Please Help a Rising Senior Pick Schools

College Search & Selection
1

Hi, when applications opened yesterday, it really set in that I don’t know where I want to apply to college. Any and all help is much appreciated!

Here are my stats:
-GPA: Unweighted: 3.9, Weighted 4.3
-AP Computer Science Principles (4), AP US History (3), AP Language and Composition (3)
-Planning to take AP Stat, AP Lit, and AP Psych senior year
-SAT: 1400, retaking in the fall
-ACT: 30
-Subject Tests: Literature (740), Math 2 (720)
-Extracurriculars: endless list of school clubs, theatre (been involved in every show since my school opened in 2015, as well as being a TA for lower level classes and other various responsibilities), NHS member, President of my school’s International Thespian Society Troupe and drama club, secretary for two years of the local teen volunteer organization in my town, creative writing (published in a book and some magazines, winner of many writing awards inside and outside of my school), Print Content Editor and Head of Graphic Design for my school’s newspaper as well as Newspaper Student of the Year, attended Long Island University’s Summer Honors Institute for theatre, and a bunch more stuff (no school sports though)

What I want to major in:
The main issue I’ve run into during the college search is that it’s hard to figure out what schools have a major I would be interested in. My current career goal is working on the production side of television, but I want the ability to change my mind and sway from that path a little if I find out it’s just not for me. So I have been looking at majors that deal with the business side of creative endeavors, or something along those lines. I’m not really interested in getting a film degree. The closest thing I’ve found to what I think I’m looking for is Business of Creative Enterprises at Emerson College.

What else I’m looking for in a college:
-A school that allows non theatre majors to participate in mainstage productions
-Preferably an urban environment (in the US)
-If the school is not located near television studios, students have the opportunity to intern at different locations
-Not a heavily religious school

If you want any other information, just let me know. Thanks in advance!

2

Emerson is great. I would also look at BU and Syracuse. BU has an internship program / relationship with HBO where you actually spend a semester in LA working in production. All 3 are well connected in the industry. BU and Syracuse will provide far greater options in terms of overall education should your interests change. Your stats would make you competitive for either admissions and put you in decent shape for merit money at Syracuse. BU merit is VERY competitve.

3

I had no idea about the BU/HBO thing, I’ll check it out, thanks for the info! I’ve looked at Syracuse online, but couldn’t find a full time major that fit for me.

4

We had a few theater production kids dream of Emerson and they were admitted. They were shocked to learn how much it cost though and ultimately had to turn it down.

What are your cost constraints? How much can your parents pay each year without private loan debt?

5

Most likely, I would only attend Emerson if I got into their honors college, which is a half tuition scholarship. I do not qualify for any financial aid, student loans will be a reality no matter what, so I’m not limiting my search finance wise.

6

@lukule that does not have to be the case at all. The difference between federal loans and private loans is huge. What is your home state?

7

@lukule please discuss your budget with your parents, you can only get a limited amount of federal loans, for private loans you will require a cosigner. Please read this:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized#how-much

8

You may want to investigate Loyola Marymount in LA, as well as Chapman in Orange, CA.
Have you looked into Ithaca?