<p>Clark is not a great fit because the math dept is only ok. The campus is in a very bad part of the city. Main South is a very dangerous place. Having lived there for 5 years, I can tell you many a horror story. I worked at Clark for 5 years after graduation as well and often go back...so I monitor the neighborhood. Still very rough. And frankly...she is so much smarter than I ever was...and we want her to do better! I wasn't crazy about Clark as a student or employee either. </p>
<p>If she is going to do Worcester, it would be Holy Cross or WPI -- similar sizes, stronger math dept. and better parts of the city. She is interested in a different setting than her high school, but seems more drawn to the smaller schools despite her protestations--with a few exceptions -- BU, Northeastern etc.</p>
<p>As for continuing her ski coaching after going away to school, that is pretty doubtful, but her circle of friends are there and both of my children really consider it "home". We have a huge network of weekend trippers who are willing to have a laundry laden student hitch a ride north. She would still like to get up there for the 3 day weekends and her breaks. She will have a car, but it is very hard to find a school where she can have it as a freshman. That is what ruled out McGill...too far and no pubic transport to anywhere we could get her to take her to the mountain.</p>
<p>Thank you again for feedback and assistance!</p>
<p>My only question, since others have hit lots of salient points, is: how does she <em>like</em> the three possible safety schools (UNH, UVM and St. Anselm's). I don't know the latter very well, but do know the first two. Good schools. And they have some commonalities with a couple of the schools on her list... but are very different in atmosphere from a number of them.</p>
<p>We liked the honors college at UVM and the variety of programs/majors is interesting to her--although she thinks she knows she is interested in math. UNH and St.A's mostly for proximity to the NH factor! </p>
<p>OP, first of all, congratulations to you and your D. She looks like a wonderful student.</p>
<p>I apologize in advance if what I am going to say may offend you. </p>
<p>From my own personal experiences, I think you are on the edge of disclosing way too much personal information. I know it is an exciting time and there are so much to learn and so many questions to ask. But someone knows about you could identify you and your D easily. </p>
<p>I did a little more than you have done. Believe me, I have so many e-mails from people who identified me from what I said here, including an old college classmate from many thousands of miles away. </p>
<p>Enjoy your time here on CC and may be the best luck to your DD in her college application. I could not predict which university she would get in, but I am sure everything will work out just fine at the end.</p>
<p>harvardmum, I didn't catch if she has any preference for small or big school, or city or rural. If she likes UNH and UVM they are probably fine for safeties. I also don't know much about St A's, except some people who went there for nursing years ago. There is also SNHU in Manchester which might be too far down for her, but might be worth checking to see if their math is decent. More in the mid range between the state schools and the reaches you posted, how about Brandeis?</p>
<p>Has she taken any SAT IIs yet? I still go back to saying find our how she compares with kids from her school, which is a competitive school in the area.</p>
<p>ps- and thanks for the info on Clark. I am visiting there with my D who is also a Jr next month. She is interested in psych and I am interested in the merit aid :-) From your description, it sounds like it might not be the best for her either, but we will visit and see what we think.</p>
<p>Those SAT scores hardly count, since she took them so early and was sick, too. She sounds like such a great kid -- wonderful ECs. </p>
<p>I'm a big fan of Brown (as an alum and a parent), but its math department gets mixed reviews. Take a good look at it before she commits.</p>
<p>Has she looked at Brandeis as a match?</p>
<p>As for DadII's point -- you might want to change your profile so your specific town and state doesn't show. Then most people will assume that your name is referring to Harvard the university.</p>