What's the best school I can get into?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi!
So, I was recently denied from Brown ED and I’m trying to figure out where to apply next. I’ve already applied to UCs, CSUs, and Occidental College.

Any other liberal arts colleges that are very holistic, and that might excuse several Bs in AP courses for someone with very strong essays, ECs, and recs? I know it’s the most cliched thing to say, but I have a lot more ability than my school record suggests, so what are the best colleges that I can get into that would see this ability in other places?

I’m copying + pasting my info from a previous post.

GPA: 3.67 UW, 3.89 W (weak)
SAT: 1460 (780 Reading, 680 Math) (Obviously Math is looooow)
Subject tests: 780 Literature (I’ve heard that this is really good), 710 US History
AP Scores: 5’s on English Language, US History, Psychology (junior year), 4 in Literature (self-studied in sophomore year)
Senior year: AP Lit, AP Spanish, AP Computer Science, AP Government, AP Macroeconomics, Choir, Journalism, online course for AP Stats

No lab science junior or senior year

Got a C in Chemistry and AP Calculus

No STEM teacher recs

Extracurriculars: (this part is my real strength)

-Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper (real passion for this, wrote my Common app about it)
-African Library Project: (local organization: lasting commitment, started a youth chapter of it, spoke at their fundraiser, interned with them to do organizational research)
-Youth Advisory Commission (been on it since Grade 7, rose to Chairwoman, led many new events/projects)
-Mock Trial team: Team captain, first place team award, MVP individual award, competed all 4 years
-After-school job

Awards:
5 major writing awards (Scholastic Gold medals, awards with $1000 prize money, etc.)
Harvard Model Congress–Outstanding Delegate
Mock Trial awards
Global Literacy Champion award for my work with African Library Project

My Common App was about an ethical dilemma I faced as an editor. (v strong)
Recs from teachers I’m personally close with (v strong)

upper-middle class, Linguistics major, female, Over-represented race, California

2

If linguistics as a major is not an absolute constraint (as you’ve indicated through the inclusion of Occidental), look into Connecticut College. Other NESCACs could also be open to you. Pitzer could be another option.

3

Sorry Brown didn’t work out. If you liked Brown you may want to take a look at Vassar.

4

Scripps would be a reach but a realistic reach - it’s very holistic and your strengths and essays may impress. Scripps students can declare a Linguistics major through either Pitzer or Pomona, and the combined course offerings are very strong. There are also great writing and literature classes and journalism opportunities. Could definitely be worth a shot.

Similarly, Bryn Mawr shares a Linguistics department with Haverford and Swarthmore.

Brandeis has a lot of similar positive attributes to what may have appealed about Brown, and has a linguistics department with multiple focus options for the undergrad major https://www.brandeis.edu/programs/linguistics/undergrad/major/focus.html

Both St. Olaf and Macalester, in Minnesota, have Linguistics departments and could be good match schools.

If you know that you prefer a smaller private college/U over your CA publics and are able to identify a clear favorite, all of the above (and Occidental) have ED2 as an option.

URochester is another possibility that appeals to many of the same students who like Brown, and has a Linguistics major with multiple choices of focus http://www.sas.rochester.edu/lin/undergraduate/major.html

Sorry for the ED disappointment, and good luck finding options you can be excited about - hopefully at least one of the above will resonate with you!