The "Stereotype"?Need Advice for College List

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello, everyone. </p>

<p>I know it is too early to search and select the colleges I would apply, but I really need some advice. I am an international student, a 17-year-old male, a junior in HS. And I google everything about the vibe and stereotype to ensure the colleges in my list would give me an awesome experience or at least a comfortable atmosphere. But the thing is, I cannot find out what is my "stereotype". That makes me confused. So, if you guys can help me to find "my schools", THANKS A LOT. </p>

<hr>

<p>1.Okay, I'm a non-athlete at all. Seldom play sports, play badmington or tennis or go swimming with my friends twice or once a week, but it is just-for-fun style. </p>

<p>2.Drinking is okay for me. I mean...if the partiers don't drink beer like...eh...Vomit all over the place or make the restrooms messy= =......If the people love Champagne(if wrong spelling, please correct me) or stuff like that when the people win the games or final test over, that would be great!</p>

<p>3.Maybe a little bit artsy, I'm into music(both electronic/dance/techno/trance and classical/jazz) and photography. I play piano and may study organ in college(not a major or minor or concentration). </p>

<p>4.Preppy or not? That makes me confused. I heard "preppy guys" means the people who wear Tommy Hilfiger, Versace, or Ralph Lauren. Okay, I do. But some other people told me all preppy guys are in "mainstream" and outdoorsy, I even never watch the sports programs on TV(except dart game and billiards and snooker
and some other relatively leisure things)!!! I love reading books and watching movies or series like... House M.D.? Untouchable? Okay, I do know these are not popular things, at least in my country. </p>

<p>4.Not LGBTQ, but want a culture diversity environment (relatively). </p>

<p>5.Quirky/Nerdy/Geeky ...Frankly, I am not sure what these words really mean. Nerd means high intellectual guy who like video games and Sci-Fi but had bad social skills? So what geeky means? Okay, I watch some japanese anime and play video games, sometimes play board games. But I don't think I am not a easy-going person and always get the invitation of parties from others. Sometimes I prefer to be alone or hang out with a small group of people (unconstantly) , also, I have a difficult time to maintain a long-term relationship with my friends, and I have a bit more female friends than males. Isn't it a kind of "social awkward" or "quirky" in the US? </p>

<p>6.At last, I have to say, I am a student who interested in biology, psychology, economics, earth science, neuroscience and philosophy. But I'm not sure which one I would be major in, and I would probably go pre-med, pre-health or pre-business(consulting or something). And I want a <8000 student body. So LACs may more likely fit me?</p>

<ol>
<li>......I lost a point. I need a nice dorm and a nice dining hall. </li>
</ol>

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<p>UWGPA:3.95
SAT Sub:
----Math 2 800
----Chem 770
Honor:
----Piano National Level 9(Avocational)
----Math Prize in Grade 9(Maybe I lost the medal, maybe not submit)
EC:
----Badmington Grade 11,12 Amateur
----Swimming Grade 10,11,12 Amateur
----Tennis Grade 9,10 Amateur
----Leadership Enrich Program
----Material Science and Electrochemistry Studies Programme (in a university,wrote an essay)
----Oceanography Environmental Protection Programme (internship,in an institute,environment protection)(My essay will focus on that)
----Piano Grade 9,10,11 (won't countinue in grade 12,but will countinue in college,around 8 years)
----Computer Programming Team Grade 9 (just some algorithm and mathematical stuff,PASCAL,2.5 years)
----Volunteer in Seniors' Home Grade 9,10,11,12 (2~3hrs/week)
----Library Volunteering Grade 9,10,11,12(12~16hrs/month)</p>

<p>My target is Top 30 U or LAC. But you know, it's just a target. I haven't taken my ACT test and TOEFL test. I guess I can get a 32~34 on the ACT (through the practice test), at least 28~30(?) if I make some horrible mistakes. Toefl would be good enough for most colleges(100+). Maybe I will have a gap year because of some family things...It would not hurt my chance, would it?= =</p>

<p>I cannot go to the US to have a on-campus tour. So, I want to know your advice. </p>

<p>THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!</p>

<p>P.S. If I made any mistakes......Please correct me.</p>

2

<p>Are you going to need financial aid? That could impact your list quite a bit.</p>

<p>Sounds like you’d be a good fit for the NE LACs. They are full of smart, preppy, socially adept and well-traveled kids from affluent families (and yes, of course, there are exceptions - this is the stereotype.) Preppy generally means kids from affluent families who will end up in mainstream professions for the most part (law, business, medicine) and are comfortable with ‘the establishment’ and know how to work the system. Outdoorsy here means that they like to take advantage of what NE has to offer: hiking, sailing, kayaking, skiing, … and come from families with the means to do this. Again, this is a stereotype an there are lots of exceptions, but you get the idea, I’m sure.</p>

<p>Take a look at Middlebury, Bowdoin, Bates and Colby. Vassar is similar but more artsy and less outdoorsy. Amherst and Williams are usually part of this group but very selective. Dartmouth isn’t a LAC, but has a similar vibe and is in the same part of the country. Not sure how Hamilton fits in, but take a look as well. If you are willing to look south, consider adding Davidson to the mix.</p>

<p>These are all academically excellent schools, with nice facilities, and no, a gap year will not hurt you at any of them.</p>

3

<p>Hahahahahahahaha sorry but no American institution drinks champagne to celebrate a win or finals. It’s beer and hard liquor. That would be an interesting party scene though…</p>

4

<p>Thank you very much! You’re really helpful!</p>

<p>Money is not an issue for me, and I think hot weather in the south would not fit me. I am an international student, so maybe I have less chance?</p>

<p>So the list should be:
Bowdoin
Middlebury
Bates
Colby
Vassar
Dartmouth</p>

<hr>

<p>I also have some more questions following.
1.I also heard of Brown and Carleton. Don’t you know these schools?
2.These are some reach/match schools, but could someone tell me how to look for some safety/match?(I use the right word for the chances,yes?)</p>

<p>THANKS AGAIN!!!</p>

5

<p>^_^…Maybe I would try this in the future???</p>

6

<p>Add Swarthmore if your stats turn out decent. Franklin & Marshall sounds like a fit already. Add U Rochester IF you’re interested in doing research. We saw many who would be similar in likes/dislikes there (excluding the champagne bit), but roughly 76% of the student body does research so you might feel a bit in the minority if you don’t care for it. Lafayette would be a possibility too - already easily fits your stats.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for your help and it’s really useful. I searched some of these schools and find out these are some nice colleges which I’m looking for. So, the list would be following: </p>

<p>Amherst
Swarthmore
Bowdoin
Middlebury
Bates
Colby
Vassar
Dartmouth
Franklin & Marshall
Lafayette</p>

<p>Okay…10 Schools…Everything would happen, so I need more.(= =…) Thanks for everyone who helped me.
And I want to know the social scene of Carleton which one of my friend would attend this year. Anyone? Thank you again!</p>

8

<p>It sucks 10char</p>

9

<p>Carleton is a LAC in Minnesota which is relatively strong in sciences.</p>

<p>For LACs and other smaller schools, go through course catalogs in your areas of interest to see how their course offerings are in those areas, since smaller schools often have good breadth and depth of courses in some areas but not all.</p>

<p>Some of your schools are very selective, so you may want to consider others which you are more likely to get into. Minnesota - Morris and Truman State are commonly mentioned candidates for small public LACs that are selective but not super selective and are also relatively inexpensive.</p>

10

<p>Okay…I know you come from the place near there, so you must say the right thing= =Thanks, my brother. But I still need some researches.</p>

11

<p>So, I need some safety,yeah?</p>