Match me and give me advice as a current junior from CA with some specific needs (UW 3.9 GPA)

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US citizen
  • State/Location of residency: California, LA County area specifically
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public underfunded arts charter high school (with around 500 students)
  • Other special factors:
    • Not a flex, but I’ve switched high schools three times (and that was not even because of moving… I just really didn’t like the first two [also public] schools…)
    • I do have (diagnosed!) autism, executive dysfunction (possibly ADHD but I’m getting tested), and a slew of mental health conditions that make life difficult. I suppose I’d be considered 2E or “twice-exceptional” though I find that a strange term. This is something that I have to take into serious consideration when applying to schools because when I was at a loud noisy school with over 2000 people it overwhelmed me so badly that I could barely even talk to anyone.
    • LGBTQ+
    • I am also looking mostly at the PNW, the West outside of California, the East Coast, and the Midwest. But mostly the PNW (slash West at large) and the East Coast. For sensory purposes I would like to be somewhere with SOME at least slightly cold weather as well as access to nature. So natural beauty wherever I go would be a huge plus!

Cost Constraints / Budget

Parents’ income (mom and stepdad): WAY over 100k so they are not just upper middle class but rich, and my dad (who I am trying to separate myself from as much as I can due to personal reasons and likely won’t be able to pay much for my college anyway due to his instability) makes about 100k or less from my understanding.

Willing to spend: My mom said I can go wherever I want, but I still would like her to have to spend as little as possible so I am not in any way being a burden. Plus I want to be able to rely on myself as much as I can in the future and be as economical as possible. I am heavily privileged but have had a rough life in some ways and do not want to live in complacency by leeching off my parents.

Intended Major(s)

English but I also want to study History along with Psychology/Sociology/Philosophy/Religious Studies (I know… there’s lots of options I’m considering. If none of those end up being my major I at least want to take classes in them since I enjoy all those subjects.) and possibly Drama on top of it all (since theater is something I am passionate about and I enjoy being in plays!).

Journalism is also something I am considering studying as it is one of the higher paying professions that involves writing from my understanding, though I’ve never been involved in a newspaper but would like to be involved in my school’s newspaper and possibly others soon.

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.9 (had to calculate myself so it may not be the most accurate!)
  • Weighted HS GPA: N/A
  • Class Rank: N/A (school doesn’t give out ranks)
  • ACT/SAT Scores: N/A (haven’t taken it yet, my PSAT score in 10th grade was 1250, though I have barely learned enough math due to switching schools so many times and am not expecting a good SAT or ACT score math wise…)

List your HS coursework

  • English: Currently in AP Lang, highest thus far is Honors English 10
  • Math: Currently in Integrated Math III, planning to take Statistics next year
  • Science: Currently in Chemistry, planning to take APES (or Environmental Science, or Physics) next year
  • History and social studies: Currently in APUSH, highest thus far is AP World (got a 5 on the test!)
  • Language other than English: Currently in Spanish 1, taking Spanish 2 next year
  • Visual or performing arts: Film Production (freshman), Film then Instrumental Ensemble/Music Theory (sophomore), Upper Level Acting and Musical Theater plus Fine Arts 2 (junior year [now!])
  • Other academic courses: Advanced Creative Writing (currently)

College Coursework

  • Took ANTHRO 001 as a 7th grader via a dual enrollment program

Awards

  • None thus far

Extracurriculars

This is where I fall flat:

  • Never had a job before
  • Haven’t done a lick of volunteer work (though I will this summer as it is required to have service hours at my school in order to graduate)
  • Overall have been somewhat of a lazy bum though due to personal factors and mental health problems I’d argue it’s not entirely my fault? But I don’t want to make excuses for myself either…
  • I LOVE writing (currently short) fiction though, and have submitted 5 pieces to the Scholastic Writing Awards. Results are pending. I’m also looking to apply to writing workshops and lit mags and whatever else. It’s one of my biggest interests for sure. Writing is what I want to do in the future even when working other jobs. I love reading books and analyzing them as well.
  • I also play the drums on-and-off and am joining a band this upcoming semester just as an aside. Music is something that is very important to me.

Essays/LORs/Other

  • Essays: N/A (though I am a good writer so I doubt this being too much trouble for me)
  • LORs: N/A (my current English teacher likes me a lot though, and my history teacher too I believe!)

Schools
(List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)

I have no idea what my chances are currently since I am still a junior halfway through the school year. But in my head I have mostly two choices in terms of colleges:

  1. Private Liberal Arts Colleges (LACs), mostly considering the ones on the East Coast (places like Williams, Colby, etc. though I haven’t visited any of them, mostly New England ones since that is where a lot of my extended family lives) or in the Midwest, though as my username and love of Modest Mouse suggests I DO love the West and would also like to study here so don’t get me wrong on that front!
  2. Honors colleges within public universities like U of Denver (for example, I do like the look of Colorado), so I can still get small class sizes with the benefit of lower cost via programs like WUE.
  3. Public LACs, if any would fit me.

I would prefer to go really anywhere but California (I need distance from my immediate family, mostly my dad, though I am considering applying to SOME places here outside of LA) and other states with super hot weather… nor any states that are ultra-conservative. I am not NOT open to the South, but it is more so the laws regarding the LGBTQ+ community in some states there (as well as in the Midwest) that worry me. I have nothing personal against any region of the U.S. in particular and I appreciate them all equally.

So ultimately I am open to all regions of the U.S. in terms of college.

I don’t really care whether I go to a college that is public or private. I am someone who loves the humanities and therefore I also love diversity and different points of view. I’m not looking for somewhere that will just reinforce what I already believe. I want to be challenged and grow as a person. I certainly don’t want to be in a bubble with other rich kids, as I never have been and that’s something I fear about super expensive colleges. I also want somewhere that will prepare me to get jobs and not fill up my schedule with required classes that I don’t want (if possible!)

A definite safety I have considered is WWU, though I’m not sure if I’d like to attend there in reality due to things I have heard about the lack of diversity. I am unsure how selective I want to go. Colby would be an example of a big reach.

So let me know what places I should consider looking into for the future as someone with my interests and rather specific needs… and also let me know how I could possibly improve before senior year. Thanks! This is my first time posting so I am excited to know what people will think!

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You’ve got a great record and you have done a good job of having some thoughts about the kinds of environments that would best support your learning while still being open minded to lots of different ideas for college.

Im optimistic that you will find some great places.

University of Redlands comes to mind as being supportive and having that nature connection.

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For the specific question about state policies, the following may be helpful:

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Given what you described and not really making an effort EC wise, I’m guessing a Colby/Williams are not going to happen.

You might look at schools like Ithaca, Susquehanna and Wheaton or in the NW - Willamette or Puget Sound. Or Beloit or Kalamazoo in the MW.

Since you’d like to be less a burden financially , you might look at WUE schools - you mentioned WWU. Schools like Southern Oregon or even New Mexico or Colorado State.

It’s a bit early but I see two issues with the Colby’s of the world:

  1. Based on his you defined yourself, you won’t get in
  2. Based on your wealth but desire to spend less, they have no merit aid but many schools do and can get you down to half the cost.

PS U Denver is private, not public.

Pps - WWU is about 70% white. Not sure what level of diversity you seek but a U New Mexico is less than 30% white. New Mexico Highlands is a small WUE school, about 15% white.

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Smaller schools (with smaller classes) that are LGBTQ friendly that might be matches for you: Washington College (MD), Wheaton College (MA), St. Olaf (MN).

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Not a huge fan of lists because so many aren’t included but this could give you some ideas. But I’d check each school individually.

For diversity, it’s the South so that might be a struggle for you, but Agnes Scott in Atlanta could be a great as well.

The list won’t appear here - they block college express but google college express + 50 lgbtq friendly.

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How about SUNY Geneseo? It is New York’s public honors college. The cost of attendance is about $37k for out-of-state students. They have majors or minors in all of the subjects of interest that you mentioned, except for journalism.

The University of Washington has a beautiful campus, with views of Mount Rainier when the weather cooperates. I would consider Seattle to be slightly cold, for someone coming from L.A. The cost of attendance would be much higher than the price for SUNY Geneseo, though.

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If you want to write and investigate, then great. But print journalism is out of style and often contract today. In most cases, it will be on the lower end of the pay scale. That said, you need to pursue what you love.

Most schools will have a newspaper, even if they don’t have a journalism degree so that wouldn’t stop me journalists don’t need journalism degrees.

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If you feel the need to address this, I would make it a positive statement. Colleges want someone who wants them, not someone who is going to test them out and possibly transfer. They expect you to do the research in advance and be confident that you will thrive on their campus. If it is possible to leave this off of your application, my personal opinion is that you should.

California is a big state. You could head up to northern California and be just as far away from home as if you went to Arizona. Do you really need to move across the country in order to create an adequate distance from your parents? If you want to live/experience/explore a different region of the US, that’s a different story.

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Do we know the student’s gender? I don’t see it mentioned. Several of the women’s colleges could be worth considering if OP fits their gender-identity demographic (which is more flexible at some than others).

To run another “maybe” suggestion up the flagpole, I wonder whether Deep Springs College (or one of the newer schools based on its model, which are mentioned on this page ) might be something to consider. It’s a two-year program with a very strong record for transfer placement at top four-year schools. It’s technically in California, but in such a remote location that I doubt you would feel “too close to home.” Deep Springs would give you the “nature” piece in spades, and would absolutely mitigate your lack of experience with practical work / physical labor. It would also give you an intellectual experience that seems like a fit for your passions. OTOH, you’d have to put some of the more formal performing arts stuff on the back burner for those two years, though students do participate in various modes of artistic expression. The student reps who have posted in a very informative Reddit thread that I probably can’t link here say that the LGBTQ+ demographic is well-represented and that it’s a supportive environment for same. It’s tough to get in, because it’s so small, but it just struck me that this could be the kind of change-of-pace that could really fit the bill here.

Whitman hasn’t been mentioned yet. It’s small (1500 undergrads) and has both top-notch academics and excellent music. (I’m not familiar with their theater scene but they do offer a theater major so there must be performance opportunities.) They do merit pre-reads, so you could find out in advance how much merit aid you would get. The surrounding area isn’t as politically progressive as Portland or Seattle, but it certainly has natural beauty and 4 seasons nailed down, and between the welcoming environment of the college itself and the neutral purple-ish-ness of the city of Walla Walla, I wouldn’t worry about sending a queer student here. To me, it gives off the “intellectual but not overstimulating” vibe that you’re looking for. You might also find their biennial Semester In The West program appealing.

Also in the PNW, Lewis and Clark in Portland hasn’t been mentioned but could be a good fit. It’s close enough to downtown to give you access to the resources of the city, but far enough to offer a calm, non-urban campus experience. It’s slightly larger than Whitman but still only about 2000 students. (And it’s worth noting that a 2000-student college doesn’t feel like a 2000-student high school, because college campuses are so much larger and people have different focus areas - you’re practically never crammed in with all 2000 students at once!)

SOU has been mentioned and could be a great, affordable safety where the WUE discount would be guaranteed. It’s queer-friendly and theater-y in the extreme (with many connections to Ashland’s famed Shakespeare Festival, which sounds like a time-limited event but actually runs March to October and includes far more than Shakespeare, including musical theatre), but it’s also great at connecting academic learning with practical experience - my kid’s friends who went here got great internships and tons of mentoring and support. The area is lovely and nature-rich, and the school has the feel of a private LAC in many ways. They offer a BFA in creative writing, if that appeals, and programs in digital journalism and media innovation. SOU could be a great place to explore all of your interests in a relatively low-pressure setting which is also quite affordable under WUE. (And affordable lowers the pressure even more, because if you need to light-load at some point, and take an extra semester or year to graduate, the additional costs aren’t horrifying.)

WWU is great too, but larger and more urban. Hopefully you’ll be able to do campus visits and assess how each environment feels to you.

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I might have erred on the gender. I don’t see it.

Thx

Ps - glad you like SOU.

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But is it too close to Los Angeles County that the OP wants to get further away from?

OP was specifically concerned about state laws, and the state of Georgia is LGBT-unfriendly in that respect: Movement Advancement Project | State Profiles

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It seems worth mentioning that a number of colleges already discussed on this thread are part of the CTCL (“Colleges That Change Lives”) collective. The profiles on their website could be helpful in getting a feel for those schools (which include Whitman, Willamette, Puget Sound, Redlands, Beloit, Kalamazoo, and Agnes Scott) and could also bring additional possibilities to your attention. CTCL also does college fair events - the one in Los Angeles was in July last year; 2026 dates are pending.

I also forgot to revisit the Denver issue. U of Colorado Denver is a WUE school which has several different honors programs - this may be what you meant. It’s quite large and commuter-heavy, though, and isn’t the first thing I’d think of for a student seeking a more intimate and less overstimulating experience. U of Denver is private, more manageably-sized (6600 undergrads) and very strong in music (although there are pros and cons to being a non-major musician at a school with a true conservatory like U of Denver Lamont). UD might fit what you’re looking for, but I wonder if it’s a bit more pre-professional than you’d like. (Greatest strength, apart from music, is the business school.)

I wonder if you’d be interested in St. John’s College (see CTCL profile here: St. John’s College – Colleges That Change Lives), which has two campuses, in Annapolis, MD, and Santa Fe, NM. Their Great Books based curriculum can be great for students who love reading and writing. There isn’t the same performing arts critical mass here as at a larger school or one with actual performing arts majors, but there seems to be plenty going on in terms of arts opportunities, and maybe the more egalitarian club-based arts would be a fit for you. (Here are links to arts in Annapolis and Santa Fe) It doesn’t have the “every other student is a theatre kid” vibe of SOU, but the academic experience is something special and worth assessing whether it resonates with you. If it appeals, doing their Summer Academy program next summer would be a way to test-drive the experience.

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Sorry I should have clarified originally. I’m male. So unfortunately I could not go to any all women’s colleges, though to be honest some of them would be pretty great otherwise lol

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My apologies - not sure why I saw that. But lots of good suggestions above.

I really do think Ithaca is a good one to look at - it comes on the top of many lists for LGBTQ friendly. It’s near gorgegous nature.

An interesting suggestion I noticed on a list - and more pre professional which might suit you - with a minor in History and others that may interest you like Peace/Social Justice Studies or Women/Gender/Sexuality Studies (sort of sociology based) - but it’s not nature, etc - in fact it’s urban (in Boston) but is Emerson. But you mentioned higher pay. And nature isn’t horribly far - a lot of schools have outing clubs.

Pitt is known to be LGBTQ friendly and is just solid in most everything. It’s in the city but nature isn’t horribly far. As noted, a lot have outing clubs - many kids like nature.

Since you mentioned the Northwest, it’s a bit further out, but Whitman is in Washington (mid state), known to be LGBTQ friendly, outstanding school supposedly academically, and they’ll tell you your cost (merit) before even applying - i.e. a pre-read.

So a few more to maybe put on your perusal list.

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Ithaca - great communications school - pretty easy admit- not too big, access to nature - -super lgbtqia friendly

Emerson (city school, bit overlooks Boston’s common, lots of public transit so can access lots of pretty places if wanted) may be too busy for you- very accepting vibe though super lgbtqia friendly

UVM - bigger school but BIG on nature - as liberal as a city as they come - (has a small airport- can get to CA with 1 connection) VT is gorgeous and close to Montreal..super lgbtqia friendly

Conn college? A bit Easier admits than ME LACS, not rural, but campus is contained and green.

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I feel like would be a big reach but I would be remiss not to point out vassar which seems like a good match all around too. Maybe if can rock SATs or Such!

Oh Bennington and Hampshire! Not super hard admits! Bennington is small and so so beautiful and in nature!

Good luck!

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For context, the driving distance from Los Angeles to Las Vegas (UNLV) is about 4 hours, while the driving distance to Phoenix (ASU) is a little over 5 hours. If that driving distance or greater is the actual criterion, then schools in California would be limited to those at or north of Monterey (CSUMB) or Merced (UCM). However, the preference for smaller colleges likely removes many of the possible colleges from the list, although Sonoma State University, a CSU that markets itself as a public LAC, is north of Monterey and Merced.

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I second Connecticut College. Also maybe Bard? And the College of New Jersey (public but relatively small) is kind of a sleeper gem in my book.

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I actually have visited Emerson (was in the Boston area with extended family who live there) but I wasn’t all that impressed by it. Unfortunately it didn’t seem all that academic and I am someone who cares a lot about learning. Plus the campus (or lack of it) seemed a little boring despite me liking Boston as an area overall. The other ones I will look into though!

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