We’ve visited a number of colleges. (Bard, St. Lawrence, Skidmore and Ithaca.) My D liked them but she hasn’t felt really strong about any yet (except maybe Skidmore.) Problem is, she is changing her mind as we go along which is making me crazy. But I know it’s going to happen since she’s still young and isn’t totally sure about her future plans. I’m still not sure about my future plans 
She told me today she thinks she’d prefer considering schools a bit more urban, closer to or in larger cities. We’re set to visit Colby, Bates, Brandeis, Clark U., Emerson, Connecticut College and Wesleyan in August. Any suggestions in or closer to NYC or larger cities out east or in the Chicago area? She’s a good student, goes to a top rated high school, ACT - 32, lot of theatre involvement and is considering theatre and or psychology. Leaning toward private liberal arts schools. I thought perhaps Sarah Lawrence, perhaps Lake Forest. We want to get a good mix of reach and safeties. She’s also applying to Michigan since we’re in Metro Detroit.
Would she consider women’s colleges? Barnard, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr
Also consider Vassar, Haverford.
In the midwest, Carleton and St. Olaf are about 45 min for Minny/St. Paul.
She will be a senior?
she doesn’t want all womens’ although I hear many girls change their minds once they visit Thought about Vassar and Haverford too!
I think she really wants to get out of the midwest which is why she’s looking at the east coast. She’s a pretty liberal spirit and although she has a good idea about what she does and doesn’t want, I still think a 17 year old can’t possible know exactly everything there is to know about what they want. It’s tough trying give guidance while also encouraging them to make their own choices. I did tell her that one thing to keep in mind is that we’re middle class and it’s all going to depend on who gives a good financial package as well.
Fordham in NYC and DePaul in Chicago would both be safeties and have strong theatre programs (do not know about psych). However, Fordham is larger than the schools you listed and DePaul is really big (largest Catholic college in the US, I think).
Of your visit list, only Emerson is in a desirable urban area. A lot of driving would be involved to see those schools. Have you considered focusing on NY-area alone and using your time to see 6 colleges in the metro area that are strong in areas of her interest? I would suggest Purchase College, which is relatively affordable for out of state. Sarah Lawrence has been mentioned, as has Fordham. Maybe add Vassar, Fairfield and NYU? This would give you a wide range of urban and suburban, but all of which are commuting distance to NYC for internships and theater-related opportunities. They may not all be great schools for financial aid, but visiting them can help your daughter decide what she likes.
yep, senior so she needs to start figuring out where. I’m suggesting she and my husband make a trip to NYC (we have friends in Astoria) and visit some schools like Fordham and NYU (which she is now eyeing.) I’d like to check out the SUNY colleges too. She’s thinking seriously theatre but she doesn’t want a BFA, more an academic route.
Go see a SUNY school and then compare it to any Midwest public. She will never go to a SUNY.
NYU won’t give you a penny, maybe 100’s of thousands in loans.
You have a good plan for a high acheiving student. Stick to it. Lots of great schools on your list. Since you plan to be on Boston you can check out BC.
BatesParents2019, thank you for that input! Yes, she has started to think about BC too so we’re going to consider that as well! We’ve already made tour/interview plans at the east cost schools I mentioned (baked into our 2 week vacation) so we’re sticking to that plan. She may get out there and find something from the group she really likes!
Another tip, on the way up to Maine stop in Portland. 95 goes right thorough it. Bates is about 35 miles north. Portland is a great place right on the ocean. Filled with bars, great food and music. The Bates and Bowdoin kids regularly makes trips there on the weekends.
I don’t think SUNY’s stack up that badly against midwest pubblics of similar size. They’re not Michigan or OSU, but they stack up against Bowling Green or that level IMO.
Try to get her to look at a women’s college. Bryn Mawr is beautiful and has a bi-College program with Haverford and is in the Quaker Consortium with Haverford, Swarthmore, and UPenn, and is quite a bit easier to get into than all 3 of those.
You have it one your list already - Clark in Worcester, MA. It’s an option that is a little less selective than others mentioned here and might fit the profile your daughter is looking for.
Posters commenting on SUNYs with an omniscient tone may not have been to many of them. This is what USNWR wrote about SUNY-Geneseo, for example:
Walking on Main Street in Geneseo is like stepping into a vintage postcard. The 19th-century architecture of the storefronts, in an area designated a National Historic Landmark Village, seems to meld into the 220-acre campus of SUNY-Geneseo. Unlike places where town-gown relations are often uneasy, Geneseo has particularly warm ties to the university …
SUNY Geneseo is very nice but is quite a few hours away from the city. I would take a look at SUNY New Paltz. Very reasonable for OOS and about a 90 (?) minute ride to the city. A lot of kids that I know go into Manhattan on the weekends to see shows etc. New Paltz has an “artsy” reputation and has solid academics.
Perhaps Fordham in NYC (they have non-binding EA so it can be an excellent safety), Barnard (I know she said she doesn’t want all women but this is across from Columbia so it has a different vibe), and NYU (if not having a traditional campus is OK with her). Sarah Lawarence is over 70% female (I think) so she may not want that. You can look at Harverford and Villanova (also has non binding EA) if she wants to consider schools in suburbs of Phila. In Boston you might add Brandeis and Tufts to the list.
And it is perfectly normal for kids to change/clarify what types of schools they want as they go through the process. Take it as a positive – she is paying attention to what she is seeing and making choices.
might look at Holy Cross located in Worcester same city that Clark is in.
Vassar isn’t exactly in a large urban area.
I felt the same way when I visited my school. I didn’t feel crazy happy about it and I didn’t honestly feel like I liked it all that much, but statistically the incredible journalism program was the best choice for me. I visited and was pretty disappointed when I came home and didn’t feel the magical “Oh, THIS is the school for me!!” moment, but it was the only school that met all my very specific requirements (plus it fit best financially). When I hopelessly went back for Summer Orientation, I FELL IN LOVE. I love my school and I am SO excited to attend in the fall. Just let your D know that even if she may not love it completely at first, give it a chance, and it may be a perfect fit.
Another vote for Fordham. Great theatre program. NYC. You might also look at Muhlenberg which is known for its theatre program. Maybe not as academic as youd like, but SUNY Purchase also has great theatre. One of my daughter’s friends attends and has gotten great internships. How about Carnegie Mellon? Tough to get into, rigorous but fantastic theatre. Good luck.
DePaul would only be a good choice if she wants an auditioned conservatory BFA program; they are one of the best. Fordham-Lincoln Center does not require an audition to minor in Theater, but they do for their Theater Performance major. It is a small college, with no more than 2000 undergrads (the main campus has about twice as many). She can major in most liberal arts subjects, and will be considered for general admission if she is not accepted into the Theater program there. If she likes the “hippie-ish” colleges, she should look at Eugene Lang/New School. She might qualify for merit aid there. They are sort of like Bennington or Hampshire, but located in Manhattan. Goucher might be a good option, also. I’ve heard they are generous with merit aid for high-performing students. I also have to put in my inevitable pitch for New College of Florida, too, unless she’s committed to a northern campus. She can design her own curriculum, and develop individual projects. They are next door to an excellent regional theater (Asolo Rep, where FSU has its MFA program), and Sarasota has a surprisingly rich cultural life. NCF is very affordable, even for out-of-state students, and has a superb record for graduate school admissions and prestigious scholarships (e.g. Fulbright, Goldwater, etc.).