Hi -
Son17 stats:
31 ACT; (e: 33, m: 28, R: 35, s: 26, W:24)
1360 New SAT (710 R, 650 M);
Is planning to take Oct SAT, and trying to prep for Math this time).
3.94 uw GPA thru Jr year (but his quirky private school requires 4 years of gym, and gives grades for some ECs - i’d recalculate his academic GPA at 3.86); quirky high school offers only 3 AP classes - took APUSH as junior and scored a 3; will take Gov’t and Calc (don’t know if they even classify, though I think there are 2 levels of Calc).
Son is interested in history and comp. Sci, though he hasn’t had much in the way of electives, and likes science and math concepts. Meaning - he might really change his mind before choosing a major - I personally think he will like Economics, possibly a science).
Son is interested mostly in NE/mid Atlantic (our home state is VA) for easy access from home; didn’t like urban campus - e g Northeastern, but urban if there is a “campus” feel, suburban and rural are all ok.
Son wants high academics, low Greek/party life, not interested in sports.
Son’s ECs are participation, but not leadership: robotics (all 4 years); improv the one semester offerred; 30-40 hours of community service in each of 4 years (but scattered activities - not a particular cause; internship with Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (8-hr day for each of 10 weeks) - and earned a black belt in tae kwan do in 6th grade.
We have used NPCs - we have only one kid – and will not qualify for FA.
We can afford to send him to send him to pricey LACs- but we would prefer to pay $30k per year instead of $60+K per year!
That said, he’s socially awkward, and has not made friends easily at his very small high school - he will excel in class discussions moderated by a professor, but not yet particularly comfortable in groups of peers. We think a school with mostly small classes - say 15-25 students - with serious students, but collaborate rather than cutthroat - probably best fit. I will mention here that his current favorite outside interest is video gaming - easiest way for him to “meet” new people is to play a round of Super Smash Bros. Based on our visits, he really likes these reach schools:
He loves Haverford because of community/honor code/full year of freshman in groups of 15. He strongly likes Brandeis(fun, though bigger), Wheaton C Mass, Conn College, and WPI (loved the fellow nerdy population, but clearly not an LAC). (Fyi - skidmore, too musical/arty; Bard even more too artsy; Hamilton ok – but uneasy with guide’s description of the Greek presence existing but not allowed to be exclusive; did not like Wesleyan - felt too intense)
Among match shading into safety schools : he liked Juniata, but rejected Ursinus, Clark U, and probably Goucher (just OK - biggest plus is that one of the themed houses is for gamers). Am definitely adding Denison, Wooster, and Allegheny to list - haven’t visited them yet though) I liked Kenyon on paper, but they do not offer a Comp Sci major.
The problem with most VA schools for him would be the size, and the Greek and/or sports emphasis. (Considering Christopher Newport, haven’t visited).
Ok - sorry so long, but was wondering if anyone had suggestions for other match schools? Was thinking about Centre, but it seems on paper to be too Greek. Am considering Lafayette - though that isn’t likely to be any more affordable than his current favorites. Hobart and Smith? Are their SUNYs I should research? Any other ideas? I don’t think he will want to go to MI/WI/MN, though the Colleges that Change Lives there all sound fantastic.
I think I’d like to find 4 or 5 more schools like Juniata - small classes, great professor-student relationships, preferably huge parties are not the only social outlet, preferably not too much emphasis on sports/arts/preppy-Greek, and more likely to offer merit aid than his current top choices of Haverford, Brandeis, WheatonMA, and Conn College.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions, and sorry if I’be been way too prescriptive in my first post.
If he clearly favors Haverford (which was what I was thinking for him even before getting to it in your description) have him apply ED to increase his chances.
I’m not familiar with schools and their CS programs but check out these schools for fit and to see if they have CS:
Swarthmore would be a reach but it could fit as well.
Bates
I think he should look in the midwest and consider Grinnell, Macalester, Lawrence, Carleton (reach), St. Olaf.
I think the schools in the midwest would give him the vibe you describe and all the ones I listed except for Carleton offer merit aid as well to varying degrees.
You need to pinpoint schools where your son qualifies for significant merit aid.
Thank you doschicos for the Midwest suggestions - we will add them to the top of list for more research. We know Haverford is a reach, so I understand that ED might boost his chances. As a family, we’re still trying to decide if Haverford is worth forgoing potential merit aid at other schools - we will give careful thought to the ones you suggest.
Thanks also to ClarinetDad16 - we know son qualifies for significant aid at Juniata; we haven’t yet visited any others that he wants to keep on the list.
And wow - so great to get such quick feedback!
Based on what I know about Conn College, I’m not sure if it’s the best fit. What was it that he liked about the school. From what I know you will find lots of artsy kids and lots of preppy kids, but I’m not sure it’s a haven for kids like your son. I could be wrong.
Can you share what you S liked about Juniata and did not for Ursinus? Both are on S’s list and we will not be able to visit before applying. Also why Goucher was just ok as a safety, it is also on S’s list as an academic safety but again, will not be able to visit (we are west coast).
I don’t have much to add, other ones I’ve looked at for my S in this group includes Kalamazoo, Muhlenberg, Marist, Oberlin, Franklin & Marshall and a host of others that were lovely schools but unaffordable at my S’s stats and projected merit. The safety schools will be the best bet financially for sure.
Maybe add Dickinson and Allegheny and Susquehanna. (Hobart may be too Greek?)
D17 had visited Haverford, Ursinus, Lafayette. Haverford was near perfect (suburban, single dorms, Honor code, not too quirky). It also has that close relationship with Bryn Mawr, and a looser one with Swat. D17 toured Reed and that became new favorite, where we’ll try ED1. Haverford has only ED1, so you could try that (Need blind), and if that doesn’t fly, have ED2 as a backup. D17 liked Lafayette less, thought it preppy (students looked like Haverford kids to me the oblivious dad).
You have a good range of reach-match-safety schools. Safety schools will tend to give more merit. Wheaton (Mass) may give a good package, as it is predominantly female. In fact, that might give a boost at all of these, except that Haverford is close to 50/50.
We live in NC and the PA schools are significantly closer by car than further Northeast or Midwest. Though with Midwest, costs for tuition and housing will be less for ‘similar’ school in Northeast.
I think Rochester will offer everything you want. It’s a little bigger than a LAC, but they offer some merit aid and it feels like a LAC but in fact is a small research university, which I think, for CS, is way better than a LAC.
Wow - this has been such a great discussion for me! Thanks.
For Conn College - summer visit , so impression based mostly on tour guide - whose personality clicked w son; also, we saw a robotics classroom in the newly renovated science wing, which was appealing, and the staff at the school’s coffee shop were very friendly.
For Ursinus v Goucher: at Ursinus, son took a history/geography class, and was allowed to participate in discussion(professor brought 2 short reading and maps to class - son felt he contributed to discussion more than most of the students (maybe history is not a strong dept?). I thought campus was lovely with modernized buildings (esp great bio labs)and outdoor sculptures. Son noticed how most students looked really atheletic. Twice the number of fields as Goucher for same size population. Too many jocks. Off the list. Goucher - is OK - I think we attended open house, not a class. Felt “homey” - just 3 main academic buildings, but labspace felt outdated to me. I remember their new school pres gave a great impression to me about purpose of education - I really liked him. Also, talked about professors bringing dogs to campus during finals to help kids destress. And son’s favorite feature is that one of the dorms is “gamer” theme. Goucher is OK - felt laid back - was sons first college visit, (now we’ve seen 17)…so take those impressions with grain of salt.
Thanks for all recommendations - we’re adding Dennison, C of Wooster, Allegheny, Macalester and St Olaf to list. Probably also Lafayette, but that won’t help wit affordability. Will look into Rochester. I’ve heard great things from a friend who looked at Reed, though that is further than my son wants to go.
Does anyone have advice about how important it is to visit these CTCL/ safety schools before we apply? We are thinking to use Columbus Day, teacher work days to go back and try a class at Haverford and Wheaton C and Brandeis, cause those were all summer visits. We can probably swing one more fall trip - and get to either of the Ohio schools or Allegheny. ( or maybe we should just fly to Minneapolis to try Macalester)? I will make sure son demonstrates “virtual” interest, but wondering how important physical visit would be?
Maybe more important to visit safety schools, so that son knows he’d be willing to go to that school. I’d look at schools you hadn’t seen before, as he can always re-visit in April after acceptances.
One thing I just noticed form first post: ‘We can afford to send him to send him to pricey LACs- but we would prefer to pay $30k per year instead of $60+K per year!’ You do have the option to use ED at 2 schools, the most reachy being Haverford and Macalester. Would you pay full freight at Haverford vs half that for Goucher or Wooster (Not necessarily it’d be half!) I’d say most on CC might say no, but I would.
"Haverford has only ED1, so you could try that (Need blind), "
Haverford has changed policy this year on both ED and Need Blind Admissions:
Haverford now has ED II - https://www.haverford.edu/admission/applying/application-timeline
Haverford is no longer ‘need blind’ - https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/06/27/haverford-college-shifts-need-blind-need-aware-admissions
CoyoteMom, I understand your dilemma regarding being full pay, yet not really wanting to shell out 60k+. We have similar sons and we faced this same dilemma a year ago. Ultimately we decided that the fit of the college was the utmost importance and my son applied (and was accepted) ED to Haverford, rather than chase the merit aid from other schools. If it helps, the other schools my ds was considering (and thinking there may be merit $) were Kenyon, Grinnell and Whitman. I agree with Doschicos that Carleton would be a great school to consider in addition to Haverford, though it too does not offer merit awards. It was also on my son’s list.
As far as visiting, that is just one way to ‘demonstrate interest’. For the schools on your son’s list, if he can’t visit he could request and alumni interview; attend college fairs where the school is present (and be sure to sign in and speak with the visiting counselor); and make certain that if the schools on your son’s list visit his high school that he research the school in advance, attend the information session and ask thoughtful questions.
My son narrowed his ED list down to 3 or 4 schools, but he interviewed with every school on his list that offered it. I highly recommend encouraging your son to do this. My introverted and a bit socially awkward son gained considerable skills doing these interviews. His interview with the Haverford alum was so positive that it definitely influenced his decision to choose Haverford for EDI over the other school he was seriously considering.
I agree that Conn College does not seem like a fit for him – he should go back while school is in session if possible. He could get some merit at Dickinson; my non-partying kid had a great experience there, and I believe they have a CS major.
@CoyoteMom If you do fly to Minny/St. Paul to visit Macalaster, St. Olaf and Carleton are only about 45 minutes away and are in the same town. I highly suggest visiting all 3 - great schools. And there’s a lot to be said for “Minnesota nice” 
St. Olaf is a match, and you should get some merit.
Mac is a mild reach, maybe some merit.
Carleton major reach, no merit for anyone.
Denison in Ohio and Trinity U in Texas both strong in those subjects and would offer good merit aid.
Paying $60K plus for undergraduate is a poor financial decision, IMO, unless you have money to burn.
Good luck!
Thanks so much for all the ideas - I have looked more closely, and I agree with ColdinMinny’s assessments, meaning that while Mac and Carleton both look particularly fantastic, S is only likely to have a shot at aid from St Olaf…
I think we will prioritize a visit Ohio when we have our first 2 days off, because both Denison and Wooster (and maybe also OhioWes, though maybe not be a culture fit) seem more likely spots for merit aid, and Kenyon, more of a match, at least has an interdisciplinary program in “scientific computing” which might be enough to satisfy my DH (dear husband), who is a software engineer, and with its emphasis on scientific applications might even be more appealing to S.
Am also listening carefully to two different Conn College warnings that the vibe from the one student guide might not be representative. thanks!
Not yet convinced that we want to pay full freight at Haverford, but not convinced Juniata or Goucher is the right spot either. Hence, I am taking your advice to focus on the safety schools before we have to decide about early vs regular decision.
By the way, @2mrmagoo, thanks so much for sharing your decision about going for Haverford through ED process, and the short list of other schools. I also appreciated tips on how to show interest without actually visiting. My son’s school is so small that there are not any visits from colleges, but there are college fairs we can attend - one coming up is sponsored by 8ofthebestcolleges: Haverford, Kenyon, Connecticut, Macalester, colorado, grinnell, Sarah Lawrence, and Claremont McKenna…I just thought the particular selection of colleges was interesting enough to share, but a good way for us to show interest in Macalester in particular, along with potentially a chance to practice talking 1-to-1, though probably not a full interview.
Just wanted to add that your son might find that interviews are more than just a way to present yourself to the college but they are also meant to introduce the college to your son. Knowing my son I suggested he add a few CTCL schools on his list, he added Reed and Whitman but was not really that into them. We did the usual tour of reed and an info session and we were not able to make it to see Whitman but spoke to the rep at the CTCL fair. Both went on the list as safeties. They were both sort of meh, to him.
Then he had a Reed interview and the school shot to near the top of his list. The person who did the interviewing was really able to give him a better idea of the school. He also got into Whitman which we never actually saw, so we made the trek to see the college. Even though he got into much more selective schools, he ended up loving Whitman and Reed more, his safeties. He had to decide between the two schools and he finally chose Reed, and I dropped him off last week.
His real interest in Reed came after that initial interview. They are not just for presenting the student to the school. They are for learning about the school. Take advantage of that one on one time to really see what is special about a school. My son asked every interviewer to tell him something about the school that he wouldn’t know by looking at the website. That lead to interesting conversations.
He might get some merit at Mac, you can’t tell. If you decide to go to the area for a visit, he could see Mac & St. Olaf easily in the same visit.
FWIW my D wen to Lafayette and loved it. You may want to look into Muhlenberg as they give good merit aid. You should be able to visit Lafayette and Muhlenberg in one day as they are close by.
@CoyoteMom: D18 and I went to the 8oftheBestCollege fair this past spring and it was well worth it. My daughter felt the presentations helped her get a feel for each school’s personality. And she did get to visit with the admissions reps (often the deans themselves) of the schools that most interested her. Thought it was a valuable college fair to attend for sure.