<p>Greetings. I am a junior currently looking at a college list of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Barnard, Smith, Wellesley, and Dickinson. My mother wants me to put some safety schools on the list as well. However, I have a few necessary requirements, and so I would really appreciate any suggestions anyone has. I’m including my stats as well just so that the safety-quality of the school can be assured. I don’t know if there are any schools that fit this, but I appreciate your help. My criteria are as follows: </p>
<p>1) The school should be small, preferably 5000 students or less
2) The school must have Classics
3) I would rather it didn’t have a STRONG religious affiliation. Ethnically I’m Jewish, but I don’t really practice anything.</p>
<hr>
<p>Gender: F
Location: Long Island, NY
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Public
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>
<p>Academics:</p>
<p>GPA - Unweighted: 4.00
Class Rank: 1
Class Size: 280</p>
<p>Scores:</p>
<p>SAT I Math: 710
SAT I Critical Reading: 800
SAT I Writing: 790
ACT: 32
AP Chem: 5
AP European History: 5</p>
<p>Next Year’s Schedule: </p>
<p>AP Calculus BC
AP English Language
AP Biology
SUPA (college level) Public Affairs / SUPA Economics
Latin V
Ancient Greek II (Independent Study)
Chorus</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Significant Extracurriculars: Blue Masques (Drama Club), Chamber Choir, Mentathletes (Trivia Team)
Leadership positions: None
Athletic Status - list sport and your level: None
Volunteer/Service Work: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Renaissance Kid Summer Camp CIT (4 years), Radio Show Benefit
Honors and Awards: Student of the Month in English, Science, and Foreign Language; Student of the Year in Science, Math (2 Years), and History (2 Years); High Honor Roll; Who’s Who Among High School Students 2006-2
College Summer programs: None</p>
<p>You seem like a very strong student, and based on the (awesome) people I know at the schools you listed, they got in with nowhere near as stellar a resume as you have. Then again, I don’t know if any of these schools are “safety” schools for you.</p>
<p>And because you’re from NY, I’d also suggest looking into Binghamton (Geneseo sounds more ideal for you, but they don’t have a classics program):</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your prompt response. I had already looked into Bard at another time, but I will definitely take a careful look at these schools.</p>
<p>If we use the US News “National Liberal Arts” rankings as a rough guide to selectivity, then the schools you have listed run all the way from #4 to #41. Sarah Lawrence is #45. </p>
<p>A couple of other possibilities at the lower end of this range might include Connecticut College (at #39) and Skidmore (at #48). Both of these schools are coed, but were historically women’s colleges; both still have a predominantly female enrollment, by a 60-40 margin or so (I mention these points because you are obviously interested in women’s colleges). Both have Classics Depts.</p>
<p>I don’t normally “chance” people, but based on your qualifications, you might want to add some more selective schools to your list, rather than more safeties. For example, if you are considering Bryn Mawr (#20) and Haverford (#9), then you might also want to consider their Tri-College partner Swarthmore (#3).</p>
<p>You know, Dickinson is probably pretty much a safety for you… particularly if you do their non-binding EA application. I have a friend who got in RD and is going there next year whose stats are nowhere near as good as yours.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for more “semi-reach” and “good fit” schools try: Amherst College (MA), Middlebury College (VT), Bowdoin College (ME), Swarthmore College ¶, Wesleyan University (CT), Williams College (MA).</p>
<p>Some other suggestions of “likely” and “safety” schools: Brandeis University (MA), Bucknell University ¶, Clark University (MA), Connecticut College (CT), Franklin & Marshall College ¶, Gettysburg College ¶, Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY), Lehigh University ¶, Skidmore College (NY), Trinity College (CT), Union College (NY), University of Rochester (NY), University of Richmond (VA), Ursinus College ¶, Washington & Lee University (VA), Wheaton College (MA).</p>
<p>You’re in at Smith. It’s not really a competitive school. You’re well above the average SAT and GPA. That’s your safety. You have a shot at all the others; the co-ed ones will be harder to get into because there is a growing preference for males at liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence is full of New York University hippie-types, just in case you’d like to know. That’s why I got turned off by the school. It’s easy to get into compared to the other colleges you listed, but I just really don’t like the atmosphere.</p>
<p>Oberlin College also has an excellent classics department and meets your size criterion; its student body is about 25% Jewish and more of its students are from NY and California than the midwest – it is not a “safety” but with your scores and grades may be a “match.” If you are also interested in music, it might hold an added appeal. Also, unlike many of the schools you mention, it offers merit aid.</p>
<p>I strongly recommend Beloit. It has an excellent Classics program as well as an Egyptologist (fairly unique among LACs). </p>
<p>Bates, Franklin & Marshall, Furman, Grinnell, Kenyon, Trinity (TX and CT), Hamilton, and Kenyon also have decent programs. Wooster has a good Classical Studies program, but offerings in Greek and Latin are a bit limited. Tufts would be a good match.</p>
Definitely not. First off, the readings in ancient lit are completed halfway through sophomore year. Furthermore, the OP has surpassed the level of Latin taught at St. John’s, and they have virtually no offerings in Classics other than philosophy and some literature.</p>
<p>Fair enough… I didn’t know what to include, so I just threw everything in… Oh, and thank you for your recommendation, hoedown. It won’t let me edit it now though!</p>