I know you’re not looking for long shots but if you’re really really good at the harp, you should consider Princeton. Michael Pratt, the conductor, has historically had some sway with admissions (similar I think to what happens for recruited athletes on the back end) and it looks like one of his two harpists will be graduating. They have a phenomenal history dept and also the School of Public and International Affairs.
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This may have just been something my friend told me, but I have heard that Vanderbilt is super hard to get in without ED. Is it worth applying?
Of course it’s worth applying - if you want to go.
It’s hard to get in with ED and without.
Last year 3368 were admitted. 901 admitted early and that likely includes athletes.
Thank you so much for all the help! No seriously, each and every one of you guys have truly made me less stressed about the college admission process - and I found cool schools along the way! Do you think these would classify more as safeties… or something else?
Thank you so much! I am likely going to apply to CNU as a target because the campus is really pretty and my friend who graduated last year goes there!
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Oh it’s no worries! All I really want is to find a college I will truly love! (my grandparents are really pushy about prestigious schools, but I don’t pay them much mind)
Oh I know that one! My harp director actually went there and absolutely loved it! Does anyone else have any idea about the food?
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Honestly, I have no preference about going to a top school - I just want to get in somewhere (I swear it’s in like every nightmare where I get into zero schools). I mean sure it would be nice to get into an ivy so I can prove to myself that I worked hard, but I really don’t know if I would actually attend. I really just want to meet my people?
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Your stats are definitely in the Vandy wheelhouse. Not sure about the orchestra part of your journey.
But Vandy is a great school. Beautiful campus in a great town. They love demonstrated interest . So to maximize acceptance you should visit if possible, watch videos, communicate with AO.
@tsbna44 lives in Nashville so he can probably give you more information.
You are a great candidate for lots of schools with a very unique skill set. You are bound for success wherever you end up. Good luck.
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Have the correct list, and this is assured.
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William and Mary sounds like the perfect school for you, and it is a match for sure. You should ask your counselor, but UVa is also probably a match. WM is highly likely to be a much better fit for you than UVA. Other schools with the same vibe of slightly nerdy plus the other things you mentioned including music and IR/Global interests would be some of the ivies including Cornell, as well as JHU, Emory, Rice, WashUSTL, Davidson, Williams, Swarthmore, Kenyon, and UChicago. Yes many are reaches, but some could be more like matches. You are a top student so far. Keep your grades up and keep challenging yourself with coursework, and get to know your teachers/be impactful at your school.
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Denver is VERY cool. I love Denver! Went there once to go to a family friend’s wedding and the air was so DRY. Man, so cool. Do you know what my chances would be like there?
Macalester also sounds super cool! Do you know what the transportation into the two downtowns is like?
Also, maybe it was just me, but I just didn’t really vibe with William and Mary? Like I was a little afraid to admit this before, but the student population almost felt too serious. And after living there for four weeks, it just felt a little stifling. It might have been the food, though. Maybe I need to reconsider my specifications?
OH that’s very cool! Honestly, I’m not sure if I’m great enough for an ivy, but I will likely make all-state this year (I was 8 points away from making it last year and that was the year I threw up during the audition)! Do you think it would be worth applying?
AHHH it’s an honor that you all think I’m a strong candidate - I think I’m too used to seeing perfect applications on social media and doubting myself. I’m not sure if I would be able to visit just because my summer is already looking packed, but are there other ways to show interest?
If you would like to explore academically with few constraints, you may benefit from exploring college with notably flexible curricula:
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Denver should be a pretty likely admit for you, probably with aid (many of my kids’ friends who happen to play instruments have gotten in with aid in part because of music - and they were not planning to be music majors). Very strong in music, excellent IR, and a terrific history department (spouse teaches there). Don’t know about the food, but it’s in a neighborhood with lots of great restaurants, and right near the light rail, so you could be downtown in 15 minutes.
Macalester is also fantastic. I don’t know about music (or food), but both history and IR are great, and it has a fairly international student body for a LAC. Location is excellent – cute neighborhood, restaurants close by, and easy access to light rail, which can take you to downtown Minneapolis, which is an excellent city with lots going on.
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DU is a safety with merit.
It’s got a good reputation in IR but I’m not sure it fits your personality. DU has public transport into the city.
I’m not sure W&M works…well it depends on how important is the foodie part? It’s why I mentioned Charleston which is a safety - but the Fellows and International Scholars makes it great (if you could get). Williamsburg is not a food haven - although they have a little touristy area right off campus. Charleston is small campus -right in downtown - so you are steps form the action.
Brandeis could be a match - and Boston will have great food. Occidental in Los Angeles is another match/likely - and while not immediate, you’ll have great eateries abound.
Case Western could work - it has an institute of International affairs (like a Charleston, which has the Mroz Institute) - and while known for STEM, it’s solid in social science. Lots of music, etc. And great Italian food a close walk away.
Trinity in San Antonio is another - and you’re right by lots of Texas food in San Antonio. Rhodes, in Memphis, another foodie city.
For large schools, IU and UGA would both be great. IU a safety and UGA a match/maybe low reach. IU would have more “foodie” options I think but both are strong in history and International.
Your concern shouldn’t be finding an admit - there’s lots out there. And you’d get into far more schools than you wouldn’t.
You should go see some nearby schools - so you develop a campus type you like and then we find for you - and again start with asking mom and dad about utilizing their employee benefit.
It’s great they saved but it could be that they want to take advantage of being a Richmond employee…it’s a great perk of the school and it might somewhat define your list given partner schools…
Good luck.
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Do you have any interest in participating in Model UN in college?
Since you’ve had 40 hours of shadowing an appellate court judge and founded Model Judiciary, do you think law school might be in your future?
Do you have interest in being on a college dance team, or a cappella groups, or…?
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Assuming you keep up the academics, very good! Their middle 50% GPA UW was 3.73 to 3.94, middle 50% SAT was 1260-1430, overall acceptance rate is 78%. Their international school is VERY important to them, so I think they would also love a high numbers applicant with that interest.
This would classify it as a solid likely for you by my definitions. So to me the real game there would (hopefully) be merit. They scale up to $33000 a year, plus another $3000 if you live in the residence halls–see here:
As another poster also reported, they also have talent scholarships your music may qualify you for–I don’t know anything more than that but it is definitely worth looking into.
You are obviously going to be competitive for some generally higher-ranked schools, but I always think having some actually really interesting likelies is a good idea–and some people then fall in love with their likelies, including after getting merit. So based on what you told us and the possibility of merit, DU definitely seems worth considering for such an option.
Yes, so the Metro Green Line is about a 20 minute walk away, and then that goes between the two Downtowns. There are also buses, which can cut out walking time. I also get the feeling a lot of people just use a rideshare, particularly for small group outings.
You don’t have to like William & Mary! I do think that is maybe a bit encouraging, though, for a school like Denver, say. DU is a little complicated vibe-wise because I think it can depend on the school. But based on your assessment of William & Mary, it might be a little more on target for you, at least in Korbel. Same with Macalester, versus say Carleton.
Edit: Oh, I think this is an interesting resource for people with a possible IR interest. A little old at this point but from a good industry source:
DU was at #29 for undergraduate, Macalester #37. Since this is including both universities and SLACs and in fact non-US schools, that is all quite good.
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I don’t know, honestly. I think it’s always a crapshoot. Your stats are solid so I think you’re in the bubble. But the key thing here would be to connect with the conductor and find out more about the orchestra (preferably after you’ve leveled up in all-state). I will say that I’ve heard Princeton is pretty different now than it was back in the 90s when I was there – I guess kids don’t push themselves that hard all through high school and then just go all kumbayah when they show up on campus. I would have a very hard time saying no to my son if he were to get in (he won’t) but I’m not sure how psychologically healthy these places are these days. This blog (Advice from a Nostalgic Senior | Princeton Admission) rang some alarm bells for me. (Seriously, most of my friends in undergrad did a healthy amount of hanging out and doing non-career focused things. If anything, perhaps most of us were too little focused on what would come next. We dated! and worked in coffee houses and arts councils, planned elaborate club initiations, played music, wrote bad poetry, hung out in the tv room at our eating club and watched the Simpsons even when we were supposed to be cranking on our theses. It all worked out just fine. I hope some kids with that balanced approach still make it in. I can’t wrap my brain around feeling guilty for indulging in…a capella?!)
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