<p>My dd is rowing at Head Of Charles next month and we want to tour a few East Coast colleges while there but here is the tricky part...She attended Brown's summer program and fell in love with the "diversity" of the students,(ie: strong thought processes/opinions, and east coast "personality" in general.) So instead of coming up with too many schools, she doesn't have enough. The other things she is looking for: Her own control over curriculum, being able to customize classes/major, strong residential feel to campus (not dead on weekends), involved campus (kids actually care about being there), good academic program (interested in sociology/econ). Not too small (4500 students or larger). Near a large town or city. </p>
<p>Now her stats: 3.9 GPA (private girls school West Coast)
1 sitting ACT : 29 (retaking today)
NHSociety 3 yrs
Nominated for community/leadership awards (pending finalist status Monday)
Varsity Crew 2 years (not tall 5'5" - not sure if this is something that can help)
Lead flute - 2yrs (Flute choir 3yrs)
There is other stuff but you get the idea.</p>
<p>We need some match/likely schools to look at! Anywhere in New England states, Northern states down to NC.
Thanks for any suggestions!</p>
<p>Students who like Brown generally like Vassar (my child is there and loves it) and Wesleyan. Both offer everything she wants except for size or city. Beyond that, she may want to look into Tufts which has a lot of cross-applicants with Brown. However, can't say that any of these schools are mach/likely schools for sure!</p>
<p>Edit: Just reread and noted her ACT score - would likely need to be much higher for any of these schools.</p>
<p>There's a ton of schools in Boston -- and she will <em>row</em> right past a bunch of them at the Head of the Charles -- Harvard, MIT, Northeastern etc! </p>
<p>Let's assume her ACT score will come up into range -- </p>
<p>I would have her look at Wheaton -- which is between Boston and Providence -- and also Connecticut College. Both good, former women's colleges. And if you are doing a Connecticut loop, check out Trinity and Wesleyan, and on your way back to Boston on I-90 stop at Clark in Worcester.</p>
<p>There's also BU and Wellesley. Also, a lot of schools hold receptions or cookouts (for team members/alums) during the Head along the course all the way up to the finish; just look for school banners, or for those schools with boathouses, see if you can check out the facilities and perhaps have informal conversations with students/alums/coaches. For Div I crew, being tall definitely would be an asset, but for Div III, having the experience is a big plus as well. (Teams can always use good people in the bow, too!)</p>
<p>Connecticut College is about halfway between Boston and New York City, has a competitive rowing team, has strong academics that include interdisciplinary programs and self-designed majors along with four academic center certificate programs. Most students live in dorms all four years and there are many activities on the weekends. However, it is a small school and New London is not a big city. She could study (and double major in) sociology, econ, sociology-based human relations, or even design her own field of study. Many opportunities for study abroad.</p>
<p>If you like the diversity and general quirkiness of the Brown vibe, Connecticut College will seem conservative. For someone who likes Brown, I would recommend Vassar, Bard (near the Hudson!), Emerson College in Boston, Marlborough College in VT, even Sarah Lawrence in Bronxville.</p>
<p>I don't know. So many of the colleges mentioned above aren't matches for her. She would have to bring her ACT way up. If she did, Bard, maybe, and Conn College, NEU and BU. But not Wesleyan or Wellesley and maybe even Vassar. Maybe BC, though I think it might not be diverse enough for her. Wesleyan would be, but definitely a reach. Brown, I would say is a far reach. Many of our kids have faced this: colleges they would have gotten into 10 years ago are reaches now, or far reaches. When you look at some of the stats floating around this site and elsewhere -- people with 4+ GPAs and 12 AP courses and perfect SAT scores and subject tests in the high 700s. Shoot the moon, though, because you never know what might happen. But do make sure she knows what the picture is in terms of chances, and that she has some good safeties.</p>
<p>If she brings her ACT up, or does better on the SAT, I'd suggest that she consider Amherst. Although it is smaller than the target size, it has an open curriculum like Brown, and as part of the 5-College exchange is in a region with a lot more students.</p>
<p>The size you cite would let out virtually all LACs, which I think may be a mistake, since they probably have most of what she is looking for. It's hard to find mid-sized schools...my S was interested in the 4000-5000 size, and among the places he applied was the University of Rochester. I think you should take a look at it. It is in a small city, adjacent to gorgeous natural areas, is quite diverse, has an intellectual vibe, good cultural life, broad programs, and might suit her very well. In addition, it is somewhat easier to get into than Brown, Amherst, and the like.</p>
<p>At 5'5", unless she can erg at 7:30 or less for a 2K, she will not get any help from a crew coach. She can walk onto a D3 crew, but D3 crew coaches have too few tips for her to take advantage of at her height.</p>
<p>Tufts may be a possibility if the crew coach is interested in her. She should consider looking at D3 rowing programs like Tufts where rowing may give her a boost. She's not tall enough for DI.</p>
<p>She may want to look into Brandeis as well. I think it has an open curriculum like Brown.</p>
<p>Diverse student body, involved students, mid-range size, location-- Tufts should definitely be on her list to check out.
One conflict, though-- the required curriculum. This was an initial concern for me, but S1 says it is a non-issue for him. He can easily fill all of his non-major requirements by the end of this/sophmore year, and he's had no problem making room for classes of his choice.</p>
<p>I second Smith College. Smith is a wonderful place and is known for small classes, academic excellence, terrific advising and mentoring, and available, committed professors. It has an open curriculum. </p>
<p>Smith also has a popular crew team.</p>
<p>Also, Smith is part of a 5-college consortium (with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Univ Mass). You can take classes at any, and there is a free shuttle bus to get to classes and activities at the other campuses. </p>
<p>Smith no longer requires SAT or ACT scores for US applicants.</p>
<p>Agree with Smith, Vassar and Wesleyan...also agree they are probably not match or safety. Smith and Wesleyan have rowing. Vassar is in Poughkeepsie, which is on the Hudson River, but it is not that close to the river...so don't know if they have rowing. </p>
<p>East Coast...but moving away from Boston...and more towards Match/Safety....don't know if they have rowing.....Ursinus in PA, Guilford in NC, Goucher in MD.</p>