<p>I am a parent new to these boards and I would like some assistance. </p>
<p>Our daughter has always been a bit different. Starting when she was 2 we took her all over the world with us, so she has seen and done a lot, more than most adults. This travel infleuenced her greatly and she had a difficult time adjusting to mainstream life among her suburban peers. She has always had a unique way of looking at life and shunned the status quo of white-affluence in order to pursue a dream she has had for years. </p>
<p>By the time she got into high school she was ostracized for pursuing her dream. This got her really down the first two years of high school, and she had a lot of personal issues as well as physical problems. Nevertheless she continued with her dream. Her grades were okay (3.5 GPA) and because she is super smart (IQ 140+) she could coast with a minimal amount of effort. Her sophmore PSATs were in the 620 to 640 range when she was at her worst (she had to go on anti-depressants and mood regulators for a year). </p>
<p>Finally she came out of the "black hole" and she decided to graduate 1 year early (at 17) this spring. So now she is now taking 4 DE classes as well as 2 Honors classes and a couple of electives. Her GPA has gone up to a 4.1. She wants out of high school YESTERDAY! </p>
<p>Outside of school the activity that daughter is involved in requires an immense amount of leadership and planning, contact with people (adults) all over the world, as well as intensive travel to remote destinations. But she believes in what she is doing and it has helped her "climb out of the ashes" of the personal meltdown. Over the past 6 months she received national recognition for her unique work and she has won awards, etc. as well as been on TV and in the major news for her pursuits. </p>
<p>Questions: How important is this kind of extra-curricular activity in her college applications? We never "groomed" our daughter for college, no SAT prep, nothing. We just let her do her own thing and find herself (for better or worse), and this is where she has excelled. She is a great interviewee (one of the reasons she has been so successful in her pursuits) and she is very mature, but her school record (for the first 2 years) is not noteworthy nor the traditional track. However, her first-attempt SAT scores came in the low 700s. </p>
<p>Any advice from been there, done that? Are there any liberal arts colleges which are seeking these kinds of students? [I posted this over on another board (wrong place) and the people were kind enough to tell me that generic state schools don't really care about ECs...but there must be SOME schools out there that want a self-starting, motivated, focused and quirky type...a little weak (lazy!) academically but high on every other count...like lots of politicians out there!]</p>
<p>I will be really interested to hear the answers-- some of this sounds a lot like my D. (Completely different EC but total dedication, thinks nothing of working a 40 hour week in addition to rigorous school life, very little interest in high school social scene, which also takes no interest in her.) But, here are some suggestions–
Georgetown-- I know someone who started a worldwide youth program in high school and went to Gtown on the strength of that-- they want that international focus and especially since the test scores are high I think they might put less emphasis on the grades, if she gets a great essay and interview in.
Hampshire-- some of the smartest and most self-directed kids I know go there. There’s huge support for independent thinkers, and it’s all very outside the box.
Marlboro-- tiny, but again, VERY personalized, would LOVE someone who has already achieved on her own.
Smith is another possibility, seems to me. But my guess is that a number of LAC’s would love to have her. It’s also my guess that she would love Georgetown.</p>
<p>Its hard to make a suggestion without knowing what your daughter’s unique activity is – and I realize that if you offer up more details, it would probably raise a privacy concern. Given what you have disclosed so far, I’d suggest looking at Sarah Lawrence or NYU-Gallatin School of Individualized Study. I’m guessing that she wants to continue her travels, so she wants a school with a curriculum that is flexible enough to allow her to create a program of study that integrates her interests – rather than leave her in a situation where she is always trying to juggle her outside interests with school-imposed deadlines. Also – if she plans to keep on traveling, it will probably be in her interest to choose a college within a reasonable distance from a major hub airport. </p>
<p>As to getting in – the lower GPA is a problem, but her SAT scores combined with the higher GPA with the more demanding schedule is a plus, and her unique/noteworthy activity is probably a huge hook almost everywhere – so in general, breaking the mold is an asset for college admissions, as long as there is a way to demonstrate that the student can and will do the work required at college. (I know my daughter’s college, Barnard, would love a student like your daughter – but the Barnard curriculum may not be flexible enough for her needs. It kind of depends on whether she is willing to schedule her outside activities around school breaks for the next few years).</p>
<p>try University of Chicago. That school seems like a terrific fit for her. In general, I caution people who drink way too much cool aid of “Chicago is looking for quirky kids, hence, I can get in with my sub par stats if I write one heck of an essay”. (I believe most of these are not really quirky, extremely interesting applicants, but are looking for a reason to be hopeful when other qualifications put them way out of range for top 20 schools)</p>
<p>However, in your D’s case, I think Chicago will be the school that values your daughter’s unusual background, natural brilliance, achievement, and experience more than any other of its peers at the top 10 school list. Besides, her stats are already within in a target range (well, GPA is below average, but she has top grades this year, and she is graduating early). </p>
<p>based on everything I read and the early reports from my freshman son there, Chicago will be a wonderful place for her not only in terms of odds of getting in, but also because of what the school emphasizes, and the kind of kids that make up for the student body. The fact that the Greeks have a very minor presence tells me all. You might want to post a question about your daughter’s fit to U chicago forum [University</a> of Chicago - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/]University”>University of Chicago - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>I have a hard time understanding what sort of activity would have her “ostracized for pursuing her dream”. Also, I am confused by the “black hole” reference? If I were on the adcom I would be concerned about the maturity and emotional health of the student being referenced in this way…</p>
<p>I agree that the description is a bit too vague for definite advice. Is this “dream” activity something that most adcoms would recognize as something good, or at least sensible? It really matters if the dream is to help starving children or to hang glide off the world’s tallest buildings.</p>
<p>If a brilliant girl, who has seen the rest of the world, understands the infinite diversity of the planet we live on, knows that our ways are not always the best ways in some remote places with thousands of years of their own culture, is put in a middle class suburban high school in a dead middle America where girls are pursuing fashion and boyfriends and boys are pursuing girls with a pretty face and sports and most of them never heard of Namibia, and refused to blend in, I can easily see how she will be ostracized. Furthermore, I can easily imagine why she will be depressed to the Nth degree under the circumstance. </p>
<p>If someone like her gave up and blended in, that would have been a shame. The fact that she did not compromise who she is to buy a friend or two, crawled out of this black hole, and achieved amazing things that was nationally acknowledged tells me she is a true gem, an amazing uncut diamond of unparalleled brilliance ready to be cut into a perfect gem. </p>
<p>As an adult, I worked in an international setting where work place value and culture was a polar opposite to open, democratic environment I was used to in my industry in USA. I was not even a foreigner in that international setting (that’s where I originally came from). I refused to abuse my subordinates as my peers do, and try to respect everybody including my secretary, and conduct my business without getting drunk in seedy places, and for that, I was ostracized by my peers. I was an adult with a firmly established values and beliefs and yes, support system, even so at times it becomes really challenging to operate in such circumstances. I can only imagine what the OP’s D has to go through. I can completely understand.</p>
<p>IMO, the very top colleges and universities want young adults who have led interesting lives and are passionate about an activity above and beyond all else. I’m not presumptuous enough to say where she would or wouldn’t get in, but schools at the very top of the LAC ladder would be potential bets for a “march to the beat of a different drummer” student. Swarthmore for example, took a kid I know who led a march on the statehouse steps protesting the mandatory high school testing in her state, refused to take the test, and never graduated high school and went to Swarthmore a year early. They have other students who spent their four years in college starting a Sudan relief NGO, giving speeches at rallies in Washington, and travelling to Africa for MTV News. Those kinds of students make a campus interesting and the top schools enjoy an interesting campus community. It’s challenging.</p>
<p>I’d rather apply to these schools with a unique package than a cookie-cutter high school newspaper editor application. What you might want to consider is what I call a “one-trick pony” application where everything ties into the extracurricular. The essays, the life experience, and so forth. I would also recommend taking what she is interestested in and researching where that would lead at a smalll college, certainly e-mailing the appropriate people on campus, if not going to visit them.</p>
<p>It’s a little risky to go the one-trick pony route, but what’s the worst that can happen? She doesn’t get in? There’s no shame in that.</p>
<p>PM me with a little more background and I might be able to point you in the right direction at Swarthmore, which may help with how to explore the avenues at other schools.</p>
<p>Can you tell us if she has a particular major/ area of study that she is interested in pursuing in College? That might help us point her in toward a narrower range of colleges. </p>
<p>"she decided to graduate 1 year early "</p>
<p>this is probably going to work against her, imho. Having only taken 3 years of HS is going to make it hard for her to compete against high scoring, accomplished seniors, particularily at the most competitive colleges[ if that is what she is setting her sights on] . EC’s alone rarely will override a weaker GPA/ transcript at the MOST competitive colleges. She could be the exception, but my recommendation would be to have her apply for an early college acceptance program at a college where she will be nurtured and recognized for her accomplishments at such a young age. There are a few programs for mature, accomplished HS students who are ready to go to college a year early- USC has one[ they take only 30 students into this program <a href=“http://college.usc.edu/resident-honors-program[/url]”>http://college.usc.edu/resident-honors-program</a>
and LOVE outgoing motivated students who are interested in making a difference both in and outside of college] as well as Simon’s Rock. Or would it be a possible for her to take more advanced AP level classes online[ through Stanford’s EPGY program for instance], while pursuing her passion for a year? That way she will have a stronger academic HS record, which will give her more college choices a year from now.</p>
<p>And U of Chicago is not where I would send a young student whose main focus and passion is NOT academically based .</p>
<p>If her unique interest is politically controversial, this would also point her toward different schools. (Oberlin? Wheaton in Illinois?) </p>
<p>I second the thought that you and she might both enjoy reading Colleges That Change Lives. I think that you might find several schools on this list that sound great for her. It will also help her look at a different colleges, colleges like those in the book. Not all great schools are famous or hard to be admitted to. :)</p>
<p>A school that values independent work and thinking is Marlboro in Vermont. It is tiny, but well regarded (such as percent of students admitted to graduate schools).</p>
<p>We looked at a lot of small liberal arts colleges and, honestly, a lot of them could be interested in a passionate student with those test scores. What is working against her isn’t really the grades-- it’s probably the rigor of her classes. By cutting her high school experience by a year, she may not have all the higher-level classes that those colleges seek (meaning APs, IBs or even advanced electives). If she does in fact have the rigorous academics to compete with top 4-year students, she can apply to just about any liberal arts school and see how it shakes out. Of the schools with which I’m familiar, I would say Claremont McKenna, Bowdoin, Wesleyan, Oberlin, Bates, Vassar and Dickinson come to mind immediately. I would also add Goucher to that list since I know a girl who easily fits your daughter’s description (albeit with lower test scores and a lower gpa) who loves her time there. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if your daughter received merit money from Goucher. I also think most of the women’s colleges and specifically Bryn Mawr would be interested in a passionate young woman. </p>
<p>If your daughter’s courseload is not terribly rigourous, it probably makes Claremont McKenna, Bowdoin, Wesleyan, Oberlin and Vassar high reaches but still leaves Bates, Goucher and Dickinson as viable options. </p>
<p>By the way, it would be helpful if you provided two bits of information: 1- in what field is your daughter’s passion (international service? music? arts?) and 2- what are her specifications for a college: size/area of the country/ setting-- urban/suburban?</p>
<p>chica, As a general statement, selective colleges gravitate toward interesting kids who do interesting things. The unusual, especially with an intellectual, artistic and global focus is well received. </p>
<p>We live in a “weird and wonderful country” and our son also had extensive travel exposure all of which informed his artwork. I believe this was a major factor in his acceptance at a highly selective college.</p>
<p>Having said that, grades and social maturity are also considerations. It’s good that she’s made an academic turnaround but her application will also have to address past issues. Perhaps a counselor or mentor could help here.</p>
<p>Because of (not in spite of) her background, your daughter would be a person of interest to many selective colleges and universities. At this point your daughter needs to give some thought to what she would like in a college environment. Urban/suburban/rural, artsy/political/sporty, all female/coed, etc?</p>
<p>It sounds like she would be attracted to a small LAC, but I don’t think she should necessarily be constricted by small. Without knowing her unique interest, it’s difficult to recommend individual schools, but let me say categorically that if she puts together a thoughtful application – in which her essays, recommendations, resume and supporting material enhance her personal objectives – you’ll be surprised how much positive interest she receives. She should think about how to communicate what her background could contribute to the campus community.</p>
<p>The usual suspects that will come up when the descriptors are “quirky” and “intellectual”: Oberlin, Wesleyan. I’d also add Smith.</p>
<p>However, I think the question she should be asking is more what do I want in a college rather than who would accept me?</p>
<p>Like all applicants she should have a balanced list of reach/match/safety but I wouldn’t eliminate the matches. I am a parent new to these boards and I would like some assistance.</p>
<p>Simon’s Rock, then transfer after two years.</p>
<p>Or, there are a lot of colleges that will offer a world very different from the waste-of-time that is quite often the last two years of high school, for very bright, outside of the box kids.</p>
<p>If her EC is as unusual and widely recognized as indicated, then the graduation in three years shouldn’t be a problem. </p>
<p>Rather than “what college,” she’d be better off considering questions such as where does she want to be, to live, for the next two-to-four years, in how a large a school, and is some degree of requirements towards graduation acceptable?</p>
<p>I know this may sound like a big stetch but when I read about Stanford a couple of years ago it seemed like one of the main things they respect is demonstrated passion. It seems like your daughter has that, and solid SAT’s. If you read through the Stanford forum it is not unusual to see a few surprises in their admission choices( if you look only at the student’s numbers. ) Its not exactly a LAC and never a shoo in but maybe worth a look. As you visit schools I think you will find that while many state statistical admissions critera, possibly because this is easy to define and it works for most students; many also stress that they look for leadership skills and students who will contribute to the campus environment and not just be caught up in study. It is hard to figure out which schools will respect her unusual path because they don’t have many students with a similar track record. It does seem that an LAC is a good place for her. As you find schools that support her passion, interviewing at these schools may help admissions appreciate how unique she is and see the special contributions that she can bring to the mix of the school. It also strikes me that she is a student who would benefit from a more open curriculum. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Congrats your daughter sons like a great kid.</p>
<p>One suggestion is to read this post the Mini wrote on the “entitlement index” … s/he looked into schools and the number of students on financial aid and also who attended prep/private schools. As any stat this data should be taken with a grain of salt … however there is a correlation to the “feel” of the campuses … those with low entitlement indexes tend to be more diverse, political active, liberal, etc. My oldest, for example, was drawn to the schools with lower entitlement indexes … as it sounds like your daughter would. (FYI - there is nothing wrong with schools at the other end of the spectrum but it can be a quite different college experience).</p>
<p>What about US colleges with a high study abroad cooperative? Some schools allow up to two years in study abroad credit. Hampshire with its no majors type of program is a place where a self directed politically motivated person could find the right mentor for her vision. Actually there would be several mentors at Hampshire for her dream.
For some one who shuns the world of the white elite, why not consider education in another country? She sounds like she could make a good contribution at top universities in other countries.</p>