So Confused!!!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am a rising senior and in the midst of my college search. The whole thing is terribly overwhelming. I am very confused about what kind of college I want and although I have visited about 10 colleges so far, I haven't found one that just "jumped out at me" (like this is where i definitely want to go). </p>

<p>Right now I have a list of about 20 colleges which I really need to narrow down. However, I almost feel that this list is mostly just composed of colleges that "sound good." The ones that people have heard of and are somewhat prestigious. I'm not looking at HYPS bc I realize that I don't have a very good chance at them. </p>

<p>I want a school where I can get personal attention from professors and SMALL class environment. I am not a very pushy person, so I don't want to be "a number" in a huge lecture class, because I don't think I would be up for making myself known. Initially this would make everyone think.. ok she should go to a small LAC like middlebury, bowdoin, bates etc. However, I really hate isolation. Therefore I am not even considering looking at schools in Maine/Vt. My IDEAL SITUATION would be near a city but not actually in one- more of a suburban area. However, I am still going to visit Williams, Dartmouth, Colgate, Bucknell, Hamilton bc they have a lot of other aspects I want in a school- great academics, preppy, jocks, school spirit, small classes, etc.</p>

<p>On the other hand, a lot of the other schools I am looking at are medium to big, but are in better locations for me. For example, Duke, UVa, Georgetown, BC, Wash U, Northwestern. </p>

<p>Can anyone give me any advice they might have. Can you think of the "perfect" school for me that maybe I just haven't thought about. Are there any schools that might be bigger but tend to make sure students get put in small class environments and professors pay much attention to students? </p>

<p>Again this is what I want in a school- Lots of school spirit, sports, mostly preppy ppl but some diversity, not too isolated- near a city but not in one, small classes, great academics, great social life (frats and soror. fine), students not too competitive with each other (supportive atmosphere where students want to learn for the sake of learning), I don't know what I want to major in so a good advisory system is important with many chances to find out what I want to do, make freshmen feel comfortable, co-ed. </p>

<p>I'm sorry for such a long post, but if anyone could give me any insight it would be very appreciated! :)</p>

<p>My list right now:
Reach: Duke, UVa, Williams, Dartmouth, Wash U, Northwestern, Georgetown, Cornell
Match: Colgate, Hamilton, BC, William and Mary
Safety: Wake Forest, Bucknell, Union, Lehigh, U of Rochester, U of Richmond</p>

2

<p>Davidson would probably be a good addition to your list. Excellent academically, small school of about 1600 students, but located about 20 minutes north of Charlotte, NC. Very preppy. Frat social scene.</p>

<p>The only small LAC that competes in Div I athletics. They spend about 10% of their entire annual budget on varsity sports.</p>

<p>It has pretty much everything you listed for your "perfect" college.</p>

3

<p>Emory University in Atlanta (it's actually in a suburb of Atl. and it has a great merit scholarship program, look into the Emory Scholars program)--there isn't school spirit centered around academics, but everything else sounds about right.</p>

4

<p>Washington and Lee
UNC-Chapel Hill?
Villanova?</p>

<p>I second Davidson.</p>

5

<p>What state are you from? That can make a HUGE difference in how you rate your chances at the state schools in NC and VA.</p>

6

<p>Are you committed to the east? You may want to look into Reed College or Lewis & Clark. Both in Portland, a very manageable city, both good schools, Reed more selective. Lot's of individual attention.</p>

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<p>I am from suburbia NY. Would rather stay East but I am not totally closed to the idea of other more western regions (Cali). Reed/Lewis&Clark don't appeal to me. My sister lives in Portland and its too much of an outdoorsy kind of place, which is very nice, but not where I want to spend my college years.</p>

8

<p>Don't assume Bucknell is a safety. My son's HS had 2 kids that got into Colgate and were rejected (one waitlisted) at Bucknell. Both are excellent students, one a musician, one Executive Council etc., both lots of volunteer time (required by the HS) but no sports. Surprising, because I think Colgate is a much better school.</p>

9

<p>Not exactly preppy perhaps, but you might check out Macalester, Carleton and even St. Olaf in Minnesota as possibilities as well. Getting back to the northeast, take a look at Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Lafayette, Muhlenberg. If you're not opposed to California, look at Occidental and the Claremont Colleges as possibilities (Pomona and Claremont McKenna in particular).</p>

10

<p>wake forest isn't a safety</p>

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<p>"Lots of school spirit, sports, mostly preppy ppl"</p>

<p>As much as I love to hype the Midwestern LACs. . .I'm afraid that Lake Forest and maybe St. Olaf would be the only options I would recommend out this way.</p>

<p>I would toss Dickinson and Franklin & Marshall into the mix though.</p>

12

<p>Don't forget Trinity in Connecticut-- it is in a city, but a small one (Hartford)-- beautiful campus, preppy, small classes, fun-- Match.</p>

<p>Maybe Denison?-- very spitirted & athletic, preppy, good school, though more of a boonies location. Safety.</p>

13

<p>I don't think you need that many safeties; you should apply every place you want, you never know if you'll have a chance or not otherwise.</p>

<p>Williams has lots of school spirit and sports, but may be a little small; maybe Amherst is similar and you should look into it.</p>

14

<p>Don't think that Bucknell, Wake Forest or U Richmond can be considered as a safety on anyone's list</p>

15

<p>Here's another vote for Davidson - Fiske's describes it as the "Dartmouth of the the South", but it is much closer to a city than Dartmouth, and has waterskiing. Otherwise fits your criteria, it is small.
Rhodes College in Memphis is a safety possiblity depending on your stats, as is Univ of Richmond - I agree Wake Forest is not - it may well be a match or a good bet, but not a safety.
Rhodes gives good merit aid.</p>

16

<p>Reviewing other suggestions I'd reinforce Denison and Rhodes.</p>