rosietheriveter

After doing a lot of independent studies over the two years or so, it looks like this year I'll be doing a combo of home school/college and graduating early. I'll be two years early for the state where I live (PA), but only one year young for the cut-off in others (like NY).

I've attended a small, religious school all my life, and am looking for an environment that will give me a strong sense of community and social structure. I am thinking at this point of going to a smaller school (<3000).

I want to study math in college, and possibly music composition/theory as well. This year I expect to take Calc 2 and 3 (hopefully!) at the college level.

I am one of four kids, so cost is an issue. I'm hoping for scholarship money, probably for academics. Based on the scores last year, I expect to be a National Merit Scholar. I also have high SAT scores and GPA.

Do you know of any schools that would roughly fit these academic, social, and financial criteria? I would also like to stay within a day's drive of PA if possible. My parents and I are excited (but also apprehensive!) about the college search.

Thanks for your help!

Wordworker

A small college (like an honors college) in a large university can give you the best of both worlds.

Deending where you are, you might look at Penn State (main campus), Pitt (main campus), and Temple. All have honors colleges. All are public and state-run or state-related, with corresponding costs.

Your math major also should offer small classes and a chance to get to know your professors. A larger school might well offer more outlets for music activities, though.

If you really want a small liberal arts college, you have many choices. Urban, suburban, rural? Coed or single sex? Religiously affiliated or totally secular?

Both of my parents finished high school at 16, and I turned 17 a month before graduation. All of us were fine when we got to college.

ucbalumnus

Upper division math courses are typically small, but you will likely have a larger selection of them (and graduate level math courses) at a larger university that has a graduate program in math (though a few smaller schools that include that subject in their specialties like Caltech may also be suitable).

barrk123

Swarthmore if you qualify for need based aid
Bucknell? ^

happy1

If you give your stats as well as how much aid you will need, posters can provide more specific suggestions. You may also want to consider a gap year so you won't be as young when you start college -- while you certainly sound like you will be academically qualified, you may miss out on social aspects of attending college because you will be a good bit younger than most others.

BeanTownGirl

Considering your religious background (as described), you may want to pay close attention to the social/intellectual/political atmosphere of colleges people recommend as well as the usual size, location and cost factors. I know a few kids who chose faith-based colleges such as Messiah (in PA!), or Concordia in order to have an college environment they and their parents were comfortable with. They would not have been happy at a super liberal college such as Swarthmore!
On the other hand, perhaps you do want to go somewhere with a great diversity of religious persuasions...I wasn't sure from your post.