Where should I go to school?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm having a dilemma. I'm currently a high school junior from NY (I know it's early, but I'd like to get a grip) and I have no idea what kind of school I'd like to go to.</p>

<p>I'm a smart girl and I have confidence. I know my strengths and also my weaknesses. I am definitely a humanities person and I am on my school's nationally ranked MUN team (which I want to continue in college), I am a staff editor for my school newspaper, I am class secretary, and I do community service. I have about a 97-98 weighted average, unweighted about 93, but I owe that to hurricane Sandy. On my SATs I can project about an 1800-1900 as tests definitely aren't my thing. I also struggle with math and science relative to other subjects.</p>

<p>I live with my father and he makes enough money to pass the cut offs for need-based financial aid, but it's not like he has 50,000 dollars in his pocket. Most people don't, but because he is middle class it is very difficult to get need-based. However, money is definitely an issue and there are plenty of schools that I won't go to if I don't get money. I don't want to be in debt after college.</p>

<p>I would love a liberal arts school, but I'm still unsure. They would not have Model UN, probably not a bustling party scene/college town, and new people all the time. Those are all things that I really, really want in my college experience. Also, most liberal arts schools average around 45,000 dollars and that is really off the budget for my family.</p>

<p>So the obvious answer is a big school, right? But, I want good relationships with my professors. Also, I want to go to a rather reputable school so no matter what, I'll have a good teacher. If I went to someplace like University of Delaware, even in the honors program, I've heard it's kind of 50/50. </p>

<p>I know ivies are a stretch for me and the only one I'd even be really interested in is Cornell.</p>

<p>Also, although I stay quiet with my politics, I'd rather not go to an extremely liberal or extremely conservative school. I have fiscal conservative views and social liberal ones, but living in NY, I know too many people who would shun me if I respectfully said that I disagreed with them on anything. I just want something in the middle, maybe leaning slightly in either direction. I mean, it isn't a HUGE issue, but I want to be accepted socially and be able to talk about what I want and not put my friendships in jeopardy.</p>

<p>The school I've been looking at lately is G.W, but it's not a definite that I'd get in, and I need to know more about their financial aid programs. </p>

<p>If there are any schools you'd recommend, please tell me! It would be of great help.</p>

2

<p>Have you had your dad run any net price calculators for schools yet? Each school has one on their website, and it will help you see what you would be expected to pay. it is worth doing if you haven’t – sometimes people think they are not eligible for need based financial aid, and actually they are. But you need to get your dad to tell you how much he will contribute to pay for college. Is your mom in the picture at all? If she is, many schools will take her income & assets into account as well. And if either parents is remarried, the spouse income & assets are also considered. But maybe she would agree to pay some for college.</p>

<p>You are going to struggle to get merit aid from many top schools given your lower test scores. My advice would be to get past “tests aren’t my thing” and study/prep hard for the SAT or ACT. It is a going to help you in what sounds like a search for merit aid.</p>

<p>There are definitely liberal arts colleges that have Model UN on campus. For example, Mount Holyoke has it, and is also test optional. They do have merit aid, but even with it, a school like that is likely to run you at least $40,000/year. But you can’t really tell for a given college without looking at the Student Life section or equivalent on the college website.</p>

<p>I assume others from NY can provide feedback on your in-state options, which are usually the most affordable.</p>

3

<p>

I served on the hiring committee for a philosophy candidate at my previous institution. We received over 200 applications for just one position and after extensive selection narrowed it down to three people who had prestigious credentials, relevant research, and possibly good teaching. The winner was an assistant professor who we all thought had a gift for pushing undergrads to truly explore and appreciate philosophy. She came from a tiny LAC in the middle of Kentucky which is almost never mentioned on CC for its actual academic merits. </p>

<p>Simply put, great professors can be found at universities big and small. I go to a huge state flagship and last week got lunch with one of my professors and just today had a long conversation with another one who literally wrote one of the standard upper div geology textbooks. On the other hand, I’ve had truly awful professors at both my previous LAC and state flagship so really a smaller school doesn’t mean you’re immune from horrible professors (it often means it’s harder to avoid the stinkers).</p>

<p>You’d also be surprised at how many students in college are libertarian even if they don’t identify as such. Unless you go to a school like Reed, you’ll likely find quite a few people who believe in social liberalism but fiscal conservatism. </p>

<p>As far as recommendations go, what about SUNY Geneseo?</p>

4

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<p>SUNY Geneseo would be a lot less expensive than that. Out of state, there are Truman State, University of Minnesota - Morris, and UNC - Asheville to consider for lower cost LACs.</p>

5

<p>I have to ask - How many people do you know who attend UDel’s Honor program?</p>