@eyeofthestorm1 - You write very well. Consider using that as a basis for some ECs you can do from home. You may have already been doing this and not even realize that it is an EC.
@akin67 No, everything is really far. The library is about 8 miles away, the community center is about 5, and the pool/wavepool is around 6 miles away. My only qualm about small-liberal arts colleges is that they don’t provide the same depth in an area of study. From what I’ve seen, they like to make you a more well-rounded person, but I don’t exactly function well this way. Last semester I took 3 science classes at once and it was an incredible experience. It really taught me how to appreciate the other disciplines and to search for the science in literature, history, and math. Now that my 3rd science class has ended, some of that magic has went away. That is why I was considering Lyman Briggs at MSU, I looked at all the requirements and they could be satisfied with things like “Science and Literature”. I’d also be willing to consider some lower-tier state schools, but I would need some convincing on a liberal arts school
@Otterma Thank you for your input! Focusing my attention on getting just my mom to fill out the form would be far easier if my dad is not involved. If I do end up applying to one of the CSS profile schools, then I will cross that bridge when I get there. With regards to the writing–I just don’t have a lot of interest in it. I go through mental warfare to even read for school. I just don’t connect on an emotional level with any characters, so relating to them is difficult. I do have a story idea regarding fantasy and science, but I get pretty frustrated/lose concentration on it a lot. My writing style came from the music I listen to.
@thingamajig Thank you for your suggestion. That one you mentioned specifically would be kind of difficult, but it looks like there’s a wide variety of projects out there.
eyeoftehstorm1, I think you are mistaken about your perception of many liberal arts colleges. For example, my son is a physics major at Hamilton College. The only requirements Hamilton has is to require students to take 3 writing intensive courses. And that does not mean these are English courses. They have courses across most departments that are designated writing intensive. This way the student can fulfill this requirement while taking courses that truly interest them. For example would you guess that Linear Algebra is a writing course? Well at Hamilton it is. And the motivation behind this requirement is to ensure that all students are excellent writers and communicators. Take it from someone in the work world, in my opinion there is not another skill that is more important or that you will use more than written and oral communication, no matter what your profession. Many liberal arts schools provide the students with almost complete independence on what courses they get to take. As with you, math and science are what interests my son. So far in the 4 semesters he has been, every semester 3 of the 4 courses he has taken have been math or science courses, by choice.
These liberal arts colleges provide a phenomenal education. Imagine being taught by the leading experts in their disciplines in a class with an average of fewer than 20 students per class (yes even introductory classes), at an institution that has the latest and most advanced labs and facilities. The professors are limited to teaching no more than 2 courses per semester so that they have ample time for their research and office hours. And, unlike research universities where the professors typically rely on graduate students to assist them with their research, at liberal arts colleges, undergraduates are the ones that get all the research opportunities. Do you want to do an unpaid internship with a company in an area of interest to you? Go for it, because the liberal arts college recognizes the value of work experience and will be willing to pay you up to $3000 to cover your expenses during the summer so that you gain that valuable experience.
If you go tour some of these schools you will see what I mean. You will see that they have immaculate facilities, state of the art equipment, world renown faculty, and brilliant students to learn alongside.
Don’t get me wrong, it is not all fun and games. The academics will be extremely challenging and you will be spending many many hours every day studying, especially if you are a STEM major. But you will be getting an education that is second to none. What is provided by these liberal arts colleges cannot be matched by state schools. I would strongly encourage you to apply to several of these schools. You have nothing to lose. Applying does not mean you have to attend. But at least provide yourself that option when it comes time to decide what type of school will provide you the best education. Don’t take my word for it. Go visit a few of these schools, preferably during the school year and see for yourself.
Further, regarding liberal arts colleges:
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Sciences and math are liberal arts fields of course.
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A well-resourced LAC may offer over 750 courses – many of these will be in STEM fields.
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Many liberal arts colleges offer majors such as geoscience, which does not appear in the curriculum even at some large universities, or even less common majors such as chemical-physics or geoarchaeology.
Just wondering if you have brought up the topic of going away to college with your mother and what her reaction was.
^ I wouldn’t do that right now.
With a mother that controlling, OP is better off first looking for full rides and applying to them, then only bringing up other choices. (not the full rides, which would be back ups in case of problem). That way, if the mother decides the daughter doesn’t need to go to college, no problem, the daughter can take one of the full rides. If the mother is okay with Hamilton (for instance) or MSU then things are better.
I didn’t suggest that she approach her mother, only asked if there had ever been a discussion. It’s all well and good to give her college advice, but this situation, as presented, has a potential for serious issues that may require a different approach or even intervention. This is not a healthy or stable environment for a child.
@akina12 That was not the case at some of the liberal arts schools I looked at. I didn’t go outside of Michigan, but from what I saw at schools like Alma, Hillsdale, and Albion, you would be taking 1-2 humanities course almost every semester even when going for a BS. I would not mind having a writing requirement that is as relaxed as the one at your son’s school. In my search, which has basically only been in Michigan, the most relaxed requirements I saw were for Lyman Briggs at MSU. I have tried the NPC for Spring Arbor and they did not offer me any incredible financial aid. Even after the NPC, all the state schools were still cheaper (30k vs 22k). Granted, I did do more NPC’s for state schools. Briggs did not have the same wide variety of undergrad research as some of the other schools you all mentioned.
The 100% need based ones are worth a shot applying to.
Oh no, if I were to apply to out-of-state schools, then how would I tour them? Any tours I do will require me to take a trip out to my grandpa’s house and stay there for a while. My mom REFUSES to take any time off of work. (Not even for her sister’s wedding.). Grandpa lives pretty far away, so I could only do this in the summer. He is willing to take me to MSU, Eastern MI U, Western MI U, and Central MI U, but he’s not going to take me to tour schools a couple of states away.
@jmek15 I dropped hints about moving away for college, but not out of state. She hasn’t really had much of a reaction, but talk is pretty cheap, so that could be why. I live in the Metro-Detroit area and the choices for local universities are pretty limited. Oakland U is our local university, it is a good school, but the close proximity to my house turns me away. Plus, nothing about that school really stands out to me. The next closest ones are in parts of Detroit I don’t want to go anywhere near (Wayne and Uni. of Detroit Mercy). My maternal grandfather stands behind me 100% for not wanting to attend Wayne or Detroit Mercy. I have no interest in transferring from a CC.
Hi, you sound like a very resilient and smart student. I am no expert, so know that when you read my response. But I have 5 kids and am on number 3 for college admissions and I went to good schools myself so I have some personal experience. Keep in mind when writing essays that everyone has challenges and difficulties. Most people have some very real sadness and struggle. If you focus on that - I do not think it will help you. if it only sounds like an excuse you will find your essay runs up against kids who have faced some possibly even more difficult circumstances and yet they figured out how to do SOMETHING our of school. I say this because, I bet there is something you can do in school. Ask around - how can you help on a new program, committee etc that can happen during lunch hours? And you say there is no public transportation- and I guess no way to bike, and no friends to help or no uber etc…be sure before you say that in an essay…that its true. You will find kids who take buses and trains for hours each day to get to the job or volunteer program. I am definitely not saying you do have access to these things…I have no idea- just be absolutely sure that if you are going to write about your life challenges that its very honest and that you have left no stone unturned. You could call a local animal shelter or hospital program and ask what needs they have and set up an amazon registry to allow people to donate to the programs. My daughter did this- it was pretty painless- and could be done from home- though she did volunteer at the program as well- and it was so successful. her volunteer project ended up really helping a specific program, and then she had something unique to write about. Just an idea. Just be careful not to write an essay that sounds like a sad story that prevented you from being your best self. It will be hard to compete if thats all you say. I wish you luck and if you want any ideas or help I would be happy to help you. I came from a hard background myself and I know how hard it can be when you don’t feel supported.
@jellycloud5 Biking would be the only option, but I tried that in the summer before 10th grade and my mom shut that down immediately. The SMART buses don’t run anywhere near my house (nearest bus stop is about 5 miles away in a really bad area) and the only trains we have are industrial. My problem with Uber would be paying for it since I am not allowed to get a job. No late school buses run either. My school is also 5 miles away.
Nothing runs during our lunch. My school runs on block schedule, so lunches are pretty oddly scheduled and vary depending on the day. I’ve had 3 different lunches in 1 week several times. Plus, the teachers have to supervise clubs which complicates things.
Could you get a babysitting job in your complex? Maybe after school care for an elementary school child or 2, and/or some weekend nights? Work is a strong EC and sounds to me like you might be a good influence, able to help with homework, etc. It also would put some cash in your pocket.
Are you first generation, IE., your mother didn’t graduate from college?
In that case, many universities, especially LAC s, know it’s basically impossible for you to go visit. Therefore they organize 'fly ins '. It means they pay for your plane ticket and house you if they select you. Applications for fly ins start in August. You have to apply to a lot to hope to get a few but it’s well worth it.
You’ll have three humanities classes and two writing classes at all universities except those with no general education requirement like Amherst, Hamilton, or Brown. Even at Michigan State. (Perhaps honors college students get the requirements waived?)
Did you mean Ann Arbor or Spring Arbor?
@MYOS1634 My Grandpa graduated from Michigan State and my aunt graduated from University of Detroit Mercy, so no I am not a first generation. They are the only two people in my family who went. Could I still apply for fly ins?
I know that I will need humanities classes, but what I noticed is that MSU (Lyman Briggs) was a bit different. I can satisfy my Writing Requirement there with classes such as Medical Literature, Scientific Literature, and so on. I would much rather take Medical Literature than something like Medieval Literature.
I meant Spring Arbor University.
I know it is against the advice you typically see here, but it isn’t critical that you visit a school before you attend. Yes, it’s better, but it isn’t necessary. I went from a rural background to a local land grant univeristy for undergrad. For law school, I went to NYU. I had spent less than 24 hours in New York 5 years earlier, back before I had even heard of NYU. My first time even being in that part of the city was for classes. Granted, this was 25 years ago, but I didn’t even consider flying out to my options. I looked at the brochures, talked to a couple current students, and took a leap of faith. There were some rocky moments, but it worked out fine. And the information you have with the internet is 20X more than I had when I had to make a decision between schools I had never visited.
I’m not suggesting that this is the ideal way to do it, but the need to visit gets overblown in my opinion. In your circumstance, the different vibe from one school to another isn’t the most important factor. A less than ideal fit is still leaps and bounds better than getting stuck following in your parent’s footsteps.
Don’t be afraid to take a leap and apply and even attend a school far from home just because you can’t visit first. Honestly, you might benefit from being far from home for a while. It will be rough, and there will probably be some tears and doubts. But it sounds like you have learned to be fairly self reliant already.