Urban schools for passionate junior?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Background: I am a junior currently. I am a first generation hispanic LGBT female. I attend a private catholic high school in northern California, although I am a Buddhist. I suffered from an eating disorder for two and a half years, and my essays and letters will partly be about how that has impacted my ardent support for feminism and body image improvement.
GPA unweighted: 3.9 GPA weighted: 4.28
SAT: 2080 (will be studying more and taking it multiple times) </p>

<p>Freshman classes: Algebra I, Honors English, Honors History, French I, Faith and Morality
Soph classes: Biology, Honors History, Honors English, Geometry, French II, Church History
Junior classes: AP US History, AP Language, French III, AP Biology, Algebra II, Social Justice
Senior classes: Philosophy at a community college, Honors Chemistry, AP Literature, AP Gov, Bioethics, Honors Precalculus, AP Music Theory </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- I composed a piece, recorded it, and filmed a music video about eating disorders and stress as a teenage girl. It was played at several high schools in our county.
- Several published poems in magazines and sites (teenink, etc)
- Mock Trial for 2 years
- President of our school diversity club
- Editor-im-Chief of our school newspaper
- In 2 choruses, both for 4 years (one of my pieces was performed)
- Cello player for 2 years
- Internship at LGBT equality nonprofit
- Internship with a congresswoman
- Sung at Carnegie Hall with composer Eric Whitacre
- Link Crew (integrating new freshman into life as a high schooler)
- Horseback rider for 11 years </p>

<p>Recognition:
- Director's Award for music at our school
- Department awards for Wordwright competition and history
- San Francisco State University award and scholarship for passionate students
- CSF and NHS membership </p>

<p>Prospective majors: Philosophy, Psychology, Biology, Political Science, Global Communications (all with minor in music composition)
What schools should I apply to? I want to be in a big city</p>

2

<p>Have you considered UCLA, George Washington, Georgetown, U of Washington, or Northwestern?</p>

3

<p>What else besides these majors and being in a city? That describes quite a few good schools! Boston examples: Harvard, MIT, BU, BC, Northeastern, Tufts, Brandeis (not in but close)</p>

4

<p>You sound like an outstanding candidate, and I’d encourage you to look into the bigger schools in CA: UCLA, Cal, etc. Less urban, but selective (and offering a dynamic intellectual scene) are Claremont college consortium (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, etc.) </p>

<p>Going out of state is clearly the more expensive option: can you afford it? Needing significant financial aid totally changes the college-searching process. </p>

<p>But right off the bat, I’d encourage you to look at Barnard, the private liberal arts college that’s practically a part of Columbia University. It’s an all-women’s school, but it doesn’t feel restrictive due to its close ties with Columbia. Your “story” might appeal to the adcom. And Barnard is in Manhattan. Doesn’t get much more urban that that!</p>

5

<p>Fordham University</p>

6

<p>Yes, Barnard’s convenient access to Columbia means that students get the advantages of a LAC, but mostly avoid the limitations of a LAC.</p>

<p>UCLA and USC are fairly obvious city choices, although Los Angeles is a much different city from New York.</p>

<p>But cost constraints and financial aid situation are major factors in what universities are realistic choices. Some well known “city” schools are known for poor financial aid, and are generally unaffordable to financially needy students (unless one gets a rare large merit scholarship). Those schools which [CollegeData:</a> College Search, Financial Aid, College Application, College Scholarship, Student Loan, FAFSA Info, Common Application](<a href=“http://www.collegedata.com%5DCollegeData:”>http://www.collegedata.com) indicates an average student debt level of more than $35,000 include American University, Boston University, Fordham University, and New York University, so if you are financially needy, you need to aim for a large merit scholarship there and be prepared for the possibility of being admitted but not getting enough financial aid to attend.</p>

<p>You may also want to consider the ACT, since some students do better on the ACT than SAT.</p>

7

<p>You might be a great fit for UC Berkeley. Your qualifications are wonderful. Congratulations.</p>

<p>For out of state, Barnard sounds great for you.</p>

8

<p>The first thought that came to me was also Barnard. You should do some research on NYU as well. If you look at Fordham, I’d look at the Lincoln Center campus – it is more liberal overall and is located in the heart of NYC. </p>

<p>In Phila there is UPenn and another strong women’s college - Bryn Mawr (located about a half hour outside of Phila).</p>

9

<p>I would definitely consider other women’s colleges besides Barnard.</p>

<p>Smith is in Northampton. It’s not Boston, but it’s a pretty nice city, and Smith has beautiful equestrian facility if you want to keep riding. </p>

<p>There’s also Bryn Mawr which is just outside of Philly.</p>

10

<p>I’d second the recommendation of Penn–top liberal arts departments and strong interdisciplinary ethos that fits your academic interests, Annenberg School for Communication providing a world-class undergraduate Communications major and courses, and a top-10 Music department with an illustrious tradition in composition, theory, and musicology. Also, Penn is often ranked as one of the most–if not THE most–gay-friendly schools in the nation:</p>

<p>[The</a> Daily Pennsylvanian :: Penn tops gay-friendly ranking](<a href=“http://www.thedp.com/article/2011/07/penn_tops_gayfriendly_ranking]The”>Penn tops gay-friendly ranking | The Daily Pennsylvanian)</p>

<p>AND, a beautiful 300-acre campus that combines areas with both urban and traditional college campus atmospheres, and that is only 10-20 blocks from Center City Philadelphia and all of the cultural and night-life opportunties it offers. Plus, Penn’s campus is only a few blocks from 30th Street Station, from which many Penn students regularly take $10 bus trips (Bolt Bus and Megabus) to New York City (2 hour trip) and DC (2 1/2 hour trip).</p>

11

<p>Mac is one of the few LACs in a good size city. The Mac neighborhood is urban but safe and fun. The school is liberal and LGBT-friendly, and its students are passionate about learning and interested in the world.</p>