<p>My son took no lab science at his university (or no science with a lab at least) or math. I <em>think</em> the APs his school counted were statistics and psychology. But I can’t swear to that. I can swear he had no lab science AP credits. Facilitating double majors may come down to how many courses you can comfortably handle a term.</p>
<p>He applied to the schools that were closest to meeting all his criteria then made a choice from among the acceptances. You may not be able to get absolutely everything you are looking for. But you should try!</p>
<p>^ It depends on the school; Duke, for instance, appears to count math/CS as Quantitative Reasoning, which is a different category than the 2-course Natural Science requirement. Others will group them together but specify at least 1 lab science course.</p>
<p>Mmmh. Looks fine academically (I’d have to email about a creative writing issue specific to me) except for class size. One intriguing course description had a “despite the size” caveat about being prepared for class. I am also very much not into sports, spectator or otherwise.</p>
<p>Given the huge reach the scholarship would be, and how low it would rank on my personal list–I would rate Macalester and Rochester as better fits, for instance–it just doesn’t seem worthwhile.</p>
<p>Campus culture won’t put it at the top of your list; that’s for sure. However it has the academics, intellectual peer group (a few students you will think are long lost twins and who go four years without ever attending a sports or greek event) and is in a non-urban sort of green place and not super sized, except for the medical side, AND has the potential for merit. Without merit aid – you can probably find something much more suitable.</p>
<p>If the flexible curriculum and non-urban weren’t a big thing for you, I would be suggesting University of Chicago. Have you visited Chicago? It is a different kind of urban from NYC in my opinion. But they do have the core and I understand that is a deal breaker for you. Though I think you would definitely find your people there. And they have some merit money, though also extremely competitive. Like some of the other posters, it seems to me the Women’s Colleges should be on your list. Maybe you want to consider Bryn Mawr which shares classes and even, I believe, a course catalog with Haverford so it isn’t so totally one sex. Did someone already point that out? And I think you would be able to take courses at University of Pennsylvania (but not positive) And maybe Philadelphia would be acceptable urban.</p>
<p>While I absolutely understand and respect every item on your college wish list, realistically you probably aren’t going to get everything on it and will have to prioritize wants and needs. That is why I’m suggesting universities when you said LACs. But I believe you will get most of it. And go to college someplace amazing.</p>
<p>Denison alum and current Tulane parent here. Regarding Denison location – the town of Granville is quite small (and charming) but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as isolated as Williamstown. Columbus is about 30-40 minutes away, Newark about 10, and since I was there they have developed a large shopping area not far from campus. In general Denison has changed a lot since I attended, but I will say this – I got a tremendous amount of attention from professors who at that time were a little starved for serious students. Was an English/writing major (along with communications) and the English department was and continues to be among the strongest at the school. I think a self-motivated student could do very well there. The same is likely true at Tulane, though with more distractions. I don’t think Tulane feels like a LAC, which for most is an advantage, but may not be for the OP.</p>
<p>alh, I definitely understand about prioritizing the wishlist–Denison, for instance, isn’t the best social atmosphere either but does fit certain other requirements like merit aid and academic strength (in departments, if not in students). Although it has apparently worked to attract an academically stronger student body in the past few years.</p>
<p>Regarding Duke: if I can get that scholarship, I would probably also receive the Renaissance scholarship at Rochester. Or the Swarthmore McCabe. A student from my school won merit full-tuition/rides to Duke, Swarthmore, UVA, and another school last year (he chose UVA). He was also a repeat award winner in Mock Trial at the national level. Duke merit, for me, would be such a huge reach that if I got it, I would certainly get into my match schools and would prefer to attend them even with a full ride at Duke.</p>
<p>Urban is a less important criteria than others (I like Macalester a lot, and it’s in the middle of St. Paul) but Chicago’s Core is unfortunately the deal-breaker. For merit, I don’t need any more reaches–rather, I’d like to hear about merit matches that might be “hidden gems” on the academic side. Tulane is off the list for several reasons (GEs, location, size/feel–none are deal-breakers but add up to a lot of negatives).</p>
<p>Anyone know about Wooster? Social atmosphere, double majoring, merit money if I don’t apply with the Select application (since I’ll be doing SCEA)? I should probably make a new thread for Wooster, but I’ll ask here first.</p>
<p>Obviously you know what you are doing. And have an excellent GC. I would like to suggest more reach merit schools on your list (that you would actually consider attending) because imho schools only compete with merit monies for students when they feel it’s necessary. They need to know (or fear) you have other very attractive choices. JMHO</p>
<p>Swarthmore - Yes! Could have almost absolutely everything on your list though my son felt the requirements restrictive.</p>
<p>Do you have any CS experience other than the CS AP class in HS? I know LOTS of kids majoring in, who have majored in, or who actually work in some field of CS. I can’t recall any of them looking to actively avoid taking a lab science as part of their liberal arts education. Moreover, as a selection criterion based on all the other things you’ve chucked onto the pile (no single sex, not big, affordable, no religion, no South, double major possible with minimal AP credits) it seems like avoiding a lab science would be the last thing you’d need to worry about. Especially given your interest in CS.</p>
<p>Bruce Hammond wrote a great book called something like “Discounts and Deals at the Nation’s Best Colleges” or something close to that. If you haven’t already checked it out, I’d suggest doing so. It might add some schools to your list.</p>
<p>blossom, I’ve yet even to take APCS, although I taken an intro Java class and self-taught HTML/CSS from a while back. As I admitted to alh, the CS is quite a nebulous interest–also more on the language/linguistics side than the hard science side–and frankly, I don’t know if I’m a good fit for the field; but I’ll never know until I try it in college.</p>
<p>Size, gender, religion, geography, and curriculum are largely all satisfied by my need-based schools (which will hopefully be affordable). I have Scripps on my list, so I’m not entirely opposed to women’s colleges, but it is a negative. And avoiding lab science is perhaps more important to me than it should be–I attend a math/science high school right now and I find the curricular dictates stifling.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m sorry if I sound like I’m shooting down any and all suggestions. My parents have made clear that they are willing to pay our EFC (FAFSA and Amherst’s institutional), so mainly I’m looking for merit matches or safeties (ha) that fit most of my criteria.</p>
<p>jonri, thanks for the book rec–I’ll check it out.</p>
<p>I will point out that at Vassar there are virtually no requirements there - intellectual, green, self contained campus where you can easily recognize most of the student body. As you know, no merit aid.</p>
<p>You might also want to look at Wesleyan.</p>
<p>In regard to scholarships, it is dangerous to assume that if you qualify for one, you will qualify for another. My child who attends Harvard was an Emory Scholar but did not receive the Rochester Renaissance (or even an invitation to the scholarship weekend.)</p>
<p>^ Thanks for the information, on both points. Vassar is definitely on my list–I visited and liked it; made me nostalgic for my arts middle school.</p>
<p>If this is the case, PLEASE apply to Swarthmore. It seems like it would be 100% perfect for you. It is suburban with a self-contained campus but 20 minutes from Philadelphia. It’s students are some of the most intellectual in the country (tied with Chicago, most would say) and are definitely your academic peers. It has an absolutely phenomenal English department (I’m not familiar with CS so can’t comment there). At least send out an app and maybe things will come together. It just appears to be too perfect a match to pass up.</p>
<p>On a more personal note, I completely agree with your guidance counselor on the part about finding your intellectual peers. It’s amazing how much a person can learn and accomplish with peers at similar levels. I am driven each and every day by my peers to go above and beyond anything I would have done around kids at my high school or even state school, for example. Don’t downplay it’s importance.</p>
<p>Oh, I will definitely apply to Swarthmore–my parents like it, too, because it’s close to home, especially compared to my Midwestern choices–but the trick would be getting in.</p>
<p>I’m new here, but from Canada so I thought I would mention some of the Canadian ones you can look into.
Sorry I can’t remember if you looked into Mount Allison or Acadia, but the fact that lectures are mentioned doesn’t mean there are seminars. At least at soome Canadian schools, classes have both a lecture and a seminar, the lecture being larger and then the seminar being a small discussion group where the lectures, readings etc are discussed.
Some other Canadian schools to consider
Mount Allison, Acadia, Bishop’s, St Thomas, St Francis Xavier, University of Vancouver Island, University of King’s College (I would definetly look into this one, it is very small but is connected with a larger school (Dalhousie) and the first year program sounds very intresting, and i knwo some people who loved it)
As for St Thomas and St Francis Xavier, despite the religious names they aren’t really religious, they were in the past but aren’t any longer(Maybe St Thomas is more so, but St FX is very diverse and your religious beliefs won’t be questioned).</p>
<p>Welcome to CC, MomfromCanada! I am seriously considering Mount Allison and Acadia; MTA’s website states “lecture 3 hours” for most courses except 400-level, which is “seminar 3 hours”–thus my worry, but it’s very possible that the lecture courses also include a discussion component.</p>
<p>University of King’s College was my first foray into the Canadian LAC scene, but ultimately I decided that the 1-year core would not leave me double-majoring flexibility if I choose to pursue it. My counselor has visited Acadia and STFX and other Nova Scotia schools; she warned me that STFX “feels very Catholic.” I’ve never heard of University of Vancouver Island, so I will investigate that.</p>
<p>If your parents are prepared to pay your EFC I’d suggest picking a favorite LAC and applying ED there. There are a handful of schools with their own financial aid calculators on their websites. Run your numbers and see where you stand. Pick one with no loans or a loan cap.</p>