Hi! I am a senior so it is definitely late to be posting here. I have a somewhat solid list, but I’m hoping to add a few more schools to hopefully make sure I get into at least one high caliber school (which I say in the nicest way).
I am hoping to major in biology (molecular biology?) to work towards an MD or a PhD in a health science field. I’m doing online classes, but my “home” school that I’m applying from is well-known here for problems. I believe that my personal statement & recommendations are really strong. MY GPA is about 3.93 (B in physics), ACT is 30, and EFC is 0. I’ve officially taken 5 years of science. I finished precalculus, but calculus isn’t offered so I’m doing Probability & Statistics. Over 250 volunteer hours, four big leadership roles, I also have a part-time job that is supposed to require a bachelor’s degree.
I’m hoping to attend a small liberal arts college with good need-based aid.
I fell in love with Bryn Mawr, but didn’t ED - their price estimator was steep (we could make it work, but I wasn’t confident enough for a binding decision). Everyone we saw on looked like someone I could be friends with & the campus is gorgeous.
Additionally, Oberlin ticks all the boxes for me, but the social aspect is the only thing I’m not sure about.
I’ve been accepted to Wooster (over $30k merit/year), Puget Sound (about $25k merit/year), Hofstra (about $25k merit/year), and Transylvania ($25k merit/year & I was invited to interview for a full merit scholarship).
Schools I’m currently looking at (as in applications are done or nearly done): Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Vassar, St. Olaf, Macalester, Bryn Mawr, Oberlin
Thinking about adding: Wesleyan, Wellesley, Carleton, Kalamazoo, Haverford (wasn’t a fan of my tour, but on paper I do like it)
I’ll take any suggestions, but please keep it positive as the college process causes enough stress without people adding on;)
Thank you so much
I think Haverford is really going to be tough for you to get in and might not be worth your effort. Probably the same with CArleton, Wellesley, Vassar, and Wesleyan. I would think about adding Lafayette, which is strong in sciences and really encourages students to get involved in research.
If you loved Bryn Mawr, then Mt Holyoke seems like a good fit.
Smith definitely, if you are looking for a Bryn Mawr overlap.
@joecollege44 yes, they’re definitely very reach-y. Lafayette is a good suggestion thank you!
If your EFC is $0 you need to focus on affordability first. Do you have any affordable acceptances?
If your EFC is 0, you should be more interested in financial aid then merit aid. Not sure how many on your list are meet full need ( or close). If they are below 95% I would remove them. One school you could add(@95%FA) is Lawrence University. It has a similar feel to Oberlin (has a conservatory) but not as “edgy”.
@Eeyore123 @austinmshauri I’m definitely looking closely at financial aid - I haven’t gotten need-based packages yet. If I hadn’t gotten any merit money at those schools it wouldn’t be plausible, but - as long as the rest of the offer isn’t surprisingly low - they’re solid options.
Just be careful, they may not stack FA and MA. Neither you or the school really cares about what pile it comes from. Only the net cost matters.
What is the net cost of each school you have been accepted to? How much they gave you in aid is only a piece of the puzzle…most relevant is net cost.
Can you afford any of the schools you have been accepted to?
Agree with others that you should be focused on cost and be targeting meet full need schools. You would have been a good candidate for Questbridge, but it’s too late to apply for that now.
What state do you live in? Can you commute to a local community college or 4-year college?
For Smith, Mt Holyoke, and Wesleyan, you might apply test optional…I’m not sure their 25%-75%ile ranges so look at their common data sets and/or class of 2023 profiles on their websites to figure that out.
Let us know the answers to the above questions and posters will be better able to help you.
Good suggestions above. Franklin and Marshall (PA) and Union (NY) are also excellent in the sciences.
Whitman, Gettysburg, Dickinson, Denison, Occidental…not all LACS but worth a look.
Based on your record and indicated interests, my first suggestion to you might have been Mt. Holyoke. I’m glad to see that it appears on your list.
Run the NPC’s for St. Olaf and Macalester. Both meet need and yet aren’t as reachy as the coastal full-need-met LAC’s. Consider Grinnell too.
Bryn Mawr isn’t known for being stingy, so if your projected cost there was “steep,” then I don’t think your EFC is really zero in practical terms. You need to be very proactive about screening what you can expect in terms of need-based aid. Even at schools where merit is offered, you will typically have to pay your EFC as the college calculates it - colleges will not “stack” need-based aid and merit to bring your costs down below their calculation of your EFC.
What’s your home state? If you have a public LAC or smaller flagship in your state, it should definitely be on your list.
LACs that give ~$25K competitive merit awards do not necessarily meet full need. Check out some in-state public schools (possibly including one within commuting distance) just in case Transylvania does not come through and none of the others improve on BMC’s projections.
This site offers a convenient cost calculator for a range of schools: https://myintuition.org/.