What are good schools for me to look into?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm looking for a small (<5,000) liberal arts school, northeast US, liberal-leaning politics, reasonable amount of diversity (I realize good schools have a general lack of diversity but I don't want somewhere that's SUPER rich-white-kid-with-popped-collar). Financial aid is a must, but I'm willing to apply to outside scholarships, etc.</p>

<p>I'm a junior.
GPA probably about 3.8ish, class rank likely top three, definitely top ten.
SAT: 2200: 800CR, 640M, 760W (11E) -- Not thrilled w/ the math score but eh.
SATII: Scores pending, took USH and Lit.
APs: USH, haven't gotten score yet, think I did decently. Taking Eng Lit, Euro and Calc next year.</p>

<p>Classes: Four years of math, english, and history, three of lab science, four of foreign language (French). Only way I could make it tougher at my school is by taking another lab science, Physics, next year, which I really don't want to do. Other than that, it's the most rigorous schedule I could take.</p>

<p>ECs: NHS, hoping for an office next year, literary magazine VP this year and next, mock trial attorney.</p>

<p>Other: Two-year participation in Summer Scholars Program (students in my county live on a college campus and take special classes for two weeks), international travel, community service at a hospital (but that was a graduation requirement), National Merit Scholarship finalist.</p>

<p>Any suggestions? I'm pretty good on reach schools: Vassar, Amherst, Wesleyan, etc., I need more match/safety schools.</p>

2

<p>Edit: NMS Recognized Student, Finalists haven't been named yet.</p>

3

<p>Matches:
Tufts
Vassar (definitely think its more of a match than reach)</p>

<p>Safe matches
Connecticut College
Hamilton
Bates</p>

<p>Safeties:
Skidmore
Smith (if female)
Bard</p>

<p>brown would be a great reach for you to add, as would haverford and welleslley (if female)</p>

4

<p>Reading this, I would think that Tufts and Wesleyan should be top choices in the lower reach category for you. Maybe, you should apply ED to one of these two or possibly Dartmouth. Hamiton has a similar popped collar environment that Colgate, Midd, or Bowdoin will have. Otherwise, would agree with huskem.</p>

5

<p>I don't know all that much about LACs, but Colgate and Vassar are good choices. What about other top 25 schools like University of Chicago, Wash U, and Rice. I know they are not in the NE, but they are schools you could get into no problem, and have a small(around 5,000) student body.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the help. Is Brown going to be not as popped collar? (I officially decided that phrase is an adjective.) You guys mentioned a lot of schools I was considering already, great to have verification. What do you think about Swarthmore?</p>

7

<p>brown is one of the least 'popped collar' schools in the northeast. its very liberal, lots of quirky students. in very general terms, the students who dont get into brown go to wesleyan. those who dont get into wesleyan go to vassar or conn college. those who dont get in there go to skidmore or bard.</p>

8

<p>Swat would be another for the reach column. It's less popped collar than most LACs of its caliber; but, probably weaker in the arts than Wesleyan.</p>

9

<p>Vassaris the only non reach in the original list. Not preppy is hard with top LACs. Swat less preppy but another real reach. How about bard, Barnard, Sarah Lawrence.</p>

10

<p>How does Bard measure up academically? (And isn't it cool that I'll have lived on both the Vassar and Bard campuses for two weeks each by the time I apply to schools?)</p>

11

<p>Wesleyan and Vassar sound perfect for you</p>