<p>This is with regards to our oldest (and no others that I have spoken about otherwise). He is the one who is a senior now. He has good SAT scores (600’s, but will be retaking) and mediocre grades, but has taken all preAP, AP, and GT courses. I think he is about a B average type student. He is coming out of what is supposed to be a top public school, with extra curriculars, volunteer work, and some political work. </p>
<p>Here is his list… Austin College, Cornell College (his top choice), UTDallas…but he is also applying to, but unlikely to attend Baylor, Texas A&M, and UNT. He saw Rhodes College at a college fair recently and decided to add that to the list.</p>
<p>I need to add that he is definitely going to be a computer science major. But he would prefer a LAC because he wants to double major in political economy/history and would potentially like to study abroad at some point.</p>
<p>Should we just leave it alone? He loves Cornell College so perhaps figure if he gets in there, he is good? Or should be add more colleges to his list? There is a college fair today we were going to if my daughter gets home from class in time. If he comes along to that, he can see others. I have just been clueless on whatever else he should add in. </p>
<p>He does best when he makes an emotional connection with classes. He is the sort of person who sits in the front row of a class and always has his hand up answering questions and contributing. If he is in a big lecture class, he will likely just lose his way and probably drop out. Thanks!</p>
<p>(also, I just came by Texas Wesleyan, is that one worth looking at?)</p>
<p>If he’s unlikely to attend those 3 colleges, why even waste the time and energy to apply? </p>
<p>My D loved Austin College on her visit there. She really enjoyed their classes that she sat in on and she had great meetings with two department heads. They have great study abroad programs at that college. She ended up choosing another small LAC but we still have love for Austin. :-)</p>
<p>If you have any limits on your ability to pay full sticker price at any of these schools, you have to think about that, too. The first and most important task is to find one or more schools that he would be happy to attend where both admissions and finances are a sure thing.</p>
<p>Has he visited these schools (sounds like not Rhodes, but the others)? It can make a big difference in his perception if he hasn’t, and his list can get awfully short in a hurry if there are affordability issues or no admissions to some of the schools on his list.</p>
<p>He visited all except Cornell College and Rhodes. About Cornell though, I used to live there and friends I had from growing up sent letters detailing their experiences. We also looked it up on google maps to show him what the area looks like, sort of. He interviewed with the rep. when he came to our area.</p>
<p>He is not an automatic admit for A&M, but he wanted to apply anyway and did already. He is an automatic admit for UNT, but we do not like it much, and he liked it there. It is affordable too. And Baylor, well…they are expensive. They said he would qualify for a scholarship and the application is free, so he applied there. But I just cannot really see affording that school.</p>
Nothing wrong with LACs, but you can double major and study abroad at bigger universities too. Double majoring and going abroad may take some extra planning.</p>
<p>We visited Cornell College, and liked the appearance of New England-style campus and its tiny town setting. If your son feels he’ll be happy in a small cute town, then I didn’t see any red flags. Big city is about 30 minutes away. Food will improve dramatically this year with new vendor Bon Appetit (vendor of choice for upscale Midwest LACs). Oddly, this college doesn’t have a swimming pool. Seemed like a very nurturing, happy place.</p>
<p>I would make sure you visit Austin College, it is a beautiful little campus and the kids are very friendly. But the area is also small. UNT does have a very good Computer Science department. I know several kids that are attending there and really like it.</p>