<p>At our HS, Bucknell is strictly for A students (or jocks/URMs)–but Pennsylvania has more good small colleges than any other state I have seen, so there are lots of alternatives, although not necessarily with a lot of Jewish kids.
Emory is also for A students. </p>
<p>Two more reason why everyone has to pick their own number of applications–public schools are increasingly unpredictably competitive and both need and merit aid vary greatly by school, so if you want or need either, additional applications can help. </p>
<p>With lots of schools in this category offering free apllications for those who apply online; interview; or receive “priority” application mailings; plus the use of uniform applications and the same teacher recs and the popularity of EA; I suspect the average number of applications has risen significantly.</p>
<p>SDSU is a tough numbers-driven admit that favors local students. The price is great, but it’s a reach for B+ students.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned U of Oregon as a possibility. Minimum GPA for auto-admit goes up to 3.5 next year, but that can be weighted (they’ll take whatever is on the transcript).</p>
<p>DD applied to nine (her tenth, her only true safety, had an app deadline of March 1st, before she got around to doing that app they said the deadline was not till April 1, so she delayed again, and before that she got an admit from one of her matches, so she never applied to the safety)</p>
<p>3 were reaches, 6 were more or less matches (though two we considered more safetyish, and one was definitely more reachy) She ended up admitted to three, and the one she decided to attend was the one she probably would have dropped had she only applied to eight.</p>
<p>now I see what happens when I don’t log on for a day: 6 pages of posts…</p>
<p>Emory does not belong on this thread; too long an explanation (and not really necessary) but they really have an interesting agenda these days regarding Jewish students…PM me if any of you are really that curious…suffice it to say that there are straight A students with very high SAT/ACT scores who have applied ED in the past few years that have been outright rejected…don’t get me started about “demonstrated interest” either…I could write a book about our experience with this school (and it wouldn’t be pretty)…</p>
<p>For those in other parts of the country, along with Colorado College, Univ of Denver has a thriving Jewish population, great location etc…very friendly to “B” students as well…</p>
<p>I also know a number of kids who were admitted to Tulane with “B” averages but higher SAT/ACT scores; mind you, no merit scholarship though and Tulane is pricey at full pay…</p>
<p>RM: I may have a Hillel contact at Susquehanna; I’ll let you know…I have to contact the girl’s parents when I get the chance…we could always bother Yabebabe’s son…haha…I think he needs time to get used to the place though!!</p>
<p>rodney and yabeyabe - if you do have a contact at SU - that would be great. I did just send a message through Facebook to the girl who is listed as the Hillel president - so we’ll see what happens. I’d really prefer to have my son meet with a guy - but looking at the FB group - it seems to be mostly girls. The FB group was really small - but it did show that they meet Sunday evenings - had a Sukkah event, Hanukah party, Passover seder, etc., - but I’m actually getting concerned that it might just be too small. Yabeyabe - did you ever get an actual number as to how many Jewish students are at Susquehanna? And how many are involved with Hillel?</p>
<p>RM, I sent you the name of past male Hillel officer. I did not get an official number of Jewish students or Hillel members. A lot of Jewish (and other) students choose not to self-identify themselves on university forms, so universities may not even know.</p>
<p>I recall the previous head of Hillel referring to the number of self-identifiers being in the 70’s or 80’s and the current president was quoted last year as saying the number was growing. I was pleased to see an incoming football quarterback with a Jewish name.</p>
<p>Well, I finally heard back from our family friend who will be graduating from Towson this fall. He had wonderful things to say about the school. He is a business major with a finance concentration. It is taking him the one additional semester to graduate as he did switch majors late in the game. He said the process of becoming a business major was not difficult at all - more a paperwork formality as long as you have the GPA. He described his professors as “engaging, intelligent and willing to assist in any way possible” and went on to say that other than 2 introductory science lecture courses - he never had a class with more than 30 kids.</p>
<p>He lived on campus freshman and sophomore years and then moved off campus. He went on to say that more residence halls will be opening soon.</p>
<p>Re sports - says the university president is committed to improving sports at Towson - recently hired a new football coach and searching for a new athletic director. He commented on the number of stores and restaurants within walking distance and being able to get to Baltimore very easily to see an Orioles game or other event.</p>
<p>All in all - his assessment was very favorable - he said that if he had the chance to do it over - he would still choose Towson. So, I’m happy with what I heard from him and looking forward to seeing the campus ourselves shortly.</p>
<p>This is a great thread - I read more of the ‘middle section’ and found the previous Hartford and Quinnipiac posts. We are not Jewish and my son is not a B student but this thread is great reading and very much illustrates the thoughtful processes that really should go into choosing a college. </p>
<p>We learned a lot with S1 and he is very happy with his college choice and frist year experience. S2 is a different kid, however with very similar interests and strengths, but a different temperament. This thread has gotten me thinking in a new way which I really needed to do. thanks</p>
<p>Re: Townson and sports… a classmate of my D who is going to be a freshman at Towson this fall already tried out and made the cheerleading squad. I think that was in June! I got the impression that sports was big on campus. I know they are big on lax and I’m familiary with their football team (playing at UDel for UDel homecoming this fall).</p>
<p>Also, Sean Landetta (former Giants kicker) went to Towson. Don’t ask me why I know that (long story - work-related - LOL).</p>
<p>RE: Number of schools applying to. For the B student, I would apply to more reaches (if you think your D/S is up to the challenge if they decide to go). Having said that, the GC scares you so much that you really have no way of knowing if a school is match or safety. Since my D got in to 7/9 schools (and waitlisted and deferred at her two reaches), I wonder if she should have tried other reaches. Then again, I am as sure as I can be at this point that the school she will go to is a good fit.</p>
<p>RE: University of Hartford. Really a match/safety for the B student. It’s private but, as mentioned, they offer good FA. The Hillel has a cool hang-out area - I don’t think it was their own building, but it was comfortable and used by the Hillel students. </p>
<p>University of Delaware Hillel has Freshman Fest, a day and a half program for incoming Jewish freshmen that is before the official move-in day (so you can get into your dorm early). Got an email today that they already have 130 incoming freshmen registered. Do any other colleges have a program like this?</p>
<p>Rockville Mom: Thanks for sharing the positive feedback about Towson from your family friend. May I ask what did he say about Towson vis a vis internships and finding a job at graduation? Did he find a job? Was Towson helpful to the Business students for jobs? Did he say anything about the housing?</p>
<p>Regarding Hillel: It is hard to generalize, but I think there is a tendency for more girls than guys to be found at Hillel. Of course, this is great for the guys, but I think something about the ratio may or may not make a difference to those who explore attending Hillel events.</p>
<p>Regarding number of applications: This thread has been enormously helpful to eliminate many considered schools from our list, saving us the time and money to visit. I still think a good look at the various schools web sites should yield enough info. to narrow down the search. </p>
<p>Slithey Tov: I am surprised that San Diego State has become so competitive. I thought it was supposed to be an easy in state school to be accepted at. Have you seen San Diego State and what is your impression of this school?</p>
<p>As for number of applications, the quick aps and many online aps are easy and free so there really doesn’t seem to be a reason to limit them although applying just for the sake of applying doesn’t make sense either. Beyond that even if cost doesn’t limit the student the sheer effort it takes to complete the common ap supplements is a limiting factor and could be a testiment to a students motivation. S1 self limited to 7 aps. When 3 WL’s came in and he was unhappy about his safety I was thinking more would have been a good idea but I took comfort in knowing this was his choice not mine. </p>
<p>RVM: Thanks for clarifying that descrepancy about GPA’s with Emory and Elon, I couldn’t figure out how that made sense.</p>
<p>I am not up to date yet about fees for test scores to be sent to colleges. Anyone remember how much these fees are? If, for example, you are sending SAT scores, AP scores, Community College transcript, all of this can add up if you are applying to 10 plus schools.</p>
<p>Spectrum2: Which schools supply “easy and free quick applications”?</p>
<p>Chemusic, you are very gracious. Anything you want to ask?</p>
<p>MDCISSP, many schools offer free applications if you apply online; sign up on their website; or visit the school.</p>
<p>RE Hartford, it is a popular safety at our HS as a safety for B or C students. Quinnipiac is also popular at our HS with kids who also consider JMU–strong party rep; good physical therapy program; lots more girls than boys; a safe choice for B students–but I believe $20,000 more expensive than JMU, as it is private.</p>
<p>mdcissp: I wish I could tell you for sure but S1 didn’t apply to these when the opportunities came and I don’t remember. Several schools sent us quick aps. Right on the envelope they boasted complete in 15 minutes and no essay or fee required. I’ll go out on a limb and I could be mistaken but I think Tulane was one of those schools, maybe also Colorado school of Mines, (I hope I’m not putting out incorrect information). The only school that sticks as taking the common ap without fee and with minimal to no supplement is Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. (Which incidentally is a very nice LAC with a religious history but currently not religious college.) I know there are several schools that take the common ap online without fees, that could probably be its own thread. I’m sorry I can’t be more help with that. This link might help though, <a href=“https://www.collegedata.com/cs/content/common_app_colleges.jhtml[/url]”>https://www.collegedata.com/cs/content/common_app_colleges.jhtml</a></p>
<p>My D applied to Tulane in Fall 2008 using the no-essay expedited app which they sent her based, I assume, on her SAT scores. Honestly can’t remember if there was a fee associated with it, but it was great to get a relatively quick response - by late November IIRC. </p>
<p>We later learned that Brandeis had a similar expedited app, but it was sent to students who had already expressed interest, which D had not. I’d love to find a comprehensive list of schools with expedited apps and how students can get on the list to receive one, for D12.</p>
<p>I think that it’s important for kids to apply to enough schools so that they will have choices in April. As others have stated, admissions and financial aid can be unpredictable. In the big scheme of things, the cost of a few additional applications is small if it allows your kid better choices.<br>
On the other hand, if your son or daughter loves a safety school that is also a financial fit, he or she can apply to fewer schools. Having been through this once before, I highly recommend that kids apply to at least one safety or match school with rolling decision or EA. Getting an acceptance in the fall really reduces the stress of senior year. Otherwise, it’s a long, tough wait until March or April.</p>
<p>mdcissp - our Towson friend is graduating in December - so he has not found a job yet. I did not ask him about any internships - I do know he has had an on-campus job woring for Towson’s catering company - and he recommended having an on-campus job as a way to meet people and have fun in addition to earning his spending money. He lived in high-rise dorms his first 2 years and thoguht that was fine.</p>
<p>On apps - I have noticed a few schools mention that there was no fee for an on-line app or that if you visited - they would give you a fee wiaver. I really have not kept track of that since it is still a year away for us and may change by then. I also agree with momjr that in the grand scheme of things the cost per app. is relatively small - I’d want S2 have multiple acceptances to colleges he would be happy to attend. It is also my understanding that AP scores are not sent to colleges as part of the admissions process. You can self-report them on the application if there is a place to do so - but you only send one AP score report out - and that is after graduation to the college you will attend. When you send out an AP score report (I know this from S1) it does not go to admissions - it goes to the Academic Dean or equivalent at the college - they use it to determine AP credit and for placement purposes. </p>
<p>Hartford - it looks actually a little low for S2 based on our Naviance graph. Even lower than what I would use for a safety. Actually - that’s kid of a question for me - just how low do you go? Some of the schools I have been thinking of as safeties - York, Tampa, etc. - have average GPAs that are well below where S2 is on the graph - so I guess that means he would be accepted and possible get merit money - but there has to be a point where it’s too low and would not be a good fit academically.</p>
<p>Continuing my thoughts on safety schools - how many and how low do you go?</p>
<p>I wish I could consider College of Charleston a safety. I think maybe it could be - but not 100% confident on that. In 2010, we had 16 apply, 8 were accepted, but 0 will attend - so clearly some see it as a safety school. The average weighted GPA was a 3.85, 1222 for the SAT and 26 for the ACT.</p>
<p>The other safeties we are thinking of:</p>
<p>Towson - with 94 apps in 2010, 60 acceptances and 17 will attend. The av. WGPA was 3.65 with 1145 for the SAT and 24 for the ACT.</p>
<p>York College - 13 apps in 2010, 11 acceptances and 2 will attend. 3.40 WGPA, 1075 SAT and 22 ACT.</p>
<p>Univ. of Tampa - 7 apps in 2010 with 6 acceptances and 1 attending. Av. WGPA was 3.3, 1080 SAT and 24 ACT.</p>
<p>Hartford - 4 apps in 2010 - all accepted - no one attending. In 2009 - 6 apps with 5 accepted and no one attending. 3.14 av. WGPA, 1022 SAT and 19 ACT.</p>