need help rounding out college list

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've been agonizing over decisions for so long, it's really getting detrimental. Need to decide really, really soon.</p>

<p>Ok, first off, I am looking for a strong, fun, active community (pretty much no. 1) and engaging classes, as well as academic flexibility</p>

<p>Definitely undecided, but might major in sociology, so interesting classes in sociology or media/cultural studies are a plus Also looking for artistic engagement (visual art and drama).</p>

<p>I am pretty alternative/"crunchy" but generally hang around people who are nice/preppy/genuine. Definitely don't want a homogenous population though.</p>

<p>Programs I'm looking for (though not necessary): Jan plans, good study abroad, good orientation programs, good outing clubs.</p>

<p>Honestly, the biggest factor (regardless of my preferences) is money. My EFC will likely be high, too high for my family. My parents aren't really willing/able to pay much, which is kind of a death sentence. Colleges will overestimate what we can pay, and with lack of merit scholarships that's not good. </p>

<p>I am pretty much definitely applying to:
Hampshire
Trinity U
Truman State
Whitman (distance an issue)
Knox</p>

<p>Basically, I'm looking to add about two reasonably priced schools and about two more expensive schools.</p>

<p>I like Middlebury, but is a total longshot because of money (might as well apply to Havard). Might eliminate it for that reason.</p>

<p>Tufts has programs I'm interested in, but with a relatively low endowment, money might eliminate it as well. Not sure whether or not it's a good place for me.</p>

<p>Grinnell would have better financial aid as far as I can tell, but not sure about the rigor. I'm definitely hardworking, but looking for other aspects of life to be emphasized. I know it's a strong community, but I'm still worried.</p>

<p>My mom has been pushing Swarthmore, but I don't really think I'd get as much financial aid there as she thinks. I know there's a scholars program, but I'd be highly unlikely to get in. I had initially eliminated Swarthmore because it seemed overly PC and intense. Campus seems very nice though (haven't visited).</p>

<p>University of Chicago is a mystery to me, because it's quite expensive, but I know some who have gotten good aid. Not sure about the intellectual community - I'm a thinker, but I can also be goofy, crude, and outrageous.</p>

<p>Pomona is appealing, but distance and smog are issues. I know, smog is a lame complaint, and many say it's not bad - but just knowing it exists might make a health nut like me anxious (I'm pretty laid-back, but I'm also mildly OCD). Large endowment makes me hopeful about squeezing out some aid. Would be a reach as far as admissions go. In the same vein (reaches w/ large endowment), considering Dartmouth. Not sure about cold weather (I promise I'm not as high maintenance as I seem, but these are factors), hard to get a sense of the community, though I hear it is strong. Brown is also a distant possibility.</p>

<p>Would also like to add another school that is an admission/financial safety. Deciding between Hendrix, Juniata, and McDaniel. Parents suggest U of Dayton.</p>

<p>So am I at all correct in thinking that endowment could be a good indicator of fin. aid? Any colleges like Whitman and Hampshire that have some merit scholarships (though I'm trying to narrow down more so than add)?</p>

<p>I've already written quite a bit, but here are some stats:
800 CR, 660 Math, 710 Writing
32 ACT
3.79 UW GPA
full IB diploma candidate</p>

<p>Drama club - 4 years, this year I am overall director (oversee everything), have directed/am directing 2 one-act plays, 3 leading roles, co-written 4 one-act plays.
President/Co-Founder Art Club (senior year only)
New Art in the Neighborhood - Saturday student art program - interact w/ local, national, international artists, senior year only
Amnesty International 3 years, Yearbook 3 years, Film Club 2 years
Secretary of senior class
NHS, 2nd place citywide in National Vocabulary Championship
4 art awards (2nd and 3rd places - awards and portfolios aren't vast - kind of hard to show my talent/potential/uniqueness)
AYF leadership conference and student ambassador program (trip to UK)
Over 400 overs of comm. service, but activities themselves not that impressive: participated in 3 musical theatre productions for charity (non-profits), tutored off and on one year (about 100 hours), set, directing, and costume help for drama club</p>

2

<p>alligatrix, If I understand you correctly you will require a substantial amount of merit aid in order to attend a private college. If that is the case then I'd suggest you start right there: identify those schools that offer merit aid and only apply to those. </p>

<p>Take a look at the thread at the top of the Parents Forum that gives information on merit aid.</p>

<p>It's important that you and your parents understand how the system works. Those schools that don't offer merit aid, don't offer merit aid, period. It's not directly related to endowment. Need based aid may vary from school to school and if you are accepted you may be able to renegotiate your package; however, it's a matter of degree so try to get your parents to quantify what they would/could actually pay.</p>

<p>Your mother, unfortunately, seems to be sending a mixed signal on Swarthmore. She wants you to attend but doesn't want or isn't able to pay. Maybe you should probe this further. Have you parents use an on-line calculator to determine your EFC. Then ask them if they would be willing to come up with the difference if you were to get accepted at Swarthmore or any other super-selective. I wouldn't expect the college's package to vary too much IF IT IS A NEED-ONLY SCHOOL.</p>

<p>For your profile plus your ECs I would recommend that you take a look at Williams, Skidmore, Hamilton, Kenyon and if you are female, Smith and Mt. Holyoke. These are all outdoorsy colleges with good arts programs.</p>

<p>Williams for sure doesn't offer merit, but it does have everything on your wish list including one of the best theater and arts programs among all LACs.</p>

<p>I wouldn't worry about the "rigor" at Grinnell: Some very smart kids and good merit aid.</p>

3

<p>Um, Tufts has a higher endowment than all the other surefire schools on your list. Tufts is one of 30-odd schools above the billion-dollar mark. It's also one of the smallest schools above that mark so there's more per capita, which is what really matters. Plus, a lot of money goes to undergrads -- A LOT.</p>

4

<p>Try DePauw, Denison, URochester, Goucher.</p>

5

<p>Listen to MomRath, seriously. Looking for merit aid is a task in itself. You need to do the research, apply to enough schools that have the aid, and be willing to go there. You might take a look at Tulane and Ohio Wesleyan. Ohio Wes does sound like a good fit for you. American U may be worth a look, too. How about Kalamazoo- sounds like a fit, great study abroad.</p>

6

<p>Average merit aid at Tufts: $500 given to a whopping 2%.</p>

7

<p>Average merit aid at Swarthmore: $31,196 given to 1%.</p>

8

<p>Average merit aid Chicago: $9,730 given to 11%.</p>

9

<p>Average merit aid Hampshire: $4,375 given to 17%.</p>

10

<p>You still have homework to do. I agree with momrath. (I don't agree with all her recommendations though - Williams zero merit money, Skidmore and Kenyon very tight - I believe Kenyon's big $ deadline is already past). </p>

<p>You need to get your parents to be clear about money. If you need merit money then apply only to schools that offer merit money AND where you will be competitive for it. (Your GPA worries me a bit.) And don't forget to apply to your state U.</p>

<p>It's hardly worth filling out applications for "reachy" schools if you won't get merit money (assuming you need it). It's a better use of your efforts to target schools you might actually be able to attend.</p>

<p>Your parents not being able to pay their EFC is not "death sentence." It merely means you're in the same boat as most kids. You need to find affordable choices.</p>

<p>Ferret out merit information (and, no, you cannot go by endowment). Ask yourself is you're in the top 10%-15% of their applicants statistically. Then apply.</p>

<p>Your stats and ECs are great, and it sounds like you've given a lot of thought about what you want out of a school. Now all you have to do is make sure you have 8 or 10 schools to apply to that you have a good shot at being able to pay for without landing yourself or your parents in financial do-do. You can do it, but you better get started!</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for all the comments. All the schools I've applied to already have some sort of merit aid (not necessarily the best), but still will probably add one or two in hopes of negotiating. Now, though, I plan to add three better fits, which will probably include Grinnell. Any advice on the one or two is appreciated, since this seems to be taking me the longest time.
Oh, and I just meant the EFC is pretty much a death sentence as far as the non-merit schools go.
One more thing: weenie, where did you get those stats?</p>

12

<p>Those stats are available a couple of places - but I use the premium edition of US News online. It's only $15 for the year, and well worth the money. It's organized well and even has a list of the highest financial aid schools.</p>

<p>College Board might have similar stats somewhere on their site. </p>

<p>Also if you search for the school's Common Data Set you might find it there: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=76444%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=76444&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>