I am looking to help round out a college list for a family member of mine. She has decided on applying to Liberal Arts Colleges and has found some solid safeties and matches that she would be happy to attend, but would now like to add some reaches that she would have a “realistic” shot at possibly gaining admittance to.
Stats:
UW GPA: 3.67
ACT Superscore: 33 (31 single sitting)
School does not rank
Has taken almost only honors/AP courses
Multiple leadership positions, but overall very well-rounded without any significant hooks
Interested in Chemistry/Biology
I’m assuming places like Amherst and Williams are out of reach, but would like an idea about what some reach LACs might be worth applying to that she would have at least some chance of competing. Location does not really matter, but would prefer not to be out West. Thank you!
The majority of the NESCACs, I think, supercore the ACT, and would be good schools to look into for reaches. Connecticut College, and probably a few others, could be options for her.
What schools are already on her list? Might help give some context for suggestions. Does she like more urban or rural/remote? And what state is she from? Sometimes geographic diversity can help. If she is from Wyoming or Mississippi, for ex, that might be really appealing to a top NE school with few students from that state.
Thank you all for the suggestions so far. I will definitely look more into each option and will pass them along.
To answer some of the questions asked, she is from Illinois and says she wants more of an urban/suburban school, but she did enjoy her visit to Sewanee, which is pretty rural, so I think she would consider either type of environment.
One other consideration I did not mention is that she would like to attend a school that has a strong music (voice) program that is open to non-majors.
Overall, her top choice at this point is Lawrence. She also really liked her visits to Denison and Rhodes.
@stybtaalb, with your daughter’s STEM and arts interests, Hamilton College would seem like a great fit for a reach school - we have twin DD’s at Hamilton and both are really enjoying it!
Women who graduate from women’s colleges are over represented in positions of leadership in most sectors, such as business, politics, academia, etc.
Many have cross-reg or consortium agreements with co-ed schools, so she can choose to attend classes and join clubs with men
Many allow men overnight in the dorms.
Transportation is often free – there are often private shuttle buses among the campuses and, in Mt. Holyoke’s case, special buses to shopping and services.
Wellesley offers cross-reg with MIT
Smith and Mt. Holyoke offer cross reg with each other and with Amherst and UMass Amerst and Hampshire
Barnard is across the street from Columbia U
She said no West Coast but Scripps is part of the Claremont Consortium with top schools and Mills (which just cut its tuition to $28K per year, a 36% decrease) offers cross reg at Berkeley
Maybe Trinity (ct), Macalester, Bryn mawr, maybe Union (ny). Several mentioned above (Colgate, Hamilton. Colby, Bates) probably are not going to pass the urban/suburban test if that’s important.
Bates would fit a more urban vibe in Lewiston Maine. If she’s willing to attend a women’s college then Bryn Mawr could be a possibility as it’s location is very suburban and with its consortium program with Haverford it has a lot of flexibility. I think Carleton would also provide a more suburban feeling given its location next to St. Olaf which then means there’s 5,000 students in Northfield, but its going to be a real reach with a 3.67 W GPA.