<p>I’m a female Hispanic LGBT Buddhist attending a Catholic HS in northern CA.
SAT: 2070 (800w, 630m, 650cr) only taken once
GPA: 4.18w, 3.78uw
SATII: US History (680), Literature (700)
APs: APUSH (5), AP Lang (5)
My class ranking is not very good. Top quarter of class though.
My course schedule lacks rigor (i.e. instead of taking AP Calc senior year am taking precalc) but my grades show an extreme upward trend. Additionally, I suffered from an eating disorder for 3 and a half years, and my junior year was dedicated to recovery. It largely contributed to my academic weaknesses, which I intend to make clear in my essays.<br>
ECs:
Editor in Chief of school newspaper
Began a marine conservation club
On the board of community LGBT youth organization
Board member of school diversity club
100+ service hours working in impoverished preschool
Humane Society Volunteer
Attorney in Mock Trial </p>
<p>I am love with schools like Columbia, Tufts, Reed, UChicago, NYU Gallatin, Brown. However I think those are all reaches for me - yes? What are some schools that fit a wildly creative right brain outside of the box thinker? Or top tier schools that are unpredictable in sometimes accepting more average students?</p>
<p>First, you need to start with your stats. This is the part of your SAT that counts:</p>
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<p>Many, many schools (especially more competitive ones) disregard the writing section and recalculate the M/CR portions together–which leaves you with a 1280.</p>
<p>I also don’t understand why someone as seemingly unconventional as you would care so much about “top tier” schools (other than the fact that they are in cities). Reed I could see, but I’m not sure you would get in.</p>
<p>What is it you want to do? </p>
<p>Why not look at solid Catholic schools in fun cities with a strong creative culture? You could try St. Edward’s in Austin, DePaul or Loyola in Chicago, St. Thomas in St. Paul, University of Portland.</p>
<p>I found UPortland, for example, extremely boring. I love quirky unique intellectual schools, where people discuss Chomsky and subcultures like hipster all over a normal dinner conversation.</p>
Have you actually visited all those schools or do you love what you’ve heard/read about them? I think Reed is the only one you would have a remote chance of getting in to. I’m not sure Buddhism is considered atheistic. Try looking at Lewis and Clark. It looks staid but there is a strong intellectual culture running through the school.</p>
<p>I have been to all of the schools I listed. Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion. Why do you think I won’t get into NYU? My SAT is above its average and GPA not far off</p>
<p>The only school I can think of that fits all your criteria is Eugene Lang, which is totally doable with your scores/GPA. And in Manhattan. And very much a discuss Chomsky over dinner kind of place.</p>
<p>Other than that, all the quirky unusual schools with a lot of offbeat students that I can think of (and there are many which are wonderful and easily in your range) are all rural, suburban, or in small run-down cities.</p>
<p>Eugene Lang in NYC and Sarah Lawrence (right outside of NYC) are worth checking into. Perhaps some of the all women schools as such as Barnard, Smith etc. would suit you as well but they would be reaches. If you are interested in communication/performing arts, Emerson might work as well.</p>
<p>I suggest looking at St. Edward’s in Austin. It is Catholic, but many students there are not Catholic. You are not required to attend religious services of any form, and the Catholic status is very understated. When I visited in HS the only thing that was religious on campus was the quaint little chapel. I live in Austin and can tell you that it is a very nice city with a very diverse and active LGBTQ population.
I have a friends who went there for philosophy and political science and loved it. They enjoyed their professors and said the classes were very engaging and small. I have other friends who went there for art and theatre and consider their education to have been top notch.</p>
<p>Also, they offer scholarships to students who attended Catholic high schools, if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>Columbia isn’t really a quirky, offbeat school. It’s urban, and some of the students can be a little offbeat, but it doesn’t have an offbeat vibe. It’s different from Reed, Chicago, Gallatin and Brown. You should come visit, if you can.</p>
<p>For schools like Reed, I suggest Lewis & Clark (also in Portland but less competitive), Oberlin, Vassar, Skidmore, Sarah Lawrence, perhaps Colgate and Connecticut College. Since you’re a CA resident, Berkeley is an obvious suggestion, but so is UCSC and probably a few other UCs. I agree with the suggestion of Eugene Lang, but the New School is known for its bad financial aid offers.</p>
<p>You may also appreciate a women’s college - Smith and Mills are both quirkier campuses; Smith is in that top tier whereas Mills might be more of a low-match for you. You may also be interested in Bryn Mawr or Simmons. If you’re interested in Columbia, check out Barnard. A small women’s college that may offer you some financial aid is Agnes Scott College.</p>
<p>Look into Swarthmore, located 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia. There’s a train station at the foot of campus. Your SAT scores are low for Swat, but you said you’ve only taken them once. Are you planning to retake them this fall? Frankly, your Hispanic heritage may very well help you with admissions in general, not just at Swarthmore. “Quirky, unique, intellectual schools.” Many of those types of students at Swarthmore. You’d get all the intellectual conversations over dinner that you’d want. :)</p>
<p>Agree that no one would define Columbia as a school for quirky students and Columbia would be a reach for you just as it is for anyone. You might consider Barnard however as it is literally across the street and you share some facilities. All the students both family and friends of my d’s and from our high school who attended Columbia were very serious, pre-professional students. Columbia is diverse and does actually include a frat/sorority culture as well.
While not 100% urban you might take a look at Brandeis. It has more of a quirky vibe than Tufts which also attracts pre-professional and has a frat/sorority culture. Brandeis also attract serious pre-professional students as well.
It seems to me however that you are focusing on reach schools, and need some safeties and matches.</p>
<p>2nd vote for Macalester. I think you’d be quite comfortable there.</p>
<p>Not yet mentioned but certainly viable given your stats are Beloit, Hendrix, and Evergreen. None are in really urban areas (Beloit kinda, sorta is) but all feature support for individuality.</p>
<p>New College in FL has something of this reputation, too. Again not highly urban but not in a small town, either.</p>
<p>There are 2 Florida schools, the New College, (part of the University system) in Sarasota and Eckerd in St. Petersburg. Both seem to fit your criteria about students, environment and culture. Both are noted for having quirky and bright students. Eckerd has a great philosophy of stewardship of the land and respect for individuals and cultures. There are quite a few LAC’s that would match what you are looking for. I also have family that attended Sarah Lawrence and can vouch that school as well. Conn. College seems a little too preppy based upon the description of my daughter’s friend that graduated from there.</p>