OP wrote: “…he really wants to go to a college in a big city like NYC…”
This qualifier really narrows the field. My first reaction when I read this thread was Wesleyan, Yale, Brown, or NYU, but only NYU is in a big city.
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Not sure they are known for great financial aid, but Emerson would be a good fit and has a strong writing program. BU is also great for creative writing.
It’s not in a big city, but I would recommend checking out the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship for creative writing at UNC-Chapel Hill. You need a strong writing sample, but their undergrad creative writing program is one of the best in the country (largely because they choose to focus on undergrad students and do not have an MFA program) with excellent creative writing faculty (including LGBTQ writers) and Chapel Hill/Carrboro have historically been very LGBTQ-friendly and the larger Raleigh/Durham area has a large queer community.
Based on what I know of their writing programs, I would also recommend University of Oregon, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, NYU, Sarah Lawrence, and Vanderbilt (TN is not particularly LGBTQ-policy friendly but Nashville has a sizeable queer community and Vanderbilt has a wonderful LGBTQ+ Center–I have worked with their director before and they are doing good things. Their writing program is top-notch too).
From the Ivies, Brown or Columbia.
I know it’s not known for humanities/arts, but NC State has an incredibly strong writing program with amazing faculty and would be a good option to consider if you’re also looking at UNC-Chapel Hill. Same for UNC-Greensboro if you want to add a safety with a strong writing program.
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One thing to consider is that an LGBTQ “accepting” atmosphere is not the same as an LGBTQ “thriving” atmosphere. This is where the big city part comes in. I agree with the idea of McGill, and would also consider looking into University of Amsterdam, if he is willing to go that far.
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I agree that test scores are not the most important determinant for admission. That’s why some of the schools were considered likelier than others because when looking at things like the GPA distributions, there are some schools where 90% of students were in the top GPA range while at others there was a wider distribution. Schools where there is a wider distribution of GPAs would mean that an applicant with a high GPA was more of a prize, whereas schools with almost everyone with a high GPA meant that it’s more of a prerequisite. There are a number of factors that will stand OP’s son in good stead for admissions; I’d just rather err on the conservative side and be pleasantly surprised once admissions decisions come in than overly aggressive and disappointed in the spring.
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Yes, I agree. Thank you for all the work you did in your analysis. Great stuff!
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I think a few schools on your list may be “preppier” than your S might like (ex. Trinity, Bucknell, Princeton, BC, Vandy) but if you have visited and he likes them that is great. And some schools on your list (ex. Hamilton, Wes) are decidedly not urban.
Agree with Emerson and NYU as a good options to consider.
I have an outlier as a safety (where he may get merit aid as well) – if you are in NYC I’d look at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus. (He has to be OK with the required theology/philosophy classes but since BC is on your list I’m guessing that is not an issue). That smaller campus of Fordham is located right at Lincoln Center in Manhattan – the campus houses the college’s theater and dance programs so it has a lot of creative students and from what I gather it is very comfortable for LGBQT students. Plus they have non-binding early action – I always love the idea of getting an acceptance in December as it takes a lot of stress off the process.
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If we are talking about colleges which produce writers, our most recent (?) Nobel Laureate went to University of Minnesota. One semester? Was he even attending class? But then he got his real education collaborating with other budding musicians, composers, and writers on the streets of Greenwich Village.
Neil Simon, considered the world’s most successful playwright, never graduated from college either. He took courses at NYU and University of Denver. Life was his teacher.
Northwestern
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UNC-A is pretty gay. If you are outdoorsy you can find your people, but it’s probably even easier to find your people if you are gay. If you are outdoorsy and gay you are golden! Asheville is very hipster/chill/gay. Plenty of fun and funky fashion in Asheville, too.
Warren Wilson College is another tiny school to consider near Asheville. They offer a Creative Writing degree. Very gay also, more outdoorsy than UNC-A.
If you think he would be at all intrigued by Asheville then it’s worth a look for sure. It’s a city, but not NYC, though!
I appreciate the clarification. I definitely thought it would be an environment in which gay students would thrive, but viewed it more as a hippie/flower child/Birkenstock-wearing vibe rather than one where the focus was more on style and fashion. But I haven’t been in Asheville for awhile and things definitely change!
I think it’s that…granola…but a liberal city with a large gay population…why I submitted it…since the list is wide 
Of course we have no idea what OP thinks !!
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With the current admissions climate, over half of these would be reaches (& the majority of those “roulette” reaches). Not to diminish your son’s amazing talents (& I love that he was a guy cheer), it’s just really rough. I have a kid w/ near perfect SATs, 3.98UW, 4.88W GPA, NMF, top magnet school, Poms Capt, pro actor w/ union status, national award, all state orch, music composition award, 5s on APs (including calc BC as a Sophomore), club pres, etc. Completely rejected SCEA. Legacy may help your kid, but the apps all around just keep escalating, and there is lots of rejection so far. Math just doesn’t add up stats-wise. There are just too many applicants and too many variables.
Like others, I’d say to add Emerson & Vassar (town is grotty, but campus is gorgeous and very LGBTQ friendly & easy to train to NYC) as higher target and possibly Skidmore/Bard as lower targets. I’d also suggest some more safeties. Perhaps Muhlenberg (not as fashionable or urban but great performing arts, nurturing community, close to NYC), maybe Connecticut College, UMass, Pace or CUNY. Also, consider American or GWU in DC. (Some of these are not really safeties but good targets).
Mine cut BC from list. Beautiful campus, but students that Admissions had present at OH seemed a little shallow (one kept talking about how he couldn’t get up for class and failed it!), students on tour seemed more suburban/conservative than my DD was comfortable with, core curriculum seemed too dominant, poor presentation by admissions officer. While I don’t think gay kids would be discriminated against, I don’t think it would have a celebratory atmosphere. They also have a satellite dorm campus that some kids end up at and have to bus in.
I think awards might help make an applicant stand out. Individual debate competitions? Young Arts for drama. And, maybe try for some literary awards or to publish. Seems like a lot, but how else do these kids distinguish themselves?
Good luck!
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Oh my. I forgot to mention VCU! (My MFA is from VCU, so zoiks)! This would make an excellent safety. Though, they do limit mainstage performances to majors. A smaller university or LAC would allow your son to pursue writing and dabble in drama and dance if he wants.
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Just want to say that SCEA rejection is just so harsh for a kid with a 5 on BC calc as a soph and all the other amazing stuff in your kid’s profile. Ugh. My sympathies. I’m not saying I’m surprised but I do really feel bad for you and your kid. Wish we weren’t living in this particular reality! And to OP, this is why our suggestions might seem so “low” or conservative in terms of safety strategy!
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Oh my heart. You are so kind. Yes, we weren’t totally surprised, but we thought she’d at least get deferred. I was trying not to be too involved and probably should have looked over her essay as it was a little loose. So, she tightened that up. Re-jigged honors section to max a speaking engagement that she hadn’t thought to list b/c it wasn’t an “award,” but it was a nat’l deal. So, fingers crossed. She just got NMF and 2 regional awards in theatre and violin, so hoping those (plus her efforts to let colleges know she really likes them) might put her over the top. Fortunately, she likes everywhere she’s applied, is in at UMD honors in music school and verbally told she’s in w/ high scholarship rec at another safety. But, the wait is LONG (hence the CC activity).
Thanks again for the kind words. Wish you were on the admissions committees! And, sorry to detour the thread. Anxious mom.
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I am sorry but these conversations really do not matter unless you know what your budget is. I am not a big fan of threads where people ask for recommendations alone based on stats and major interest but the most important question is often overlooked – affordability.
Some fine suggestions have been made on here about colleges. Once you have a list of 20 or so schools, look through each. Then the most important thing to do then is to get on ipeds and see what people in your income bracket are paying for each school of interest. The tool is not very useful for incomes over $110K but gives one an idea. Then I would use a shorter list to go visit each school’s website and do the NPC. A rough rule of thumb is ~25% if income based on my very unscientific experience. Now many schools have merit aid as well. The way to find this information is the website AND common dataset for each school. How many non-need based scholarships were given out and average amount. Are you with me yet? Lol.
I would spend time more on matches and doing this research or otherwise this gets out of control pretty fast.
Popular states are more expensive. Iowa and Indiana schools are great along with various other flyover states. CA, MA, PA, NJ are quite expensive.
Budget is a big deal, I agree. And yes to looking at what people in one’s income bracket pay and running the FAFSA NFC (which I realize is not how all schools calculate financial need, but will at least give a rough ballpark idea to see whether you might qualify for financial need or whether merit aid is your most likely shot), because it’s easier to one run rough NFC then to sludge through 20+ of them.
But @Halcyon24 (OP) hasn’t posted since post #8 and we’re now on #76. Getting some additional feedback can definitely help to streamline this process.
I still would have him apply to NYU and see what happens. My goodness, his people are there.
My son’s college roommate his soph year was everything you described your son to be. My son was in a completely different school at NYU and really isn’t a huge fan of “arts”, however, he attended many shows his roommate was involved in either performing or writing.
It is a very inclusive community. The artsy kids drag the nerdy kids out and everyone has a great time.
NYU also has an in with the theatres. They get all kinds of free or discounted tickets to all the goodies in the city. So many opportunities. I don’t think you should discount NYU. Get an offer and see if it can work.
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I went to emory when the creative writing program was first developed so 1990-1994. I took one of the original classes. Playwriting and dramaturgy are also very impermanence there. The only musical theatre will be student led but theatre is strong as is film. Individuals will be liberal, creative and like minded. It’s in Atlanta so city is checked off too.
Oberlain is what jumped in my head first. Issue there would be the closest big city is Cleveland at 31 miles but certainly doable.
I saw someone put Florida’s New College. It is a bit odd of a place much more initiative must be taken by the student to create a program.
I am going to put Rollins out there. Amazing theatre program and great liberal arts programs. The theatre includes musical theatre and I do know that within the English Department they have a creative writing minor. It isn’t in a city but isn’t far from orlando and the place is absolutely Beautiful. It is the school where Mr Rogers went and his footprints remains - sometimes literally as they have walk in his footprint type experiences at times. The school is expensive but very friendly with giving out money for merit, need, and talents (theatre has some great ones). It’s a guarantee four years housing school so the student body is close and from what I have seen and from the students we know very supportive of all. So something to look into.
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Birkenstocks?! Really?!! I don’t think I have ever seen anyone under 50 wearing Birkenstocks. Probably plenty of Doc Martens at UNC-A, but the only Birkenstocks you’d see would be on some old professors. UNC-A would be a safety for him for sure and I don’t know that he’d get much merit, but who knows. I’m not sure of UNC-A’s creative writing scene, but might be worth a look for a safety. Asheville is a fun city.
My D22 has a gay theater friend who is looking at schools in NY. He is in at Pace and is interested in SUNY-Purchase. He’s not a writer, though. He is wanting to major in some type of theater (I’m not sure if it’s Musical Theater or what.) Those would be safeties for your son too.
VCU is a good suggestion and I really liked the vibe around VCU in Richmond. Very cool. Easy admit for him and he might be up for some good merit there. All kinds of kids there. It’s very diverse in all ways, except maybe not a ton of rich white kids.
NYU is a great suggestion for a reach, but you already have a lot of those.
Would he be interested in SCAD?
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