What colleges are best for my personality and interests? Respect points if you read

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Before I list my questions and concerns, let me put down a list of schools I've visited, schools I've been to but not officially toured, and schools I have yet to visit (all in no particular order of preference):</p>

<p>Visited:
Tufts
Brandeis
Boston University
University of Pennsylvania (hated)
Georgetown (hated)
Wesleyan University</p>

<p>"Unofficial" Visits:
Harvard
Brown
Princeton</p>

<p>Have not visited:
Cornell
Colgate
Columbia
NYU
Franklin and Marshall
Muhlenburg
Williams
Amherst</p>

<p>(open to suggestions for other schools)</p>

<p>I have just gotten back from a college visit trip and now I am getting concerned more and more with the finer details of college. I guess I will go through this by categories. Academics is very important to me. I like the feel of both research universities and liberal arts schools (one thing I liked about Brandeis was that it felt like both). The most selective school that I most likely have the most realistic shot of getting into is Cornell since my Great Aunt and Uncle are alumni (and very successful - don't know how much that comes into play) along with some parent's cousins (my great uncle supposedly has a connection to some admissions person). However, the problem with Cornell is that I'm not sure how much interaction with professors I would get. </p>

<p>Another thing about academics is choosing how I will go about my major. I am most interested in biochemistry and physics, and so a new (and rare) major called biophysics has been recommended, which requires discipline in biology, chemistry, and physics, all of which I love. However, there are a few problems with this. One problem is the issue of GPA. With an interdisciplinary major such as this with so many courses (Columbia requires 21 courses in the major; Brandeis needs 23), how hard would it be to keep up a high GPA, especially since my current career goal is Patent Law (basically mixing law and science) and that is major for law school admissions? Also, because of this, how much free time would I actually have for a social life, running the gamut of having friends from different majors (especially so I'm not around science geeks who are all males all the time) to being in musical groups to partying to being in clubs? Will I be doing too much work for this?</p>

<p>Next is social atmosphere. Usually a red flag comes up when I hear the word "preppy" as I am not that kind of person at all (I wear and act how I feel like - not to say I'm anywhere near hippy - just normal non polo wearing person). This is a reason why I don't like Georgetown (that and it leans right), yet I am concerned about Colgate. Everything I read about Colgate in prestige, academics, etc. is good, yet the preppy thing disturbs me. Any ways to get past this? I'm not the most attractive person (that's not to say I'm ugly - far from it) but what are the best schools for "smart, funny, overachievers who aren't the greatest looking fitting the stereotype of being hot yet actually have personalities?" Wesleyan is my favorite overall school I've seen out of all academically, aesthetically, resource wise, etc. However, I've read that the people only care about protest and are all hippies (yes, this is an unfair stereotype, but you get the point - and I'm getting a cramp from typing) who don't bathe :P while girls are punk/goth/tomboy/lesbians. How valid is this?</p>

<p>Another concern is getting in. The only schools I'm applying to with over a 50% acceptance rate are BU and possibly Franklin and Marshall (both would be safeties). I'm positive I could get into Muhlenberg, though I know I can do a lot better. All other schools are under 40 percent for acceptance rates (Brandeis went down to 37 percent - or so they said at the info session). What if I don't get into any? Franklin and Marshall would be beyond a safety for me (unless they don't accept for being overqualified) and BU was mixed for me, with pluses involving possible candidate for their full ride scholarship, the fact that I like Boston (I'm not really an urban person though, but the campus felt more concentrated), great sounding professors (Elie Wiesel, Sheldon Glashow...), and with negatives being dorms that felt like jails, lack of school spirit, lack of great fields (even UPenn had its decent share), and complete independence. What do I do about this (forgive the vagueness)?</p>

<p>What else...Parties. This is short. Where could I go where you can easily get to parties on campus, as opposed to BU, where the strictness is great and where you must search for one.</p>

<p>Music. I want to continue with the clarinet. What school would allow me to do this?</p>

<p>Prestige. How important is undergraduate school prestige when applying to grad/law school and for future employment? Will top graduate schools value prestigious schools highly? Which schools are prestigious (I've seen the Brody list and it doesn't look too credible)?</p>

<p>I guess to sum it up, my perfect school would be a prestigious one where I could take on a rigorous science curriculum while still being able to have a social life by means of being friends with people from a variety of liberal arts majors, being in musical groups, clubs, parites, etc., in a school that is preferably not 100% preppy, or if it is preppy, still has a fair share of others who simply aren't preppy.</p>

<p>In my next posts I'll post my stats - they're optional to look at, and this is NOT a "what are my chances" thread, but I am puting this out as useful information.</p>

<p>So...any advice? I do thank those who actually read through this spiel, but if you want to answer, please try to be helpful and informative - thank you again.</p>

2

<p>STATS</p>

<p>THIS IS NOT A WHAT ARE MY CHANCES THREAD - These are stats just to give an idea of how I am academically and what kind of person I am - I know that for the top schools there are people with lower stats than mine and people with higher stats than mine, so that's that.</p>

<p>Here are my current stats:
Ethnicity: White/Jewish
Location/School: Pennsylvania - Specifically a suburb of Philly - Public school with a good reputation
GPA: 4.00
Class Rank: 12 out of 516 (will go up slightly - at least to 10 since junior rank not available yet) - Could have been valedictorian but decided to be unique as the only one to take Latin in my class, unfortunately meaning that since all the usual languages started in 8th grade, I was behind on the track meaning that I was only in an accelerated level 2 course (accelerated is one below honors - honors in languages does not start until 3rd year) while friends were in an honors level 3 course - not that worried since I can stand out in my class. Also not taking Latin 4 next year since it's not offered (long story short - they pretty much cut the Latin curriculum off at the knees - they told me they approved a guaranteed 4 year curriculum; they lied).</p>

<p>SAT 1: 710 CR / 790 M / 800 W (79 MC, 12 Essay)
SAT 2: 800 Molecular Bio / 760 World History / 740 Math Level 2</p>

<p>Senior Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Physics 1-2, AP English, AP US, Honors Philosophy, Symphonic Orchestra</p>

<p>EC's:
-Model U.N. 3 years - President and Youth Secretariat this year
-Latin Honor Society - 2 Years - Last year's treasurer, this year's President
-Symphonic Orchestra (by audition) - 3 Years - 1st Chair/Section Leader for Clarinets
-All State Orchestra as ranked top orchestra by Pennsylvania Music Educators Association by competitive audition - played in their conference - highest honor high school orchestra could achieve - Honored to play in Italy
-Honor of playing with Delaware Valley Philaharmonic Orchestra
-County Band - 2 years - by audition
-Private Lessons since made lead player in Orchestra
-Marching Band - 4 Years - Section Leader for Clarinets - Also notable since MANY, MANY hours per week - Honored to play in Hawaii
-Other previous music ensembles including Symphonic Band (1st Chair), Dixie Band, Pit Orchestra (very difficult music and one of the few in the state) - Overall much time devoted to music per week including at home practice
-Other clubs including an International Newpaper, A political rights club, Nation Honor Society, Science Honor Society
-University of Pennsylvania Summer Science Academy for Research in Physics by application and admission
-PADI Certified Scuba Diver</p>

<p>Academic Honors Including:
-High Honors throughout high school career
-American Mathematics Compeition Qualifier and Participant in 2005 and 2006, with superior performance in 2006 and an AIME qualifier and participant
-Magna cum Laude in the National Latin Junior Classical League Examination
-Poem Published in a PA student anthology Sophomore Year
-Distinguished Student Award in AP World (given to 1 student)
-Not yet, but with PSAT score of 226, will most likely get National Merit Semi-Finalist recognition</p>

<p>(that's all I can think of for right now)</p>

3

<p>Waffle, visit Williams. You may love it or hate it but it certainly offers everything that you’re looking for -- rigorous academics, interaction with professors, excellent sciences, excellent track record for law school placement, excellent music including performance opportunities for non-majors, plenty of parties, great dorms, great school spirit, great fields (you mean as in playing, right?), lots of wide open spaces to roam. You'll find a lot of multifaceted energetic kids. </p>

<p>From the Physics department website: “About half of our majors choose to go on to graduate programs in physics, biophysics, astrophysics, engineering, computer science, mathematics or other scientific fields–along with the odd composer or economist thrown in for good measure. In the fall of 2005, our graduates will begin Ph.D. programs at Berkeley, Princeton, Caltech, and Michigan, among others.”</p>

<p>Some other less selectives that I’d suggest are Hamilton (similar to Colgate but less so) and Kenyon. </p>

<p>Don’t worry so much about the hippy vs preppy thing. You’ll find both at most colleges and the labels are no longer mutually exclusive. Colleges like Wesleyan and Williams attract smart, independent, multi-talented kids who don't fit into the stereotypical pigeon holes.</p>

4

<p>I think we are looking for the same kind of school, I really liked Brandeis too. You might want to take a look at George Washington.</p>

5

<p>Hey what school do you go to?</p>

<p>Also, what'd you think of BU?</p>

6

<p>It sounds like Brandeis is a good match. You're right, Brandeis has the resources of both a research institution and a small LAC. </p>

<p>I think you'd also like the student body because we're not all crazy, unkempt, loony lefties with several piercings like so many of the small LACs in New England. We're not that preppy either. </p>

<p>I also wouldn't worry about not getting in to the schools you mentioned. I think you'll get into 'Deis, and definitely get in to BU. If you're concerned, then just apply to an ultra-safety like your state school.</p>

7

<p>I suggest you look into Rice University. It sounds like it has a lot of the attributes you're looking for.</p>

8

<p>CWRU has a biophysics program if you're interested... they also are good in physics and biochem should you decide one or the other instead.
And if you want more liberal arts, Haverford is well known for its interdiciplinary degrees, biophysics among them.</p>

9

<p>I've heard a good mix of Cornell and NYU is Carnegie Mellon.</p>

10

<p>For brilliant, chill and unconventional kids, I strongly suggest you look into:</p>

<p>-UC Berkeley -- chill West coast mentality, very diverse student body, AMAZING science/engineering (duh; 99.9% of the population is pre-med, hehe), lots of parties, tons of academic and social opportunities, tons of school spirit and legendary athletics
-UCLA -- same as above! They're more similar than people like to make 'em out to be :)
-Brown -- the chillest of the Ivy Leagues, quite liberal, very diverse, also lots of academic/social opportunities. No core! I've heard it has a very lovely campus. A lot of kids who look at Wesleyan look at Brown
-Bard -- very hippie-ish, a bit rural, a safety for you
-Pitzer -- part of the Claremont consortium, so you can take classes at any of the other LACs there (Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and Scripps). Very liberal and fairly diverse
-Pomona -- gorgeous campus, school spirit, tight-knit community, amazingly rigorous academics BUT chill West coast lifestyle
-Harvey Mudd -- same as the two above, with that science kick you're looking for
-Oberlin -- liberal, free-minded, open, VERY good music program, tight-knit community, quite diverse
-Occidental -- chill West coast lifestyle, quite diverse, good school spirit; I'd say a safety for you</p>

11

<p>Can you afford a $45,000/year school or will financial aid or merit scholarship money be needed? That could affect your list...</p>

12

<p>I'd like to add to the reference to Williams above that the campus (and the entire area) is beautiful, and there are myriad music opportunities in the Berkshires, including Tanglewood in Lenox (1/2 hour south) where the Boston Symphony Orchestra has a summer institute. I live between Williamstown and Lenox. Really, it's great.</p>

13

<p>Northwestern?!</p>

14

<p>brown seems like the place for you. i think they have biophysics, they have no core classes you need to take. just graduate with a major, so you can take all the physics, chem, and bio you want. not sure about your chances there though. not that your scores and ecs arent good enough, but i have no idea how they select students.</p>

15

<p>Northwestern would be good for you. I think Brown would also be good for you. I don't want a super preppy/party atmosphere, but it seems like a lot of the schools that are perfect for me in all other categories have that atmosophere (I'm specifically thinking of Dartmouth AND Colgate). I figure that these schools are big enough that I can find people who are like me, I'm not too worried about the atmosphere.</p>

<p>The fact that you don't want a "preppy" atmosphere and want ready access to parties makes absolutely no sense to me.</p>

<p>Dartmouth is a great mix between LAC and major university. It also has great research opportunities and is known as a party school. It's stereotypically "preppy" though, you should definitely check it out though.</p>

16

<p>Honestly Dartmouth isn't nearly as preppy as its portrayed, if anything its laid-back and underdressed.</p>

17

<p>if you liked wesleyan but felt it was a little extreme, you absolutely need to check out vassar and connecticut college- you described them to at T!</p>

18

<p>While Dartmouth and Colgate have a somewhat deserved reputation of being preppy, there are many people at both that aren't like that and fit in fine. Brown, Wesleyan and Cornell seem to match your personality too. I would say Connecticut College, Union and Skidmore may be appropriate too with the last two around the selectivity level of F&M.</p>

19

<p>UPDATE (and thank you for the info - it's very helpful)</p>

<p>I just got back from visiting Colgate and Cornell. At this point my head is spinning from all the college visits and info to take in and I don't even know if I know what exactly I want anymore (if that makes sense).</p>

<p>That aside, this was probably my most important visit yet. I saw Colgate first and although the campus seemed nice, I got a bad vibe from the people. Maybe I'm not giving it a fair shot, but the people in the college just didn't seem like my people (preppy or not), and even though this definitely is not an accurate indication of the actual student body, I felt uncomfortable around the other people visiting: everyone looked the same! pink polo shirts, those dumb shorts that look like boxers, everyone chewing gum with their mouths open - yeah, not my type. Of course, the gum chewing thing seems little (you had to be there), but it's the little things that were most important. Maybe I shouldn't have visited it, but then again, you don't know until you try.</p>

<p>Cornell was a completely different story. It was the first place I visited where I was like: WOW, Now THIS is a UNIVERSITY. The buildings were stunning (especially the big engineering building - best college building I've ever seen). The food was great, the people were friendly, the layout was great (ironically, I thought that large size would've been a turnoff), they have an active Hillel. There were also so many little things that jumped out at me including the fact that they have a klezmer band, a club called Scubi Jew (and I'm PADI certified - also don't get me wrong - I'm by no means a religious Jew, but very cultural), the fact that during my tour when we passed Sage Chapel, a thunderous organ sounded (turns out there was an organ concert going on, but was that perfect timing or what? a sign?) I even like the fact that they said that professors help in the admissions process for selecting students, which logically makes me think that they want students who genuinely want to learn (a good thing, since the thing that bothers me most about Cornell is whether or not I can get a good education from professors who have reputations as being very busy and even apathetic). Cornell is definitely at the top of my list, and by the end of the really useful info session (this should be an oxymoron, but the guy was basically like "let's cut the crap and get straight down to academics and how to get in") I felt like applying ED (naturally as with every college visit after all of the hype, I'm back to looking more critically at it and will control myself in order to make logical decisions rather than ED right away, something I will not even think about again until I go back in the fall). There are some bad points, as I'm still apprehensive about the reputation of Cornell as difficult (but I am no means someone looking for an easy way out of anything and I love to challenge myself - I did get an English teacher for junior year who reduced many to tears from difficulty while I was stressed but turned out fine and better for it, so if this is what Cornell is like, I don't have a problem), along with the fact that I've heard of grade deflation, low top grad school acceptance rates per student, enormous Greek life (this is more from fear of the unknown), etc. However, from what I saw with my eyes (and tasted and smelled :) ), there was nothing wrong (I may see something I don't like later, and hear some bad stuff).</p>

<p>Right now here is my current listing (out of schools I've taken formal tours of, so N/A to Brown and Harvard):</p>

<p>Cornell>>>>>>>>>>>>>Wesleyan>>>>>Brandeis>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tufts>>>>Boston University (pretty much a last resort safety now)>>University of Pennsylvania=Georgetown=Colgate</p>

<p>I guess as of right now I have a pretty clear cut top three (and top one), though this could all change if and when I see more in the fall (not sure how likely since I doubt my parents want to make the trips all over again, so the only school I can think of that I'd definitely go back to so far is Cornell because of possible ED, and Wesleyan)</p>

<p>I still have to look at Williams, Columbia, and possibly NYU (I'm more intrigued now by NYU simply because I had no idea that I'd love the layout of a big campus such as Cornell, and I'd heard that both are very spread out. However, Cornell does feel confined as its own little town)</p>

<p>I guess my next question is: Can someone recommend a college with a layout/atmosphere (not including weather :) ) similar to that of Cornell with similar academic opportunities, and a vast array of extracurricular opportunities (I love this fact and that music is big at Cornell)?</p>

<p>Thanks again for all the advice so far!</p>

20

<p>you seem to have very good stats, but like it's been repeated about a billion times, it's not all that matters but i would certainly say you have very good chances at ivy league colleges (aside from just cornell). i really encourage you to start early on that personal statement, have it sound like you, and revised a billion times-- it really matters to ivy league schools. </p>

<p>anyways, with that in mind--</p>

<p>i think you should look into
Brown-- it's the first college that i thought of while reading your shortened 'about me' thing above. It lacks a core curriculumn which you may like because you seem like the unconventional individual looking out for your own interests and know what you want to do, theres a good balance of partying going on, and the student body is very independent, unconventional, definitely NOT-preppy, and very liberal.</p>

<p>and i also highly suggest that you visit and consider Columbia. Apply to the Fu Foundation (often referred to as SEAS), which is the Columbia's Engineering/Science school. I can't tell from reading if you're a girl or a boy, but the engineering school has a 29% female population, and as long as your safe with GPAs, SAT scores (especially in the math/science area) you have a more than decent chance of getting in. It's science/engineering program is also very prestigious and the plus to all of it is you'll get the entire new york city incorporated into your experience, so it wont just be the frat parties and the prepsters-- which tends to dominate very school spirited, in the middle of nowhere type schools.</p>