Trim my college list or suggest additional colleges

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Colleges currently on my list:
Dartmouth
Haverford
Pomona
Cornell (large, but variety of course offerings is appealing)
Oberlin
Brown
Vassar
UCSB/UCSD/UCB*/UCLA
Amherst?
Bates?</p>

<p>*I’m only applying to UCB because four colleges are included with the fee waiver, but I think the impersonal atmosphere there would be harder to bear (than at the other UCs) since the academic atmosphere is also very cutthroat.</p>

<p>What I want in a college:

  • Personal feel, strong sense of community (Is this possible in a large school like Cornell?)
  • Safe surroundings (not Chicago)
  • Strong academics/quality undergraduate education
  • Attractive campus with greenery</p>

<p>Also, can anyone speak of the importance of alumni networking? </p>

<p>Thanks for all suggestions!</p>

2

<p>I think we need to know stats before we can suggest.</p>

<p>:)</p>

3

<p>3.85 UW, ~4.5 W
34 ACT (retook in Oct)
2210 PSAT (taking SATs in December) (National Merit SM)
790/740 SAT IIs
AP scores: 4/5/5/5/5, and taking three currently</p>

<p>My ECs are unique and I’ve taken on a couple leadership positions. </p>

<ul>
<li>Received grants ($6500) to implement a green technology project at my school</li>
<li>Vice-president of Honor&Service Society</li>
<li>President of MUN</li>
<li>President of Best Buddies</li>
<li>Participant in a UCSF youth steering committee (year-long commitment)</li>
<li>Member of selection committee for an best-selling anthology</li>
<li>Only student representative in a committee dedicated to changing the stressful environment at my magnet h.s. (others are teachers, Wellness staff, and one parent)</li>
<li>Volunteered 200 hrs at a non-profit</li>
</ul>

4

<p>Definitely consider Denison. NMFs get free tuition and the campus is beautiful. Also take a look at Keilexandra’s thread in the financial aid forum for NMF Scholarships.</p>

5

<p>Thanks, Erin’s Dad! I had no idea there were a whole slew of colleges offering free rides for NMF. Hopefully, I’ll get NMF.</p>

6

<p>There is a difference between “free ride” and “free tuition”.</p>

<p>A Free Ride offers tuition, room, & board</p>

<p>A school offering “free tuition” could still leave you with a shortfall of room and board (ranging from $8k - 12k), books, fees, etc.</p>

7

<p>Depending on your major, Cornell offers the best of both worlds. You do get the selection (classes, majors) opportunity of large schools. And the student population is diverse. Yet, many of the majors or even schools (for instance ILR) are small in numbers so that class sizes are more like LAC’s. And it is possible to get to know professors and work w/ them individually.</p>

8

<p>as Mom2CK stated, there is a difference between a full ride and full tuition but there are some full rides on the list Keilexandra has. As far as making NMF, just make sure you fill out all the paperwork and send your SAT scores to the National Merit organization. As long as you are not a student who gets bad grades and tests well (doesn’t seem to be the case here) or one with behavior issues so you wouldn’t get a good GC rec, you should be fine.</p>