Where else should I apply?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey y'all...been lurking around here for awhile, but I finally registered because I need some help. My college list is, in no order:</p>

<p>Wake Forest
William and Mary
University of Richmond
UNC-CH and Elon University are kind of safeties
I might apply to Davidson, but I don't really think I like it.</p>

<p>The problem is that I like to think "out of the box" and I'm kind of a nonconformist. I mean, I can blend in sufficiently, but from what I've been hearing/reading, these schools are kind of homogenous and that concerns me...I don't really want to be miserable for the next four years. Do y'all have any suggestions? I want a school that's medium sized with good academics, not a women's college though, and I guess a more open student body. However, I don't really want a party school where people do nothing but drink all the time. I haven't done any of that in high school and I don't really see myself as doing a lot of it in college...I want a place where nondrinkers can still have fun. My parents want me to stay pretty close to home (eastern NC), but I don't care as much about the distance as long as I'm kind of close and on the East Coast. I'd prefer something not in a huge city. </p>

<p>I've been thinking about Brown, because a good male friend of mine is applying and wants me to apply too, but my dad says it's too far away and it costs too much (I don't understand the cost thing, because it's not like Wake is that much cheaper. :confused: ) What is Duke really like? I spent some time in Durham this summer and I hated the town. When I took a tour, everyone seemed to be really aloof, but it could have been because they were intent on getting to their next class. Of course, I could be biased because I'm a Carolina fan :p</p>

<p>Do I want some school that doesn't exist? If you guys can think of any schools that might fit the bill, that'd be great. :cool:</p>

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>White female at a small private school
We don't rank, but I should be in the top ten kids of a really competitive senior class of 33 students, lol.
GPA: 3.8941 out of 4.0 (we don't weight GPAs, either)
PSAT: 200 selection index junior year: 62 V, 66 M, 72 writing skills (or whatever that section is called). I got an 80 on the writing skills part in sophomore year.
SAT: 1410 composite - 710 V, 700 M (not entirely happy with it, but I guess it'll have to do - I've already taken it 3 times)
SAT II: 730 on Writing and US History and 660 on Math IC
ACT: 31 composite
APs: 4s on World History, US History, and Biology - by the time I graduate, I will have taken every AP except European History and Studio Art (which is new this year)</p>

<p>Senior Class Schedule:
AP English
AP Spanish Language
AP Calculus AB
Honors Physics
General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Intro Sociology (dual enrollment at the local community college)
Band</p>

<p>ECs:
-Played flute in school band from 9th-11th grade and am playing bari sax this year
-Member of church handbell choir playing bass handbells
-Softball: I made All-Star team in 9th grade for the city recreation department and we went to the state tournament. I am also a 4-year starting and lettering catcher for the varsity team at school and won an award for spirit and made all-conference team last spring.
-SGA rep 9th grade
-Inducted into National Honor Society 10th grade and am secretary this year
-Performing Arts Club which puts on a show in the spring: 10th-12th grade
-Spanish Club: 10th-12th grade
-Quiz Bowl: 9th-12th grade. I have been on the "starting" team for the public library quiz bowl competitions since sophomore year and am captain of the team this year.
-Junior Class Treasurer: this involved taking care of over $3000 worth of money that we raised for prom
-Writing Center Intern: 12th grade. Our English teacher handpicked 8 of the best writers from her 11th grade honors class to serve as interns this year. We volunteer during our study halls and help kids with papers, etc.
-Volunteering: unfortunately I don't have a lot because I babysit my little brother after school and all summer and couldn't drive until last summer. However, I did work about 50 hours this summer at the city parks and recreation office this summer doing clerical stuff and helping with field maintenance. I also voluntarily maintain my dad's work's website after I redesigned it a couple of years ago. I don't know if this counts because it was really part of the class, but last year, our Spanish class volunteered to go teach the kindergarten and first graders Spanish one day a week for 12 weeks.</p>

<p>Other stuff:
-Summer Ventures in Science and Math: kind of a big honor here in NC, almost as big as Governor's School. I spent 4 weeks on a college campus learning about...well...science and math, lol.
-Job: In addition to volunteering there, I also got paid to work for the parks and recreation department last summer, keeping score for baseball and softball games. I worked about 7 hours a week from June through August.
-Sailing Camp: again, I don't know if this counts, but I went to a sailing camp for years and hope to get a job there on sailing staff this coming summer after graduation. I got my lifeguard and CPR certification last summer in anticipation of applying.
-I had a science fair project about snails in 9th grade that won first place and the Naval Science Award in the biological division at the regional level and won 4th place in biology at states
-I've been on honor roll with an A average every grading period.</p>

2

<p>You are doing very well with UNC-CH as a safety. If your counselor agrees with this assessment, you can really go to town as far as your other choices. </p>

<p>As to finding schools where you may find something "different" such as Brown, you might want to look at Wesleyan, Swarthmore on the selective end, Oberlin, Bard, Wesleyan, Skidmore, Goucher that are not quite as selective. Some of these schools might offer merit awards for someone with your stats and record as well. UNC Ashevill is also a "different" choice that is reasonable in cost and would be a true safety for you. </p>

<p>In my opinion, most of your choices are pretty conservative, very partyline type schools.</p>

3

<p>Thanks. I don't know...I'm not really weird or that "out there", but I do enjoy being different and I definitely don't fit the homogenous private school mold.</p>

<p>I'll have to do some investigation into these.</p>

<p>Does anybody else have any suggestions?</p>

4

<p>You might want to look at:</p>

<p>Guilford
Hendrix
Grinnell
Bryn Mawr
Mt. Holyoke
Smith
Bard
Skidmore
Sarah Lawrence
Connecticut C
Bates
Oberlin</p>

<p>Although some of the schools are not in the South, they are places where thinking outside the box are very much prized. Also, for the women's colleges, they are very near to coed schools (part of a consortium) or have been traditionally a sister school to another college. </p>

<p>Mt. Holyoke and Smith are part of the Five College Consortium, which enables their students to socialize and take classes at the other member schools (ie. Amherst, Hampshire, and University of Massachusetts--Amherst). They are also in a culturally rich area with several towns (Northampton, Amherst, Hadley) within a few minutes of eachother. Springfield, a small city, is about 20 minutes away by car, although the free bus service is also an option.</p>

<p>Bryn Mawr is linked closely with Haverford College. They are about 1-1.5 miles from eachother, and have shuttles back and forth. You can even live at either campus or major in a subject at the other school. Also, if you want to take classes at Swarthmore or University of Pennsylvania, you have that option. Although the Bryn Mawr is in a suburban location, Philly is a short train ride away (there is a stop on campus).</p>

<p>As for Hendrix, it is a liberal minded oasis in the south. A great small LAC.</p>

<p>Hope this is of help.</p>

5

<p>Well you have somewhat similar profile to my dd and her GC said she should go to an outside-the-box school. She's looking a UCHI, Wesleyan, Brown, Wellesley, Smith, Oberlin and maybe Yale. Also learning about Grinnell and a few others. I think Hampshire College looks really good, same consortium as Smith. And I know a young guy who really enjoyed it. I think Skidmore and Sara Laurence sound interesting. Maybe you should look at Emory. She kinda likes that too and Atlanta is nice. Check out Sara Laurence.</p>

<p>I work with a young guy who went to UNC-CH and really loved it. He was from NC but lives in CA now. I don't know too much about Duke but it strikes me as a very mainstream ppl type of place, lots of kids with money and big on frats and parties. I'm sure there are just as many exceptions to this, though.</p>

<p>And do include your sailing activities.</p>

<p>Tell your dad to worry about the cost not on the basis of the flat rate, but after you apply, get accepted and get an offer. You never know what financial or merit aid you will get that can drastically alter which school is the best bargain for you.</p>

6

<p>Colgate,Holy Cross, and Bucknell.</p>

7

<p>Can't think of anything in your immediate neighborhood to suggest, but uI do like the ideas of Oberlin, Bates, Wesleyan and Skidmore. I think Bryn Mawr would be an interesting choice as well.</p>

8

<p>If you want a medium-sized school with good academics, you may want to check out the University of Rochester. Emory might also be a good fit. The third school that comes to mind is Carnegie Mellon. </p>

<p>I think that all three of these schools fit your general criteria.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

9

<p>Wow, that's a huge help. Thanks!</p>

<p>I almost forgot - the school college fair is on Wednesday night so I'll have to see if any of these schools show up and really talk to the admissions people. I'm pretty sure Emory has been there before, and of course UNC-A has. </p>

<p>Hopefully I can figure this out sometime soon...</p>