<p>It has been a long time since my last post. DS #1 is finishing grad school, DS #2 is finishing year 2 of law school... </p>
<p>Now DD is taking a more relaxed approach to the college app process and as she is at a boarding school with an excellent GC, so am I! We are getting a late start (she is a junior), but am not particularly worried. Just want to see if any of the excellent CC parents have any additional names of schools we might toss on the list. </p>
<p>Her particulars: grew up overseas, tricky path but fabulous resolution, straight A's except during the 'tricky semester' in grade 9. She will have amazing recs, she has done very unusual things and has rebounded from amazing challenges. She got into some 'big name' boarding schools but decided to try something different and wants the same sort of community feeling for college. She wants to study psychology and anthropology, maybe. </p>
<p>Took SAT once (she does not want to do again- so she won't!)- 2080 (700,700, 680). Awaiting her ACT scores. </p>
<p>She doesn't want IVY or similarly competitive(..what DS#2 did) or Grinnell (... what DC#1 did). She wants a smaller school with 'nerdy fun'-- which she characterizes as an eclectic and open minded peer group, a big contingent of Dr. Who fans, and people who are at ease trying new things, and not hung up on superficialities. Reasonable sized international community a good thing. </p>
<p>She has a list which ranges from Wesleyan and Reed to Lewis and Clark and Goucher. Not a techie, though she is terrific in M/Sci... What does Nerdy Fun mean to you?!</p>
<p>My daughter is a self described " academic nerd" who enjoys attending school sporting events. Her idea of fun is going to dinner with a friend and discussing books that they have read. She just told me that she wants a college where the kids enjoy spending their free time attending games, as well as discussing books and current events. I am not sure if this is considered " nerdy fun," but since my daughter considers herself an " academic nerd" I decided to post. She also enjoys doing fund raisers and staying in to work on projects. When she goes on Facebook it is usually to post in the chemistry group. On a side note, she loves looking at junior ball pictures!</p>
<p>Given that she’s lived abroad before, would she be open to studying abroad, perhaps in the UK? Fellow Dr Who fans are guaranteed, and she would be able to see Dr Who on its first broadcast I’ve also come across Quidditch societies if that interests her, alongside all manner of other weird and wonderful student groups. However, she would need to be certain about what subject she wanted to study, as you apply for a certain subject, and study that subject exclusively or almost exclusively for your whole degree. Most UK unis will also want to see APs, though she need not have finished them by the time she applies (by 15th Jan during senior year). </p>
<p>From your point of view the advantage would be that tuition is invariably cheaper than at comparable US universities, and bachelors degrees take only three years (in England & Wales; Scottish degrees are 4 years), making it cheaper still. </p>
<p>If it’s something that might pique her interest, then let me know and I can point you in the right direction.</p>
<p>Nice to hear from you again. I am surprised your DD ruled out Grinnell. The worm’s g/f and her twin are both into Nerdy Fun, and one went to Grinnell, the other to Carleton. They loved their schools, and both were successful in med/grad school admissions.</p>
<p>Would she consider a women’s college? Mount Holyoke might fit her bill. Both of my D’s applied and were accepted (D2 with a very large merit scholarship). For various reasons they made other choices, but it could be a good choice for your D. Encourage her to visit if she can (the “all women’s” issue that some girls have often slides away when they step onto that beautiful campus). Macalester might be another option.</p>
<p>As intparent said, Mount Holyoke is a great place for “nerdy fun.” One of my best friends attends there (as did her mother), and she is LOVING it. For nerd-proof, she currently runs a D&D game trough the D&D club on campus that has an official meeting location, snacks, etc…it’s a very welcoming environment for lady-nerds :)</p>
<p>I expect you can find Dr Who fans on any campus. as I mentioned on a recent thread, my oldest knitted a mason jar cozy of the Tardis for her sister @ Christmas.</p>
<p>Austin college in TX sounds just up her alley. Smaller tight knit school of about 1500. I’d call them quirky more so than nerdy, but should be able to find some whoovians. Also most students do study abroad and there are a good number if internationals.</p>
<p>Lots of tech majors along with LAC core curriculum. Physical campuses in Montreal and Dublin with broad support for attendance. And it’s located in one of the nicest college towns - Burlington, VT.</p>
<p>DD2 is a self professed nerd who did not care for Reed but hit it big with L&C. Her other fave application colleges (after visiting) were Smith, Oberlin, Carleton.</p>
<p>U of Chicago IS very competitive (admissions & internally) and also not a “smaller school”. Does not fit the bill for what the OP has asked for.</p>
<p>It’s competitive, though not at University of Chicago levels - would she consider William and Mary? Lots of kids there who happily consider themselves nerds. Of course there’s a Dr. Who Club. Of course there’s a Quidditch team (though is that considered nerd fun or mainstream fun?). Also: a boomerang club, a collegiate tea drinkers’ society, a Rubik’s Cube club, a ukelele club, two knitting/crocheting groups, a croquet team, a paintball club, a Settlers of Catan club, an anime society, a sci-fi group that sponsors a video festival … some quirky groups in addition to the expected wide variety of political, artistic, religious, etc. groups you find at most colleges. </p>
<p>I do think she’d like the student body at W&M. She sounds like a neat kid!</p>
<p>LOL-- D just had a Dr. Who marathon party yesterday–blue jello Tardis, anyone?
I also thought of Settlers of Catan (S’s school had an informal club).</p>
<p>Can’t help you with schools–the school that came to mind as I was reading your post was Grinnell, but I see you’ve ruled that out.</p>
<p>Bard might work, but might not have enough math and science for her. (The brand new science labs are really cool looking though!) I know someone whose U of Chicago kid is having a Tardis at his wedding - just as a U of C plug I realize it doesn’t fit all her criteria. I don’t know them well, but wonder if one of the Claremont Colleges might provide what she is looking for.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth my nerdy kids were very happy at slightly bigger schools - Carnegie Mellon and Tufts.</p>
<p>The longer I am on CC, the less I think I know–but for what it’s worth, when I think of the creative science/math types I know, the schools they’ve attended that might fit the bill include Reed, Carleton, and Harvey Mudd. Oberlin might also be a good fit for a student who has an interest in music as well as STEM subjects.</p>
I’ve also come across Quidditch societies if that interests her, alongside all manner of other weird and wonderful student groups. However, she would need to be certain about what subject she wanted to study, as you apply for a certain subject, and study that subject exclusively or almost exclusively for your whole degree. Most UK unis will also want to see APs, though she need not have finished them by the time she applies (by 15th Jan during senior year). </p>