Which LAC's should I look at???

<p>Ahoy everyone. I've applied to the UC's and I'm looking at some other possibilities. I started looking at some LAC's and found a bunch of great small schools with tiny Ivy-like acceptance rates (like 10-25%) with off the charts SAT number, etc. </p>

<p>I won't make you read my whole life story, but: I'm interested in a LAC because I've excelled w/ music (Vocal: section leader since frosh year, barbershop quartet, etc.), interested in economics, and plan on majoring in English. </p>

<p>I have a 4.2 GPA, 300+ hrs comm service, work exp, good awards, etc. Where should I look? What are my chances at these schools w/ 10-25% acceptance? I know the rate is low because of enrollment, but how do you get in? Thanks!</p>

<p>batman--</p>

<p>You will find vocal music, Econ & Eng at virtually any strong academic LAC.</p>

<p>What UCs do you like best, and why? What kind of social environment appeals to you? Secular or religious? Conservative or Liberal? City, country suburb? Can you go outside California? East north west or south? Is money an issue, and do you qualify for need based aid or not? </p>

<p>That will help narrow down suggestions.</p>

<p>OK, here it goes:</p>

<p>Favorite UC's: UCB (best public in the nation, Berkeley is awesome), UCLA (good music dept.; Westwood, campus, etc.), UCD (Davis is a true college town!), UCSD (can't go wrong living in San Diego.)</p>

<p>Social Environment: As long as there are social-type people, I'm happy. Non-religious school; country suburb or city would be fine; I'm liberal, but I don't disrespect conservatives; can leave CA - if I left I'd like Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and the Northeast; white middle class - meaning can't qualify for much need based aid and more money would always be nice, but I don't feel like $ issues would stop me; thanks for the help.</p>

<p>batman, there is no shortage of LACs in the Northeast and a fair number in the Northwest. (Can't offer much in Arizona, though.) Like universities they come in a wide range of reach-match-safety selectivity. In order to give you a recommendation, we'd need to know WHY you want to add LACs to your list. Is it because you need some less selective schools or because you think you'd like a smaller college?</p>

<p>If you're looking for matches and safeties, then why not go for big but less selective? If you're looking for small (or at least considering it) then why not apply to a range of reach-match-safety LACs? </p>

<p>I'm a great fan of the LAC eduation myself and I'm not trying to talk you out of researching this category. It's just that fit and commitment is critical with LACs so it's important to know your motivation for adding them to your list at this point in the application process. </p>

<p>Since just about every LAC offers reasonably good music, economics and English listing names is like throwing out popcorn, but to get you started, take a look at these East Coast options. </p>

<p>Criteria: East coast, liberal but not too far out, suburban or city. (I'm assuming from your name that you are male. If not, there is a whole host of women's schools that you could add.)</p>

<p>Wesleyan, Haverford, Vassar, Skidmore, Amherst, Bowdoin</p>

<p>Actually, most elite LACs have acceptance rates that hover between 20% and 30%. Check out Oberlin.</p>

<p>Have you looked at Reed (OR)? I would also look at Kenyon (OH), Sewanne (so beautiful...located in TN), Ursinus (PA), and Hartwick (NY).</p>

<p>Whitman (WA) and Reed (OR).</p>

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I won't make you read my whole life story, but: I'm interested in a LAC because I've excelled w/ music (Vocal: section leader since frosh year, barbershop quartet, etc.), interested in economics, and plan on majoring in English.

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<p>Tenor or bass? Look at St Olaf's. Ask your choral director about St. Olaf's.</p>

<p>Oh and St. Olaf's is "religious", in a sort of choral-ish way, I know you didn't want that, but to get to sing in one of their choirs - wow.</p>

<p>Colgate is the first one that comes to mind... you might be able to join the Colgate 13 if you're a quality vocalist. But I'd think you'd love Colgate, Amherst, Middlebury, and Wesleyan.</p>

<p>Agree with momrath's schools-- and St Olaf is worth considering, but you might want to visit to see if the religious part is or is not too much for you.</p>

<p>You can also get info about different vocal groups from the schools online; contact the group leaders for more info.</p>

<p>Again, most good LACS will offer all that you seek. Look at US News and find the schoosl which are right stats-wise and then look deeper to see if the school might be what you want beyond stats and selectivity.</p>

<p>Other pacific northwest: Whitman, Lewis & Clark</p>

<p>Whitman has some fun vocal music groups and great theater; if you are not particularly into outdoor activities and want more edgy/urban life close by, Oxy is also strong in all your areas of interest.</p>