I’m a rising senior and I’m starting to compile a list of colleges to apply to in the fall. I have a 93.2 (UW) and 109.7 (W) GPA, I got a 1520 on the SAT, and I am taking the ACT next month. I am interested in smaller schools in New England/the Mid-Atlantic (mostly LACs) with no presence of Greek life. I’m still undecided but I am most interested in history. I’m also interested in music (pretty much all of my ECs are music-related besides a part-time job). My current list is as follows:
Vassar College
Bates College
Brandeis University
Skidmore College
SUNY Geneseo
SUNY New Paltz
I’ve run NPCs on these schools and have gotten pretty manageable numbers, and I’m a New York resident.
I think I should add a few more schools to my list- should I be adding more matches/safeties? Also, should I bother retaking the SAT? I got a 1330 on the PSAT and didn’t study very much in between, however, I feel like I should dedicate my time to other things like the ACT or extra-curriculars as I don’t think I’ll raise my score that significantly.
Thank you for any and all help! All the replies I got on my last post were super helpful and all of my reading on CC has made me feel so much more prepared for the college process.
Definitely add a few more schools. Some safety schools that match your criteria are Stonehill College, Siena College, : and Simmons College. Connecticut College, Wesleyan University, Amherst College, Middlebury College, and Colby College are all great match/reach schools. I would not bother taking the SAT again. Your score is incredible and you should be proud of it good luck with everything!
@collegebound7789 thanks for the suggestions! I should’ve mentioned that I’m looking for a diverse school with no religious affiliation so I probably won’t pursue Stonehill but I’ll be looking at the rest of your suggestions
Though it might land at or near the top of your current list of schools by selectivity, Haverford nonetheless matches a few of them by general characteristics.
@aquapt is the bard merit aid only the specific scholarships listed on their website (like the scientist program and the new generation program) or does it extend beyond that?
There are so many LACs in the northeast that, honestly, you should just work to identify the ones whose cultures and settings best suit you. Grab yourself a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges (buy it or check it out from the library) and read the in-depth profiles. All of the selective colleges (even modestly selective ones like Hobart and William Smith) are profiled among the 300 schools that Fiske has chosen. Otherwise, we posters could list NE LACs all day!
How many schools? You’ll get a lot of different opinions. I’d say eight to ten. Others will say twelve or more. Just remember that selective colleges will have individual essays/prompts that you need to write. The more schools you add, the more effort that is required. And because schools in the NE are much more competitive than equally fine LACs elsewhere, there is no guarantee of acceptance. Just look at the Middlebury and Bowdoin threads, where people with stats that might have gotten them into Harvard twenty years ago are being denied and waitlisted.
Ultimately, you should be fine, as you have two SUNYs. Just make sure that you would be thrilled to attend them. Truth is, if the NPCs are all returning numbers that are manageable, why not find a private LAC or two that you love that is a shoo-in for acceptance? Hobart? Wheaton (the one in MA, of course)? Ursinus? Muhlenberg? Allegheny? St. Lawrence? Of course, if you do truly love the two SUNYs, awesome! I just see too many students do things backwards. Students should start with finding a safety or two that they absolutely love. Then, it’s all gravy because who cares if one gets denied/waitlisted everywhere else, as long as one is headed some place fantastic?
@ahardboiledegg , somebody who has direct experience with Bard may be able to give you more insight; but the website says: “Nonrepayable grants are awarded to full-time students enrolled in the regular undergraduate program on the basis of financial need and academic achievement and promise. Typically, Bard Scholarships range from $5,000 to $45,000 annually for full-time enrollment. Bard scholarships are funded by various philanthropic sources. Subject to the wishes of the benefactors, a recipient may be advised of the source of his or her scholarship. Named scholarships are listed in the Bard College Catalogue.” To me, this suggests that there are both named and unnamed sources of merit aid.
I was at Brandeis for a tour the other day. Fun fact - Leonard Bernstein was on the faculty in the 1950’s. They have a strong history program as well. Have you visited any colleges since your original post?
@ChillDad I haven’t looked at Gettysburg yet, I’ll check it out. I’ve visited Vassar and I’m considering applying ED! I removed Skidmore, Bates, and Geneseo and added in Sarah Lawrence.
Have you visited Brandeis yet? Many students double major - you could find the best of both worlds by taking history and music (major or minor). Not sure if law school is possibility down the road. Our tour guide (an econ major) was studying for the LSAT and mentioned the high law school admit rate for Brandeis students.
Why did you remove Skidmore, Bates and Geneseo?
Not to say that you should keep any schools you feel do not fit, but
perhaps if you shared your reasons, it might help others to suggest additional schools.
If you like Vassar, be sure to check out Wesleyan and Middlebury as comparable.
Assuming that you’ve visited New Paltz and would be happy there are your safety?
If not, perhaps look at Clark or Goucher?
good luck with everything!