My college list

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey guys, I really need help with my college list. I feel like it continues to change, and I can never settle on a set list. Please determine whether a college on my list or on my potential list is a safety or match with my current SAT and after my potential 240 point increase. Here are my stats, etc.:</p>

<p>White Male - Upstate NY - Rising Senior
Average NY public high school</p>

<p>GPA: 3.65? UW. Not sure overall. My school doesn't weigh.
Class Rank: 14ish/96ish - I'd be 2nd-4th in the class above and below me - my guidance counselor will stress how competitive my class is.
Rigor of Schedule: I've taken all ACE(college level courses, like APs)/Honors classes available at my school.
SATs: CR: 620 W: 570 M: 540.
These are very low, I know. I plan on raising each section by 80 points (do-able?). I didn't study before taking them this round, but I am now beginning a rigorous study before my next test (if I'm not happy with my score 2nd time around, I'm willing to take a 3rd time). My mom may even hire me a tutor for the math section - is this worth it?</p>

<p>Schedule:</p>

<p>9th/10th Grade:
All core classes w/ electives. 3.7 Averages with nothing lower than B+'s in grades.</p>

<p>11th:
Chemistry: B
Pre-calc: B+
Environ Studies: A
ACE Spanish 4: B+
ACE History: B+
Honors English: A
Band, Choir: A+</p>

<p>12th:
Physics
ACE Statistics
Human Rights (elective)
ACE Spanish 5
ACE Government/Economics
ACE English
Band
(^Was also in Media/Journalism and Choir until my guidance counselor called and told me they wouldn't fit, I may pick up an independent study)
Obviously there is no way to tell, but I plan on working hard to make sure no grades go below B+ and my senior year GPA raises to a 3.7</p>

<p>ECs:
2 Season Athlete (nothing special) 9-12, Drama Club 10-12, Academic All-stars 9-12, PTSO 11-12 (leadership position), NHS.
I have a concentration in Political activism outside school, I've volunteered for a local congressional candidate's campaign, attended Boys' State and am volunteering at a Mayors' office at a near-by city. I feel these will stick out on an application.</p>

<p>Now for my college list. I am looking for an LAC with a liberal-leaning student body within 12-14 hour drive of Western up-state NY. I'm interested in studying Political Science, Religous studies, Philosophy or maybe Economics (if I enjoy it senior year). I may pursue Law School. Although I do consider myself liberal, I most likely would not fit in at "out there" schools like Oberlin, Bard, etc. I do not plan on going Greek, but I could tolerate a school that is 1/4 or less Greek. I need great need-based F.A. Here are my lists - the first are schools I am (almost) certain I want to apply to, the second are schools I am considering applying to and need your suggestion on. Please feel free to suggest a school not on my potential list!</p>

<p>Current List:
Kenyon College
Bates College (brother attends)
Trinity College
Connecticut College
SUNY Binghamton (will be able to afford if admitted, so it's a financial safety)
Allegheny College
Warren Wilson College</p>

<p>^I know I need more safeties.</p>

<p>Potential List:
College of Wooster - Seems like my type and has decent F.A.
Earlham - My mom really wants me to apply, but I feel like I know very little about the school besides that it is Quaker.
Lake Forest College - Great F.A., but what about the rest of the school?
Knox College - I love its historic roots and need-blind policy, but it is pretty far away and I may feel isolated.
SUNY New Paltz - My mom is convinced I'd love it, and it will be a good financial and admissions safety, but I feel it may be a commuter school. Anyone have info on that?
and either
Bates ED: My mom can currently afford Bates College education, so the finances shouldn't be a problem and it is basically my first choice school.
OR
Grinnell ED: I know I'd have no chance RD, but I saw in the PR that 77% of ED students were admitted. I also know that they have a huge endowment, so I believe I should be set on F.A. Of course, I'd have to visit first to know the school felt right.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post! I'm sure there are spelling and grammar mistakes, please excuse those! Any help is appreciated!</p>

2

<p>Bump10char</p>

3

<p>1) In reference to SUNY New Paltz, it might be a somewhat commuter school since half of all juniors/seniors live either off campus or commute.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.newpaltz.edu/oir/cds0809_f.pdf[/url]”>http://www.newpaltz.edu/oir/cds0809_f.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>2) I would add Grinnell ED and take off Warren Willson</p>

4

<p>Bates and Grinnell both assess whether you can afford the school similarly, so it’s unlikely you’d get aid at one and not the other unless you mean merit aid. A large endowment does not mean the give money to families that can afford to pay.</p>

5

<p>Teamfrangela-> Thanks for the info - yeah it does seem to be a commuter school:(.
In regards to WWC, I know it would seem it wouldn’t be a good fit for me (since I mentioned no “out there” schools like Oberlin or Bard), but I actually visited the campus and I really liked it. I should be able to afford it and I’m pretty sure I’ll be admitted, so I need it as a sure-safety. In terms of Grinnell ED, you think I have a shot? It does seem they are quite liberal in their admittance of ED students (at 77%), so if I increase my SATs, you think I would have a chance?</p>

<p>hmom5 - I know FAFSA determines how much a family can roughly afford, but I was always under the impression each college “interrupts” how much you really need aswell as filling in some of the need with loans, depending on the college. I remember my mom saying Haverford gave more than Bates, yet they are both colleges that guarantee to meet demonstrated need. But yeah, I was talking about need-aid - I’m not expecting too much merit aid anywhere :(.</p>

<p>Also - how does Skidmore fit in with my list? I forgot to put it down.
Thanks!</p>

6

<p>Schools that meet need can indeed meet it with very different amounts. But if you can afford Bates, they probably won’t see you as having need at either school.</p>

7

<p>My son is a student at SUNY New Paltz and I can tell you first hand that it is not a commuter school at all. As a transfer student my son did have to live off campus because the housing on campus is completely filled with returning students and incoming freshman who are guarenteed on campus housing. However, the off campus students live right in the village and can mostly walk to school and town. It is a very close knit community in distance as well as spirit. My son’s experience has been that the student stay on the weekends and enjoy all the school and the area has to offer - the bars/restuarants in town, concerts, shopping, hiking, mountain climbing, horseback riding. camping, art galleries, apple picking, boating, and events on campus.</p>

<p>If you have any questions about New Paltz, I’d be happy to answer them. I think it’s the best SUNY. :)</p>

8

<p>I agree that SUNY-New Paltz is not a commuter school. I know one kid who goes there and he is extremely happy with his experience and says that the campus is very active on weekends. And you should be a little careful about the living off campus stat in general. At many schools, lots of juniors and seniors live off campus, but housing is adjacent to the school. For example, at University of Pennsylvania, probably three quarters of juniors and seniors live off campus (for a variety of reasons including lack of on campus housing, cheaper prices, desire to be independent etc.). However, Penn is definitely not a commuter school.</p>

9

<p>You list sounds good to me. Rhodes College is known for great FA. Goucher also sounds like a fit, and may give you aid.</p>

10

<p>hmom5 - Sorry if I was unclear, what I meant was we can afford Bates College with the need-based aid they give us atm, which is quite a bit.</p>

<p>Lily&Mid - Thanks, I guess I will check out New Paltz, my mom wants me to apply to atleast two anyways. I guess the statistic can be misleading in some cases.</p>

<p>OneMom - I checked out Rhodes a little just now, and the campus is seems beautiful, but it seems a little greek-oriented and conservative for me. Goucher sounds nice though, maybe I should add it to my list, I should have a good shot at being admitted.</p>

11

<p>Earlham is a great school but very liberal. It’s a different feel from Bard. Simply put, any hippie from the 70’s would feel comfortable there.</p>

<p>Have you looked at any of the test optional schools? It may relieve some of the stress to increase your SAT scores or try the ACT. </p>

<p>Your current list is very ambitious. The competition will be very tough. IMO I think you need more safeties. What about schools like Gettysburg, Kalamazoo, or even Elon. </p>

<p>You sound like a good match for Wooster. It’s a remarkable school if you take advantage of all its offerings.</p>

12

<p>Earlham is indeed liberal, but the “hippie” characterization is a little too flip. The school is affiliated with the Quakers, and is very much run on the Quaker principles of respect, simplicity, integrity, peace & justice, and concensus. (And the students don’t walk around with bell-bottoms, tie-dyes, and flowers in their hair; they look like college students anywhere in America.) Note that there’s no religious requirement; Earlham has students of all faiths, and indeed of no faith. </p>

<p>Academically, Earlham is known for its interdisciplinary programs. It offers degrees in Poli Sci, Econ, Philosophy,and Religious Studies. It’s well-regarded among grad schools admissions offices, and is ranked as one of the best schools in the US in the percentage of graduates who go on to receive Ph.D.s. </p>

<p>Admissions is need-blind. My D was offered a great aid package which more than met our FAFSA need. There is no Greek life, but there are a ton of student-led performing arts groups (dance, string quartet, gospel choir, and yes, theater).</p>

<p>Besides Earlham, my D also looked at Whitman, Colorado College (which has a very interesting block schedule system), Muhlenberg, and Elon. Whitman and Colorado College would probably be reaches. Elon might be a good match.</p>

13

<p>it’s funny how many applicants assume ed is an easy way to gain admission. schools do not lower their standards just to accept someone who applies ed. just because ed has higher acceptance rate doesn’t mean a school is in need of filling the class with sub-par students who heppen to show enough interests.</p>

14

<p>Hobart
Alfred
Skidmore
Dickinson
Gettysburg
Union
Franklin and Marshall
St Lawrence
Wheaton MA
Denison</p>

<p>SUNYs
school, SAT 25th percentile, SAT 75th percentile, SAT midpoint</p>

<p>SUNY at Geneseo 1250 1390 1320
SUNY at Binghamton 1180 1340 1260
SUNY at Buffalo 1040 1260 1150
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1050 1230 1140
SUNY College at New Paltz 1040 1210 1125
SUNY Maritime College 950 1260 1105
SUNY at Fredonia 1010 1190 1100
SUNY College at Oswego 1030 1170 1100
SUNY at Albany 1000 1190 1095
SUNY College at Purchase 980 1200 1090
SUNY College at Brockport 980 1180 1080
SUNY College at Oneonta 1000 1160 1080
SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica-Rome 980 1170 1075
SUNY College at Cortland 980 1130 1055
SUNY-Potsdam 950 1160 1055
SUNY College at Plattsburgh 950 1150 1050
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill 940 1140 1040
SUNY College at Buffalo 890 1070 980</p>

15

<p>Thanks guys. Yes - I realize I am looking into very tough schools considering my current test scores. I am working very hard to increase my scores and, as I said, I am looking for more safeties.</p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestions everyone - some of these schools (Elon, Hobart, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Union, Denison, etc.) all seem a little greek oriented and conservative for me. I am also considering Skidmore, which is pretty close-by and seems like a good fit. I saw Wheaton - MA suggested, I would actually consider it, but I was reading on its sub-forum that it’s known as a “suitcase school.” I will be visiting Earlham this fall, so I will be able to see how it feels then.</p>

<p>How do you guys feel about Knox and Lake Forest?</p>

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<p>Knox is a good school with a “geeky” type feel to it (according to DD2). She liked it and applied.</p>

17

<p>Love Knox, College of Wooster, and Warren Wilson is one of a kind.</p>

<p>You might want to look into Clark, UNC-Ashville, UNC-Wilmington, Ursinus, Goucher or Hampshire</p>

18

<p>I would look closely at Wooster. As an alum (class of 1982) I am biased, but if you get you test scores up a bit I think you’d get in and it is truly a wonderful, wonderful school. I wish I could interest my daughter in it.</p>

19

<p>Ha! you went to NY Boys state, i probably met you.</p>