JUNIOR YEAR
U.S. History
Spanish Language
Music Theory
SENIOR YEAR
Spanish Literature
Literature
Macroeconomics
Psychology
Environmental Science (maybe, but not in place of physics; he would also take honors physics)
Those are solid, core APs with a few personal choices, so he’s totally fine.
Take at look at the Skidmore thread. His stats do not make it a safety, maybe five years ago but not today. Lots of kids are being rejected with similar scores. To me, it is a solid match.
I would indeed consider Skidmore more of a low match than safety but most importantly I’d find a couple similar colleges if colleges with that level of selectivity are used for safeties.
I think Muhlenberg is another good safety for this student. My daughter got in with lower SAT, slightly lower GPA and less rigorous course load. And they are looking for males.
I don’t know if your HS advises this, but do yourself and your son a favor next fall and get an early application into UVM or another school with rolling admission. This helps get the common app essay done early and relieves some of the stress. If ED doesn’t go as planned, he will still have an admission.
Good luck - he sounds like a great kid!
Awww. That made my day. He IS a great kid. Kind, cerebral, reserved, focused, great interpersonal skills but not an extrovert. Passionate musician and Mets fan.
Have you looked at Dickinson in Carlisle, PA? Probably a safety/match. I think there is a video on youtube about their music program. A bit farther afield, and music merit scholarships available, is College of Wooster in central Ohio. That would likely be a true safety.
I know you’re not seeking merit, but as of last year, Dickinson awarded 20K as its top merit award and College of Wooster, 30K.
I can’t speak to Jewish student life at either. Wooster’s Greek life is low key. Not sure about the current state of Greek life at Dickinson. Wooster has non-binding EA and my daughter had a response in December of her senior year.
I believe that @dfbdfb 's daughter goes to Muhlenberg. He’s employed in academia and is savvy about colleges and universities. Might be a good source of additional information.
Dickinson is a wonderful school, but is about 25% greek life, and while kids will find their niche, our experience (2+ visits) was that it has a more main stream, less quirky vibe.
Grinnell would hardly be a match/safety, but in terms of school culture and environment, sounds like a great fit. Other midwest schools with a minimal “bro” culture would be Kalamazoo, Earlham, and Lawrence, which I’d mentioned before for superb percussion opportunities open to non-major.
On the east coast, Sarah Lawrence and Haverford are definitely different from each other, but they are both schools where thoughtful kids flourish. Sarah Lawrence would be more of a match, perhaps, for a guy. Haverford is a reach for all.
Dickinson doesn’t have a ‘bro’ culture. It’s very international and into languages, cultures, study abroad… It’s not quirky so yes it’s more mainstream than, say, Hampshire, Oberlin, or Sarah Lawrence. Its Jewish life is excellent. Kalamazoo is quirkier and otherwise quite similar to Dickinson in mission and international focus.
Sarah Lawrence doesn’t seem to match what OP wants - its academic offerings are quite limited and it has the crunchy-prep vibe you also find at Connecticut college (ie., definite contingent of kids from progressive private schools in NE and Mid-Atlantic.)
My impression is that participation in music-related ECs is a big plus at Williams even if he doesn’t intend to major in music and especially if he applies ED.
I’m coming late into this thread and many of these have already been suggested, but I would look at Wesleyan and Hamilton and give serious consideration to Kenyon, Carleton, Grinnell and Macalester even though their midwest location may not be optimal.
Cornell is a wonderful school but it doesn’t sound like what he’s looking for.
^ I think Macalester would beat the odds due to being in a wonderful neighborhood in the middle of a thriving, major city.
UPDATE:
He just got his scores from March SAT. EBRW 710; Math 780.
His December score was: EBRW 750; Math 710.
He wants to take it again in May because he wants to get above 1500 in one sitting. I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I think his scores are good enough. Even for schools that don’t super-score, my gut is that the score would not be the deciding factor that leads to a rejection any place. I also worry that sitting for the test a third time makes him seem like a point grubber.
What do you think?
Dickinson sees “level of applicant’s interest” as “very important”.
https://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1155
I.e. it probably does not want to be used as a “safety” by an “overqualified” applicant who will probably attend a more selective college.
@brantly do the schools he’s considering super score?
Even if not I agree with you, they won’t be an obstacle anywhere.
If your son is excited about taking the SAT for a third time, then let him do so or suggest that he take the ACT.
@OHMomof2 Some of them do. Some ask for all scores. He might want to ED Tufts, which asks for all scores. Looking at this document, there are different kinds of “super-scoring.” One scenario is: The school considers your highest score on each section, but looks at all scores. Another scenario is: The school only looks at the highest score for each section.
https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/professionals/sat-score-use-practices-participating-institutions.pdf
@Publisher I wouldn’t say he’s EXCITED. He just wants to get above a 1500 in one sitting. I an concerned that it doesn’t look good to take it three times when what he has already is pretty good.
@brantley: As you have raised concern about religion, your son should be comfortable at any of the following schools:
Brandeis, Muhlenberg (31% Jewish), Goucher, GWU, Oberlin (29% Jewish), Tulane, Emory, Sarah Lawrence, Haverford, Tufts, Hampshire, Univ. of Maryland, Wesleyan, BU, Vassar, WashUStL, Skidmore (19% Jewish), Clark.
I noted the percentage of Jewish students at Oberlin, Muhlenberg & Skidmore because these schools have been mentioned repeatedly in this thread.
I think your list is fine. I’d keep UVM on there as a safety because they have EA and you will get a decision before Jan1 and can use it to get some sleep.
I think having an EA safety in the bag relieves a lot of anxiety. Bard and Dickinson also have EA.
Forgive me if this sounds alarmist, but I’ve become recently paranoid about safeties that aren’t safeties! Skidmore is getting much more selective and they accept 50% of the class from the ED pool. You son sounds like a perfect candidate, but I would ad one more safety. Or, better yet, get an EA acceptance somewhere you like and then you don’t have to worry about safeties at all.
@gallentjill
Not alarmist at all. I’ve been thinking the same thing.