1 AP courses, many honors classes - extremely competitive high school
Jazz drummer - All State, 3 summers with the Student Conservation Association, strong recs.
@LuisaL, S very likely to attend this school. Taking a second look at one same size school and two smaller schools, but quite likely to UVM. Loved it when we visited. Other schools are less expensive even with the scholarship so just taking a second look to be certain.
@elise303 how is he weighing UNH v UVM? My son was also accepted to both. He loved UNH campus when we visited and he loves everything he hears about UVM but we still have to visit. Our friend’s daughter recently graduated from UVM and really speaks highly of the program, campus and student body. UVM is much more expensive over the course of 4 years…
@xaviermom2017 My S has an acceptance to both schools and with the paltry merit scholarship at UNH ($6,000), it make the two schools cost about the same. He received $15,000 from UVM.
@xaviermom2017 what @LuisaL said above is also true of my S! S got a $4,000 scholarship at UNH and $13,000 at UVM. So with merit this brings UVM and UNH to almost the same amount. S has not seen UNH and will not bother because he already saw UVM and liked it quite a lot. Also town is much better. He is waiting until all of the offers are in (some not in until January), but I think he is quite likely to end up at UVM and UNH is off the table completely.
@elise303 we are in a similar situation but flipped in that my son already saw UNH and loved the campus and he has yet to visit UVM - we will attend the accepted students day event. He also is balancing Providence and Loyola. He hasn’t seen either of those yet so we are tripping down to Maryland for the accepted students day too! Still waiting on some “top of the list” schools which won’t be out until February. The wait is killing us! Good luck to your son! @LuisaL same - good luck to your son in making a decision! All great schools! Can’t really go wrong.
SAT: 1300 (700e, 600m)
Unweighted GPA (out of 100): 93/100
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Does not rank
Extracurriculars: (place leadership in parentheses): Avid Runner (half marathons, 10ks, 5ks, etc), Gay straight alliance, anti-sexual harassment club, bike club
Summer Activities: running programs
Teacher Recommendations: One was from a college professor at nyu probably 10/10(grade A) (the class was free through my high school during the school year with real college students, it was not a summer program), the other was from my history teacher, probably 8/10
Counselor Rec: 10/10 i have a great relationship with my college counselor
Common app essay: 9/10
Other
Projected Concentration: chem, pre med
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: public
Ethnicity: white
Gender: F
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): a top student in a very difficult nyu class
Reflection
Strengths: nyu college class, professor rec
Weaknesses: test scores, my school doesn’t offer AP
My D also was accepted at UNH–not really interested but hasn’t seen the campus. Same as above, with smaller grant there isn’t much difference in cost between UNH and UVM. D has also applied to UMass Amherst, which is in-state for us–if she gets in, we will have to decide whether it’s worth it to fork over an additional $45K or so over 4 years to go to UVM over UMass.
@klinska If you haven’t make sure you visit both campuses. We have been to both and there is a noticeable difference. My son has been to both and said he sensed it pretty strongly…he frankly liked UVM’s feel much more. Of course, that is just one 18 year old’s opinion! Like you, we will be facing a similar choice (depending on a couple of regular decision schools). Hopefully once financial aid packages are released it will smooth out that difference a bit.
@LuisaL, what is your D thinking of majoring in? My S accepted at UMass, but not in state for us. The Environmental Science program has a good reputation, but I think UVM likely has a better program. Also since S was not accepted to honors program - UMass is less of a prospect. They make such a big deal of the honors college there and it is a turn off if not accepted. Seems to me like more resources pumped in to honors. @klinska, I am curious how your S would describe the UNH campus vibe. I don’t think we will visit, but still thinking about it.
@elise303 My S was accepted to the engineering program at all the schools where he applied. UNH is awesome. It is a compact, pretty campus with something for everyone. It feels smaller than 12,000 students. The students all seem fresh-faced and happy. As wonderful as UNH is, it pales against a school that has Burlington and Lake Champlain as the background. UVM feels bigger and more exciting. The setting is spectacular. I think UNH could be a great school for my S but the siren call of Burlington will probably lure him to UVM. So far he is in at Boulder, Maine, Marist, Rutgers, UNH & UVM. He hears from U of Utah on Sunday and a few RD schools in March.
All, we are planning to visit next month. Favorite spots to eat, things to do?
Though we haven’t yet visited I expect him to love it. However it is the second most expensive on his list (and after FA at another I expect it to be at the top). It will be a bit of an apples to oranges comparison as most of his schools are LAC’s or smaller privates. From a mid sized state school UVM will be competing with Western Washington University. Which is also a lovely setting, great college town, strong environmental program (plus an energy science minor which he likes). But…it’s too close to home (though almost half the price). OUCH.
He did not apply to UNH (although at this point I don’t recall why) U Mass was bigger than he wanted though we did consider it.
I would just head over to Church St and find an eatery that everyone likes. Church St is a long street with outdoor shopping/galleries/indoor mall etc. Oh yeah, bring some warm clothes in case it is COLD.
@eandesmom, I recommend the Skinny Pancake for breakfast/brunch. Wish I could remember the place where we had dinner last spring–pub-like but really great food and an excellent assortment of local microbrews. I’ll hit up the friend I was with and see if she remembers.
@eandesmom here are some recommendations for places to eat: Hen of the Wood; Farmhouse; Single Pebble; Skinny Pancake and Leunigs. Please let us know how you like your visit! We will be there 2/17-18 I have visited in the spring - absolutely beautiful but never in the winter. I guess he should take a look at what it is really like during class season lol! Pretty sure it will be all white.
Good luck to your son!