Need Matches?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a senior who is currently halfway finished with applications. However, I'm afraid that there are awesome schools that flew under my radar. Recommend me some more schools that are matches?</p>

<p>I've been accepted to Pitt and Penn State Main, so I don't really need to worry about safeties. My three favorite schools are Barnard (sort of a reach), Smith (more of a fit and my top choice), and Tufts (definite reach, but it's worth a shot anyway). I didn't apply ED anywhere because of financial aid.</p>

<p>SATs: 2110 (750 CR, 660 math, 700 writing)
SAT IIs: Math Level 1 (700), US History (720)
AP Classes/Tests: European History (5), US History (5), English Language (5), Psychology (5), Biology, Statistics, English Literature, and US Government (taking the last four this year)
Seminar/Honors Classes: Biology 1, Chemistry 1, Physics 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalc, English 9 and 10, Afro-Asian History, French 3, 4, and 5
Rank: 29/352
GPA: 4.44 weighted
Extracurriculars- I know these are somewhat weak, and I might be forgetting one or two:
Theater (11, 12)
Model UN (11, attended a conference)
Young Democrats (9-12)
National French Honor Society (9-11; could not take French in 12th due to a scheduling conflict)
National Honor Society (11-12)
Literary Magazine (12)
People to People Student Ambassador Programs: went on a two-week program in Japan (summer between 11th and 12th)
Interests: Applying undecided, but I'm interested in psychology, English, history, international relations, biology, etc.</p>

<p>I'm veering more towards small to medium liberal arts schools that aren't in the middle of nowhere. I plan on staying in the East Coast and would rather go north than south. Any suggestions for me? Thanks for reading through all of this!</p>

2

<p>Brandeis
Lehigh
Mt. Holyoke
Vassar
Georgetown</p>

3

<p>Macalaster for international relations and LAC in a city. Trinity. Vassar.</p>

4

<p>Thank you for the suggestions! I did check out Macalaster, but I’m in southeastern PA and want to remain within driving distance of home (mostly because I don’t want to deal with airports during holidays). It’s a shame, though, because otherwise it seems like an awesome school.</p>

<p>I visited Mount Holyoke and liked it, although I felt that Smith was a better fit for me. I don’t think I have a chance at Georgetown, but I will check out the other ones mentioned.</p>

5

<p>Holy Cross(don’t have to be religious) and Brandeis. HC is smaller version of Georgetown but easier to get into.</p>

6

<p>[Academics</a> | Drew University](<a href=“http://www.drew.edu/thinkbeyond/academics.aspx#AOS]Academics”>http://www.drew.edu/thinkbeyond/academics.aspx#AOS) Drew University, NJ </p>

<p>[Scholarship</a> & Grant Opportunities | Drew University](<a href=“http://www.drew.edu/depts/finaid.aspx?id=7327#DrewMeritBasedScholarships]Scholarship”>http://www.drew.edu/depts/finaid.aspx?id=7327#DrewMeritBasedScholarships) Merit Aid </p>

<p>Did you also look at Wellesley, seeing as you looked at Smith & MHC ?</p>

7

<p>I would look at Denison. It has good FA and is in a charming town not far from the PA border.</p>

8

<p>“I didn’t apply ED anywhere because of financial aid.”</p>

<p>The best reason (I know it doesn’t matter now) is that you didn’t have that one dream school above all others; if you have one, applying ED can be fine even if you need FA.</p>

9

<p>I visited Wellesley also. Wellesley and MHC just didn’t fit as well as Smith did, although all three are excellent schools. Part of it was location- I thought that Wellesley and MHC were a little more isolated, even though Wellesley’s close to Boston and MHC’s close to four other schools. I really liked Northampton and how Smith was part of the town.</p>

<p>I’ve heard of Drew University, and I’ll have to check out Drew and Denison. Brandeis looks like a pretty good school. I know you said that I don’t have to be religious for Holy Cross, so is the religious aspect of the school more in the background?</p>

<p>Yeah, that’s most of the reason why I didn’t apply ED anywhere. I considered it for Smith, but I wasn’t sure enough about it to commit completely yet. My parents then pointed out the FA stuff to me.</p>

10

<p>I second Denison bc of the FA and Merit A. These are the others I’d suggest looking at though some may be more isolated (though not in the middle of nowhere):</p>

<p>-Vassar
-Wesleyan
-Amherst
-Bryn Marr
-Sarah Lawrence
-Georgetown
-William and Mary (though I know you said you didn’t want to head south)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

11

<p>one more! Kenyon is gorgeous. Yes, this is in the middle of no where, but it’s campus is amazing!</p>

12

<p>“My parents then pointed out the FA stuff to me.”</p>

<p>Curious: what did they point out?</p>

13

<p>I’ll have to definitely look at some of the ones that keep popping up :D. I should have specified in the first post, but I’m willing to go as far south as Virginia. I really like William and Mary, even though I’m out of state. I don’t think I have a chance at Amherst or Georgetown. I managed to visit Amherst, Smith, and MHC on the same day, and Smith was my far and above favorite out of the three. Bryn Mawr is a little too close, though I’m considering applying just so I have a closer school to consider. Thanks for all of the suggestions!</p>

<p>My parents told me that they didn’t want to give up the opportunity to compare aid offers from different schools, especially since I don’t have a dream school. If I somehow got into Barnard, Smith, or Tufts, I wouldn’t get much merit aid, particularly since two out of the above three don’t even offer it.</p>

14

<p>^ Your parents were exactly right, IMHO; ED indeed requires a dream school, IYAM. :)</p>

15

<p>Holy Cross is Jesuit-run just like BC, Georgetown, Fordham and the rest of the 28 Jesuit colleges in the USA. Catholic religious services are readily available but are purely optional.</p>

16

<p>Holy Cross is a smaller version of Georgetown but easier to get into. HC has an amazing political alumni network-1 US Supreme Court Justice, 1 US Senator, 3-4 Congressmen, Chris Matthews of MSNBC, and Obama’s chief speechwriter. Like the Ivies, Holy Cross is need blind for admissions.</p>

17

<p>Ah okay, thank you! I’ll have to check out schools like Holy Cross and BC, then.</p>