<p>As the title suggests, I was born with cleft lip and palate. Both of long since been repaired but the scar on my lip is still very noticeable due to the severity of my cleft and I have a somewhat nasal voice (lots of people think I am from New Jersey LOL). I am a pretty good student that is looking at top 25 schools and maybe even some low ivys (I can hope, right? haha). I don’t want to give out stats because of privacy reasons, so you will just have to believe me with regards to the last statement. </p>
<p>My question is what type of schools (that are considered decent to top notch) would I do well at socially? I live on the west coast and am not really concerned about distance from home, but more the type of school. I know its wrong to stereotype every person at a college, but I just want a general idea of some schools where the social stigma of having a deformity would not be as much of a problem. </p>
<p>Have a great holiday season everyone.</p>
<p>To be more specific, I am interested in Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Swarthmore, Wesleyan, UC Berkeley, USC, and Northwestern+some safeties. </p>
<p>Could someone comment on what these schools would probably be like for me?</p>
<p>Hi!</p>
<p>I can’t imagine that anyone at a top school (or any college) would treat you with any kind of disrespect. I think this generation of students is very accepting of all kinds of “differences.” I don’t think there would be a social stigma at all. :)</p>
<p>Go for it…and best wishes!!! :)</p>
<p>My friend’s child had a significant facial difference and she found it more comfortable to be in a smaller environment where she didn’t have to explain all the time and people got to know her child for who he really is.
What are your academic interests?</p>
<p>We cross-posted and I see you’ve added a list of schools.</p>
<p>Frankly, I don’t think any of the kids at those schools would even think of mistreating you in any way. If you say that the scar on your lip is noticeable, then certainly many will “see” it, but these aren’t stupid kids, they’ll know what it’s from. By the time a person is in his teens, he knows what the results of a cleft lip/palate looks like. I doubt anyone would even ask.</p>
<p>I don’t know what you experienced in high school or during your younger years, but once people get to be 18 and on a college campus, that immature cruelty that sometimes gets exhibited in grades K-12 largely disappears. </p>
<p>Obviously, I don’t know you, but if you the kind of well-groomed person that carries him/herself with a friendly face, I’m sure you’ll fit in fine.</p>
<p>@siliconvalleymon: As my name suggests, I am mostly undecided, but I am interested in english, political science, international relations, psychology, biology, biochemistry, and history. Sorry about the lack of specificity but I am truly 100% undecided.</p>
<p>2x bump-this question is somewhat urgent as I need to decide on what schools to apply to and what schools to leave out. Even though this is RD, I don’t want to waste my time on supplementary essays if I am not even going to go to that school.</p>
<p>When you think about what you want in a college, what is appealing to you?
It sounds like your academic interests would be satisfied almost anywhere.
I’m not sure someone else could predict where you are going to feel happy socially. I think you are going to make friends and be happy at whatever school feels right to you.</p>
<p>If you really need to pare down this list based on the one criterion, I suggest leaving out Dartmouth and USC. Dartmouth has been in the news lately for some very boorish behavior, and USC has the reputation of being relatively appearance-oriented. But it would be better to choose based on other factors.</p>
<p>*USC has the reputation of being relatively appearance-oriented. *</p>
<p>Actually many colleges are “appearance-oriented,” but I don’t think that means that they would be unkind or unfriendly to someone with a scar. “Appearance-oriented” is more of a grooming/clothing issue. Many college kids like to dress nicely and be well-groomed. </p>
<p>I don’t think the OP has any grooming/clothing shortcomings. 
</p>
<p>I would advise any prospective student who is worried about “fitting in” to be well-groomed, dressed similarly as the other kids, to have a pleasant expression on his/her face, and be willing to be the first one to say, “hello”.</p>
<p>Don’t apply to Vanity Univ…, er, I mean, Vanderbilt University.</p>
<p>@greenblue: Thanks for the advice. I am seriously considering taking SC off my list because of that exact reason. However, I have actually heard the opposite about Dartmouth. I know someone that goes there and he/she says that students there are very welcoming and open. On the flip side, I heard that Columbia students are liberal in the sense of politics, but are somewhat cold and cliches. Can anyone confirm this?</p>
<p>You may well find that a smaller school works best for you. The larger the school, the larger the classes, and the smaller the chance to get to know people as individuals. While the initial reactions may not vary from one school to another, when people encounter you repeatedly, in different contexts, they will get to know you beyond your appearance. </p>
<p>I hope this is not the major defining element in your college search. Would a pre-college makeover boost your self-confidence? A lot of people with an imperfect feature make it part of a strong personal style, and it’s more a matter of finding what works than spending a lot of money. Also, besides the academic reputation and social climate, what are you looking for in a school?</p>
<p>@midwesterner: I don’t really have much of a preference regarding school size, however huge schools such as UC Berkeley (applying there but probably won’t go) are probably not great for me. A school that has between 2000-10,000 undergraduate students would probably be the best for me. If the school is too small, I would feel like I was put under a microscope too much. Also, I want a school that has students that care more about the type of person someone is than how they look, that is why I don’t think USC would be a good college for me.</p>
<p>I agree that schools that are too small could be a problem. Some small colleges are known to be rather clique-ky (don’t know how to spell that. lol) I don’t know if you’re a girl, but for some odd reason, at some smaller colleges girls can sometimes act clique-ky like they’re still in high school. At larger schools, where no one can have such power, such nonsense can’t happen.</p>
<p>Would you be opposed to applying to some Catholic U’s? You don’t have to Catholic or belong to any religion to attend. </p>
<p>Perhaps…</p>
<p>Gonzaga
LMU
UPortland
USeattle
USan Francisco
UDayton
St Louis U
Marquette</p>
<p>I would not mind going to a Catholic school, but I would like some advice regarding the schools I have already listed or schools similar. My college list is nearly finalized and I don’t know much about of the schools you posted except USan Fran. I just want to weed out the last few bad ones that have remained on my list. To expand my list, I am also looking at Pomona College, Occidental College, and Claremont McKenna College.</p>
<p>I’m biased bc I attend UCLA, but I think it’s a very diversity-friendly school. It is not at all uncommon to see people with disabilities or deformities, and they still fit in great- even the ones with severe disabilities will go to our bball and football games, etc. In fact, most of us are inspired by their courage and willingness to overcome their deformity. So I’d seriously consider UCLA.</p>
<p>I’d also steer clear of USC (and not just bc I go to UCLA lol…I actually didn’t apply to USC bc I felt it was too materialistic and “looks oriented”). I’ll try to think of some other ones for you, though…</p>
<p>buuump. any more opinions specific to the colleges I have mentioned. If you think they’re all bad, please say so too.</p>