Hi! I made another post here previously asking for recommendations along with my stats/grades/etc., but I didn’t include any factors that were important to me in a school.
I’m looking to major in Comparative Literature or English in college. I love creative writing, but I am NOT looking for creative writing programs–just plain English programs (although most schools will offer that concentration any way).
I would love to work with major publishing houses/companies after college and eventually would probably go back to grad school anyway because I may want to teach. BUT, the college does not have to be like top ranked in English; I’m mostly just putting this for context to show I’m not looking for a specialized engineering program or anything.
School characteristics: I would prefer a larger school, like over 3,000?
I am Asian so I would appreciate a more diverse student body.
Location wise I would like to stay Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Southeast, and certain Midwest like Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin. I don’t want to go too far to the West (I’m from PA).
Price wise, I am blessed enough to not have to worry too much about that. We can pay full price at most any school so my search isn’t limited by cost. (We did not apply for FA with my two older sisters who went to Cornell)
Student body wise I know I will find my group anywhere I go so I’m not too worried about having a certain kind of kid on campus other than wanting some diversity. That being said, I do want to avoid EXTREMELY conservative colleges (I myself am not super-duper liberal but still)
Extracurriculars, I’m not too particular and there’s no sports I want to join but I do wanna write for a campus newspaper LOL.
Campus wise I would prefer a more traditional campus (so not NYU/BU). Other than that, location doesn’t super matter and I don’t really mind whether I’m in a small town or rural or whatever.
My stats: 33 ACT (36 36 reading/eng and 29 29 math/sci); good ECs/awards/volunteer work (national writing awards, published, etc.); rigorous courseload 11 APs 6 Honors. GPA is low–cumulative will be around 3.6, maybe 3.58 - but I missed a lot of school sophomore year for a medical absence, resulting in low grades
But off the 33 and the 3.58-6, where would be some schools fitting my criteria where I may find a fit! I know the size criteria eliminates a ton of the liberal arts colleges.
URochester fits your size and geographical criteria; offers a traditional, riparian, campus; enrolls a diverse student body (particularly internationally); and would seem to be within your admission range.
Criteria. Excellent school. Diverse. Larger. More liberal than conservative. Meaningful Asian student representation. Meaningful liberal arts colleges within school with established scholarship in English and writing. Traditional campus and some with associated renowned college towns or major city . (Indicated with CT next to school or city )
University of Vermont. (CT)
University of Massachusetts Amherst. (CT)
University of Rochester
Quinipiac University
American University (DC)
Pitt/Penn State of course
Villanova. (Philly)
UDel
UMiami (Miami Miami Beach south beach etc)
Fordham (NYC)
UMD
William and Mary
Emory (Oxford campus)
Miami Ohio
UW Madison (CT)
I basically feel like you’re describing Fordham. The Rose Hill campus is the traditional campus you want. The size is right, with over 3000 students living on campus at Rose Hill, and over 9000 undergrads altogether. Student journalism and connections to publishing stuff in NYC are both strong. Academic programs in the humanities are strong. STEM majors are part of the mix but do not dominate. It has a 5-year accelerated path to a teaching credential if you decide you want that. It’s 11% Asian. (High enough to feel represented, but low enough that your ethnicity wouldn’t disadvantage you admissions-wise.) It’s on the moderate side of liberal. They don’t meet full demonstrated need, but that doesn’t matter to you.
Better still, it’s right in the sweet spot where your test scores are above their average and balance out your GPA being below their average. With strong recommendations and a very solid academic baseline outside of that period of illness, I expect they would see a great fit.
They have both EA and ED, so you can apply early whether a binding application appeals or not. (Though it’s possible they might defer just to make sure the strong grades hold for another semester.)
From where I sit, this looks like it sets the bar for a good fit. I’d be evaluating other options from a head-to-head-with-Fordham perspective. Maybe those comparisons will bring out other criteria that are important to you; but if the criteria you’ve stated above are indeed your top priorities, I’m not sure what other school would come out ahead.
@privatebanker@merc81@aquapt Thank you all! I actually identified Fordham as a ‘perfect match’ as well earlier this year. I visited it in April and I actually didn’t like it as much in person. I didn’t HATE it by any means and I’m definitely still going to apply. But do you guys happen to have other ones that are close to being great matches too, just so I can expand my list and try to visit a couple more? You can never be too sure about admissions anymore so I want to cast a wide net.
I really love Rochester right now also, thanks for the suggestions (privatebanker, your list was super helpful!)
U of Richmond? Your ACT is exactly at 75th percentile and GPA exactly at 25th. Just over 3000 undergrads. Richmond isn’t NYC, but it’s a real city and VA’s capital. Lovely campus. 8% Asian, 30% total “students of color.” 11% international students.
Rochester is a good choice too. It’s a bit reach-ier and a bit STEMm-ier. Similar percentage of domestic Asian students to Richmond, but almost double the percentage of international students. And a lot colder.
