I know UCB is a sentimental favorite as an alumni. But if you are going to the trouble of completing the UC PIQs, you might consider adding UCLA, especially as it is slightly cheaper than UCB and has many of the attributes you are looking for. After all it just requires ticking a box and paying another $80.
UCLA and UCI have BFA theater programs, so they are off the list.
For the reasons you state, though, she likely will add UC Davis and UCSB - neither are perfect fits, but she might as well throw them in.
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My definition is - will she get in - and I’d be shocked if she didn’t get into the first four and I’d be surprised if not into St. Olaf and Bryn Mawr. Your student is strong.
I don’t see merit at UNC and UMASS won’t give enough.
I thought she didn’t want Utah.
She can end up at her top 4 if you are willing to pay.
If you are willing at $20K off, you can apply ED and be done. Of course, you might get more if not ED.
So the religious aspect of an SCU is ok? I know St. Olaf has something too.
You checked curriculums or requirements?
If you know St. Olaf is your #1 choice, you should apply Early Decision. We commit to a thorough review of your application and you agree — per the Early Decision Agreement — that if you are offered admission and an affordable financial aid package, you will commit to enroll and withdraw other applications. Our Early Decision Commitment means that any student who applies and is admitted through Early Decision will receive a minimum of a $20,000 St. Olaf scholarship.
Why apply to UC at all?
St. Olaf is her top choice.
St. Olaf is cheaper than the UCs.
I mean, it never hurts to apply and say no - but is there any situation where she’d go to a UC?
Up front you didn’t want to pay for one so will pay over Arizona which will likely be less than half the price?
It seems - those are easy deletions.
She doesn’t want Utah, but is realistic about it being a good option.
Religious requirements at both SCU and St Olaf are minor, and can be satisfied with philosophy type classes, but she is also ok with taking a religion course. She is very comfortably non-religious, but enjoys thinking about religion.
I am ethically opposed to ED. I think it is doubly-bad for merit seekers. I am hopeful that between merit and arts scholarships she will get more than $20K.
I definitely agree that the UCs are low on the list. But she really wants to apply, so I’m supporting her. We will see if she feels the same once the UC application opens up.
UMASS and UNC are reasonable even without merit. UNC has a musical theater performance minor, which is hard to find, so it is a great option if it comes through. UMASS just has never had anything that caused it to fall off the list. It keeps passing every round of cuts, because it has all the specifics she is looking for, even though she isn’t super compelled by it.
I’m a bit nervous about the Univ. of Arizona’s massive changes in its performing arts department - it might end up being cool and small or weird and ineffective.
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I agree on ED - and taking out ED, St. Olaf has a relatively low yield - so you know they’re coming hard with $$.
Just curious, did she look at Rochester and / or Brandeis?
I’m glad the Maine privates came off - it never seemed like she loved them.
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Early on, yes.
For Rochester, it seemed they were stingy with merit aid, plus their food, campus, dorms, etc. seemed not great.
For Brandeis - it is a really good option in a lot of ways, but after we experienced CalPoly SLO’s food, which Niche rates at a C-, the idea of D+ food was too much to bear.
I know we shouldn’t put too much weight in Niche’s ratings, but so far, on these general categories, we have found them to be pretty accurate.
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Now I understand how you found UMASS!!!
I don’t know if Arizona’s food is good - but the Honors dorm has the cafe at the bottom - so that’s a nice perk…assuming its edible!!. And they have a great pizza/wing place right off campus!!
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I know kids who LOVE the food offerings at Brandeis.
Different strokes for different folks- but make sure you are looking at current data. I know the “banana, mini-box of cereal, juice box” in a brown bag during covid was a HUGE turnoff… but that’s in the rear view mirror. A lot of colleges had sub-optimal drop off meals once kids were back on campus after Covid and none of them will ever get raves for the cuisine.
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We ate on campus in Arizona and the food was fine. Niche gives it an A- I would lean more toward a B or B+, but it was totally edible and fresh. We didn’t eat in the honors dorm, but we took a quick tour there and it seemed good.
Yeah, UMASS’s food is a plus. We had U of San Diego on our initial list, and the food there was great, but we still took it off (for the culture/vibes).
All the schools left on our list have at least a B Niche rating for campus food. It really wasn’t the only reason for removing a school, but if it was near the bottom, and had crappy food, off it went. I know I have gone on and on here on CC about how bad the food at CalPoly was, but it really changed our whole sense of the importance of food, especially if kids live on campus.
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My older son, who just finished his sophomore year of college, keeps telling my S25 that he needs to think more about food. S25 is all “eh, food is food” and older boy is all “NO IT ISN’T”. So all that to say, I think it’s smart that that’s a factor for you and totally reasonable to consider it.
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There were many posts in the past (not recently) about Gtown, for example - kids were spending spending spending off campus even though they had a meal plan.
Both mine struggled at first. One figured it out. The other, the dining staff was very helpful in always having a grilled chicken breast on the ready for him - til I think they added it for all.
It’s certainly very reasonable to include it as a criteria. Kids that don’t eat well struggle energy wise and that impacts their mood, schoolwork and more.
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Your unique list seems great. No need to take any off at this point, unless application requirements get annoying and/or too time consuming.
Between now and May 1, she may indeed think a lot about what she wants. She might change her mind about some things and preferences may well come into focus. A couple spring visits may also prove helpful for making a final decision. One thing that helped my kid choose without pressure was to say “These are all ‘right’ choices. You can’t go wrong with any of them. There’s no ‘best’ option, so pick the one that feels most right for YOU.”
She’s in an enviable position, getting an early start on her apps, with a balanced list, and the certainty of having some excellent options from which to choose come springtime! Way to go.
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Reopening at OP’s request
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Hi all - I figured I would post the final outcome!
D25 chose St. Olaf! (final runners up were Santa Clara University (Honors), UNC-Chapel Hill, William & Mary (Monroe scholar), and Bryn Mawr, in approximately that order.) She went with her gut and I definitely think it was the right choice. She was quite torn saying “no” to Santa Clara and UNC-CH (for different reasons), but felt like St Olaf was right for her from her first visit.
It feels like St. Olaf’s incoming classes must be 50% Minnesotans and 50% CC families. 
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Congratulations! Sounds like a great decision! The Oles I know absolutely loved their experience there and are wildly successful.
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It is always great to see a kid use a thoughtful process, end up with multiple good options, then choose their favorite. Well done!
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If i may ask,is the X truly a “cross” program where you can see the “interdisciplinary“ nature at work and thus 2+2 >4, or just a combination of courses in Art and courses in engineering which would be 2+2=4; tx