Which colleges would you recommend for me? Not chances, just college search advice!

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm applying for Fall 2011. White female from upstate NY.</p>

<p>My numbers:
Freshman year: 93.09
Sophomore: 93.89
Junior: 97.07
UW Overall: 92.64
W Overall: 94.18
SAT: 2050/1360 (CR: 690, M: 670, W: 690)
ACT: 31 (English: 35, Reading: 35, Math: 25 (killed me), Science: 30)
APs:
AP Euro - 3
AP English Lang- 4
APUSH- 4
Rank: 15 out of 241 (top 6%)</p>

<p>Me as a person:
Senior Schedule: AP Calculus (we call it AP but take it for credit at a local university), French 2, Spanish 5 Honors (we take the CLEP at the end of the year), AP Government/Economics, Physics, and AP English Lit.
ECs:
NHS (treasurer)
Irish dance - 3 years
Volunteer (40 hours) at Children's Hospital
Shakespeare Lives! (Queen aka co-president with the king!) - 10-12
Interned at Shakespeare production company this summer
Regional Theater Volunteer (only for two shows)
I've skiied for around six years.
I worked at JCPenney for 7 months but resigned for the Shakespeare internship
Link Crew - 11th grade
Leadership Team- 9-12
This year i'm taking ballet, joining scholastic bowl and the school newspaper.
Awards:
Scholar Award at my school
Distiction in English Award (school)
Student of the Month
AP Scholar (woohoo, i know, right?)</p>

<p>I'm undecided.
I prefer smaller schools, where I won't just be a number. I really like knowing my teachers. I also really like to be academically challenged. I need some form of scholarship, definitely. I will get my dad's post 9/11 GI Bill but that won't cover the whole cost of tuition and my dad insists it will only give me $49,000 total, so if I go to a LAC I really need scholarship money. I'm looking to state in the northeast or midwest, but I'm willing to give consideration to any school regardless of location.
Right now I'm thinking about: Ohio State (big but both my parents went and I consequently grew up with the buckeyes), Wisconsin (random, won't even try to explain), Oberlin, William & Mary, IUP Cook Honors College, SUNY Geneseo, and Hartwick and Wittenberg as safeties.</p>

<p>Opinions? I know you guys are the masters of college searching and I'm really sorry this is so long. I would really appreciate any input! Thank you. :)</p>

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<p>If you prefer smaller schools I am not sure why you would have Ohio State and Wisconsin on your list since they are among the largest schools in the country. In addition, as an OSS, the likelihood of scholarships would be reduced. They are both great schools, they just don’t meet the criteria you defined.</p>

<p>I am not sure about how realistic the chances of William & Mary would be with your grades and OSS status and Oberlin might also be a stretch. I can’t comment on IUP or Hartwick and there are better LAC’s in Ohio than Wittenberg (College of Wooster, Denison, Ohio Wesleyan,etc).</p>

<p>I love your choice of SUNY-Geneseo. It has the smaller size and classes you are looking for at in-state tuition.</p>

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<p>What is your likely major?</p>

<p>will your parents be able to contribute more than the GI bill money?</p>

<p>Here’s some info about post 9/11 GI Bill…it may give you some info…</p>

<p>Basic Benefits of Post 9/11 GI Bill</p>

<p>The maximum basic benefit provides the following:</p>

<pre><code>* Cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher learning in the state you are attending school;

*** Monthly housing allowance equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to an
E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as the school;**
</code></pre>

<p>and
* Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year.</p>

<p>The maximum basic benefit is earned after serving an aggregate of 36 months of active duty service or after 30 days of continuous service for those individuals who were discharged for a service-connected disability. Individuals serving between 90 days and 36 months of aggregate active duty service will be eligible for a percentage of the maximum benefit.</p>

<p>The percentage level ranges from 40% of the basic benefit for those whose service is between 90 days and 6 months to 100% for those who served 36 months. For example, an individual with 5 months of qualifying service could receive 40% of the tuition benefit, 40% of the monthly housing allowance, and a maximum of $400 books and supplies stipend. The following chart represents the maximum percentage payable based on the length of an individual’s aggregate active duty service:</p>

<p>[Post-9/11</a> GI Bill](<a href=“http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=veteransterminal&L=2&L0=Home&L1=Returning+Veterans&sid=Eveterans&b=terminalcontent&f=education_post911GIBill&csid=Eveterans]Post-9/11”>http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=veteransterminal&L=2&L0=Home&L1=Returning+Veterans&sid=Eveterans&b=terminalcontent&f=education_post911GIBill&csid=Eveterans)</p>

<p>I don’t know all the details, but does it say somewhere that the max is $49k for tuition, board, and books? I’m not seeing that, but maybe I’m overlooking something. </p>

<p>Anyway….It looks like you’d have a lot more options if you applied to some schools where your stats waive the OOS portion, so that your GI bill would pay for instate rates and housing, etc.</p>

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<p>UW does a terrific job of making you feel like a number, and not a very important number at that.</p>

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<p>My comments:</p>

<p>Drop the big OOS schools – It isn’t what you want and wouldn’t yield the merit.</p>

<p>IUP Cook looks odd – Is it on the list due to expected merit? It would be a safety with your stats, but unsure if it would be a safety financially vs a SUNY. I’ve heard very differing opinions on IUP – big distinction socially between Cook & Non-Cook students from what I hear; issues with drinking culture. IUP is large, though Cook is small. I’d suggest digging deeper on this one before applying – other SUNYs may provide the same benefits for you. Also,plenty of LACs in the lower tier groups would provide the same academically.</p>

<p>W & M probably will not give enough merit for OOS.</p>

<p>For small schools with good merit:</p>

<p>Ursinus ¶ - has competitive merit up to $30k. With your stats I’d expect $19k merit minimum. No separate application for merit. Free app fee via Common Application</p>

<p>King’s College ¶ - has up to full tuition merit with your stats. Don’t recall if there is a sep. application for merit.</p>

<p>LaSalle ¶ </p>

<p>Goucher (MD) – similiar vibe as Obelin but not as academically challenging.</p>

<p>EFC – Have your parents run a FAFSA calculator. </p>

<p>Curious – Why didn’t Skidmore make your list?</p>

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<p>@BobbyCT: Ohio State made the list because I grew up with the Buckeyes. It’s always been assumed I would at least apply, and I actually do want to. I love the school spirit and OSU is a good school. The honors program classes aren’t astronomically huge there, so it’s a possibility. It’s not my top (or anywhere near it, really), but I’ll probably apply. As for UW, I just kind of stumbled across it one day. I’m not sure how. I really liked what I saw (weird because of my preferences). I would consider dropping it from my list, though I did but a lot of time into writing its essays already and it would seem like a waste!</p>

<p>I know W&M and Oberlin are reaches, but I wanted to have one or two on my list. :slight_smile: A little suspense, you know? I looked at your Ohio LAC suggestions and I’m liking Wooster and Denison. Thank you. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>I know Geneseo is a good match, and I really like it. I’ve visited quite a few times (I only live 1.5 hours away). I just would like to explore other LACs…I’m trying to get out of NY if I can!</p>

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<p>@mom2collegekids:
I’m undecided, honestly. Right now I’m really in to linguistics and that’s a department where I’m really strong. But as a mom (I’m assuming based on your name!), I’m sure you understand that teenagers can change their minds quite often.</p>

<p>Yes, my parents will be able to contribute more than the GI Bill. I’m not sure how much is in my college fund or how much they are willing to contribute. The only thing I have to go off of was they said if I go to Hartwick (tuition is free because of a tuition exchange program), they would probably be able to pay for room and board, which is about $10,000.</p>

<p>Thanks for the GI Bill stuff. I’ve spent some time reading about it, but as everything in the military is confusing, so is the GI Bill. It says that it covers “max instate rate” which can be found [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.gibill.va.gov/documents/2009_2010_Maximum_In_State_Tuition_and_Fees.pdf]here[/URL”&gt;http://www.gibill.va.gov/documents/2009_2010_Maximum_In_State_Tuition_and_Fees.pdf]here[/URL</a>]. My dad currently has a certificate saying it will cover 70% of max instate for me, but he’s adamant that he deserves 80% so hopefully we’ll get that. (PS. This is another reason UW is on the list - their max instate is nearly $31,000 according to the VA).</p>

<p>I can’t find the $49,000 maximum anywhere on the website, either. All I can find when I google it is [URL=&lt;a href=“http://www.suite101.com/content/new-gi-bill--how-to-collect-more-than-49000-in-benefits-a251038]this.[/URL”&gt;http://www.suite101.com/content/new-gi-bill--how-to-collect-more-than-49000-in-benefits-a251038]this.[/URL</a>] My Dad says he saw it in an email awhile ago…I guess it’s a mystery.</p>

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<p>@Belevitt:
I’ll keep that in mind, thanks. I can see it, sadly enough…</p>

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<p>Longhaul:
I will consider dropping Wisconsin. It probably is a waste of money, but if I drop it my Wisconsin essays will be a waste of time. :(</p>

<p>Do you really think IUP Cook is a total safety? This is what they report as their “Typical Student”:
-Is in the top 10 percent of his/her class
-Has evidence of desiring academic challenges (e.g. has taken AP, CP, IB, or Honors classes and the like)
-Has a 3.8 unweighted GPA
-Has a combined SAT score for Math and Critical Reading of 1300 or an ACT score of 30
-Also applied to private liberal arts colleges
-Is interested in multiple majors and hasn’t yet decided on one</p>

<p>I honestly am not very knowledgeable on IUP. Our valedictorian last year is at IUP Cook so that’s what made me think of it, and I liked what I saw on their website. I don’t live too far (4 hours), so I should be able to visit. Their app fee is free, though.</p>

<p>This thread has, sadly, made me rethink W&M. As much as I adore it, I probably wouldn’t be able to comfortably afford it. You’re right in saying that I won’t get basically any merit because I’m OOS, and I just saw that the GI Bill’s max instate tuition in Virginia is $3,000 - that wouldn’t even make a dent if I was instate!</p>

<p>Ohh, thank you! Out of those I’m actually really liking Goucher! It seems like the kind of school I would like, and I have family in Baltimore. I’m also really in to study abroad, and Goucher also seems to value that (a lot). Thanks!</p>

<p>As for our EFC: It’s a lot. Or, it was a lot. My mom had to do it because she is currently getting her doctorate from Vanderbilt and it said our EFC was $43,000 (aka no financial aid). Though I expect it to come down at least a bit with Vandy tuition. I don’t know where my family would possibly find $43,000 just chilling, but alas, I will most likely be relying on merit only…</p>

<p>I’ve never given thought to Skidmore because I’d never heard of it, besides maybe a few random mentions on here. I’m looking at their website and I’ll keep it in mind.</p>

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<p>I just want back and looked at your OP and noticed that you have theatre and dance as activities. With your grades and interests, you might want to consider looking at Kenyon College. It has the small classes you are looking for, strong academics, particularly English and writing, and great opportunities in the performing arts for non-majors. It may be a slight reach but a little more realistic than Oberlin. Good luck in your search!</p>

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<p>I second Kenyon!</p>

<p>Check out the book “Colleges That Change Lives.” Goucher is one of the highlighted schools. Also Newsweek ‘A+ Schools for B students’ have a decent number of schools that offer some merit to a student with your stats.</p>

<p>Your stats are very good. To get $, look at schools where you are in the top 25%.</p>

<p>IUP – If you know some one there, definitely try to have mutual aquintances get you in touch and do an overnight. I’m in SE PA – the pecking order for state honors colleges in my area is Penn State, Millersville then IUP. IUP has always been known as a big party school, but, just like Penn State, much of that IMO is due to the size of school and overwhelming college age bracket of the town population. I do NOT consider it a poor choice in the least; just thought it didn’t “match” the other schools you listed. PA does not have any mandates for the % of IS vs OOS – given your stats and geographic diversity I would be very surprised if you didn’t get in.</p>

<p>If $ was not an issue, then St. Mary’s of MD may meet your criteria as well. I have not heard enough about the last 3 entering classes to know if you could get any money, but the OOS tuition is cheaper than many privates.</p>

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<p>Thank you guys! You’ve been so helpful. :)</p>

<p>I LOVE KENYON. I had heard of it before and had skimmed the website, but I just really perused it and I love it!
I really hope I’ll be able to visit soon. My family is going to the Columbus for the OSU-Michigan game over Thanksgiving so maybe we’ll be able to stop by for a visit on the way.</p>

<p>My college list is so long now! :stuck_out_tongue: I don’t know how I’ll ever narrow it down.
My parents said I can apply to 5 schools, but if the app fees are free I can probably finagle more.
Do you think this would be a solid list (subject to change, of course):
Ohio State (sorry), Kenyon, Oberlin, Goucher, Geneseo as the paying colleges.
Hartwick, IUP Cook Honors, Denison, Wooster as free?
I’m also thinking about applying to Wellesley, because I really like it. The app fee is free. I’m just not 100% sure about the all women thing…</p>

<p>Dang it, that still seems long, doesn’t it?
Are my SAT and ACT scores legitimate on my transcript, or do I need to send them from CollegeBoard/ACT to every school?
$$$$ oh lordy.</p>

<p>Edit: Kenyon is apparently free application fee. Yay, about $40 more for CollegeBoard to suck from me!</p>

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<p>*
Drop the big OOS schools – It isn’t what you want and wouldn’t yield the merit.*</p>

<p>This isn’t true. Some would give merit to cover the OOS portion and she could use GI for the rest. </p>

<p>And…many flagships have honors colleges that give you that small school feel with all the benefits of a big school (**and there ARE benefits at big schools that small schools just don’t have ** - including greater choice of profs (easier to avoid a disliked prof) and greater number of course time/day offerings (so easier to avoid an 8 am class or 4pm class), greater number of on campus dining venues and often a greater number of on campus housing choices. </p>

<p>This student has the stats for honors colleges at several schools. </p>

<p>not all big schools treat you as a “number.” Let me tell you this. My dad died last month and the DEAN of the honors college sought out my son when he heard about it through the grapevine. He asked my son how he was doing, AND asked how I (his mom) was doing. Does that sound like students being treated like numbers? No way.</p>

<p>Are my SAT and ACT scores legitimate on my transcript, or do I need to send them from CollegeBoard/ACT to every school?</p>

<p>you need to have them sent officially from Collegeboard. Applying to 5 schools is not enough. You need some reaches, matches and some financial safeties. So…probably at least 7-9 schools.</p>

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<p>What else do you want in a school?</p>

<p>Quiet campus? Spirited campus (like OSU)? Warm weather? Cold snowy weather? Rural location? City location? Lots of off campus hangouts?</p>

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<p>Thanks mom2collegekids!
OSU’s honors program is basically the reason it survives me LAC cutdown. And my family connections. But I’ve visited a few times (I still have family in Columbus) and the school itself is giant, but the classes (especially honors) aren’t.</p>

<p>Dang it, CB will drain me before any application fees do! Ohio State, Geneseo, and Hartwick all already have my SAT and ACT but all of the other schools need them.</p>

<p>That’s what I think! But my parents are all “Do you know how many schools I applied to? One.” I just want to have choices, especially since I have quite a few selective schools on my list.</p>

<p>As for what else I would like out of a school…this question is always so hard for me to answer! Hmmm. Honestly, I’m really big into aesthetics, so I want my college to be “easy on the eyes”, per say. I want to stay pretty north, so basically Ohio and upwards. I like campuses with a strong sense of community, though not necessarily the spirit of a school like Ohio State (though that doesn’t hurt). I prefer more rural schools. I don’t really want to be in a huge city. Uhm…I don’t know! :p</p>

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<p>It seems a shame to only apply to 5 places when you are hoping for aid. A few schools slightly less selective than Kenyon might be willing to give more aid. Someone mentioned Ursinus but maybe other Pennsylvania schools like Gettysburg and Muhlenberg.</p>

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<p>also Colorado college, macalester, denison</p>

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<p>But my parents are all “Do you know how many schools I applied to? One.”</p>

<p>Yes…that’s how it was when WE were in high school. But…tell your parents this…</p>

<p>Things have changed.</p>

<p>College costs have FAR outpaced inflation, so the need to compare what schools will give you is important if cost is a factor. </p>

<p>My H applied to Harvard and got in…back then it wasn’t that hard…LOL. Now, many good schools have competitive or VERY competitive admissions. </p>

<p>True…honors classes are usually small at big schools. My kids’ honors classes have 15 kids in them. </p>

<p>Well, the SUNYs aren’t necessarily pretty (altho maybe a few are). </p>

<p>I’m concerned that the LACs might be too expensive…since your GI bill only covers whatever the instate public rate is.</p>

<p>You need to find out how much your parents can contribute each year.</p>

<p>I agree with Longhaul’s recommendations.</p>

<p>BUt…You ALSO need to make sure that you have a couple of financial safety schools.</p>

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<p>You seem both smart and sweet–I think you will interview very well. I fyou visit websites, you will often be offered free applications. 5 is really way too few to cover reaches, matches and safeties.</p>

<p>You best merit aid offers will come from good schools, but schools less selective than Oberlin. With Ohio covered, I suggest PA, which has lots of beautiful, friendly rural LACs. I apologize in advance for the long list–Franklin & Marshall, Susquehanna, Muhlenberg, Juniata, Dickinson, Gettysburg; Alleghenny. I respectfully suggest Kings does not have the campus you want.</p>

<p>Best of luck and I thank your father for his service.</p>

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<p>Holy Cross and Lafayette.</p>