Urgent Help for a Promising Student

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Dear Community,</p>

<p>I recently spoke with some family friends who are in the midst of helping their daughter apply to colleges. After discussing with them, it became clear that they haven't had much help in the process and as such, their daughter hasn't properly formulated a list of schools to apply for - and as December 1st is fast approaching - I took it upon myself to help them. I was hoping you can provide some advice based on the information below. They are an immigrant family, and while the father is highly educated, they simply lack the familiarity with the college experience here to provide much help.</p>

<p>Their daughter is relatively smart and has done relatively well in highschool - she is currently a first semester senior. She tends to be a bit on the shy side and therefore, finding a school with a good "fit" is, I believe, of paramount importance to her. Here are her stats (they are interested in schools as far up as Massachusetts and as far down as Virginia, the Northeast Corrider, in other words):</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Attends a decent public Highschool in New Jersey suburb</p></li>
<li><p>GPA 3.8/4.5 (don't quite understand why it is out of 4.5, but that's what I was given).</p></li>
<li><p>SAT Scores (CR/M/W format):
1st Try - 570/750/500
2nd Try - 560/750/570
3rd Try - 610/670/640.</p></li>
<li><p>SAT Subject Scores: Math Level 1 - 700, English Lit - 620</p></li>
<li><p>Taking AP History, Calculus, Statistics</p></li>
<li><p>Extracurriculars</p></li>
<li><p>Founded "Samskruti", an an Indian cultural organization for her highschool</p></li>
<li><p>Odyssey of the Mind - Team went to Germany in 9th grade and won 1st Place</p></li>
<li><p>Highly trained and accomplished Bharatnatyam dancer, having started at age 7 and competed several times both as an individual and as part of a dance troupe.</p></li>
<li><p>Advanced to semifinals during 9th robotics club competition</p></li>
<li><p>Central Jersey Math League Team 9th through 12th grade</p></li>
<li><p>Key Club, 10th through current year</p></li>
<li><p>National Honor Society member</p></li>
<li><p>Participated in program where she took college courses at the local community college for credit.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I suggested to her family that she make a list of reach schools, schools in which her admission is 50/50 and safety schools. Can you kind folks offer some guidance on this selection?</p>

<p>I must say that my experience with college admissions is limited to my own experience many years ago. I only applied to a few liberal arts schools, got into most of them, and then chose Vassar after visiting and getting a good vibe from the place.</p>

<p>Any and all ideas and help would be appreciated. Thanks ever so much. You'll be helping a deserving family more than you know!</p>

2

<p>Well, you mentioned Vassar- I would definitely suggest she look at the Seven Sister schools- good reputation, convenient location where she’s looking, and her GPA and scores make half of them a match and some, like Wellesley, a reach (but certainly not impossible). i would think she’d have a very good shot at Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr or Smith, for instance. If single-sex education doesn’t really appeal to her (although most of these schools have such a strong male presence on campus that you’ll at least have guys in classes and a part of you social life), then I would still suggest looking at LACs like Bard, Franklin and Marshall (both of which I think could be good matches), and maybe some reaches like Haverford, Colgate or Hamilton. Since you mention she’s shy, I wouldn’t think too much about large universities where she might feel out of place. She has great ECs and women interested in the math and sciences will be a benefit. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Major???</p>

<p>I’ll do a list of LAC’s to start with. Some will be in the midwest.</p>

<p>Kenyon
Earlham
Muhlenberg
St Mary’s college
SUNY-Genesso
Roanoke
Denison
Kalamazoo
Mary Washington
Hobart and William Smith
Franklin and Marshall</p>

4

<p>Thank you all for the suggestions. But what are the realistic chances for her of gaining admission to these schools? The last I remember, the LACs had pretty cometitive admissions standards.</p>

5

<p>Would she be considered an int’l or resident?</p>

<p>Can her family afford to pay for her education? Of do they have a budget?</p>

<p>Fordham
Boston U
Seton Hall
U Delaware
U Maryland</p>

6

<p>The list I posted has schools that are ideal for her stats, which one reach (Kenyon), a bunch of matches, and a couple of safeites (Roanoke, Mary Wasington, St. Mary’s)</p>

7

<p>Taking the highest of her 3 SAT tries, her SATs would be 610/750/640 which is pretty good. I suggest U of Rochester.</p>

8

<p>Since she is from New Jersey, </p>

<p>Rutgers (as safety and financial safety).</p>

<p>The question is that what she like to study?</p>

<p>With 2000 SAT, there are a lot of choices.</p>

<p>Woman’s college - Smith, Mount Holyoke.</p>

<p>Other Liberal art colleges - Holy Cross, Colgate, Bates and Hamiliton</p>

<p>Comprehensive schools - University of Rochester, Boston college, Boston University. </p>

<p>Engineering schools - WPI, RPI, NYU Poly.</p>

<p>Big State schools - Maryland, SUNY Birmingham </p>

<p>Also, is she need financial aids? That may affect the choices as well.</p>