for Columbia. You may qualify for merit aid too.</p>
<p>Check out UPenn</p>
<p>Well here I go trumpeting Trinity College again (since no one else ever does...) excellent LAC, more than decent dance/music/theater depts./programs (though tends toward the avant garde more than Oscar and Hammerstein - they figure you've already been there and done that in jr. and sr. high..), in Hartford which has a happening theater/music scene (even has its own opera) and is close to NYC and Boston for weekend theater/museum jaunts.</p>
<p>Very competitive but not as hard to get into as the Ivy's...you, no doubt, would get BIG money. (My kid did and they are racially-mixed) -
if you want more info, contact me privately...</p>
<p>Thank you all for the replies! I will definitely check out some of those LACs, a category which I had never considered before. If it's not too much to ask, what is the dominant scene at some of those schools? I'm really looking for the work hard/play hard type of atmosphere...one where I will be intellectually stimulated by my peers, but they still know how to be social...</p>
<p>I'm really looking for the work hard/play hard type of atmosphere...one where I will be intellectually stimulated by my peers>></p>
<p>Check out Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr and Haverford just outside of Philadelphia. You sound like a nice fit for all three.</p>
<p>Check out Tufts. It's a university but there is the college of liberal arts and sciences and the location is not a huge metropolis type. It's suburban Boston so I guess you should be fine there.</p>
<p>Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr are "work hard, play hard" ? I don't think so...work hard, yes, discuss alot, yes - but the party scene is dullsville...</p>
<p>I definately think you should apply to Swarthmore because it really searches for diversity (not only race) and you seem like you could be a perfect candidate</p>
<p>if you're checking out swat, check out haverford while you're at it. if not for any other reason, then just because we're like 20 minutes away and basically the same school but not crazy. </p>
<p>p.s. just kidding, to all you swat fans out there. : )</p>
<p>Is the midwest out? UChicago, Rice/Houston, WashU/St.Louis, Vandy/Nashville all excellent urban schools at ivy or near ivy status.</p>