Khalilzhad

I have a few schools that I'm very excited about applying to but I feel as if I don't have as many mid-tier and safety schools as I need to feel secure. I've done quite a lot of research but have come up empty so that's why I've turned to y'all for help.

Just some background info so you know what you're working with.

Going to be a senior. School doesn't do GPA or Class rank. If I were to guess I'd be top 25% of my class, don't know for sure.

Sat
CR: 740 W: 770 M: 680
Sat II
USH: 790 MII: 690
APs so far
USH: 5
AB Calc: 5
Euro: 5
Comparative Gov: 5
School sadly doesn't offer english

ECs and Recommendations are not going to be a problem.

So here is what I want in a school:
Not all girl (as I am a male)
Less then 6,000 people.
Professors teach all courses.
Average class size of 20 or less.
I need a relatively social environment that is NOT cutthroat, my ideal school would be very laid back.
At the same time I want a school with a lot of academic rigour, I need to have those ever important intellectual debates.
I'm not a fan of party schools.

So with that, here's my list so far.


Reach:
Middlebury (top choice)
Pomona
Tufts

Mid-Reach:
Carleton (second choice)

Safety:
Colby
St. Andrews (Scotland)

The schools I've taken off my list because they just weren't going to work out are as follows:
Claremont McKenna
Dartmouth
Georgetown
Amherst (Really hated it)
Vassar
Northwestern


So, do you think you can help me find those mid-tier schools? Please?

Also, am I even looking at the right tier of schools?

barrk123

Trinity University
Rice? not sure about size

harvard_and_berkeley

I don't think Colby is a "safety." It is more of a "match."


If you like Carleton in MN, have you also looked at Macalaster College (MN)?
If you like Pomona in CA, have you also looked at Occidental College (CA) ?
If you like Colby in ME, have you considered Colgate U. in NY?

Look at the US News World Report National Liberal Arts Colleges... look at schools in the top 50 (but ignore the actual individual rankings... they're pretty meaningless). Select a few schools in the top 10, a few more in the next 10-30, and a few schools ranked 30-50. That should balance out reaches, matches and safeties.

Something you did not mention, but you really should think about: FINANCES!
Small liberal arts colleges are EXPENSIVE... do you have any "financial safeties"?
You might look at some schools ranked 30-50 to see if any offer merit scholarships.

mom2collegekids

Rice is a reach, not a mid-tier.


Khali...are you an int'l?

What is your budget? How much will your family pay?

Mid tiers and safeties rarely give good need-based aid, so if you need aid, then you need to look for schools that will give you LARGE merit, so that the remaining costs will be affordable for your family.

Khalilzhad

1. No I'm not international, just chose a weird username
2. Money's not an issue luckily although scholarships are always awesome.

To harvard_and_berkeley, I visited Macalester and didn't really like it all that much, it was a bit to liberal for me and I didn't get the feeling of academic intensity that I found at other schools. Also, I looked over Colby, and you are indeed right, it is a match, not a safety.

One last note which might clarify something, my estimated class ranking needs some context. 20% of last years graduating class went to Ivy league schools...


Thanks for all your help, I appreciate it greatly. Keep those comments coming!

Erin's Dad

IMO Carleton is a reach, not a mid-reach. How about Grinnell or Beloit?

Khalilzhad

I'm definitely interested in Grinnell, haven't heard much about Beloit.

cltdad

If you go to a school where 20% of the graduating class go on to Ivy League schools, then it undoubtedly has outstanding guidance councilors who can provide much better input about what colleges would be matches and safeties for you than you will get from strangers on the internet.

jym626

So knock off Colgate, skidmore and Wesleyan. If I recall correctly some of columbia's core is waived for engineering students.

Oops this posted to the wrong thread and I am having trouble deleting from my phone. Sorry

flyaround

Sarah Lawrence, Colorado college, oberlin for match/safety suggestions.

pandamic

Trinity University and Rhodes would be safeties that seem to match what you want . Maybe Wake Forest also?

tk21769

If you like Colby, what about Bates? Other "match" schools might include Connecticut College, the University of Richmond, Holy Cross, Whitman, Colorado College, or Kenyon. If Macalester is too liberal for you, Oberlin probably would be too.

ucbalumnus

Your GPA should be easily calculated from your transcript (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0; add them up and divide by the number of grades). Or you can do the holistic eyeball -- "nearly all A", "half A and half B", "mostly B with a few A and C", etc.. The other important factor is whether you chose the most rigorous course options available to you.

Possible majors?
Cost constraints?
State of residency?

Remember that your safeties must be affordable.

Lower cost LACs that may not be super-selective (i.e. may be safety candidates) include UMN Morris, Truman State (MO), UNC Asheville, SUNY Geneseo.

bopambo

If you like Middlebury and Colby, I think you'd like Whitman. Lots of outdoor stuff and intramural sports, known for academic rigor, friendly student body in a charming small town. Better weather.