<p>My sister has given me permission to find colleges for her! :D
She doesn't have great stats, but she just started over at a new school and is trying to pull her grades up. She probably won't do well on the SAT or ACT because she really doesn't test well (hopefully she will get extended time), so test-optional would be a huge plus (it's not necessary though). She wants a BA program where she can double major in theater and psychology. She also wants to live in or near NYC, but she'll still consider other locations if the school has other redeeming qualities. She's looking at CUNYs like Hunter and City College (in-state). I'm sure she can get in to those schools, but it's not ideal because she would rather go to a small school where she will get more attention. She also needs financial aid, but she could take out some loans if she has to. So, any suggestions for schools she could look at?</p>
<p>Vassar College is a near perfect school for your sister.</p>
<p>The only problem is that it is selective, it would make for a stellar low-reach, though!</p>
<p>Muhlenberg immediately came to mind. It is not in NYC but you can get there by bus in about 2 hours. It is test optional and has an outstanding Theatre and Psychology program.
Many students from the NYC area attend. It is a small LAC with a very friendly and caring student body.</p>
<p>I don’t know if your S has the stats for admission but it is worth a look. They do not give merit aid to students choosing to not provide their SAT scores but I have no idea how they are with FA.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions guys! My cousin actually goes to go Muhlenberg - I’ll get my sis to ask her about it.</p>
<p>Wow I just remembered that my other cousin went to Vassar… I’ll make her ask him too.</p>
<p>Any more suggestions?</p>
<p>Seconding the vote for Vassar</p>
<p>Drew University in Madison, NJ…test optional…good theater and psych…</p>
<p>bard and sarah lawrence, both test optional.</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence College. Eugene Lang College (in Greenwich Village).</p>
<p>It might also be helpful if we had some idea of your sisters GPA. You said “she doesn’t have great stats” but many people have different opinions of what is a good and not good. It will help people narrow down or expand your options.</p>
<p>These are all great suggestions. How is the need-based aid at these schools?</p>
<p>I don’t know her exact GPA, but it’s probably around 2.7… again, she will be able to pull her grades up at her new school. She found out that she probably won’t even graduate on time because she has to complete a lot of work and her school doesn’t take credits from her old school, so she still has a couple of years to improve. Colleges will take into account that she had a messed up situation when they look at her freshman and sophomore grades, right? Also, if she actually studies for the SAT (and gets extended time) she might be able to get around 1800 - I’m not sure what the ACT scoring is like though. I didn’t think that was so good, but looking at the middle 50% for these schools, it doesn’t look so bad. Should she go for it to put her grades in context?</p>
<p>How about SUNY Purchase?</p>
<p><a href=“http://purchase.edu/[/url]”>http://purchase.edu/</a></p>
<p>Or even SUNY New Paltz -</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to the State University of New York at New Paltz!](<a href=“http://www.newpaltz.edu/]Welcome”>http://www.newpaltz.edu/)</p>
<p>Holy Cross is strong in psychology and theatre arts. Last November the department of theatre at the College of the Holy Cross was awarded the New England Theatre Conference’s (NETC) Moss Hart Award for best college play in New England, for its 2007 production of My Life with Albertine. This is the second consecutive Moss Hart win for the Holy Cross theatre department. HC is 3 hours from NYC and 1 hour west of Boston.</p>
<p>I agree with SusGeek, especially Purchase if she is interested/very good in musical theater.</p>
<p>Barnard College is great for Theater and Psychology, but I’m not sure if your sister’s stats are high enough for admission. But you should always try, because you never know what will happen. :)</p>
<p>Muhlenberg and Drew sound like very good fits for LACs strong in theatre and psychology. They are both test-optional, also.</p>
<p>Another Drew vote</p>
<p>Check out Manhattanville College,a small liberal arts college in Purchase with a good theater department.</p>
<p>Another vote for SUNY New Paltz…great in theater and psychology. Good luck to your sister!</p>