Overall OP really needs to prioritize mental health and a favorable overall climate for the present challenges, which realistically will take years to mend, well into college. I do think Georgetown and Emory might be good fits, in view of the interests and situation, as they both allow for excellent and deep mental health support right outside the school’s gates and have fair weather during the school year. I would be worried re attending schools in rural or remote locations, especially if small. You want to have the option of private health care outside the school as the latter will ultimately prioritize its prerogatives and liability and not what’s best for you in working with your challenges.
Not sure why poli sci should be out because you did not get into your ED; I wonder if that might be the health challenge talking. Play to your passions and avoid your weaknesses; name-brand/prestige priorities could only make things worse for you once you are there. Avoid your kryptonite while you learn how to manage it. Study what you like and drives you, especially in your situation. You will be excellent at whatever you do in life and you are a strong person; you have already demonstrated that at school. You may need to stop playing to the expectations of others if that is what is driving your list of colleges and/or major change; your list is so odd and prestige-driven that it seems inevitable to think these dynamics might be at play.
Please seek professional support if you do not already have it.
My roommate at Wisconsin had SAD and struggled there. While climate in NE is less severe, it is still overcast much of the year, so you might want to avoid BC, Wellesley. I would look at California (LMU, Santa Clara, USD, the Claremont consortium schools (Scripps). Also Wash U in St. Louis, Richmond, Wake Forest, Tulane, U of Miami, even D.C. schools - Georgetown, American, Emory, Bama, Clemson, TCU, SMU, UT-Austin. Look for schools with a robust mental health services. Richmond has an incredible wellness center.
I don’t know how robust but the U of Arizona Honors Dorm is pretty awesome - and in addition to a dining center on the first floor, it has a counseling center and gym adjacent. Of course, any dorm center may be one year only til a student moves.
The other concern (at any school), not just public, is - is there a robust system? Sounds like at Richmond.
At my daughter’s school, they have regular counseling once you have your first appointment but that first appointment took a long time. We opted for private - and my daughter just went once. No idea how it would be continually…
My understanding of SAD is that it is the number of sunny day (vs overcast) that matters most. cold vs warm isn’t really the issue and even hours between sunrise and sunset don’t vary nearly as much as sunny vs overcast. We took all of the pacific NW (west of the cascades) and Ohio schools off our list for that reason but kept some northern sunny cities on the list.
Edited to add: this useful article showing SAD rates by State. Ohio and Alaska are the worst. Wisconsin, despite latitude, is good, likely due to sunny days.
I can’t comment on your disorder. What I can say is that there is no reason a college needs to hear about it from you. Think of it this way: will it enhance your application? Will it give them a good reason to admit you? They don’t need to know your medical history.
After graduating from Pitt I moved to South Carolina. Big difference. I think NC and south would work. Plenty of good schools. NC State is highly rated for Statistics.
They won’t hear about it from me, I just need to know if there schools are a good place to go. I will not be mentioning my medical history to any college. Just asking for input.
I’m glad you’re thinking about this, asking here, and getting some good advice. That shows maturity and foresight on your part.
I know it seems a bit late in the game and might be overwhelming, but I’m confident you can send in apps to schools in sunnier places and get some good options!
I think it’s really important for you to prioritize this. Your initial list is not great, as others have mentioned. I’ve lived very far north and it is no joke. It can make all the difference in the world; please don’t underestimate the effect this could have on you. It’s just how your body works, so you’ve gotta help your body out here!
My kid is the opposite. He doesn’t tolerate warm sunny weather well because of some health issues. But it’s not dangerous for him and won’t affect his mental health. He crossed off all the southern states and California from his college list without a second thought. He attends a school that is known for its snow and gloomy weather. He couldn’t be happier with the climate and it has enhanced his experience.
Please show your body and brain some kindness and send out some southern apps during your break!
Did I see that you applied to universities in the UK? Note that it is very dark there from Nov - March, often getting dark at 4pm, and light at 8am. Plus during that period it is gloomy, grey and overcast, with very few bright days - and that makes it seem even darker!
Denver has a lot more sunshine than Florida. Today we woke up to snow and yet the sun in now high in the sky and everyone is out doing their own thing in the sunshine. Last night the news showed the kids outside sledding at 5 pm (yes, in the dark). Denver is just an outside place and you can soak up sunshine from about 7 am to 4 any day of the year, and of course longer most of the year. It was overcast two days in a row last week and boy were we grumpy about it.
I think you should focus on schools where outdoor life is abundant. It’s not just sun that you need but to be out in it.
U of Denver has a very good poli sci department and international relations, plus everyone does study abroad.
Ah yes, it seems the OP has applied to UK universities.
@rosentsprungen , I’d strongly reconsider applying to UK schools. The UK is wet, rainy, and grey. It can get very depressing in the colder months (most of the year, frankly.) I lived there for 20 years and my husband’s family lives all over the UK. If you must, head for the South. Bournemouth and Sussex come to mind.
I almost feel like the UK is a lot like the pacific northwest. If you can’t see yourself happy in the wet, rainy Seattle like weather you probably won’t do well in many areas of the UK.
Rephrasing to say I am hoping that along with consideration of climate and weather, a professional can be of help. One of my kids has SAD and medication has helped.
No need to mention here…but hopefully food for thought for this poster. I would hope that the OP has had a conversation with someone about her seasonal issues…need for sunlight, etc. before she makes any college decisions.
What she posted as issues are pretty serious ones.
