Schools for an average student wanting to go to average schools?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Ack, I don't believe I'm doing this...but I wanted other opinions as to this...</p>

<p>Like a select few on this board, I don't have a great GPA, nor a stellar SAT score. My rank is pretty sad. However, I do not intend to shoot high and have ridiculous ivy league dreams.</p>

<p>Please, no MEAN posts. I am aware that my GPA and rank pretty much suck, you don't need to remind me. All I wanted is a proper assessment with constructive criticism. </p>

<p>GPA: 2.78 UW/ 3.28 W
[My explanation for this is that I was having many personal problems...I'm usually a solid B student, but this year...I had one horrible marking period and that basically screwed me over.]</p>

<p>RANK: 201/447 (top 44%)
[I understand this is by no means great. I fell from 178 to 201 and I was ****ed. However, my school is recalibrating the GPA scale and I may get a lucky break.]</p>

<p>SAT: 1940 new. It depends on what you count on the New SAT towards the old one. It could be anywhere from 1290 (dividing it)-1320 (Just adding CR and M).</p>

<p>ECs: I am heavily into clubs that have to do with public service to the community/ clubs that raise political or social awareness. I am Secretary and Treasurer of our school's Gay-Straight Alliance, and was an Executive Board Member of our Amnesty International. I am part of Key Club and Bengal Paws [commitment to our town and our youth]. I am also a part of our school's Stage Crew. We used to hold Vigils for peace, Days of Silence, and attended political rallies.</p>

<p>BACKGROUND: I am of mixed heritage. Chinese, African American, French and Native American. </p>

<p>As for my pick of schools, I'm not aiming for any fancy or prestigious schools -- that's not my style. I just want a good school all around....not too far away from my home state (which is New Jersey)...good race interactions. NO RELIGIOUS COLLEGES, PLEASE.</p>

<p>I am looking at :</p>

<p>Drexel University (I know it's a reach...but they seem genuinely interested in me)
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (small % of minorities, but a good safety)
Philadelphia University (match)
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (slight reach)
Rutgers - New Brunswick (PR says its a match, but I know it's a reach)
Temple University (match)
William Paterson University (safety)
University of Maryland - Baltimore County (big reach)</p>

<p>Can anyone suggest schools for me? I need help! :)</p>

<p>Thank you for any help that is given!</p>

2

<p>Temple might be a bit of a reach, but I'm not sure. It's excellent that Drexel shows interest. :) I was down in Philadelphia in October and thought their facilities looked really good.</p>

<p>What do you want to major in? It's hard to make recommendations without that.</p>

<p>And honestly, don't worry about what anyone says on-line. No one's an expert, and no one /really/ knows what's going to happen with your applications. Don't stress. :)</p>

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<p>I intend to apply undecided, but I'm looking at either social work, psychology, or political science.</p>

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<p>Applying undecided's a good thing -- you just want to make sure the schools you're looking at have the programs you're at least somewhat interested in.</p>

<p>Have you thought about Drew at all? They're an amazing school, and not just for A students. Their polisci internship opportunities are outstanding. A lot of people use them as a safety, so they admit a high percentage knowing that many won't come. I think you'd have a very, very good shot there. They are affiliated with the United Methodist Church, but it's more or less just a historical affiliation -- I promise you, it's not a religious school. (I feel the same way, and I'm considering them.)</p>

<p>McDaniel College in Maryland might be a good safety for you. They're one of the few LACs to have a formal social work major, and again, it's a school where you'll get a great education without needing straight As to get in.</p>

<p>I think Quinnipiac might be a match/safety. Good with your majors, beautiful campus, great reputation. I think you could get in there.</p>

<p>UConn will be a bit of a reach for you if not a match, but their social work program, especially family studies, is one of the best in the country. They're one of those schools where it's hard to predict their admissions patterns, but I would think about it.</p>

<p>I might come back with more, but those are the ones that came to me first.</p>

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<p>My friend, Julia, goes to Drew, and she's the funniest, most passionate person one could meet. Yeah, I was hung up on the affiliation, but I'll give it a second look. </p>

<p>It may be a bit smaller than I wanted, though. I come from one of the biggest high schools in my county (1,600 students) and I need something bigger than that. </p>

<p>Quinnipiac has a disappointing percentage of minorities, and that's basically one of the biggest factor in my choices. Same with UConn...I did ask for information, so I'll put that aside for now.</p>

<p>Thanks for all your help :).</p>

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<p>Being a local, I can tell you neither school is as white as you might be thinking. Neither will be mistaken for Howard any time soon, but they're definitely not WASPy country clubs, either. I can also tell you they are not unfriendly schools in any way. I know people think of rich white people when they think of Connecticut, but that's really just Fairfield County. The rest of us are pretty normal. :)</p>

<p>What percentage of minorities are you looking for?</p>

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<p>Well, at least 10%. I guess this is because, coming from a high school with every mix imaginable, I can't accept anything less. Race interaction, no matter how many minorities are there, is most important. I'll give up my biases if everyone gets along alright.</p>

<p>Oh, I understand what you mean about CT. I have family up there, it seems really nice :).</p>

<p>Wow, new sparked interest in Connecticut now! What do you think of the University of Hartford? New Haven? I was looking into those, and they seem do-able.</p>

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<p>Back! (Sorry, posting too much.)</p>

<p>Manhattanville. It's on PR's list of most diverse schools, it's in Purchase so it's close to home, they have a large international contingent, they're unaffiliated, they have your majors, and you could definitely get in.</p>

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<p>Sounds good. However, it's a bit tiny (I need crowds, even though I have a love/hate relationship with them). Of course, I'll look into it. I might just be too biased. =/</p>

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<p>I totally get what you mean. I'm the youngest of seven, with my two oldest siblings being half-Cuban and two of my sisters being adopted, one of whom is Haitian. On top of that, my mother's a Bahamian immigrant, and I'm from a town where the school system is over 50% minority. I can handle going to colleges where it's mostly white people around, but there's no way I can survive somewhere without interaction. I'll go nuts.</p>

<p>New Haven is best known for its police and fire programs. It's second-ranked behind John Jay for criminal study...stuff, whatever that's all called. (I am so clueless in this area.) I almost recommended it to you earlier, and then stopped myself for some reason I now no longer recall. (I think I thought it might be safety-ish? I don't know.) Very good school, though. Can't say I know much about psych/polisci/social work there, but I'm sure they have it. Nice campus, too.</p>

<p>UHart is a very diverse school with lots of interaction. Should've thought of it earlier. It's best known for the Hartt School, which is a music conservatory, and its drama program, but they're good all around. A safety for you based on stats, but probably a good match socially. I like UHart a lot, and a lot of their grads stay around once they're done, so clearly they like it enough to hang around. I've had several friends go through who can't speak more glowingly of it. It's technically in West Hartford, but it's quite literally /right/ over the line from Hartford itself. You'll get the best jerk chicken and fried plantains for your money around the corner down Albany Ave., but it's not exactly the kind of place you want to hang around at night. (Campus is very safe, however.) Stats will tell you it has a large percentage of commuters, but that's only due to adults in the area going back for weekend classes.</p>

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<p>How about Manhattan college, Hofstra, UMass, Pace, Wagner, Adelphi, Suny (which one depending on major)? These are just a few suggestions to look into. I agree with you about Quinnipiac.</p>

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<p>Also what about Montclair State?</p>

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<p>What are you, racially, beginning?</p>

<p>I'm thankful I sent for info on the UHart site, then :).</p>

<p>Northeastmom, I was looking into Hofstra, Pace, and the SUNYs, but I've heard some unfavorable things (Hofstra is supposedly has a housing problem, and has a large group of preppy white people.) <--- Nothing wrong with the white person thing, I just need a favorable mix of open-minded and laid-back people.</p>

<p>I need a community of weird people...as weird as they get. Passionate. Maybe even stubborn :).</p>

<p>As for Montclair State...I live literally 5 minutes away from the campus, and if not for that, it would have been a great match :(. I can't live that close to home. Fine school, however. Oh! And about half of the graduating class at my high school goes to either MSU or William Paterson, and so that's off-putting, considering alot of my fellow seniors aren't what you would like to call nice.</p>

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<p>Manhattan and Wagner are affiliated. UMass is arguably the most overrated school in the country. Hofstra, Adelphi, and Pace are commuter schools, though at least in Pace's case it makes sense. I don't think sweetsaz79 needs any more safety schools, and I think most of those would be. :/</p>

<p>Looking at the SUNYs, however, is a good idea. Stony Brook would probably be the most integrated, though I have a friend who goes there and absolutely hates it. I've driven past and the campus is atrocious.</p>

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<p>What are the housing problems at Hofstra? I got the feeling that they have many more minority students attending than a school like Quinnipiac. It is not far from NYC so I thought it might be a good match for what your requirements are.</p>

<p>How about University of Rhode Island if you want to go somewhere further? You might check out the others ie: Wagner, Adelphi too. I do not know much about them. I did drive by Wagner and it has a pretty campus and is close to the city.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I need a community of weird people...as weird as they get. Passionate. Maybe even stubborn.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>UHart. :)</p>

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<p>Haha, I would think I'd need MORE safeties. </p>

<p>UMass? What about the campus at Amherst? I was thinking about it. How is it overrated?</p>

<p>Northeastmom, I just heard around that there were housing shortages (which I guess is normal for a growing college like Hofstra) and since I was planning on dorming for at least half of my college career, that was a big no-no. (Yeah, I know Temple is notorious for housing shortages, but it's Philadelphia and I'm falling in love with the city.)</p>

<p>Big cities get bonus points in my book. Especially Philly :).</p>

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<p>Ok, yea Manhattan and Wagner are affiliated with a religion. Sorry. I did not realize that Hofstra is a commuter school. I know a few graduates that were happy there. You can try for some match and reaches.</p>

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<p>How about University of Rhode Island for a safety/match and Northeastern for a reach?</p>

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<p>Thanks, northeastmom...good suggestions...Northeastern isn't affiliated, right? <em>checks big college book</em></p>