What schools might suit me?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Here are my stats and ECs ( <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1350903-white-ny-male-modest-ecs-great-grades-expectations.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1350903-white-ny-male-modest-ecs-great-grades-expectations.html&lt;/a> ):</p>

<p>High School Accomplishments</p>

<p>Solid
* 3 APs as a Junior and a Senior, self-taught in Calc AB & BC (at a school where less than 1% take 3 APs a year -- most take only 2 at most)
* School tutor (Chemistry as a Sophomore, Math as a Junior)
* Wrote and presented study guide for peer mentoring program (taught students study skills)
* CTY for 3 summers (EE, Phy, Human Nature & Tech), other science camp for 1 summer (Chem & Robotics), Brown for 1 summer (Philosophy)
* Founded school philosophy club
* Weekly volunteer at local library
* Grades: 4.0 GPA, 219 PSAT, projected ~2300 June 2012 SAT, 2300 on three SAT IIs, projected 5's on AP exams, high marks on state exams, top 2-3% of grade
* Dedication to elective (4 years of trumpet in band, performed in school concerts)</p>

<p>Less solid
* Self-publishes writing online on a regular basis (unrecognized, but have learned/reflected well)
* Intern at web programming company (lots of talk and research; have helped them develop an iOS app; learned a lot)
* Self-taught programmer (C/C++, HTML, Python); hobby projects include games (unfinished) and Project Euler algorithms/solutions (insignificant, but again, have learned from it)</p>

<p>Interests
* Philosophy
* Programming
* Math
* Education</p>

<p>Some schools I've been considering:</p>

<pre><code>* Vassar
* University of Chicago
* Claremont McKenna or Pomona? Both extremely selective and although small, in the huge college consortium (if so, probably don't consider Carleton and Vassar/Oberlin?)
* Oberlin
* Carleton
* Yale
* Brown
* Princeton
* Middlebury: 2500 students?
* Cornell?
* a SUNY (Geneseo? Binghamton?)
* Macaulay Honors?
</code></pre>

<p>Important qualities:</p>

<pre><code>- Keep away from small schools? I don't want to be locked in a "bubble" or trapped with people I'll be easily bored with/not like. This is conflicting since most of the schools I've been looking at are small LACs.
- Not too near, not too far (i.e., not in-city). I want to get a change of scenery from the city, but at the same time, it might be nice to be able to affordably and quickly come back if I want to. Not really sure about this. If it's far but it's large and engaging enough, I might just stay there over breaks.
- Study abroad and diverse language offerings.
- Research and internship opportunities (i.e. with professors). Ability to closely bond and work with them.
- Very good in a wide range of facilities. LOTS of courses offered. If, say, I decide I want to major in Math while I'm there, I want to be sure it has great, diverse math classes.
</code></pre>

<p>Here are some relevant questions I have:</p>

<pre><code>* Does location (whether I'll be near or far from home) matter? i.e., can I stay comfortably over breaks if airfare is too expensive? Currently, I live in NYC. I've been told that being in the mid-west (or anywhere far from the Northeast) could trap me in a "bubble."
* How likely am I to get a full scholarship/not have to pay? I'm rather poor, and my family is extremely against my taking out loans.
* How "out there" are the atmospheres and attitudes of some of the LACs I've been considering? (I don't want to be surrounded by potheads 24/7.)
* Will my interests be matched? Will there be enough diversity of interests so that I'm not bored?
* Relevant to previous question -- at what size does this problem of "enough diversity" stop becoming an issue? And is there really not enough individual catering at larger (6/7000+) schools that I cannot get the same kind of attention or benefits I do at smaller schools (i.e., working with professors, advising)?
</code></pre>

<p>And some general thoughts/other tid-bits of information:</p>

<p>I'm a white male. Neither of my parents graduated college. I'm a serious student, but I enjoy socializing with people who are serious and interesting as well. I want to be able to work, collaborate, study, and just hang out with my peers. I don't enjoy listening to gossip, talking about TV, partying, or doing drugs. (Who knows, though -- at a serious, intellectual, selective school, the parties may actually be interesting and fun for me.) </p>

<p>I don't know exactly what I want to do or where my interests lie. Regarding the concern about being bubbled in at a faraway place, I guess California would be okay, especially if I go to Pomona/CMC. Being in good weather (sunny, warm) would be nice, and being near Silicon Valley would also potentially put me in a good situation later on if I decide I want to more deeply explore the technology field. </p>

<p>So... What schools might I like? How can I narrow down my list (to, say, 3 safeties, 3 matches, and 3 reaches -- the recommended # for my school)? How can I better select or purge schools/form my list?</p>

2

<p>Start with the finances…have you run numbers yet? Start with the net price calculators on each college’s website.</p>

3

<p>Not yet. Will get on that as soon as I have access to my records.</p>

<p>Bump…</p>

4

<p>City – My son did NOT want a city. Then he began to look at schools and determined most cities are not like NYC. Some cities are “spread out” Some schools, like Pitt, have adjacent “green” space.</p>

<p>If you are serious about Philosophy, dig into the college course list. Many LACs only have a handful of professors teaching all the classes. </p>

<p>Pitt would meet most of you wants except it is urban.</p>

5

<p>siliconvalleymom: I tried one out (Middlebury) and it said I’d have to pay $3000 of the $56,000 tuition.</p>

6

<p>Bump. . . . . . .</p>

7

<p>as a person born in nyc myself, when you say you have been told being in the midwest
“or anywhere far from the Northeast” is going to be like being in a bubble,it upsets me! the world does not revolve around nyc! only people in nyc think that! all the more reason for you to expand your horizons! you will find that you may actually be a lot happier someplace else (a seperate lesson from the education aspect)
on that note check out rice university , vanderbilt and duke!
listen to your gut not others around you! it is your life and your future!</p>

8

<p>Re the ‘out there-ness’ of the LACs you are considering: These are highly regarded schools with demanding academics. There is no way a bunch of 24/7 potheads are going to remain students in good-standing after the first semester. On the other hand, they do tend to be politically and socially liberal, so if that’s a concern, you may want to look further. </p>

<p>Re the size issue: Even at a school with 1,600 students, this isn’t like high school where you’ve been together for the past 9 years. You don’t know each other’s families. 400 students arrive as freshman each fall and a significant number head off overseas to study abroad in junior year. As a result, there are always new faces. Your choices for coursework are more limited, but even if you are on the quarter system, you can still take only 45 courses at most during your entire time at the school, so having 2,000 to choose from seems a bit excessive. It’s only really an issue if you have a very specific and narrow major in mind or need graduate level courses in your field. If there is some other kind of diversity you are concerned about, check the stats for that specific school - the Common Data Set.</p>

9

<p>I have very similar stats and am considering school such as James Madison University, Syraucse, Penn State, and Rutgers.</p>

10

<p>Since you have been ‘dedicated’ to playing your trumpet in high school - make sure the schools on your list have performing groups that you can join. Vassar has an orchestra (an audition is required) and a wind ensemble which is excellent and doesn’t require an audition. There is a jazz big band and many jazz combos that would love a trumpet. Also, campus bands form with all kinds of instruments (trumpet included). So if you want a strong, yet ‘flexible’ music environment - definitely keep Vassar on your list.</p>

11

<p>@chemusic: I really don’t think I’ll pursue the trumpet in college. Music honestly isn’t one of my interests.</p>

<p>Regarding my SAT score, I had to call to get them, though they’re still unofficial (i.e., my testing conditions are still being reviewed and my scores haven’t been posted online, because I’ve been suspected of cheating). The rep made it clear to me that they wouldn’t change, though, so here they are:</p>

<p>770 M
770 CR
800 W
(2340 total)</p>

<p>Still welcoming feedback/recommendations.</p>

12

<p>maybe take the ACT instead of waiting for the sat to “clear” you!</p>

13

<p>@zobroward: No. I’m certain I’ll be “cleared” before I need to send my apps in.</p>

14

<p>Bump. . . .</p>

15

<p>

</p>

<p>This usually argues for a larger school, or being very careful in selecting a smaller school, since many smaller schools have particular subjects that they are strong in, while being more limited in other subjects. Compare course catalogs in the subjects you are interested in – also check schedules to see how frequently desired upper level courses are offered (once every two years is not that convenient).</p>

<p>Among SUNYs, consider Stony Brook for math and CS. Rutgers and NYU have good reputations in math and philosophy, but if you are very needy for financial aid, you may need to aim for a big merit scholarship at these schools (since Rutgers is out of state and NYU is known for poor need-based aid).</p>

<p>If you want to be near Silicon Valley, there is always Stanford as a reach (but financial aid is good if you do get in).</p>

<p>Remember that your safeties must be affordable as well as places you will definitely get into. In-state publics (presumably SUNYs) would be obvious places to look; other places to look may be here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>Rice University?</p>