Insight, advice, thoughts.

[juniormints]

Wow, you are all so helpful. Thanks so much.
To the person who mentioned the boost applying to Vassar as a boy, unfortunately, I am female....but the ED tip great. I understand writing "top 25" looks elitist, but, it was really just an easy way to generalize what I was asking about...I must be honest, however; I probably won't apply anywhere really obscure....Prestige, while not the main factor, will be taken into account. My parents are pushing for Sewanee and Tulane- two good schools that aren't representative of what I am looking for, but that I will inevitably end up applying to. Carleton is, *unfortunately*, my number one pick at the moment. I love its reputation for smart, yet fun loving, maybe even dorky- students and Minneapolis, supposedly an hour away, is an awesome city (from what I have heard).A representative is visiting this week...I am very excited

[yabeyabe2]

I have never heard a bad thing about Carleton and Minneapolis is a fine city--make sure you are comfortable with major league winters, however--there is cold and then there are places where parking spots have heaters to plug into your motor. Ohio, MA, NY etc have snow, but nothing like MN

For smart, maybe dorky, some folks will suggest Bard, Oberlin, Vassar, Haverford, Juniata , Goucher, Sarah Lawrence and Hampshire.

[yabeyabe2]

I have never heard a bad thing about Carleton and Minneapolis is a fine city--make sure you are comfortable with major league winters, however--there is cold and then there are places where parking spots have heaters to plug into your motor. Ohio, MA, NY etc have snow, but nothing like MN

For smart, maybe dorky, some folks will suggest Bard, Oberlin, Vassar, Haverford, Juniata , Goucher, Sarah Lawrence and Hampshire.

[idad]

If merit money is a consideration, you may want to look into the University of Denver (it's really more of a LAC). Everyone I have spoken with who has attended gives it high marks. Also you may want to look into Occidental College (hardly rural) for a great LAC with good weather.

[juniormints]

Thanks idad,

I will look into Occidental.

[2boysima]

Denison in Ohio -- not too quirky, but might meet some of your other interests.

Clark in Worchester MA -- I know a couple of theater and frisbee people who have been happy there!

What about some of the women's colleges? (Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke)?

[ebeeeee]

As I always do I am going to bring up money. juniormints, are your parents able to pay full tuition at these schools? If you are looking for financial aid your list needs to reflect that. For many schools FA comes in the form of loans. You may be better off to look for schools that would give you merit aid and avoid the loans. Please sit down now with your parents and figure out what they can practically afford to contribute. Then take a look at your list again with the finances in mind.
Every spring there are tons of posters on this board who are accepted to their "dream" school but then realize they can't afford it. Do not be one of those students. Spare yourself that heartache.

[mom2collegekids]

^^^

Completely agree with ebeee.

You need to know exactly what your parents can pay, what their EFC will be, etc. There's no point in going thru the exercize of choosing schools only to find out that it's unaffordable because they can't meet need (without loans), or your parents' EFC is too high and they can't/won't pay it.


>>>
Every spring there are tons of posters on this board who are accepted to their "dream" school but then realize they can't afford it. Do not be one of those students. Spare yourself that heartache.
<<<


Exactly! Some students never have the $$ conversation with parents (or some mistakenly get told a large amount from one parent, without agreement from the other parent )


>>>>>>>>>>
For many schools FA comes in the form of loans. You may be better off to look for schools that would give you merit aid and avoid the loans. Please sit down now with your parents and figure out what they can practically afford to contribute. Then take a look at your list again with the finances in mind.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<


Yes, too many families hear the words "financial aid" and they think "free money". Then they get the shock of their life in the spring when the so-called "generous" FA package consists mostly of offers for loans that will be a huge burden later.

BTW...borrowing about $12k per year (about $50k total) will result in a monthly paymemt of over $600 per month for 10 very long years (about the ages of 23-33). Yikes.


But...on the bright side... ...there are many schools that give generous merit!

[juniormints]

I will not be requesting aid. Maybe, in a bad economy, this will be to my advantage?

[yabeyabe2]

At all but the richest schools, these days not requesting aid likely helps somewhat, how much varying by the school's financial situaiton. Last year, both Reed and Tufts announced they were no longer need-blind

[mom2collegekids]

you're quite lucky that your family can pay the $50k+ for you to attend the college of your choice!

There are some schools that are "need aware" - you would have an advantage at those schools.

Some top schools are...

Reed
Tufts
Santa Clara

(others can chime in with some others)

[vossron]

"Last year, both Reed and Tufts announced they were no longer need-blind"

Reed hasn't ever been what we would now call completely need-blind. What Reed announced earlier this year was that due to the economic downturn, even fewer than before could be admitted need-blind (i.e., ability to pay would apply to more students than previously). Prior to about 2002, Reed might have been called pseudo need-blind, meaning that needy students were "gapped" such that they were admitted but their financial need was not met, so most could not attend.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/bu...d.html?_r=2&hp
Letter from the President of Reed College

[2collegewego]

If you don't mind winters, Bates might be another good choice.

[vossron]

"it looks like I might make my first C in math this year...Wahoo! (TERRIBLE teacher, just bad luck)"

Just a hint: no matter how true this might be, don't even hint about a bad teacher to prospective colleges. It can mean instant rejection if they think you blame others for your shortcomings.

[Erin's Dad]

IMO Carleton is a big reach. It was DD2's first choice. Other "geeky" schools she liked were: Smith, Knox, Lewis and Clark, Oberlin.