Vassar, Wesleyan Uni, Wellesley College, Mount Holyoke College or Smith (or another)?

<p>So I visited Wesleyan and Vassar back in April, and since then I've been positive that I will apply to Wesleyan ED; however, after recently visiting Wesleyan, I'm not really sure if I want to go there. The main reason I was interested in Wes was the Financial Aid and their science research opportunities, but Wes can't be the only one with good FA and a good science dept., right? I really loved Vassar when I visited, and the campus is amazing and I liked their creativity a lot. I never visited Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, or Smith, but they seem really nice, and I like the idea of an all women's college. I also really like how Holyoke and Smith are part of the five college consortium, and I love Massachusetts. I'm also hoping for a college that is very politically active on social issues, and I want the student body to be cool, which is a lot like how Vassar's was.. Then again, I want a college that will get my name out there and be recognizable so I can have lots of opportunities for grad school (or med school), and I don't really know much about the three women's colleges' science departments..
I also need a college with really good financial aid. I looked at Holyoke's net price calculator, and they had my EFC at 7,000, which is REALLY high. Like it would be a miracle if my family could afford $3,000. I'm also not very likely to get a lot of merit awards since I have pretty crap SAT scores (720 W, 620CR, 640 M; 740 BioM, 570 USHistory). I am taking the most difficult classes possible in my high school, and I do have the most rigorous schedule out of everyone in my class, but I don't really know if that will help. I also only have two years of a language since my schedule couldn't work it in, and most of the college recommend four years, so that might make it harder for me to get money (and even get accepted). Hrm..</p>

<p>It would be nice if there was a college that was relatively easy to get into, had great FA, an awesome science department, and nice people. </p>

<p>Sorry, this turned into more of a rant than anything with a point, but from this, what college would you recommend for me? I'm trying to figure out which one I should do ED for...</p>

<p>Thanks for the help! </p>

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<p><strong>oh and this isn't a "chance me!!" post, but I'll include my "chancing" info just in case you wanted to refer to it</strong></p>

<p>-High School Senior
-first gen college student
-low income family, and divorced. (~$40K for my dad, ~20K for my mom, but I receive none of her income and don't see her, so I'm not sure what that'll be like for the FAFSA)
-Rank: 4/221 cumulative, 3/221 Junior Year
-97% cumulative unweighted GPA, 4.8 weighted GPA (I'm pretty sure. I'm not really sure how the whole weighted and unweighted thing works.)</p>

<p>-Freshman Year: All honors courses, no AP courses available
-Sophomore Year: AP World History (no others available), all other classes were Honors
-Junior Year: AP Bio, APUSH, Pre-AP Chem, Pre-AP English, Honors Pre-Calculus,
-Senior Year: AP Chemistry, AP Calc, AP English, AP Mac.econ., AP Gov't, Honors Physics (no AP available), Human Anatomy and Physiology (and "elective" science with no honors or anything, but there is a prereq of 88% in a bio class). </p>

<p>--All A's for all of my classes, except for Honors Algebra II, which I got an 85% in.</p>

<p>-- Took spanish 2 at my high school freshman year(spanish 1 in eighth grade), but because of schedule constraints, I had to take french my sophomore year, but then that class was cut my Junior year, so I am taking spanish 2 at my local Penn State campus since spanish 2 at my high school was really a more difficult spanish 1. So overall, I have 4 years of languages, and three years of one language. </p>

<p>-Concert Band 4 years
-Marching Band 4 years
-Wind Ensemble 3 years
-Concertmaster of Concert Band and Wind Ensemble 2 years (counts as leadership)
-Section Leader(CB&WE) 3 years (counts as leadership)
-first soloist in clarinet section (CB&WE)2 years (kinda counts as leadership?)</p>

<p>-Currently in NHS, might be president next year!
-founded a language club Junior Year, President
-started a fandom club Junior Year, and am President (just for fun, and we want to help underclassmen find friends in their same fandoms!)
-FBLA since my sophomore year and will be a project representative senior year (this will include competition, community service, and writing a thirty page paper on the project). </p>

<p>-I work for my family business, which takes up A LOT of my time (usually more than thirty hours a week during the school year, about fourty during the summer). I am a manager there and have worked there (officially) since I was fourteen. My job and commitment to the business are the reasons my ECs are lacking.</p>

<p>-120 hours community service at nursing home, 70 hours working for a community organization, and about 30 hours between NHS and FBLA stuff. </p>

<p>-Awards: Department Award for Band (sophomore year and junior year) and Department Award for Academic Achievement in Science (Junior Year)</p>

<p>-Chosen by school and local rotary club to participate in week long leadership camp, and I was fully sponsored by the rotary club. Only two kids in my school were chosen.</p>

<p>-Subject tests: 740 on Biology M and 570 on World History. I plan on retaking Biology M and taking the Literature Subject test, and will get better scores. ...hopefully.</p>

<p>-SAT: I took them in March and got a 1980 (640 Math, 620 CR, and 720 Writing). I took them in June for the first time thinking I'd get a 2100.. eesh. I'm retaking them, too. Hopefully I'll get around a 2100; I'll study more this time around. But for the chancing, let's just pretend that I'm applying with this score. </p>

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<p>Do not apply anywhere ED. You need to be able to compare financial aid packages.</p>

<p>Your father has a family business, so the Net Price Calculators for financial aid estimates will probably not be accurate at all. The colleges and universities are likely to add a lot of the business deductions back into his income. Sorry about that.</p>

<p>Many of the places that require the CSS Profile will require your mom’s financial information. No one can obligate her to help pay for your education (and you might not want to ask her for help anyway), but if she refuses to fill out the NonCustodial Parent forms, you won’t be considered for aid. So do take the time to carefully research the financial aid policies at each place on your list.</p>

<p>Do not worry about a lack of school-based ECs. You have been working nearly full-time. That is more than enough of an EC. Truly.</p>

<p>Since money is a critical issue in your college search, you need to spend some serious time in the Financial Aid Forum. Check out all of the threads on merit-based and need-based aid, and read through the sub-forums there for Questbridge and other specific scholarship programs.</p>

<p>Your GPA puts you on target for some nice guaranteed-merit scholarships. However, you don’t have the SAT to land them. Consider taking the ACT and/or do get serious about your SAT prep. For useful do-it-at-home advice on test prep, see <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>

<p>Bump10char</p>

<p>I agree that you should not worry about your lack of EC’s. You are fine! Definitely take some ACT practice tests and see if it is a better test for you. Also take the SAT again. Vassar seems like a good school for your interests but you need to get your scores into their range. Course rigor is valued at Vassar and that is in your favor. Mount Holyoke is less competitive and also has a beautiful campus. Also take the time to make a music recording for your arts supplement. It could help.
I think you should still apply at some of these need based aid colleges but as happymomof 1 said, you do need to find some financial safeties. Your GPA would be valued at many less selective colleges. Definitely check out the the financial aid forums. Your stats could bring in some merit money at a school like Providence College or University of Hartford but I don’t know if it would be enough for you to attend. So apply RD or early action (not early decision) to several types of schools because you don’t really know how the money will work out.</p>

<p>Since you are open to attending a women’s college, your chance of getting into a great LAC with decent fin aid are automaticall increased. Don’t forget Barnard. Be sure to apply to ten colleges and especially research ones that “guarantee to meet 100% demonstrated need.” The middle 50% stats for SATS might help you to further define your list, altho I agree with previous post, try the ACT as well. The point about your parents’ income is important – get started now warming up the topic with them, don’t leave it til the last minute! On a personal note I loved seeing your great writing score. And your academic accomplishments combined with the family business are interesting. Also being first gen is a plus, it gives you another angle for consideration. Best of luck!</p>

<p>Actually, a couple of the women’s colleges on your list have science departments that are competitive with Wesleyan’s. Wellesley receives close to the same amount of outside funding as Wes. And, Smith has something Wesleyan doesn’t have: an engineering program.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Engin/[/url]”>Engineering | Smith College;

<p>QUESTBRIDGE!!!</p>

<p>I would look into it immediately, and hope it isn’t too late to apply.</p>