Schools that Fit a CTCL-Loving Girl?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>I’m looking for schools that fit me as a person, but also would have hopefully-promising economic offerings. I really am hoping for decent financial aid (my dad works - 70k) and/or a merit based scholarship. I keep worrying that my schools aren’t really what I want, since I’m not much of a party-er, and not at all into drugs (sooooo iffy about Hampshire).</p>

<p>I’m interested in Wesleyan, Oberlin, Brandeis and Amherst, and recognize them as probable reaches. Hampshire, Bennington, Guilford, Binghamton, Geneseo, UAlbany, Macaulay Honors College, Skidmore, Reed, Allegheney, Lawrence U, Northeastern, Sarah Lawrence, Rutgers, Vasser, Clark, UC Santa Cruz, UVermont, Eckerd, Ithaca, Stonehill, Emerson and Smith </p>

<p>Of these schools, which do you think are a good fit for my interests, and offer some-what financial stability? Other suggestions? Which don’t fit me?</p>

<p>The Schools:
-Good teacher/student relationships
-Less than 7.5k kids (hopefully)
-I like schools with a lot of opportunities, have sustainability/vegetarian friendly, and possibly have a decent (small is ok!) Jewish group/Hillel.
-I like academic schools with an artistic side, not necessarily crazy unusual, but able to find people for deep conversation willing to branch into topics they may not be overly familiar with. Very interesting people, that fall over all different spectrums.
-I like schools that offer me the opportunity to take control of my own studies (design your own major is a positive), and do interdisciplinary studies. But I also enjoy structure and a challenge, though not to the point of constant anxiety.
-My school doesn’t need to be within a city, but being a decent distance from one would be nice. I’m not a huge fan of the south, and my dad prefers me not being more than 8 hours away by car, preferably less
-My planned major is either a double of Theater/Business or Communications/English, both with a minor in creative writing</p>

<p>My Stats:
I’m a Caucasian Jewish girl living in New York City. My parent’s are “upper middle class”
My high school is an audition-based arts school where I’m a drama major
SAT: 1910/1930 ---- CR/M: 1310 ||| ACT: 27 ||| GPA: 3.7 ||| Rank: #6
<em>My school only offers 2 honors and 2 AP classes. I took APUSH and honors english last year, honors Global sophomore, and am in AP Lit
*</em>I’m also taking a college (now) course at CUNY Hunter College in Media Studies</p>

<p>My EC:
-School Activities: SGO (3 years; member), Community Service Club and GSA (1 year) Stage Management (1 year), Senior Leadership Team (exclusive and application based; on poster committee as of right now); Peer Mentoring (2 years); National Honor Society (since sophomore year)
-Out of School Curriculars: Writing Club (1 year; president), Entertainment Writer of an Online Magazine (since March, published online monthly, have done 12 articles so far*)
-Internships: ~I’ve interned at an off-broadway company for three years, and have been invited back after each year to continue working; ~also a summer internship with Bloomberg Philanthropies - where I worked at a city park helping as an artist’s assistant, created a worker evaluation form and planned and managed their Halloween festival’s performance segment until my internship ended.
-Community Service: Mentoring, and Grading for teachers
*Some of those articles will be in my portfolio (possibly along with some personal writing)</p>

<p>Apps:
I have three teachers who know me incredibly well and have written recommendations for me in the past on board, as well as my guidance recc down, and my theatre internship boss is willing to write me one as well
Really good common app essay in it’s final drafting phase, just planning on running it by a few teachers, but have received a lot of praise on it.</p>

2

<p>Have you considered Muhlenberg?</p>

3

<p>It sounds like you already have a pretty clear set of criteria and the kind of schools that fit. We can rattle off the names of a few more CTCL and similar schools, but you’ve probably been looking at them already. At this point, somebody has to do the detailed research, particularly on the costs and likely aid for a person with your family income, assets, etc. You have access to those numbers, we don’t.</p>

<p>So start running the online net price calculators for these schools (especially the “match” schools). After you get figures for the Expected Family Contributions, have a serious talk with your parents about whether they are able and willing to cover those amounts. </p>

<p>Here is the average percentage of demonstrated need that some of these schools meet:</p>

<p>Amherst - 100%
Wesleyan - 100%
Reed - 100%
Skidmore - 95%
Sarah Lawrence - 90%
Lawrence - 88%
Bennington - 80%
Guilford - 80%</p>

<p>In general, the more selective schools are more likely to meet full need. But they’re also, well, more selective. You’ll need at least one school that is safe for both admission and costs. Can your parents afford the full cost of Geneseo (~$19K)?</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none[/url]”>http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Since you are “upper middle class” in NYC I doubt a college that meets need will help. Your probable need will be close to 0. Denison U (close to Columbus OH and ~ 10 hours from NYC) offers good merit aid in addition to need based. Keep Geneseo and Bing on your list. I’d also recommend you look at New Paltz.</p>

5

<p>Wait, in the first paragraph you say you need financial aid and write " (my dad works - 70k)", then later on you say ‘My parent’s are “upper middle class”’ - um, I’m confused. </p>

<p>I’m not saying 70K is a low income but it’s not upper middle class (especially in NYC). Now, you forgot a 0 (700K?) then you’re upper middle class in NYC.</p>

6

<p>At $70K (with typical assets) you’ll get significant n-b FA from many selective private schools. At $700K, you won’t.</p>

7

<p>I second Muhlenberg and you can also consider Dickinson and SUNY New Paltz</p>

8

<p>I promise you my dad doesn’t make $700k, it’s $70k. Then I suppose we’re middle class?</p>

9

<p>$70K with typical assets should qualify for need-based FA at selective private LACs. According to IPEDS, the average net price for students in your family’s income bracket is $15,892 for Reed, $19,980 for Skidmore, and $21,616 for Lawrence ([The</a> Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System - Home Page](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/]The”>IPEDS)). Use the online Net Price Calculators for an estimate of Expected Family Contributions based on income and other factors.</p>