<p>Just wanted to say how appreciative I am of CC and this thread in particular. As a first time parent going through the college process I have found so much great info, resources and tidbits that the college guidebooks and online sites never would have led me to. I’ve also met some terrific people who were only too willing to take the time to PM me or email me directly and share their experiences and insights and in one case, even his daughter, to really broaden what we know about schools we are considering. What would have been an overwhelming and stressful experience has turned out to be an incredibly interesting and exciting one. So far, my D has been blessed with 6 out of 6 acceptances but is still waiting on 5 more. We have already narrowed it down to 3-4 contenders (if she is accepted) and that has been due in large part to CC. I am so grateful.</p>
<p>To try to pay it forward, I started a thread in the Parents Forum called Smartest Things You Did During the College Process. Last I checked it had over 28,000 views and tons of great pieces of advice. Please feel free to share your wisdom there. </p>
<p>Sticking my toe back in with S2 (junior) now that I have first SAT scores. Looking for any hidden (or not so hidden) gem LAC that will give enough merit aid to keep cost below 30K. Son wants diverse, intellectual vibe, not at all interested in Greek life or sports. Will major in something social science. I gave him a list of 42 schools to look at over break, he hasn’t gotten very far, might consider smaller university. DS2 is an A minus kid, SATs 2050 (1440 CR 750 and M 690). So brilliant people ideas welcome …</p>
<p>Agree re: Clark - I think it’s a hidden gem. They offered excellent merit to my younger son. They are test optional, have no Greek system and there didn’t seem to be a big emphasis on sports although it’s there for students who are interested. I really liked their philosophy. When we visited on an accepted student day, it wasn’t a hard sell at all (as many colleges are) but more how important the fit between you and the school was. We hard that over and over. Clark has one of the best geography departments in the country. I’d guess he would qualify for merit. Clark has at least one full-ride scholarship and several others that are really generous. It was my son’s second choice but very hard to turn down.</p>
<p>Depends on which region of the country he’s interested in. Supposedly, University of Puget Sound has a small and mighty Hillel (I’m assuming you consider Jewish life to be an important criteria. Correct me if I’m wrong). Based on both his stats, gender, and their merit policies he stands a good chance at getting UPS’ top merit award. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that social science majors are some of the most popular fields of study at almost every school in the country. As a result, many institutions have good to excellent programs.
Here are some other possibilities
-Allegheny
-Beloit (not sure about Jewish life)
-Kalamazoo College (near WMU which seems to have a decent hillel)
-New College of FL</p>
<p>With most private schools coming in at $55K to $65K for tuition/ room/ board/ fees…if you are relying on merit aid only (no financial aid) you are talking about needing merit aid of between $25K to $35K per year.</p>
<p>That number is quite high. Good merit aid is more likely to be in the $10K to $20K range per year. And the schools offering true merit aid are dwindling and reducing merit aid overall.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg, for example, has a maximum merit aid total of $20K last I checked. So their cost at about $55K would put you at about the $35K mark if your son won their maximum amounts. However, these amounts tend to come when merit and talent scholarships are combined.</p>
<p>You might want to search public universities that offer merit to out of state students.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone – I knew you would have some great ideas.</p>
<p>Shacherry – Can’t believe I didn’t think of Goucher since it’s so close to home. We’ll definitely visit.</p>
<p>BTMell and Expat – He doesn’t like urban schools, but was ok with American when he went to a debate tournament. I have heard good things about Clark, maybe I can talk him into a visit when we drop DS1 off in Boston.</p>
<p>Whenwhen – Jewish life is more important to me then to him at the moment, a Small and Mighty Hillel would be fine, I would just like at least some Jewish presence on campus.</p>
<p>Allegheny, Kalamazoo and Beloit are on my long list. He hates warm, sunny weather so New College is not on the list.</p>
<p>Boysx3 - Son really liked Haverford when we visited and I asked the admissions director to recommend a less selective option and she said Muhlenberg.</p>
<p>Uskoolfish – I am afraid of that. The best in-state option is St. Mary’s, but I am unclear as to if they offer any merit – I think they are in the process of changing their merit policy. If not it would cost $25K which doesn’t seem like a bargain. I can’t see son at UMDCP, but then again a lot will change in the next year and a half. </p>
<p>I think I know the answer to this, but I hope I am wrong. DS1 (current college freshman) has a full tuition scholarship, but room and board is still costing a good chunk. Will those costs figure into financial aid for DS 2?</p>
<p>Just an update on the story of the ASA boycott to Israel: the presidents of the University of Miami (FL) and the Florida International University (FIU) declared to the Miami Herald that they are opposed the Israel boycott. This is the full statement of president Shalala:We join with other higher education institutions in rejecting the actions of the American Studies Association as misguided, inappropriate, and hostile to the larger purposes of learning, academic freedom, and intellectual exchange which are fundamental missions of American higher education, she wrote. The two Universities, according to the Miami Herald, do not appear to have institutional membership with the ASA so they will not be formally breaking ties as did University of Pennsylvania and Brandeis University.</p>
<p>Mom - my younger son attends Bates and absolutely loves it. Lewiston isn’t an exotic place but the energy at Bates is amazing. Even talking to alums, they all loved their time at Bates. There’s no Greek life at Bates either - and Bates prides itself on its inclusion. There’s no merit aid at all but they met need completely and with our older son also in college, it ended up being nearly affordable. According to my younger son, the kids are very much academically inclined. Bates does have a sports culture and it’s an outdoorsy place given where it’s located in Maine. I can’t speak to Jewish life at Bates but maybe something to look into. Good luck to you! My boys were interested in completely different schools - of course.</p>
<p>I’m in need of cyber support today. We are getting back D’s first ACT scores in a few days, and I’m starting to feel anxious. Not worried about the score itself, as this is just a first sitting. I am more concerned with how to deal with lower scores than hoped for, as it relates to her feelings. She is under so much pressure - as they all are Junior year—three AP classes, job, extracurriculars. I really feel for the kid. So, any advice for how to prepare for the scores? D really wants to be one and done. I can’t bear the conversation of maybe having to retest. And, her dream school is top tier, so she needs to do well.</p>
<p>My daughter took SATs twice and the score only changed by 20 points. She didn’t want to test again which was fine with me. I believe if the kid doesn’t want to test again…they don’t want that top tier school badly enough. When. I presented that theory, I heard that in fact she didn’t want that level! She chose schools where she feels she’ll be with students like herself who are good students but where academics are really just one piece of the larger picture. To each their own…</p>
<p>thanks, CTmom. I know I’m going to come off sounding like a tiger mom, but she really does need to be with the caliber of student at a top tier school. She knows that and gets so frustrated with the kids she goes to school with now. She doesn’t get straight A’s. In fact her math and science grades are low, but her intellect is ridiculous. when she speaks with adults, they are blown away by her knowledge and presence.</p>
<p>GPA and test scores are transient evaluations of how one did with a given task, or series of tasks, at a specific point in time. They don’t define or validate one’s intellect or worth as a person. But they <em>do</em> typically determine the schools to which one might be admitted.</p>
<p>That said, if a student’s dream school is far out of alignment with their academic profile, then either some additional dreaming is in order, or additional study & practice is needed. Or both.</p>
<p>Even so, at a certain level, this whole admissions thing can be SO BLOODY ARBITRARY that it’s foolish to have a single dream school, let alone to base one’s satisfaction on entry to same. There are so many truly excellent schools at which one can pursue and obtain a fine education; ultimately, the opportunities are there and, as long as a student is admitted to a school reasonably in keeping with their academic profile, the education afforded will largely be what s/he makes of it.</p>
<p>Last thought – I’ve always thought that a ‘reach school’ (which may or may not be a dream school) is a bad idea. Rising tide & boats notwithstanding, I’d much rather have my son start off in the top third of the school, intellectually speaking.</p>
<p>Exhaling …</p>
<p>P.S. - My son first wrote the ACT ‘cold’ & scored a 27 Composite. After some nominal prep (he’s not usually what I’d call ‘driven’), he improved to a 29 with the re-write. He had a similar improvement with his SAT re-write (except for math, because he didn’t study it – I do love him, but sometimes he can be a foolish, obstinate so & so).</p>
Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family!</p>