I think that the University of Dallas is pretty heavily religious, just from what I know about it. Not sure if that’s what you’re looking for…
I think U of Colorado Boulder would be a great fit in physics and theater, but probably not financially.
I don’t know about CSU for physics, but know a few kids who have gone there for theater and really liked it. It is overall a very fun school, and very sunny.
My niece went to U of San Diego and while she was in a sorority, it wasn’t a major part of her college experience. They don’t have houses, so she lived in the dorm for 2 years and then at the beach for 2 years (with one semester abroad in France). She played a club sport, was in the honors college, and was in student government. I think student government took up a lot more time (and she was paid for it) than the sorority. A friend’s daughter went to USD and didn’t join a sorority, and her mother and I are friends because we are in the same alum sorority group. She happened to know my niece from high school and still no draw for this girl to join.
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A couple of thoughts on UNC - their physics is good. Among their R1 peers, it’s somewhat “smaller” as it is actually combination of two departments, physics and astronomy. Much of their physics have been related to medical imaging research. They are slightly light on other traditional physic areas.
For theater, it’s ok (but some great productions). UNC, even being a state flagship, is light on arts and music. I don’t think they even have a theater major. Most of “arts and music” are with UNC School of the Arts, App State, and UNC-G, which are other UNC system schools.
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Adding an update - DD got a 34 on her first-attempt ACT, so probably leaving it at that and not re-testing. Also now thinking possibly med school rather than physics grad school, so taking that into account.
As we visit schools, a lot of the colleges are moving down or in some cases off the list, so I am a bit worried we won’t have enough options on the final list. Current top choices are St. Olaf, Bryn Mawr, Santa Clara, WashU, UNC.
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Congrats to your D on her ACT score. Nice to be one and done!
So long as you have one (and preferably two) extremely likely admits that meet the desired price point that your D would be happy to attend, you don’t need any more. So if you have five additional schools (St. Olaf, Bryn Mawr, Santa Clara, WashU, and UNC) that are in addition to the two sure things, it seems like an eminently reasonable list to me. Although I wouldn’t call any of those schools on the current list sure things, I’d be surprised if she didn’t get into at least three of them, assuming she’s showing interest and puts in thoughtful applications.
If med school is becoming a possibility, is that changing your calculus on the budget? Is your family one that would use the excess money not spent on a high-cost college for grad school, or is undergrad your (generous) gift to your child and grad school is on them, no matter how much (or little) is spent on undergrad?
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She will likely apply to the University of Utah and the University of Arizona - so two true safeties.
We will help with med school, but it definitely makes sense to keep undergrad costs as low as possible. It makes the UCs fall far down the list.
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Well the first three are likely (even if we can’t call em safeties) - so you’ll have choices.
But you didn’t want to pay UC prices - and now you’re adding med school to the mix - so that’s more $$.
So not sure the first three will get you to the under $50K that you want.
With this group - why UNC? Did you visit? I ask because you have small to mid size - and while UNC isn’t the largest flagship, it’s large enough.
Also, correct me if I’m wrong - and I may be - it’s a long thread - and you’ve been on a few - were reproductive rights a concern for your student? If so, Missouri probably wouldn’t make the cut.
But I might be conflating you with another thread.
But perhaps if she wants midsize, but you want budget - you need to start adding those type schools - the Truman States of the world, etc. or other LACs / Jesuits that might be players for bigger discounts.
Or if Arizona works - then once we know what they do with tuition, the rest of the list doesn’t matter too much - you’re only going to one. But if you need options - there’s lots of St. Olafs that discount. In another thread, other folks mentioned Hendrix as a Southern with a similar student type - and they match your in state tuition at the U.
So that type of thinking…
I wouldn’t worry - you’ll have ample schools -but for merit, yes you need a few of the “right” schools.
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UNC is for sure bigger than ideal for her, but the combination of reasonable out-of-state cost, strength of programs, and good weather put it on the list. We know, however, that it is a hard reach for out-of-staters, so we aren’t expecting much.
re: reproductive rights - yes for sure a big issue. WashU is right across the border from Illinois and WashU very clear that they will support and even arrange for travel to Illinois. There is a clinic right across the border. Not ideal, but very different than, e.g. Texas.
Okay, continuing to comb through the possibilities, here are a few more schools to consider. American is the only one that I wouldn’t think of as an extremely likely admit for your D (American is very sensitive to demonstrated interest, particularly from high stat students). They have all produced decent to solid numbers of alums who have earned a PhD in physics, too.
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American (D.C.): About 7900 undergrads. Offers a BA in MT. Theatre & Musical Theatre | American University, Washington, DC
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Augustana (IL): About 2300 undergrads. Offers a major in theatre with an MT concentration, and it appears to be a BA, not BFA. Theatre | Augustana College
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Cornell College (IA): About 1100 undergrads and students only take one class at a time. BA in theatre or a minor in MT are available. https://www.cornellcollege.edu/theatre-and-dance/degree-options.shtml
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Illinois Wesleyan: About 1600 undergrads. There’s a BFA in MT, but there’s also a BA in theatre option. School of Theatre Arts - Courses of Study
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SUNY Geneseo: About 4100 undergrads. A BA in MT is offered here (as well as a BPS…Bachelor of Professional Studies). The Musical Theatre Program | SUNY Geneseo
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I always thought it was more about the governmental policies than a student expecting pregnancy - but good to know.
I go back to - and it’s the same for every merit family - planning your list appropriately to meet your needs.
You already had a target and now you’re adding med school potentially - and while it’s unlikely, you still have to look at the possible financial impacts.
Initially you talked about UCB because you were an alum - but now you added UCSD. You are looking at schools that you say - maybe they’re worth it - big bureaucracies - to get to the same place.
While I love Arizona as the big school for you - why not cost effective schools - like U of Kansas (great town, abortion is protected in the state constitution). You say UNC is cheap but your initial budget if I recall was under $50K - and it’s over $60K.
So why not a fair sub - a U Delaware or Binghamton - both of which will be less? You can’t have it both ways - and a physics student is likely going to grad school, one way or another.
WUSTL works as a - I have 20 spots - why not - because they have half and full ride merit. But a U Denver has definite merit - as an example. For the small schools, ok Hendricks is out - but from a Beloit to Kalamazoo, to an Allegheny - there are many that will load you up. I know St. Olaf does give aid so maybe it comes low enough.
I’m just saying - when you say you’re not going to have enough choices and while you just need 1-2; if you build your list with schools that won’t get you to your #, then you won’t have enough choices, but it will be based on your actions that caused it.
So I do think you need to revisit budget - because you have one but don’t want to live within it - necessarily.
And you need to make that decision before you start applying - as to how you want this to look - and not just over 4 years but six or eight - if that makes sense.
The figurative slap in the face to knock you out of your trance 
Anyway, it’s how i see it, right or wrong - I hope that helps.
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It definitely is more about the politics, but it is also about the real-world possibilities. If for some reason she became accidentally pregnant, we don’t want to worry about her options, or that I would be criminally liable for helping her if she decided to terminate.
Thank you for your additional school ideas. They are much appreciated! I am fairly confident she would get into a few schools with sufficient merit to meet our budget desires, so I’m not overly concerned about adding a ton more, but I would like a couple of more in the sweet spot.
Our budget is based more on principle than finances - i.e. we can pay for both undergrad and med school, but want to make economically-reasonable decisions, and aren’t interested in over-paying for an education just because we can.
DD herself is very cost-aware and says she will go to whichever small school (on our short carefully curated list) gives her the most money. If no small schools give enough money then she will go to the big school that costs the least.
The UCs are mostly a no-go. She didn’t like UCSD enough to justify paying the price. If she gets into UCB we will think hard about it, but ultimately she prefers a smaller environment anyway.
Binghamton was on our list, but removed for grey skies (we have a # of sunny day minimum requirement, and Bing has a lot of grey days). Same for all Ohio schools, and UPitt, etc…
We drove through Beloit on our way to St. Olaf and I am bummed we didn’t stop for a tour.
How many more schools are you looking for? My daughter went to UNC (OOS) if you have any questions.
Here’s an outlier - Iowa State University. It has a top 50 physics program, a theater program, and a Spanish language program. It’s in a small city (66k), but 30 minutes from a larger city. Abortions are allowed up to 21 weeks. The student population is almost half out-of-state students. About 60% of students are STEM majors. It’s also affordable, ~$42k COA. It’s not preppy, but also not the prestige factor she seeking.
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This is quite the hot topic! I haven’t been able to read all the replies, but I saw someone mentioned American University, which I think would work great. GW too. UIUC is ranked # 9 for physics. I also really like Fordham for your daughter, particularly Rose Hill for physics.
I realize your daughter has high stats and a great profile and these schools may seem less competitive than her profile warrants. But when you’re chasing merit, you need to target schools that aren’t flooded with valedictorians with 1550+ test scores. Especially these days, with such a surge in applicants, especially at smaller selective schools.
The most important aspects are the quality of the education and the student’s fit for the vibe of the school. If being in a city is less important, I would consider Conn College, Brandeis, Bryn Mawr, Smith or Mount Holyoke. With the last 2, you have all the. 5 college resources at your disposal. UMass ranks higher than UConn for physics and the area is way more interesting, IMO. But at UMass, there would be negligible opportunity to get involved in theater if you aren’t a major.
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All great options, and all (plus UMass) have at various times been on our (longer) list (except Conn College which seems to be more preppy than preferred). Bryn Mawr is in her top three. We prefer Bryn Mawr’s location and connection with Haverford over the consortium schools in the Amherst area, but we should probably be more open-minded and add them back to the list.
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The problem is that Utah is going to be a better option than almost all “less competitive” schools and will be extremely cheap (potentially less than $10K) for an instate student with these stats. I could see the arguments for looking elsewhere when physics grad school was the target, since the U isn’t particularly strong in physics compared to say Arizona. But for med school Utah will be all but impossible to beat unless she gets a super-reach full scholarship elsewhere.
I’d spend the next 6 months trying to get more confidence in whether med school really is the target and if so in getting comfortable staying instate. Can she shadow or intern at the hospital on campus this summer?
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this is 100% true. And a real struggle. She is applying and will indeed likely get a huge scholarship. She really wants to leave the state for college, though, and we are trying to be supportive. Utah is a uniquely odd place to go to public high school if you are not Mormon. She wants some time and space away from that for a while. She would be totally thrilled to go to the UofU for med school, though, since she would have had some time away.
It is definitely in my personal top 3 options for her though!
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If she does get the Eccles scholarship then it is a wonderful opportunity, D loved her cohort classes. It’s a shame that it is now almost all instate students though, in her year 40% were OOS which gave a wider range of perspectives. (And BTW they were mostly not Mormon, even the instate students were deliberately diverse).
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I have toured over 20 SLACs between D22 and D24, and I didn’t find Conn College to be especially preppy vs the others. It was very sweet and I would have liked it for either daughter—neither of whom is preppy at all. But it is overwhelmingly white, and my daughters aren’t, so they opted not to apply.
Bryn Mawr could be a great choice. Easy train ride to Philly, partnership with Haverford, and in a consortium with Swarthmore (my Alma mater) and UPenn. Plus, they do give merit.
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This is fair. Factoring in the travel considerations, being close to an airport like PHL is also a big plus.
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