<p>Hi everyone
I really need help finding the right college... it's really depressing that I don't feel strongly about any colleges and now I just feel like I don't even want to go to a college.
I know I won't find a perfect school but I just need different suggestions and find out more about colleges that I don't already know of. Your help will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>here are things that I look for in colleges(not in a specific order):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Environment might be one of the most important characteristics that I am looking for in colleges. I love the nature. Beautiful environment inspires me very much! I love outdoor activities including gardening, farming, swimming, biking, hiking, skiing, backpacking, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>I am Asian and I grew up in a very diverse community.
-The student body in my high school is almost equally divided into different ethnicity and economic backgrounds (last year's ethnicity breakdown was: 13 American Indians, 247 Asians, 21 Pacific Islanders, 57 Filipinos, 841 Hispanic, 569 African Americans, 501 white, and 2 exchange students; we do have a lot of Hispanic kids but I live in California)
-One of the teachers created a course called Multicultural Literature that is now taught in many different states, and is probably the most popular class at my school besides Ceramics. Our school emphasizes a lot on intercultural education and the students value cultural diversity.
-Last year, for the first time in the United States, a transgender was voted as the homecoming king.
-We have several gay teachers
-There are barely any cliques, homophobia, racism and discrimination.
-I live in a very small city in LA but we have almost every kind of religious churches and temples... meaning students come from various religious backgrounds </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Because I grew up and went to elementary, middle and high school here, diversity is very normal and valuable for me and I learned to appreciate others regardless their backgrounds. I really thought that it would be like this everywhere I go... but taking the Multi. Lit class helped me realize that what I have is very rare; it's so weird how a lot of colleges have only 10-20% of minorities and brag so much about their diversity. </p>
<p>I am not looking for a college where every ethnicity is equally divided; I just don't want to go to a school where minorities and people with various cultural backgrounds are not accepted and respected. It's not just a race thing. I'd hate to go a school where certain types of people are targeted for discrimination. This is one of the reasons why I don't like the Greek system. I am so used to be friends with different types of people.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I want to study visual art/art history/art education, Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies, and cultural anthropology
I am really interested in art and human relations. I am an artist myself and I love creative and artistic atmosphere. I want to go to a school where art department is strong.</p></li>
<li><p>I am an international student and want to work in the US after I graduate from college. It's going to be really hard to find a job because of what I want to study and there aren't many jobs available for international students... finding a company who would sponsor me for H-1B visa would be so difficult. So I need a lot of help. Colleges with strong career support and preparation is desperately needed.</p></li>
<li><p>Since I don't qualify for federal aid and cannot afford to pay full tuition, I have to rely on private financial aid and grants. This is one of the reasons why i am mostly looking at private colleges. </p></li>
<li><p>the college reputation isn't that important to me... but it'd be nice to go a college with pretty good reputation and strong academics. In fact, there is a reason why some colleges are ranked higher than others. </p></li>
<li><p>weather..... I guess I don't really care much about it... I'm used to the sunny So-Cal weather near the beach, but I can suck it up. Unless it's gloomy and rainy all year long.</p></li>
<li><p>I prefer liberal arts colleges because I want to get more one on one attention from professors and faculty.</p></li>
<li><p>I'm fine with not getting wasted and hooked up with people every night. social life is definitely important but it's okay if the parties are not THAT good. I'm not going to college to party.</p></li>
<li><p>a lot of internship opportunities</p></li>
</ol>
<p>here are some colleges that I plan to apply:
Amherst College (probably my top choice... only if I can even get in)
Bard College (I heard that it's hard for minorities to fit and there are a lot of rich snobs)
Carnegie Mellon (maybe my stats are too low)
Vassar College (same as Bard)
Hampshire College (dorms and buildings are disgusting and heard many professors and students are extremely liberal so they hate you if you disagree with certain things)
Rhodes College (sororities and fraternities dominate the social life)
UCSC, UCLA</p>
<p>im not including my stats because I don't want to limit any potentials but I know that I can't get into highly academic and prestigious schools with top national ranks</p>
<p>I'm so sorry this post is soooo loooonnnngggg... but this is very very important to me. I just don't want to make wrong decisions. I feel very overwhelmed and depressed.
Please help me and your comments will be appreciated! thank you!</p>
<p>and whoever is taking the ACT tomorrow, good luck!</p>