Non-traditional student programs for B students [3.3 college GPA, 40 credits, transfer student from community college, philosophy major]

Does your state have a public LAC (see Member Institutions )? Many of the public LACs are not that selective, and not that expensive for in-state residents. Some are not that expensive for out-of-state students (e.g. Truman State (however, philosophy is combined with religious studies), University of Minnesota - Morris).

If money is not an issue, there are many third-tier small liberal arts colleges that will be more than happy to accept you, but without financial aid.

If money is an issue, I suggest you consider the 4 yr state colleges with which your community college has a transfer agreement, and plan to finish your associate’s at the community college, and then transfer to the 4 yr state college, or possibly to a public liberal arts college, if your state has them. They’re often not very selective. That might be the perfect fit for you and your wallet.

So sorry! I promise I will respond to everyone tonight.

Thank you everyone for your responses :blush:

I don’t have much personal knowledge, but these two links might be helpful.

This one gives brief descriptions of why 50 schools made the list for older college students: https://www.bestvalueschools.org/top-50-colleges-older-students/

USNWR has assembled a list of the colleges with the highest percentage of students age 25+. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/most-over-25

There are liberal arts colleges on both lists. This is a list from the federal government of schools in the eastern half of the U.S. with fewer than 3k undergrads that offers a major in philosophy. Cross-referencing some of the lists may be helpful.

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St. John’s is great, but they require transfer students to do the full four-year curriculum, regardless of previous coursework. If OP wants to make a 4 year commitment, it’s definitely worth a look.

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I’m so glad you understand. I really appreciate your encouragement! I find the college application process to be very overwhelming, so I truly appreciate all of your help!

I’m fine with schools in the Midwest, the North East, and the South.

These look like some really amazing programs and I will take a more in depth look at them. I made a spreadsheet like the example on College Xpress and will add them.

Thank you :heart:

Thank you so much! I will take a look at Guilford’s course offerings because I was set on a Philosophy major but I’m very interested.

No worries! I need reaches and matches too. I’m not sure if I really have any safety schools because of my stats. Most of the non-traditional programs I’ve found are right at my stats or more competitive.

I have a question @aquapt How many schools do you think I should apply to? I was thinking 3. Do you think that is enough?

Thank you!

Thank you! I’d love a very diverse school but I feel that I need to be realistic. Especially looking at LACS. So those are great options!

I will add cost of living to my spreadsheet. Embarrassingly, I haven’t put any consideration into cost of living. It is important! :relaxed:

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I wasn’t aware of public LACs! Thank you :blush:
Unfortunately there aren’t any in my state but I will look up the ones you mentioned and see if they have programs for non-traditional students.

Thank you!

Thank you for your suggestions. I have my heart pretty set on a non-trad program but I do acknowledge that I must be flexible and open minded in my search.

I’m unfamiliar with tiers. If possible, could you send me a link to a list of 3rd tier LACs? I’d really appreciate it.

I’m extremely privileged that my grandparents left me the funds to afford college. I still have to determine what value a college has for me but I am just starting to research schools.

Thank you for your input!

They are absolutely helpful and absolutely appreciated!

Thank you very much :grin: They look like great resources :+1:

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I will definitely take a look! Thank you @aquapt

You can find what percentage of undergraduates are age 25+ by looking at the college’s entry in College Navigator. For example: College Navigator - University of Minnesota-Morris .

But do not be surprised the LACs usually have lower percentages of undergraduates who are age 25+ compared to state universities that serve student populations with lots of local commuters.

I think you’re right that schools like Smith and Wellesley are out of reach for you. If you can afford the tuition, you would probably be accepted by most liberal arts colleges with acceptance rates of 70% or more. There are a few threads on college confidential about B students’ college search - you may find these useful. Just search using the magnifying glass icon in the upper right hand corner.

The issue is that a 3.3 from a community college will be viewed as weaker than a 3.3 from a more academically rigorous 4-yr institution. For this reason, I suspect that despite your full pay status, and despite your ability to pay “rack rate” tuition, you’re going to have a tough time being accepted by more selective schools. However, you might reach for schools whose acceptance rate is just below 60%. Take a look at Sarah Lawrence and Bard college as “reaches”. Also, you might want to look at Goucher in Md.

But I’d seriously consider how you want to spend your money. Private college will probably run you 70-80K/yr. Public college in-state for you, more like 30-35K/yr. I’m sure that you will find the Philosophy dep’t experience small and intimate at any school you choose.

Thank you so much! I’ve never heard of that resource and now I can use it in my search moving forward.

That’s a really good point! I hope focusing on non-trad programs will mean that I have a close community of peers but I’ve definitely found exceptions. For example, Bryn Mawr would have been a high reach for me anyway but when I checked the Common Data Set I saw that they only matriculated 8 transfer students last year. That definitely gave me pause.(Also the fact that their transfer acceptance rate was significantly more competitive and they were already a reach)

I have to remind myself to be flexible and know that there will be some form of give and take at any of the schools I choose to apply to.

Thank you for all of your help :relaxed:

Thank you so much for breaking things down for me. Your comment is extremely helpful for understanding what my target and reach schools should look like. My current support group is unfamiliar with the college application process so I don’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of.

May I ask, how many schools would you recommend I apply to?

I agree. I will look into some of the forums for B students. I do have a feeling that fit may be an integral part of me being able to complete my degree. I was a D student in highschool and struggled to get my 3.3 at community college.

Still, I’ve learned a lot about myself since high school and I enjoy learning. Now I find that I am much better at advocating for myself and reaching out for help. I get overwhelmed in large environments and find that I tend to thrive in smaller more intimate settings. I feel that an LAC is most likely to offer this type of environment. But I want to remain open minded :grin:

Thank you again!

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I would like to comment on the quality of your posts: both articulate and appealing. Your writing is very likable. Hence the number of responses, perhaps!

Do you have any learning challenges, like ADHD or a “learning disability”? You seem so bright. Have you ever been evaluated or ever received accommodations?

The Mass. College of Liberal Arts is an option. Home (mcla.edu) They have a philosophy majorand minor as well as a concentration in law, ethics and society MCLA Programs

North Adams in a few minutes from Williamstown, where Williams College is located. It is also home to MassMOCA, my favorite art museum, and there is a lot of cultural growth (and probably gentrification) in the former mill town. Living expenses remain relatively low.

Here are the costs: Tuition Information (mcla.edu) 85% of students receive some aid.

Other states may have similar options. Again, I think Colleges that Change Lives may be a resource.

We do not know much about you, whether you have worked, done community service, participated in the arts, faced unusual challenges etc. Some of these factors can enhance your chances at schools that you assume will not admit you due to stats.

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If you struggled to get a 3.3 in community college, and were a D student in high school, you are very likely to have trouble with the academic level at a highly selective institution, no matter the level of support offered. If your goal is to succeed in getting a BA in Philosophy, you honestly are probably better off at your local 4 yr state college, or at a less-selective private college, if you don’t mind spending probably an additional 50k/yr for the private college.

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Philosophy is one of the most rigorous majors, involves a lot of logical analysis, and can be a good fit for those with strong mathematical ability. It is highly intellectually challenging and abstract. You may wish to consider a school which easily accomodates shifting to another major if it turns out to be not quite what you expected.

The high school record is probably not very relevant now that the OP has a significant college record, although colleges that are predominantly frosh-entry focused may still look at it even for transfer applicants.

How rigorous the OP’s community college is likely depends on the state, since some states’ flagships are much more willing to accept in-state community college courses for subject credit than others.

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