First time poster here. I’ve been lingering CC for quite a while now as I navigate this quamire of college selection with DS, a senior.
Son has recently decided he would prefer a smaller school. He is very bright, non-partying; introverted; not super outdoorsy though he loves to ski, loves to travel; is liberal; nonjudgmental; not into sports; VERY into current events/politics; wants a collaborative not competitive environment. He would never discuss grades or test scores with others. He is open to anywhere in the country. He wants to be surrounded by smart and committed students. He does not want a cliquey school- so no school with big greek presence. He is a bit ‘quirky’ in the sense that he isn’t your stereotypical sports-playing, music listening kid. He has no social media presence. He is someone who would prefer a small group of good friends and is pretty exhausted after being around people all day. Dorms with 3 to a room would be a nightmare for him. Pot and cigarette smoke give him horrendous headaches.
DS believes he would like to study IR or public policy, PPE or the like. However, he enjoys science as well and could possiby consider a combination of policy and health science or chemistry.
His first choices right now (all reaches due to selectivity) are Haverford, Carleton (though he hasn’t visited), Georgetown and Pomona. He would prefer a smaller LAC, however he is extremely interested in the Georgetown SFS so this is his one exception. He will apply to our state flagship as a likely/safety.
He has a 33 ACT (single sitting) and he is not interested in taking it again. He did not take the SAT. This is fitting to his personality…I would have probably taken each test several times.
Can you please suggest some good fit schools for interest/personality you think my son should research? If you have comments on any schools mentioned given his personality and interest it would be greatly appreciated.
Some schools he is considering: Grinnell; CMC (but I hear it has a partying atmosphere); Oberlin, Occidental (though he’s not crazy about it); Whitman, and Tufts (though again he’d prefer a LAC).
Thanks for your suggestions! Both of these are also highly selective schools. Hoping to find a few schools at the 30 or higher acceptance level.
Unfortunately, he experienced a fog of pot smoke at Pitzer when touring and needless to say it fell off his list. Is CMC worthy of its party/extroverts paradise reputation? Our tour guide assured him there were many types of students and that the reputation wasn’t justified. Thoughts?
Pot smoke gives him a headache – Reed is not for him. I really can’t see him at CMC; for an LAC it has a pretty pre-professional bent. What about Macalester or Dickinson (my non-partying kid went there and loved it)?
American would be a good safety if he’s in the running for Georgetown SFS.
I think he should look at Tufts - lots of IR students combine it with interests in related fields. Student talk policy all night long - my kid actually would have preferred kids who relaxed by playing video games! My son had very, very few large classes. It’s a compact campus. If he hasn’t visited he should take a look.
He should look at Williams. A lot of overlap with Pomona and Carleton (and also a reach) but it seems to fulfill much of his wish list.
Their Global Studies is a cross-disciplinary concentration. Very strong sciences across the board. Public health is also offered as a concentration. Economics is a vibrant major – including political policy and encompassing the Center for Development Economics.
Most likely he’d have a single room all four years, with a shared common room when he feels social. No Greek presence. The first year entry system divides the residence halls into sub-sets of about 20 kids with focus on small group activity. The mountain setting fosters a close-knit, insular community. Lots of faculty interaction.
Williams kids are active, but not necessarily involved in team sports. The great natural beauty of the surrounding area contributes a balance to the academic pressure. Skiing, snowboarding, hiking are all accessible.
I would also suggest that he look at Macalester – one of the most globally focused LACs.
For a warm weather college, look at Hendrix College. Excellent LAC. No Greek life. Quirky student body. “liberal” for the south. Has an IR/Politics major: https://www.hendrix.edu/politics/.
I didn’t see you state any financial concerns in your post, but if your son needs aid, make sure you run the Net Price Calculator for each school.
LACs like to see “demonstrated interest” too. So sign up for information on their websites, contact admissions, and visit if possible.
You can tell if a school considers demonstrated interest by Googling the college name & “common data set”. There is a section that says. Also, don’t contact admissions unless you have a legitimate question not answered on their website. There are other ways to show interest.
He will almost certainly get into New College of Florida. My son is there now, and very involved in the areas that interest your son. My son got into Pitzer and Occidental, but the financial package at NCF was unbeatable. Some people say that the atmosphere at NCF is a little too party-oriented, and there were two fatal overdoses on campus (one was a visitor, the other a first-year student) in a single weekend last spring. The cruel irony was that those were not necessarily “partiers;” they were opioid addicts.NCF has a geeky/nerdy flavor to balance the “Bikini Bennington” reputation. The Independent Study requirement and internship opportunities are ideal for motivated students.
If Pitzer turned your son off, however, NCF might also. My son loved the Claremont Consortium, and would have loved to attend Pitzer (Pomona was out of reach for him academically, and CMC rejected him), but they did not offer even a subsidized Stafford loan to him. He didn’t love Pitzer $150k (over 4 years) more than NCF.
NCF has a “Tallahassee Semester,” where students can pursue internships within the fever swamp of Florida politics for academic credit. My son researched gerrymandering and redistricting for his first-year January ISP, and will be spending January in Iowa this year. He has become very active in local and state politics, and even has an outside shot of being a delegate to the Democratic Convention next summer.