I’d love some help refining S22’s college list. I’m an overeager mom who is slightly concerned about having a newbie college counselor this fall.
White, cis, straight, male
One of the top public high schools in Missouri
4.0 unweighted GPA (school doesn’t weight or rank)
36 ACT
Most likely National Merit Semifinalist
USAMO qualifier 11th (USAJMO qualifier 10th)
USAPhO qualifier 10th and 11th
Attended MathILy and Canada/USA Mathcamp
Will have 12 AP courses
Intended major: pure math
Right now plans on getting PhD in math
No cost constraints
Are any of these not left-leaning? Are any very big on Greek life? Just want a place where a math nerd who prefers board games to parties can find his people.
Brown - ED
University of Chicago -EA
Pomona
Harvey Mudd
Haverford
Swarthmore
Carleton
University of Michigan - EA
Amherst
University of Rochester
Macalester
Carnegie Mellon
I think his list looks wonderful, especially when considering the overall feel he is looking for.
I was a bit surprised to see Brown as ED, though. I think it would certainly be a place where he could find his people, but I’m wondering if his incredibly strong pure math ECs will be attractive enough for Brown. I’m not an expert on Brown, but from what I’ve gleaned over the years is that they like an eclectic kid over a purely academic one. Does he have any music, sports or volunteer activities?
Did he consider Williams?
Rochester and Macalester are likely matches/low reaches, but do you have a safety as well?
My D attended Rochester so I have some experience. Did not seem as overtly left leaning as some of the others on your list. I would generally describe the students as nerdy-ish but cool nerdy Don’t think any of them are very Greek.
Thanks. He was doing tech theater in 10th grade, but he was virtual last year. I’m thinking he’ll be able to do it again this year. Most of his volunteer hours are math-related - mentor for middle school math team, mentor for Wash U Math Circle, helps coach Missouri MathCounts team, taught math to incoming freshmen. He was a buddy for Challenger Baseball, but it is still on hiatus due to the pandemic. He really likes the open curriculum at Brown. He’d be happy if he never has to do another literary analysis.
I have heard that Williams isn’t the best for students coming in advanced in math. That you have to request certain classes a year or more in advance?
I was hoping that Michigan, Rochester, and Macalester would be enough. If he doesn’t get in EA to Michigan we’ll probably add more.
These are not safety schools for any student, even the most accomplished. Michigan is a reach coming from out of state. Rochester and Mac, matches.
Add a true safety - at least 50%+ acceptance rate (usually I say I higher but with your students’ stats that should be safe enough) and show them some love incase they are practicing yield protection.
Michigan doesn’t release first round decisions until the end of December so it’s late in the game to be adding more schools.
If your child likes Michigan, Purdue would be a school to consider adding. Your child would likely be admitted to honors college.
Similarly if U of R is on the list, Case Western could be another match.
I’ll have him look at Purdue. How are University of Wisconsin (both my parents and sister attended) and University of Washington for out of state? A math mentor suggested RIT and WPI as safeties, but I’m wondering if a big state school would be better.
I wouldn’t stereotype Brown students like that. The most selective schools like Brown like to build eclectic classes, which means different applicants bring different strengths. They’re not looking for “jack of all trades” types, but for kids who are pursuing their passions with achievement. The net effect is a diverse campus covering lots of interests, backgrounds and talents.
To follow up on what @momofboiler1 said about safety schools, you should have your son apply to the flagship public university in your state (University of Missouri) or possibly Truman State University, which is a public liberal arts university; if for no other reason than your son can apply early and get an early acceptance (assuming that Mizzou and TSU have rolling admissions), and thus have a psychological burden removed (“I’ve been accepted somewhere!”). It worked for my kids, anyway. And, in the worst-case scenario of having only a safety school to attend, your son will likely qualify for honors programs at the safety school where he will be a part of a smaller tribe.
Pardon the poor phrasing. I wholeheartedly agree with you. I certainly wasn’t using “eclectic” as a synonym or code for “jack of all trades.”
That said, I think “hanging your hat” solely on math or STEM ECs can be tough. There’s always someone who has achieved more, and there are only so many that a college can accept and still keep their class interesting. Another ISEF finalist or the sitar player with international recognition?
Fortunately, OP’s son has done a number of math related activities that show commitment and depth. The volunteering is important since math can be seen as a solitary pursuit. The theater tech work could go far for essays, especially if he can relate leadership or community building skills he’s learned.
I always question a list that has Brown and UChicago. I would suggest that he looks at the requirements/experience outside the major to see what he likes better.
Because of the open curriculum vs the core curriculum? S22 has a spreadsheet with core requirements for each school, and Chicago is actually pretty middle of the road. Although that could be the quarter system.
Did everyone miss the question re left-leaning? All LACs are left-leaning as is Brown. Just stating the facts; not sure that should affect anything but OP asked. Probably only not left leaning is Chicago and probably the best fit for your son based on your description.
Wisco and RIT are both great safeties for your kid! I believe Wisconsin has around a 50% acceptance rate OOS. RIT is not super hard to get in–anecdotally, I’ve never ever seen anyone with his stats not get in. I’ve also heard good things about Syracuse math.
On Brown, we have a technology house that maybe he could write about if they still do the why brown essay. Probably one of the most left-leaning campuses in the country, 10-15% in greek life, definitely a place where he can find his people (in fact I’m thinking of a few friends who seem pretty similar to him). Does he have interests other than math? Most Brown students seem to have at least two distinct academic interests that they highlighted in their application, even if they only end up focusing on one of them.
If undergraduate teaching matters a lot to him, I’d suggest William & Mary as a match. After Brown, W&M had the best teaching and classes that I could find.
Thanks. I think he’d like the opportunity to do research as an undergrad. He is interested in physics and computer science as well, although they are somewhat similar to math.
I agree that he sounds like a U Chicago kid. Personally I would pick Chicago or even Harvey Mudd for him, but I’m not the one going to college. My husband is slightly concerned about safety at Chicago, but I’m not sure it is really worse than Penn (where I attended) or Wash U (near where we live)
Don’t think any of them are very Greek.