<p>Hello, please give some advice if you have experience with colleges (esp LACs) in Northeast. </p>
<p>D is junior in a private high school, pretty competitive since 99% of kids go on to college. Her average so far is an 89% tho she will probably pull it up to a 90% since her least enjoyed subjects are behind her. Her pattern is half Honors/College/AP classes.</p>
<p>Her record is uneven, e.g., 100 in AP Spanish so far (100% on NY Regents exam) and she also does great in English and Global/History. Without Math and Science she would be at a 94. This year she is taking Earth Sci and Algebra II/Trig spaced over 2 yrs.</p>
<p>Practice SATs came out 680 CR and 580 Math, possibly she will improve when she takes them for real but that's the general range.</p>
<p>We need LOTS of financial aid, EFC is 0, we have 5 great kids and 1 mediocre salary.</p>
<p>Oh -- and we are looking within a three hour driving radius. So these are limiting factors!</p>
<p>ECs
volunteering: migrant farmworker clinic (translating) and an organic farm;
clubs: Art and Spanish</p>
<p>Personally I am wary of colleges with low retention and grad rates, seems like either financial aid is not enough or the environment is not fulfilling. When 25% of kids don't graduate from that school it makes me wonder....D thrives in small settings. Possible careers public health, journalism, teaching, or social work but liberal arts and sciences is where she will start. A study abroad in Spanish is more of a must than a super-career program.</p>
<p>Thoughts:
1) SUNY New Paltz (esp the Honors Program to keep her motivated)
2) Skidmore - will she get in, and if she does will there be enough financial aid?
3 and 4) Siena and Marist - less diverse than I would like but at least she would have a chance to get in - does anyone know about scholarships?
5) Muhlenberg?</p>
<p>Is it even worth trying Lafayette, Connecticut College or Sarah Lawrence? I have heard they have great financial aid (once you get accepted, that is).</p>
<p>SUNY Bing is too big and SUNY Geneseo is too far and she might not even get into either, anyway. The other SUNYs have low grad and retention rates, anyone have ideas why?</p>
<p>CUNY Hunter has a great honors program and is practically free but you only get a dorm if you get into the honors program and it is as competitive as an Ivy to get into.</p>
<p>She is more hipster than prep, not really "granola" but occasionally vegetarian (go figure!)
She seems open to all types of kids, current HS is preppy/jock but she's not conservative.</p>
<p>Thank you thank you thank you for any advice....</p>