Need College Recommendations :)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm 17 and going to be a senior in high school this year. What comes with becoming a senior? You have to apply to college! I've questioned plenty of people, and believe that I'm ready for this process and know plenty about college. The problem, however, is I do not know what schools to apply to. I've visited around ten schools, but every single school has something that is glaringly missing.</p>

<p>What I want in a college:
* Things to do off-campus
* Students interested/active in sports
* 5,000+ undergrads
* Aesthetically pleasing campus
* Northeast/East coast region of United States</p>

<p>My Academics:
* 3.5ish GPA
* SAT - M: 710, R: 690, W: 630</p>

<p>Any ideas for schools to look into? I don't need schools that fit everything.. If a school you recommend doesn't have something I want, just make sure to say that.</p>

<p>**</p>

<p>I don't have any preferences in public or private. My parents might (hah), but I'm trying to go into it with an open mind.
I've visited Rutgers, Fordham, Boston College, Boston University, St. John's, and University of Vermont. There were a couple more, but they were just eh..</p>

<p>I've done plenty of college searches and I just can't find the right school, so I'm trying to see if you people have any ideas :)</p>

2

<p>Have you looked at the University of Connecticut?</p>

3

<p>No, I haven't. It's a tough choice for me because I've heard that it's in the middle of nowhere, but I was interested in it at some point..
Do you know what they have to do on/off-campus? Just sports?</p>

4

<p>I was going to recommend Boston College, but I see you already visited. IMO it seems to fit most of what you're looking for, what was the problem?</p>

5

<p>what is the weighted GPA?</p>

6

<p>Probably the price for BC. It also is a bit of a reach for me academically, I think. Parents hated it; thought the kids who did the tours were "cheerleaders". I liked it.. I want the sports and school spirit.</p>

<p>My weighted GPA is about 3.7.</p>

7

<p>The greater Boston metropolitan area has some of the best colleges in the country including Tufts, Brandeis, Holy Cross, BC, BU, Wellesley (girls only). There is lots to do and popular college student destination.</p>

8

<p>I encourage you to take a look at Wake Forest. Your stats look like a high match and the school meets most of your other interests. This school is too infrequently on the visiting list of northerners and I think it should be. At about 4400 students, it is a great size, the campus is gorgeous, the people are exceedingly friendly and the sports scene is fun and surprisingly competitive for a school of this size. Not to mention the fact that the weather is MUCH milder than what you'll encounter up north and you'll be walking around in shorts and flip flops in early March. The one cautionary note is that its nickname is Work Forest so it's not a party school. Students from there take their academics seriously, work hard, but they are very grounded, lead mostly balanced lives and are well regarded in the post-graduate job and graduate school markets.</p>

9

<p>Holy Cross has great sports and school spirit. Their basketball arena was highlighted as one of the 10 best places to watch NCAA Division 1 basketball in a USA Today article last year.</p>

<p>10</a> great places to get pumped for NCAA action - USATODAY.com</p>

10

<p>I would like to refute something hawkette said - Wake may be known as Work Forest, but they definately have a work hard, play hard attitude in Winston-Salem.</p>

11

<p>What kind of "things to do" off campus do you have in mind? Ballet? Early music groups? Theater? Dance clubs? Mall shopping? Snowboarding? Jazz clubs? Used book stores? Hiking? One person's "lots to do" is another person's "nothing to do," alas! :) </p>

<p>I'm also wondering whether, when you mention sports, you mean an athletically-inclined/outdoorsy student body, or big-time sports teams to go watch?</p>

<p>The greater Boston area has always been hog heaven for students, and there are many schools to pick from at all levels of selectivity. One that you might want to consider is Brandeis. It's a bit smaller than your ideal, but not a tiny LAC either. I was going to recommend BU, but the campus might not thrill you. I'm wondering if you have looked at Northeastern? Tufts would be another possibility, but probably a reach.</p>

<p>You might want to consider Pitt. They have sports to watch, and a reputedly excellent honors college. Of course there's Georgetown. Reachy again.</p>

<p>How about Clemson?</p>

12

<p>Fordham might be a possibility -- the Rose Hill Campus. SUNY Stony Brook as well.</p>

13

<p>Thanks for the help, everyone!</p>

<p>I guess I'm looking for shops and that type of thing to do off campus, sort of like the off-campus of Burlington, VT. I also want to try new things off campus, so that's why I liked those surroundings, I've never been sailing, skiing, etc.</p>

<p>As for athletics, I don't care much about whether they have a great team.. I just want a student body who gets excited about sports and their teams. Also, I'm set on playing intramural sports, so I want to go to a college where that doesn't make you strange haha.</p>

<p>I really need to convince my parents to check out North/South Carolina.. And I really liked my tour on BU. I think I just really like cities in general lol. But I don't think I can envision myself on a non-traditional campus like that. I want quads, pretty buildings, etc.
I checked out Fordham and lovedd the campus! I <em>may</em> apply; the problem is that they don't have much else that I'm looking for (like sports, etc.).. and I'm not sure how much financial aid I could get =/</p>

14

<p>Well....your stats are a lot better than you perhaps give yourself credit for. You qualify for a LOT of schools, frankly. So the trick is going to be to find that "fit" school. However, the FIRST exercise in searching for "fit" is to examine what it is you want in a school. That can be a fluid exercise, by the way....learning as you visit schools or do research about them or talk to people. But knowing yourself first, is most important.</p>

<p>What kind of person are you? A quiet studying type? More social? How big is sports in your life? Can you compromise on things if you see something else that intrigues you? Prefer to be a bigger fish in smaller pond? Top of the class or in the middle or reaching for the stars all the time (and maybe running around like chicken little?) Are you intense or laid back? Like the city and NEED to have that infusion of reality? Or prefer a more bucolic country club setting that is a bit of a bubble? There are many choices for you:</p>

<p>Wake, Furman, Duke, Vanderbilt, Washington & Lee, Sewannee, Wesleyan all fit sort of "one category" of the college experience. They are NOT the same, mind you. All are unique, but fit a general category. </p>

<p>The only PUBLIC school that is small enough to fit your description is William and Mary. But UVa and UNC fit OTHER qualifications you seem to be searching.</p>

<p>Then there are the more urban settings of Fordham, Columbia, NYU, Georgetown, George Washington, BC, Tufts, BU, Emory, Georgia Tech, UChicago, Northwestern, and to some extent WashU (though its not downtown St. Louis and is in a lovely high end neighborhood).</p>

<p>I second mythmom's recommendation because Fordham is the best of both worlds. Its urban, but a beautiful campus, strong academics, great sports (both NCAA Div. I-A (I-AA for football), club sports are HIGHLY competitive), its in NYC, its close enough to home for you to see family when you WANT or NEED, but far enough away to be "be away." Fordham kids all go to the football games (and have a BLAST! by the way....they are playing Yale at home this year! Yeah!) </p>

<p>If you liked BC, then keep it on your list. But then also examine Tufts and Holy Cross.</p>

<p>Williams is a SUPERB school, though a tad bit remote. Really strong academics, but its division III for athletics and that may concern you if you like sports more. </p>

<p>So you gotta know what it is you are looking for. Good luck.</p>

15

<p>Hah....I just saw your post above me.....we posted almost simultaneously. Let me DISABUSE you of the notion that Fordham is NOT a strong sports school. They are HUGE into sports and the student body JAMS the football stadium EVERY saturday. They made the playoffs last year and were 8-3, losing to heralded UMass. Women's rowing is highly competitive in the NCAA. Basketball is also VERY well attended and highly competitive in the Atlantic 10 Division 1-A. EVERYONE goes and its a great respite in the winter when Freshmen Funk sets in. Lots of SMART kids at Fordham and NICE kids. Their business school is really becoming widely respected.</p>

<p>You also stand a very good chance on getting scholarship money from Fordham. They examine every application that comes in for scholarship potential. But the early bird gets the worm.</p>

<p>So apply non binding early admission.</p>

<p>Its a great school. LOTS and LOTS of fun. They are tight as well and go into the city together in groups.</p>

<p>So there you are.</p>

16

<p>Thanks! I'll definitely apply then.. And I definitely think my stats suck. I guess that's what comes when all your friends are looking at Ivies. haha.</p>

<p>And I definitely don't mind larger schools. Rutgers wasn't bad; I was just thinking that I may like the anonymity of a larger school where you wouldn't know everyone. The thing is that I don't really want to get lost in the shuffle =/. I would rather that the teachers, at least, know my name/face. In a larger school, I suppose you would just have to go out of the way to make sure they know you (talking, visiting during office hours, etc.). But I'm willing to do that, even if it's out of my comfort zone.</p>

<p>Does anyone know how often students at Fordham go into the city? Just curious lol.</p>

<p>**
When do schools generally get their applications up? I'm probably going to end up applying to at least two schools Early Action haha.</p>

<p>ETA: Fordham is quite dry, correct? I have no idea what I want in this regard, but I guess it would be important to know..</p>

17

<p>Okay, you ask reasonable questions. Relax. I know its an exciting time in your life, but just be calm and collected through all of this as best you can.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Applying early action which is non binding is fine, and you can do that to several schools. The NO NO is to apply BINDING early decision to more than one. Fordham is EA so its no problem.</p></li>
<li><p>Fordham kids go into the city, often in groups, on the Metro North train, which stops at their gate, literally. Its a 10 minute ride into Manhattan and Grand Central. Its clean, safe, and relatively cheap. They dont use the subway. It costs 4.00 per trip. It runs until 130am. Its the New Haven line. Plus Grand Central is a really cool place in the heart of midtown. There is also the RamVan, which runs from Lincoln Center to Rose Hill and runs pretty much all night. The RamVan also takes kids to the airports.</p></li>
<li><p>Fordham is not dry per se. There is a rule against underage drinking and having alcohol in your rooms. Some dorms are wellness dorms and they take a pledge NOT to drink, abuse drugs or smoke. Some kids drink....its out there, like it is at all colleges. Fordham is working hard to prevent alcohol abuse. Partying is the biggest reason for failure in college. My advice is that while you are a freshmen its just generally a good idea to stay away from alcohol (and certainly drugs......forever). It can only bring you trouble or heartache. Stay safe and sober. MOST kids are good about this. So just avoid the rule breakers. The partiers all wash out anyway, falling behind in school and then just bombing out.</p></li>
<li><p>Fordham profs know their students by name. Some are more social than others. Some are extremely helpful and endearing....most of them in fact. Some are tough graders, however. My D had some whoppers...really tough graders, but whom were very nice outside of class and quite helpful. She often ate lunch with her English professor who turned into a really good mentor to help her adjust to dorm drama, the big city, and just managing stress. She was a wonderful professor.....very, very unique. She completed her PhD from Stanford and then took a job as an administrator somewhere else so she is now gone. But just another example of what you will find at Fordham. Fr. McShane, Fordham's President, gave a GREAT speech at Admitted Students Orientation (two years ago) and then chatted with parents and students. He met us and we talked for 30 minutes. Unbelievable! The school President. When we arrived to move in in September, he was at the gates greeting EVERY family as they drove through. He remembered and called my daughter by NAME! How is THAT? He also saw her in the hallways a few weeks later and remembered where she was from and what her interests were! </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Deadlines for Early Action are November 1, I believe. You will hear something around Christmas. Then you can relax over the holidays knowing you are "in" and not have to wait until April to find out. </p>

<p>Fordham is recruiting around the country but a lot of kids come from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. But once on campus, they bond well and have a great time. Their dorms are unique and you have several choices. And while Princeton Review rags on the food service, that is so outdated its hideous. Their food in the cafeteria is actually pretty good...I know, I have eaten there many times. Of course, after several months, all cafeteria food gets boring. So they go into the city, or into Little Italy on Arthur Avenue (just a few blocks from Fordham). Kids often go to the Zoo on free Wednesday's or the New York Botanical Gardens. They have formal and informal dances/balls. </p>

<p>But Fordham is an academic school with LOADS of work....lots of papers to write and you DONT want to fall behind. Trust me.</p>

<p>Hope this helps. Good luck.</p>

18

<p>Thank you!</p>

<ul>
<li>Does someone know when applications get released? Like when you can start applying to schools? (non-Common App included)</li>
<li>I'm also curious if there is a college similar to University of Vermont in a less frozen climate? Similar in it's size; a clean, pretty campus; and the proximity to a nice town like Burlington?</li>
</ul>

19

<p>There are many colleges that fit that description. But for less frozen, you need to go south or to California. Your SAT scores likely qualify you for several schools in the South: Washington and Lee, Furman, Elon, and UVa.</p>

20

<p>I don't know much about those schools.. I want to check out a school like that in a nice, college town. Probably in North Carolina or .. norther? (is that even a word? haha). That I can get into obviously. Medium to large student body.</p>