<p>I believe these schools are test optional (going by memory so double check these): Bowdoin, Bates, Colby (flexible), Smith, Bryn Mawr (flexible), Hampshire, Bard, Mt Holyoke, Union College, Colorado College…</p>
<p>^ Or you can look them up here: [SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional]SAT/ACT”>ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest)</p>
<p>Hi StarsandBoxes,</p>
<p>I encourage you to look into Wheelock College in Boston. We have a very diverse student population, a strong LGBT community, and a great urban setting in the middle of Boston. Probably our most “quirky” aspect is that all of our students are truly committed to social change (and our majors all include a heavy dose of advocacy and activism). Based on your service work and leadership activities, you would seem to be a great fit here. </p>
<p>Our major in Environmental Studies would suit you well: it has a foundation in scientific understanding, a focus on sustainability, and an emphasis on how we promote new ideas and change minds regarding these important issues.</p>
<p>Please be in touch if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Best,
Alex Powell
Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Wheelock College
<a href=“mailto:apowell@wheelock.edu”>apowell@wheelock.edu</a></p>
<p>Why not stay in Northern Ca and see if you can get into UC Berkeley? It’s urban, liberal, highly regarded, hip, …</p>
<p>And if you’re a Ca resident, the tuition is low.</p>
<p>I think you would really like DePaul and the fun neighborhood around it, Lincoln Park (Chicago). Students of every religious background are fine there.</p>
<p>I also think you might find what you are looking for at many women’s colleges.</p>
<p>I hope the OP contacts the admissions rep for Wheelock - to get a personal message like this is nothing to take lightly - it’s a compliment and might lead you to just where you want to be!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>DePaul.
DePaul.
DePaul.</p>
<p>great urban campus in a very fun city. Catholic but not in-your-face - for example, they have a very active LGBT community and offer a minor in LGBTQ studies. Very diverse, lots to do, and offers merit money.</p>
<p>Any chance Cooper Union might be of interst?</p>
<p>Bennington is in Vermont but would fit the vibe you want; also it has a field work term in the winter during which students are off campus, anywhere in the world, often in cities.</p>
<p>Bard, Oberlin (these two certainly not urban), Goucher, Sarah Lawrence, Barnard,many others. Check out CUNY’s.</p>
<p>ps I second the idea of test-optional schools. Was going to post a list but the Fair Test one above is a good one. You will be surprised how many really good schools are test optional, but often scores are required for merit aid.</p>
<p>Clark U. in Worcester is another possibility.</p>
<p>I happen to think that you would be accepted to NYU. I don’t particularly think you would like it. I also think that your “diversity” Hispanic heritage and that you are from the California, will aid you in admission on the East Coast.</p>
<p>I need to add this - the OP is an atheist. She is also LGBT. I am sure that she has had her fill of Catholicism. </p>
<p>Even if a school is not “in your face Catholic”, I imagine that she does not want a Catholic environment at all. </p>
<p>Some colleges near or in cities that I would recommend include -</p>
<p>Bard, Annandale on Hudson, NY</p>
<p>Clark University, Worcester MA (in a smaller city and about 45 minutes from Boston.
they have been welcoming the LGBT community for
almost 40 years)
Goucher College, Balitimore </p>
<p>Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville NY (very close to NYC)</p>
<p>I think that you would be admitted to any of these.</p>
<p>It is a small Great Books school in Chicago with a lot of offbeat students. It is a very demanding curriculum but has many opportunities for specialization and private tutorials.</p>
<p>Shimer is known to accept over %50 of applicants, many having low ACT/SAT scores and unflattering HS transcripts. This is significant because Shimer continually ranks in the top 1 percentile of colleges that produce future Ph.D’s.</p>
<p>Oberlin–not urban but you would be valued there and it’s only 20 mins to the Cleveland airport and city limit.</p>
<p>Hampshire, Beloit</p>
<p>Not a fan of Bard - it is cut throat competitive, even after almost 2 years, you could be rejected for your choice of concentration (what they call their majors) and either need to transfer schools or switch major to something they will accept you into.</p>
<p>Have you looked at Soka University in Orange County, CA which is actually founded upon Buddhist principles? - though its a truly suburban school.</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence while quirky is quite competitive admit, one of the most expensive schools in the U.S. and not known for merit money. Not certain about financial aid.</p>
<p>Oberlin is not 20 minutes from the outskirts of Cleveland or the airport. I would say it is more like 40 minutes. That was a major drawback when we toured Oberlin as although there is group transport on vacation breaks, there was only cab service on other weekends. DD was waitlisted so we never had to make a decision but I did not care for the remoteness.</p>
<p>You might want to consider Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in downtown Richmond, Va. Your scores certainly qualify, the school is artsy, liberal leaning, urban, and affordable (even out of state).</p>
<p>VCU is a good suggestion and one I hasn’t thought of. I don’t know if it’s quirky/eccentric in the way some of the northeast LACs are. But it’s definitely artsy.</p>
<p>Richmond isn’t that happening of a city, but the low rents allow for a range of nifty cafes and art galleries to flourish.</p>
<p>If you have not yet been told about Shimer College in Chicago, you are an exact match. Chomsky is even in the required curriculum. Small school (but shares a campus and cross registration with other colleges). President of the college is probably the only out lesbian college president in the country. Fair amount of Buddhist/leaning students. Accepts about 80% of applicants (but the applicant pool is pretty self selecting). Good financial aid. Almost 25% of graduates end up receiving doctoral degrees, third in the country (and WAY better than Harvard, Stanford, etc.). My daughter is there now, has taken several feminist theory/gender studies classes. Really interesting alumni and students. Students and faculty hang out before and after classes (I guarantee you will have dinner at your professor’s houses). Everyone loves discussion–all classes are discussion classes. No more than 13 students to a class, ever. We are also from Northern California, Bay Area, and the transition to Chicago was amazingly easy. Check out Shimer’s web site and/or get in touch with them. You really are an exact match. Incidentally, my oldest daughter graduated from Reed which was interesting, but the drugs were a problem–heroin was pretty common, and drug overdoses (even deaths) were not uncommon. Shimer has Reed’s academics without the drug use. Well, overuse.</p>