Please help me start my college search

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I'm a junior and I'm pretty clueless about my college search right now. All I know is that I am not sure which major to take (maybe English or psych - probably not science) and that I want to have a good liberal arts education. I enjoy learning and studying and since I am Indian there's lots of pressure on me to go to a "good university" but I have noo idea what that might mean for me. Please help me by suggesting in which direction and at what kinds of colleges I should be looking at. </p>

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>Indian female, moved HS after sophmore year, now in intl school in HK</p>

<p>GPA: ? Don't know because my school doesn't give GPA</p>

<p>I got 94.7/95% in my Indian board exam (one of the school toppers)</p>

<p>Right now I'm doing IB diploma and have been tentatively predicted in the late 30s but my real predicts don't come out till late</p>

<p>SAT I: 2250 total - 690 M, 790 CR and 770 W with 9 essay (planning on retaking)</p>

<p>ECs (in brief)</p>

<p>Over 100 hours of service including teaching in rural areas, Indian classical music for 3 years, co-editor of school newspapers, involved in school literary and popular magazine, MUN for 4 years (twice citywide and won 1 prize in regional level), head of world press in MUN once, choir. Bahh my ECs are weak but hoping to increase over summer/easter</p>

<p>Preferences (not requirements) :</p>

<p>-Smallish school but don't mind larger unis if undergrad teaching is good</p>

<p>Preferably suburban or in a good college town. I LOVE urban areas but am concerned about safety. But equally I am concerned about having nothing to do other than drink in a more isolated school. :S</p>

<p>I don't drink or party so a "party school" would not be preferable.</p>

<p>Good vegetarian food is a always a plus :)</p>

<p>All help is very much appreciated :D</p>

2

<p>Is money a concern? Can your parents pay the $55k per year for you to go to the school of your choice?</p>

<p>I’m thinking that one of the top LACs might be right for you…like</p>

<p>Amhearst
Williams
Swarthmore
Wellesley
Smith</p>

<p>I imagine that many have good vegetarian foods.</p>

3

<p>How much can your parents afford at most? What is your EFC?</p>

4

<p>I won’t be getting any FA as an intl student so I don’t want to go beyond 55k a year.</p>

5

<p>If you don’t mind an all-female school, Wellesley and Smith (mentioned above) would be good choices, as would Mt. Holyoke. I would also take a look at the following schools:</p>

<p>Rice
University of Rochester
College of William and Mary
Scripps
Pomona
Connecticut College
Washington University St. Louis
Emory
Vanderbilt</p>

6

<p>Look at top 50 LAC’s on US News and World Report. Then pick up copies of the Fiske Guide and College P r owler… maybe even other guides, as well. You might have to buy them on Amazon. Spend LOTS OF TIME reading them, as each will put a slightly different perspective on each school and its atmosphere. </p>

<p>Together, reading these guides will give you a good idea of what attending school at each college will be like. From there, you’ll probably have a list of a few favorites. Then, come on CC and ask what our opinion of each specific institution is, and many of us here will happily give you our honest (possibly biased) analysis of each school’s strengths and weaknesses. </p>

<p>Your question as it curently stands is too broad, and we do not know enough about your needs and desires to point you in any direction accurately. Still, from what I can tell, your stats are in line for attending most any college in the US. Also, the “no-need” thing will, help, as well. Just make sure you parents can really afford $250k and don’t cause unnecessary stress by breaking the bank.</p>

<p>Good Luck!!!</p>

7

<p>Thanks a lot! Now I atleast have a starting point. :slight_smile: I should probably do that. Oh and Rice is the one place my parents do not want me to go to. Loong story behind that. They’re ok with the financial aspect but I do want to find some financial safety/places which offer intl aid just to lower my personal guilt.</p>

8

<p>So you can afford 55K/year. I’m guessing your EFC is high so you don’t qualify for international aid?</p>

<p>Here would be my picks for financial safeties :
U-Minnesota Twin Cities
SUNY Geneseo
Rollins
Rhodes (the last two for merit aid) </p>

<p>Reaches : Brown, Vassar (don’t apply for FA and you have an excellent shot at Vassar)</p>

9

<p>People are kinda optimistic. You have a decent shot, but you might wanna do better in school, a prediction of high 30s is good but that only puts you in probably barely in the top 10% of your school? Actually I can’t really say considering how I’m unfamiliar with your school.</p>

10

<p>It puts me in the top 10% yeah ahhh one reason why I should get off CC and start studying! Thanks for the input everyone.</p>

11

<p>Any suggestions for academic safeties and matches for me? All these colleges seem like reaches/</p>

12

<p>Closer matches could be Carleton, Grinnell, Oberlin, Reed. Being a full pay international, you should have your choice of many schools.</p>

13

<p>EDIT: In my first post I said I got 94.7/95% - that’s out of 100. I thought that was misleading. My score just reads differently based on which report card u look at.</p>