Other special factors (first generation to college, legacy, athlete, etc.):
Creative writing major
Rising senior with 88.85 GPA (unweighted)
1320 Superstore on the SAT (570 math, 750 reading/writing)
Coursework
Two AP classes, English and Spanish, scheduled for next year
Rigorous school with required physics and chemistry. Some Cs in math and a C in physics.
Awards
2 Scholastic writing awards (Silver Keys). Publication of stories in school and 3 non-school literary journals, one not just for teens.
Extracurriculars
Founder and Dungeon Master of school D&D club, co-leader of flash fiction club; 3 years theater (acting in productions) and 2 years equestrian team (freshman and sophomore years).
Essays/LORs/Other
The essays are likely to be strong
Cost Constraints / Budget
No real constraints
Schools
EA to Bennington, Immediate Decision to Bard, Regular to Oberlin (reach), EA at Sarah Lawrence, EA at Wheaton (MA) and Muhlenberg, Beloit, Earlham, and Ithaca. We haven’t decided whether to apply to Skidmore because don’t know what the chances of acceptance might be. Another possible interests is College of the Atlantic but not sure it’s a fit.
So the first thing is - at a private school, talk to the counselor - they’ll know where kids like you end up.
I think you have acceptances here on this list.
I don’t understand the logic of not applying to Skidmore. If you want to go, then you should apply. Worst that can happen - they say no.
You are doing a chance me but if you won’t apply to a certain school based on a perceived rejection, that makes it seem like you’ve already decided these are all acceptances - well except Oberlin which you noted is a reach.
You may look at Sewanee and Elon as two more strong in creative writing - Sewanee as another LAC and Elon as an Ithaca substitute.
It’s ok to get rejected at a school that you would like to attend.
I mean, you can’t get in if you don’t try - and no matter how many take you, you’re only going to one.
College of the Atlantic is a fantastic institution but its mission to educate leaders in Human Ecology doesn’t seem to be a fit with what your kid wants.
Budget? I’m not sure what a “real constraint” is. If you can cashflow the entire amount, or a combination of college savings plus cashflow, then your budget is 80-90K per year (times for years). If it’s anything less than that- you have a constraint! So we can be more helpful with an actual budget number…
Thank you! A couple of people suggested we look at Skidmore, and my kiddo was so worn out and tired of looking at schools (and so were we) so we didn’t look. We will have a chance to later this summer. College Vine (I know, I shouldn’t rely on it!) gives her a 16% chance of getting into Skidmore and just over 20% chance of getting into Oberlin. We did look at Oberlin and wow! Loved it. Great creative writing program, too. Skidmore doesn’t have a creative writing major but has a concentration. I looked on the website more carefully today and the English classes seem interesting. So it’s really a question of whether we go and look at it. We’ll be less than an hour and a half from there later this summer. I hate to think I nixed it if perhaps she might love it and by some chance get it.
I don’t think she’ll get into Oberlin. I think she has some shot at the others and some safeties.
And if you can’t get there you can still apply - and if get in go later to see in person.
But do an online session to show interest.
It’s ok to get turned down. It’s a who cares - although i get some don’t handle rejection well. Bonus points for applying to a school of interest.
You need two you can afford that you know would take you that you’d love to attend.
After that, the where doesn’t matter as long as it’s schools that interest you and could possibly meet your budget.
Hey Rising Freshman at Skidmore here! I would def say skidmore’s expository writing class are interesting with various different topics. I would also apply just to see if she would get in, like the previous person said, it doesn’t hurt to try!
FYI, Oberlin creative writing major is competitive entry. I don’t know the acceptance rate or how many students they let in the major, but it can also be difficult to get the required classes one needs to have completed to apply or the major. Something for your student to contact Oberlin and ask for more info/details.
Students may apply to the major in their second or third year once they have, at minimum:
satisfactorily completed two 200-level courses, preferably in different genres, or
satisfactorily completed one 100-level course and one 200-level course, and are in the process of completing a second 200-level course in good standing, or
(for transfer students only) satisfactorily completed one 200-level course and have demonstrated that they have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of another 200-level creative writing course at another institution.
The program accepts applications to the major in the middle of each semester. The application is both rigorous and holistic, assessing students’ development over three main areas: professionalism, workshop citizenship, and artistic commitment. Typically, the application requires a reflection on the student’s experiences in creative writing thus far, a proposed course of study in the major, an example of a workshop feedback letter written to a peer, and a portfolio. Applications are reviewed by the entire creative writing teaching faculty.
Students not accepted into the major may often still complete the creative writing minor.
As a full pay at LACs, i think you are underestimating her chances of acceptance. She has a nice strong verbal score, a strong interest in a major that many students, with future earnings in mind, are moving away from. Clearly, she is not a math and hard science student, but that is okay, considering her stated interests.
Shoot higher! She will probably get accepted everywhere you mentioned (except maybe Skidmore), and possibly at more selective LACs too. Not Williams and Amherst, but definitely has a a shot at the next tier down. I do not care how much LACs claim they are need blind. They need money, and they need English majors. She is both, with a record of publications already. Say openly no need for fin aid by not applying for it, and English/writing major, and doors will open for her.
I would wager that if she applied early to Skidmore she would have a good chance of acceptance.
That being said, my writer kid LOVED his visits to Bard and Bennington. For the right kid those are great options.
Thanks for that advice! What would next tier down be? I want to make sure I’m not overlooking anything. She wants a small and rural place, or a place with nature nearby, where students are liberal, quirky, and crunchy!
UNC Asheville although they are facing budget issues. Sewanee and it’s high rated in the major. UT Chattanooga. Ft Lewis College. Lewis & Clark although maybe not rural enough. .
Maybe not UT Chatt if wants rural but tons of outdoorsy. Asheville ok. A bit from downtown.
Sewanee seems a winner !! And check out Ft Lewis.
But all might be sufficient to research if the locations are ok.
She might also consider University of Denver for a quirky, liberal vibe. Aside from their outdoor club, Dungeons and Dragons is the most popular club on campus according to the two tour guides we spoke with. It’s not rural, but a contained campus with plenty of opportunities for exploring nature.
The list looks good and an app to Skidmore and Oberlin are definitely worth it if she loves them. Seconding UNC-Asheville, and @Sweetgum has spoken about Warren Wilson and the writing program there. Hampshire in Massachusetts would be another possibility, which is part of the consortium with Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Amherst, and UMass.
My D22 is a Creative writing major with stats like yours and adjacent interests (not into D&D but knows people who are).
She didn’t take the SAT but took the ACT and got a 28 with a perfect score in either reading or writing and a 35 in the other. Math is not her thing. She had a 3.7 high school GPA. On her list were:
Warren Wilson (super outdoorsy and quirky and very LGBTQ friendly, also tiny, well known MFA writing program)
UNC-Asheville (NC’s pubic liberal arts college and unfortunately the Republicans in the state legislature are trying to cut liberal arts programming)
Hollins University (quirky women’s college with a very well know. MFA writing program and good undergrad program)
Agnes Scott (women’s college, super diverse, with a cool Summit program, and creative writing)
Knox (seemed very friendly — didn’t end up visiting but looked good)
Kenyon
Definitely check out Kenyon. It’s a reach but not a super impossible reach. Great college for writers. It is very rural.
Showing interest is never a bad idea, but I remember reading in this forum a few years ago that Skidmore is particularly interested in strong demonstrated interest and fit (moreso than bare stats alone). I can’t confirm that (the pandemic hit during my D’s HS junior year and so we never ventured to Skidmore) but if you do visit or if your D does any kind of online tour or interview and really prioritizes Skidmore, she should make an extra effort to make sure her application reflects her enthusiasm.