Advice for my daughter: Reach/Match/Safe

[pyewacket]

Now that the SATs for Jan. have been posted, we have some "stats".
D will be applying in Fall 2005 from overseas as an American citizen (fully bilingual). She would probably prefer a campus with 3,000 or fewer students and so far insists on the East Coast-- maximum 4 hours from New York City by bus or train. Might be persuadable to go slightly further afield but not keen on "remote" campuses. Possible majors: English (writing), history, poli sci. Interests: journalism, film, theater; absolutely no interest in sports or "Greek" scene.

SAT V 750 M 620
SAT II Writing 760 U.S. Hist. 690 (Will take Latin and/or French later)

Grade average --not sure how to compute -- near a B+ in Europe , A- during one year exchange in US, possible very low grade for gym-sports (minor coordination /motor skills difficulties). School does not rank.

ECs in theater and music, internships in journalism, modest volunteer work,
no "leadership" positions, has won some creative writing awards.



We would be very grateful for suggestions from all you experts here. What are her realistic choices? Thanks.

[cricket]

Vassar? Bryn Mawr? Skidmore?

[curmudgeon]

(edit:HaHa! Just saw cricket's post. Seems we picked up the same "vibe".)

Just a parent like you and certainly no expert but I'll share my thoughts for what they are worth.

I'd think she would have a reasonable chance most anywhere and would be valued most everywhere. The women's colleges are exceptional admissions values and Smith and Bryn Mawr fit well within the parameters ( is Mount Holyoke too remote?) but I'd say Barnard because of Columbia.

As far as co-ed schools, she sounds as if she might like Bard and Vassar-but literally there are ten (or more) others that would be matches. Safeties might include Sarah Lawrence, and possibly even Skidmore (safety/match)-again, there are many. Those are some an artsy writer, not into the "Greek Jock" world might like and I'm relatively confident they'd love her. I know more about Barnard than the rest and I'd start there. Good luck, and tell her she's going to find a great college.

[SBmom]

Reach: Vassar, Wesleyan, Amherst, Barnard, Swarthmore, Haverford

Match: Smith, Holyoke, Bryn Mawr

Safety: Skidmore, Bard (has EA), Allegheny

[MotherOfTwo]

SBMom suggested Allegheny which seems "remote" based on your criteria. If you are looking at schools away from NY, Kenyon is another suggestion. I would say it is a match.

Her interests are a perfect match with my #1 son who also applied from overseas-he had a somewhat higher SAT I, SAT II's similar US History- 750, Math II C-?700, Writing- 730

He had fewer restrictions on location..but here is where he applied and other places we considered:

Haverford ED- denied
Hamilton- Accepted
Middlebury- WL and Accepted
Skidmore- accepted
Goucher- Accepted with nice merit money
Grinnell- Accepted, attending quite happily at the moment!
Oberlin-Accepted
Lawrence- Accepted

Others considered: Connecticut College, Emerson, Bard, Vassar, Clark, Wheaton, Dickinson

One cautionary note, depending on how "third culture" your daughter is....look carefully at the % in state, and the % international students at these schools.

[MotherOfTwo]

robyrm - That is a really good list to help the OP. But I think you meant GOUCHER not GROUCHER

thanks mother of two...it is very, very late here (waiting for the wayward son #2 to waltz in...)...I changed the spelling!

[carolyn]

A few more suggestions on the east coast not yet mentioned:

realistic reaches:
Connecticut College
Johns Hopkins (a bit larger than she wants but an excellent English program)
Bucknell
Colgate ( a little far from an international airport)
Bryn Mawr
Haverford
Swarthmore
Davidson
Oberlin
Tufts
Wesleyan
Williams

Matches:
Lafayette
Dickinson
Lehigh
Furman
U of Rochester
Rhodes
Sarah Lawrence
Trinity (CT)
Wake Forest
Washington & Lee
Muhlenberg

Safeties:
Goucher
Wheaton College (Mass)
Gettysburg
Denison
Fordham
Hobart & William Smith
Agnes Scott

[garland]

Great list. However, if she's serious about the four hour limit from NYC, it should be noted that some are quite farther, such as Furman, U Rochester, Rhodes, Wake, W and L, Denison, and Agnes Scott.

[bluebayou]

fyi - remember to check a college's web site to see if they will accept the old SAT for the matriculating class of '06 -- most schools will either the old SAT, or the new, but some require the new for next year's class.

[yulsie]

Sarah Lawrence - check it out (if she likes to write)

[carolyn]

Yep, Garland - just thought maybe she'd broaden her list if she sees how limited a 4 hour distance from NY can be.

[pyewacket]

Thanks for your quick responses. I wanted to get suggestions from you all without bias from choices we've already considered.

So far, on the list are Barnard, Brandeis, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke. Reach--perhaps Swarthmore-- also considering Skidmore and Muhlenberg ,perhaps and Goucher (Groucher is cute!). We visited Sarah Lawrence and she didn't like it--said it felt "too artsy" --too many people running around being "creative" all over the place. We guessed Bard would feel the same--what do you think? And Skidmore? On the other hand, Colgate, and Conn Coll. sound too preppy from what I've heard. I would also like her to consider Carelton, Grinnell, Macalaster and Earlham but she is stubbornly against the Midwest.

She's leaning towards coed but is also very attracted by what the women's colleges have to offer. Finding more reaches is easy--it's attractive safeties that are difficult. We were also somewhat underwhelmed by Wheaton.

[SBmom]

Skidmore felt very normal; has arts reputation but did not come off ultra-arty. Nice kids, beautiful campus/grounds (though a few bleh modern buildings.)

Colgate very preppy/hearty/athletic w/ frats. Conn College seemed more mildly preppy. Trinity is preppy but not off-puttingly so.

But let's face it, w/ east coast, at a school that has a great english dept, you are going to have very slim pickins if you toss out both preppy & arty.

Swat, Vassar, and Wes may hit the middle note. Also Consider Brown. Bigger (6000) but very good LAC feel and right in Providence, 1 hr S of Boston, about 4-5 hrs to NYC I recall.

Seems like you need more match/safety. Lots of good reach/match on the list.