If she’s interested in pursuing architecture I suggest she does a summer program. There aren’t very many LACs with an architecture major, so if this is her career pathway it would be good to know ahead of time. There are several great programs around the country! My daughter the 2 week “Discovering Architecture” program at Drexel in Philly 2 summers ago. She is currently finishing up her first year in the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley. Her experience in the summer program solidified her decision that it was the right major for her!
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Note that the NAAB-accredited BArch programs are 5-year programs.
MArch programs are commonly 3-year programs, but some allow completion in less time if the entering student has a BA/BS in an architecture-related major.
This is helpful! Thank you so much.
Since she loved Davidson, consider adding Furman to her list. It would be a very likely admit with generous merit.
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Barnard and Wellesley are both test optional. Only 60% of Wellesley applicants even submitted standardized test scores last year, and Barnard was even lower at 50%. Your daughter’s score was right around the 25th %ile for both, which puts her in the midrange for both. BUT remember that this is midrange for those submitting scores. Another 40-50% were accepted without submitting test scores. We can assume that of those who did not submit scores, an overwhelming majority had scores lower than 1460 - or else they would have submitted them. So, your daughter actually has strong test scores for those two schools.
Barnard gets about 3000 more applications than Wellesley - mainly because many see it as a back door to Columbia. So, it is harder to get admitted there (8% acceptance rate). But Wellesley is not quite as tough an admit with a 14% acceptance rate. I think that your daughter would be a very viable candidate there although schools which reject more than 85% of their applicants are always dicey to predict. Wellesley has cross registration with MIT among others, which expands course offerings, and they have a shuttle to take you there which runs day & night 7 days a week.
Smith, another test optional school, has a 21% admit rate, so you’re right that it would be more of a match for her. Again, her SAT score is around the 25th %ile here as well for those who submitted test scores, which was even lower than the other two at 43%. With a number submitting test scores being that low, we can probably ignore test scores as a factor at Smith - and frankly as not much of a factor at either Wellesley or Barnard either.
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Agree! Most colleges would probably love to have this student. The full pay will help at the smaller colleges like Bates and a few others that are working to build up their endowment. My student is a psych major there - very good department if that’s an interest.
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Thank you. I’ll keep these schools in the mix. The test optional environment is so hard to navigate. We just want to find a school that is the right fit for her!
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Psych is one of her listed interests right now, but I wonder how much of that is because she has a dynamic AP Psych teacher right now!
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You never know. Our S19 had a dynamic IB psych teacher in high school, majored in psych at Denison and is now doing graduate studies in the UK (MSc in sport psychology). Sometimes, lightning strikes.
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I had an inspiring lecturer who was instrumental in my decision to change major at college. Never looked back. It definitely happens.
Yes, it certainly can be. Make sure you’re aware if the school is truly “test optional” or “test preferred”. I know not on your list but Auburn University is test preferred and many applicants get surprised when they apply EA, don’t submit scores and then get deferred to RD. Not sure if any of the schools being floated above fall into that category but good to understand the difference.
If a school states they are test optional I would take them at their word that not submitting won’t hurt them. But it does mean the applicant is going to be judged with one less item in play and the rest of the resume needs to be solid.
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That’s always the case with any budding interest. Nothing wrong with that. Time will tell after some more exploring.
A fair number of kids who get interested in psych, end up in Neuroscience these days.
clark in worcester, ma would probably be a high likely for your daughter and is known for their psych programs, as well as a liberal artsy energy! they’re on the small size (3800 undergrads) for a university and have a pretty sweet 4+1 program with free tuition for the masters, as well as merit aid.
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