Choosing a small college, please help!

College Search & Lists
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<p>Hey guys, I’m new to this site and I’d really appreciate it if any of you would be willing to give me some ideas or advice. </p>

<p>I’m an American citizen but I have been studying in Taiwan since first grade, and I am now a junior. The school I attend is a very prestigious private international school (Morrison Christian Academy). My gpa at the end of my junior year is 2.9, and before you start bashing me about having terrible grades, I’d like to say that academic courses here are very rigorous, being in Asia AND a private school. I’ve had friends who return to America and get something like 3.7 and come back the next semester and fail some classes. But I do know that personally I’ve made some bad decisions and developed some bad habits, and I am in no way trying to justify my mistakes. Do colleges care at all how difficult your school is? </p>

<p>For extracurricular things, I am in my school’s service learning class with some community service hours, and I have been involved in music courses since freshman year. I made first chair bassoon since sophomore year, and this junior year I got into two chamber music groups (chamber woodwind ensemble and chamber singers) and plan to continue next year. I’ve also been involved in my city’s youth symphony orchestra (first chair bassoon), but I quit because I did not feel like they met my standards (and they charge money after recruiting me themselves!!!). I know that colleges like and, more often than not, need bassoon, and I’ve been advised to take my chances on smaller liberal arts colleges in order to put that into full use. I’m also fluent in Chinese, and I will be taking the Chinese SAT subject test and will most likely get full marks on that. Also, I have just been elected to become our school’s social chairman for the next coming year. </p>

<p>I did not take the ACT, but I got 1860 on my SAT and am taking it again in October, planning to get at least 2000.</p>

<p>I’m originally from California, but I do not have residency and will not get it until after living there for some time, and I was advised by a counselor not to go to a state school in Cali due to the funding crisis they’re experiencing. </p>

<p>I’d like to major in communications or business, or similar fields. </p>

<p>Some schools I have been looking at are as follows, and I know that most of them are a big reach for me, but a guy can dream right? </p>

<p>Pepperdine
Seattle Pacific University
University of Redlands
Colgate University (in NY)
Biola and Azusa Pacific University (My safeties, they have very good connection with our school due to religious affiliation)
Santa Clara University
Belmont university (I’d prefer to not have to go to Nashville, but they offer Music Business, something I’d like to major in if I’m accepted)
Drexler University (again, offers Music business)</p>

<p>Notice how most of these are religious schools, and it’s something I would like, but is not necessary.</p>

<p>Some bigger schools:
CSU Long Beach (not as good as a UC, but I’ve heard great things about it)
Boston University (Big school, so probably less chance of using bassoon as a hook)
Syracuse (both my parents went there, but for graduate school. Does that still count for something?)
Northeastern University (offers music business)
Wheaton University (good connection with our school)</p>

<p>So I know I’m aiming super high for someone who has below a 3.0 gpa, but we should always aim high right? </p>

<p>Another question I have is: If I study business, for example, could I still get a boost by offering to play in their orchestra, or maybe even get a scholarship? </p>

<p>Thank you guys for any input, and suggestions of what to do and more colleges are more than welcome. This is a great site with generous people!</p>

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<p>Minot State University in North Dakota is a small school…cheap too. Also has majors in Music and Business…</p>

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<p>I’d prefer if I didn’t have to go that far north unless it were a major city… I’ve lived in Taiwan most my life, it’d probably be too big of a difference and the Asian population would be too little. Not that I have a problem with other ethnicities, it’s just a matter of breaking into the environment at first. Any other suggestions?</p>

<p>Oh I forgot to mention (if it even matters at all)
I’ve had summer and part time jobs, worked for my school one summer as a mover when they were undergoing a major reconstruction and I have hours every week managing the weight room after school. Do colleges care about this as well? This is all so confusing, because in Taiwanese colleges there are a couple tests that colleges look at, and really thats all. If you do bad due to some unforeseen circumstances, or you aren’t a good test taker by nature, then your chances of going to a decent colleges are basically zero.</p>

<p>This is why I love America!</p>

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<p>anybody have any idea at all?</p>

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<p>I’ve heard that a lot of Asians go to Willamette in Portland, OR, and I know they have a business school at least for MBA. It also has only 2500 students, if that’s the size you are looking for</p>

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<p>anything else? anybody?</p>

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<p>Looks like you are open to the Pacific Northwest. Possibly Whitworth in Spokane or Seattle University?</p>

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<p>I realize that GPAs can be lower in situations like yours. :)</p>

<p>Azusa Pacific is a good idea - you will get in there. :)</p>

<p>Will your family pay for whatever school you get into? If not, then you need to factor that into your list.</p>

<p>Santa Clara (a bit of a reach)
LMU
USD
USF
St Mary’s of California
U Seattle
Gonzaga</p>

<p>If you want to be in another part of the country…</p>

<p>SLU
Spring Hill (safety, but a good Jesuit school)
U Dayton
Loyola Maryland</p>

<p>If you don’t know how much your parents will pay, then ask. :slight_smile: That info will be helpful!</p>

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<p>thanks for all the suggestions, i’m researching on all these schools and alot of them look very promising (Gonzaga seems like a huge reach but i hear its great)</p>

<p>i realize now there are tons of small private schools, which is comforting for someone who doesnt like big schools. anybody have anymore suggestions like these? again thanks yall for naming them.</p>

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<p>USD would be a reach, but it’s a great school. I also like LMU. It has wonderful diversity and is in the city of LA.</p>

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<p>thanks you guys so much. i have a question about these small schools. say if i were to go somewhere like seattle pacific, and after a couple years i decide i want to try a big school, how difficult would it be to transfer to a school like UW?</p>

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<p>You are a very long reach for Colgate with your stats.</p>

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<p>Don’t worry I know where I’m at. It’s just that I want to take a chance because I’m a fairly decent bassoon player and personally I only know 2 other students who play the instrument. The daughter of a friend of my father’s got a full ride scholarship to Colgate because she was a good violin player, and her gpa was somewhere around 3.2 in a public school in the states, so with bassoon as an even more rare instrument and being in a prestigious private school I thought it might be possible, and I am aware of the extremely slim chances. That’s what I’m doing for most of these schools, hence the small LACs. Please correct me if I’m approaching this the wrong way. </p>

<p>Also, for the record, I would like to state that I am not over my head or think highly of myself by considering these schools. I know my grades are terrible, I just think being a little musically talented might give me a surprise. Thanks guys.</p>

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<p>University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. In answer to your question about transferring to a larger school - yes, I think you can do that with decent grades.</p>

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<p>officially a senior now :S bump!</p>

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<p>Have you explored options at U. of Redlands and the Johnston Center? I thought this was a good choice on your part, it’s close to LA (big city, Asian food fix) and you should be a good match academically. I also like Seattle U., Santa Clara is a bit of a reach but you never know with the music (and I do think schools here realize that your gpa cannot be compared to US gpa’s but I wouldn’t get too carried away with that). I suspect you could be happy a lot of places on the west coast as long as you are close to a large city. Good Luck!</p>

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<p>Your GPA makes CSU LB a reach…</p>

<p>To get into the top 3 CSUs, you need a better GPA - especially since you’re not a resident.</p>

<p>How much will your parents pay each year?</p>

<p>Are you only considering Calif schools?</p>

<p>What is your likely major?</p>

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<p>Thanks for the info!</p>

<p>mom2collegekids, my counselor is confident that I should have no problem making CSULB, as many alumni from my school with lower gpas have been accepted there, probably due to the fact that they are international students from a prestigious high school. My parents are willing to pay for whichever school I choose to attend, so that’s not a problem (though I would sleep much better knowing I saved them a few bucks). After lots of thinking, I realize California isn’t the only state where I can be happy. Anywhere close to a major city would suffice. That opens up a huge can of worms I know, but I’d still rather stay on the west side. I’ve heard great things about Pepperdine but i know my chances are slim at best. My most likely major is either communications- journalism, or business administration (leaning towards business administration).</p>

<p>bchan, I did consider U of Redlands, but the small amount of information available makes me skeptical. Also, would my grades be a possible match, or less of a reach for Seattle University? Do you have any idea of how Seattle University compares to Seattle Pacific? Thanks!</p>

<p>I’m opened to the option of attending community college for two years before a four year institution too. </p>

<p>Thanks everyone for their input!</p>