<p>Hi, I've made a list of colleges I want to apply to but I want help figuring out where else to apply and which schools to cut from my list.
-SF State
-UC Santa Cruz (and other UCs, but UCSC is the only one I really like)
-University of San Francisco (I don't like it much though)
-Lewis and Clark
-Reed
-Sarah Lawrence
-Barnard
-Smith</p>
<p>I go to a very competitive public HS in CA and I have an overall UW GPA around..3.3 ish? My grades are all over the place (partially due to family issues--divorce, also due to the fact that my learning style, personality, etc. don't really work with the school I'm at). I have a 2240 SAT. I do a lot of volunteering related to animal rights and I'm an officer in my school's Gay Straight Alliance.
I know there are a bunch of super reach schools on this list so I want to add some liberal arts schools that aren't as hard to get into. I sorta have an upward trend in GPA but my first semester of senior year has been pretty bad so far :/ I don't really know what to do about high SAT/low GPA.</p>
<p>I like small residential schools in/near urban areas (although I'd be willing to go to a larger school), with less of a focus on grades and scores and more of a focus on learning. I'm looking for progressive, vegan & LGBT friendly schools. I'm thinking about majoring in psychology, with a possible minor in LGBT or gender studies.</p>
<p>Add Shimer College to your list. They are in Chicago, very small, but part of a consortium of colleges. The president of the college is probably the only out lesbian college president in the country. The college’s whole approach is that they teach you how to think, not what to think. And it works; about 25% of graduates go on to get doctoral degrees at top universities, best in the country except for two technical colleges. Think Reed without the heroin (my oldest daughter graduated from there) and less students–never more than 13 in a class. With a diverse group of interesting, fun, slightly idiosyncratic students (and pretty smart ones). And they will admit almost anyone who really wants to go there. They’ve turned high school dropouts into university department heads. Quite a place that should be better known.</p>
<p>Thanks! Hendrix sounds interesting…I’m not so sure I want to go to the south, though. Partly because of the weather and partly because my parents wouldn’t like it at all haha</p>
<p>Important to consider is what you and your parents can afford, and the net price calculator results for each college.</p>
<p>Some more possibilities, contingent on affordability:</p>
<p>Sonoma State (CA)
Humboldt State (CA)
Evergreen State (WA)
Some of the schools listed here: [COPLAC</a> | Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges](<a href=“http://www.coplac.org/members/]COPLAC”>Members – COPLAC)</p>
<p>Money isn’t too much of a concern…due to my family situation I should qualify for a good amount of financial aid, although I would still like to go to a school that meets a high % of need.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions! I was sorta thinking about Evergreen, but I’ve heard mixed reviews. It’s also not as urban as I’d like, although I know I’m being picky haha</p>
What does that mean? Does it mean you come from a low income family? Then yes, you should look at schools that meet need. Be aware, though, that the majority of schools will just gap you for what you might consider need. Does it mean that your family is middle income? Then you should look at schools that offer merit aid for your stats.</p>
<p>If you may qualify for financial aid, it is essential to run the net price calculator on each school’s web site to get an estimate to see how financially realistic each school is.</p>
<p>But be aware that if your family financial situation is complex (e.g. divorced and/or remarried parents, parents own a small business or have highly variable income), the net price calculator estimates may be less accurate than for simple situations.</p>
<p>Financial issues aside, take a look at Oberlin in Ohio (maybe too rural, but it’s not that far from Cleveland). Also, for more urban, there’s Case Western Reserve U in Cleveland and American U in D.C. I know a kid from my DD’s school who had a rough junior and senior year grade-wise due to some family issues but high SAT scores and got into American and is now attending.</p>
<p>Eliminate USF and the non-UCSC UCs. If you’re telling us up front you don’t like them, then leave them off and make room for schools you will like.</p>
<p>I second Oberlin. Not as urban as you’d like, but definitely a very progressive and vegan/LGBT-friendly place. One of my closest friends (who is LGBT) went there and loved it.</p>
<p>I also second Shimer…a great sleeper school that deserves more attention than it gets.</p>
<p>Macalester in Minneapolis is another fine urban LAC.</p>
<p>Hampshire isn’t in an urban environment, but the 5-college consortium makes Amherst one of the most bustling college towns in the US.</p>
<p>Eugene Lang @ New School could be a good urban fit for you.</p>
<p>Lesley University in Boston could be an excellent safety. They’re a very progressive campus.</p>
<p>Many schools don’t give good FA, so you do need to be concerned. The schools that give the best aid will expect a better GPA.</p>
<p>If your mom is your custodial parent, and her income is low, then apply to the Calif publics…many of them. They may end up being your only affordable choices.</p>
any more suggestions?</p>