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Peppermill
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Posted: Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 02:49 pm |
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Hi onceinvincible - A fair distance back up the thread you asked if anyone was famliar with Wheaton (MA) and I don't think you've seen a response yet, so I decided to "delurk" myself so that I could chime in here.
Two of my three boys looked at Wheaton. One loved it, the other wouldn't apply. The one who wouldn't apply had interests that were much more in line with Wheaton's academic strengths, so go figure. So much can depend on the particular conditions (weather, day of the week, time of day, etc.) existing when you visit, including who you get for a tour guide or information session speaker. For the one son who had the negative reaction, a very new adrep/recent grad gave the information session, and she forgot she was talking to prospective parents and students, not to her college peers - it didn't result in a good impression. Personally, I think Wheaton has a lot to offer the right students, and there is a good chance you would be a very good fit there, so if you are able, I'd recommend a visit.
It is nicely situated between Boston and Providence, and I believe that they facilitate transportation into Boston on a regular basis, for those who want to get a break off campus in the city. They are very proud of their Filene Center for Work and Learning, which is supposed to be a great resource for students to find internships and summer jobs. My impression is that their English department is quite good. Standardized testing is optional at Wheaton. Strong candidates are offered very nice scholarships and stipends. Your record at a strong high school could really help you, since it is testing-optional.
You have had much good advice in this thread in terms of colleges to check out and consider. When I started to read some of the suggestions a little farther afield, such as in the midwest, I had another thought: Earlham College in Indiana. Have you looked at it at all? I get the feeling from the way you write about yourself that you might be someone who would do well there.
Having had two sons (neither of whom was a big drinker/partier) each attend schools with fraternities (albeit in both cases, the administrations had seriously restricted them in recent years), I have to say that they do not have to be a major factor in your college experience, should you wind up at such a school. You find your own niche and your own friends, and choose weekend activities that fit your interests. When you visit, look for postings on bulletin boards to get a sense for what kinds of activities and events are offered. One thing I do know is that at schools where there are no frats, theme houses often serve a similar purpose of hosting parties where drinking is at the fore. And worst (IMO) are colleges where drinking has gone way "underground" and is hidden away in dorms, out of sight of people who would otherwise be on the lookout for students who might need medical care. It's a very good idea on tours and at info sessions to ask questions that will try to ferret out a sense of what the social culture is like, frats or no frats. Sadly there is excessive drinking everywhere, and at other places it's drugs. No matter what school you wind up attending, there will be the challenge of finding a comfortable group of friends to socialize with, but it can be done just about anywhere!
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 09:01 pm |
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hey peppermill! thanks for your much needed insight on wheaton. today, i was looking at my list and i was wondering why i took wheaton off... im still not sure. i wil definately look into a bit more.
i havent looked at earlham very much. i know its in indiana and has a very solid liberal arts reputation. i will definately look into it more. as of right now, i am open to pretty much anything. thanks again! your advice was very helpful!
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more updates..
knox college and ursinus college sent me thing about being a "priority applicant" . i find this exciting but i am not sure if this is something they do for everyone on their mailing list or whatnot. anyway, knox's priority app... due by november 1st (no problem), no app fee (awesome), and admission decision in 14 days (really awesome, hopefully it will be a good response) lol. also, automatic scholarship consideration. i think its a pretty good deal. i will definately be done with my apps way before november 1st. i am pretty confident about that. i already asked for a letter of recommendation from my AP literature teacher. he has written really nice recommendations for me before that helped me get into my summer programs. my admission essay is in its fourth draft, i think i need to cut it some of it because its about 750 words but ill ask my writing workshop leader if she feels its necessary. i am going to schedule meeting with guidance counselor hopefully first week of school. talking to him and scheduling an appointment shouldnt be too hard.. i only have 120 kids in my class. he should find some time for me. =)
also, ursinus' priority application works a bit different. i could send it in now which is crazy. i havent even started school yet. they do not have any extra essay question, decision within 4 weeks, free app. two other schools that sent me priority apps were tulane and marquette. idk, im just a bit suspicious of the whole priority app thing... are they trying to make their applicant numbers larger so they can reject more people and make their position in us news higher or are they trying to recruit more at quicker pace? who knows. lol.
i am still debating on suny purchase or not, also moravian as a possible safety, even fairleigh dickinson in madison. i am really weary of the colleges in new jersey though.. i am just weird. lol. i am still debating on lots of things. anyway, that is where i am at.
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Chedva
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Posted: Mon Sep 3rd, 2007 09:06 pm |
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| Don't worry about the priority apps not being "real" or that they're hoping to reject you. Most of the schools that use priority apps really want to you apply, and want to accept you. Make them good applications and you should have a couple of good outcomes.
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Peppermill
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Posted: Tue Sep 4th, 2007 08:34 pm |
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Hi, Once ... I agree that you shouldn't dwell too much on the "priority applicant" business. Allow yourself to feel just a bit flattered  and, if you think you would like to apply to these schools, go ahead. This is part of how they are marketing themselves to applicants they have ID'd as probably desirable for one reason or another. In your case, if they know your high school, that may be doing it for you. It is worth taking these things with a small grain of salt, as you seem to suspect, since they have not seen your full application yet and can't possibly be in a position to accurately judge you. Still, chances are they are looking for reasons to admit you, not for reasons to reject you, and this is always a good thing!
I have a little to add regarding some of the schools that have been talked about in this thread. Last summer we did a four-day tour that included Gettysburg, Dickinson, HWS, and Skidmore. (I had wanted to include Allegheny but we couldn't quite add the time required, and my son didn't think he wanted to be that many driving hours from home anyway, so we didn't push it.) We were coming from New England, so we did Dickinson one afternoon, drove on to Gettysburg, stayed the night there, and toured G'burg in the morning. It was our family's second visit to both of those schools, as one of our older sons had also taken them seriously. I'd have happily sent children to either school. Then after lunch in G'burg we drove straight up into the Finger Lakes region in NY so that we could tour Hobart & WS bright and early the next morning. It's a beautiful school in an idyllic location - the lake is gorgeous, and it was a sparkling sunny day. (I had to remind us all that winters would be another story!) Son loved it, although there was no one there--their summer internship/study programs had just ended and all of the students had vanished as of the day before. If he had applied, we'd have made a second trip in the fall to see the campus with students. I agree with the recommendations you have had regarding interviewing and applying for the scholarships they offer (and it is also my suspicion that the "preppy" reputation may be a bit outdated).
We weren't touring Skidmore until the next morning, so the afternoon following the HWS tour we had enough time to take a detour down to Ithaca (drove through both Ithaca College and Cornell--neither on my son's list but I wanted to see them  ) and then headed back up to the northeast, passing through Oneonta to do a drive-by of Hartwick. S's GC had put Hartwick on his list as a safety, but they have or had an infrequent tour schedule that we couldn't make work--otherwise we'd have planned to actually stop there. In any event, after visiting beautiful HWS earlier, S wouldn't even let me get out of the car at Hartwick to run into the admissions office and pick up a catalogue. (Would they have had one for me to take, I wonder? That would be the test for me of a penny-pinching admissions office!) At that time (just a year ago) the physical plant looked rather run down to us, and I speculated that the school might have been having some financial problems--things just didn't look as fresh and well kept as we felt they should. (This was probably unfair, but it was still our first impression. It sounds as if they may have begun some improvement projects in the year since.) However, if you can get there for a tour time that works for you, you should keep an open mind and judge it for yourself--if you keep it on your list.
We moved on that afternoon up to Saratoga Springs and spent the next day visiting Skidmore, which for the time-being became my son's first choice. We all really liked the campus, the people we met, the artsy atmosphere--yet it seemed to have plenty of appeal for non-artsy students as well. We thought Saratoga Springs would be a really nice town to be in for four years.
Another school that I think has been mentioned and which you could easily visit from NJ along with Skidmore is Union. It's a different environment - far less artsy - and Schenectady is not special (to put it kindly), but the campus itself is lovely and it has excellent programs which encourage research and scholarship. There is a more even balance of males and females because of their engineering program. (My oldest son graduated from there in engineering three years ago.) They offer some good merit packages, and I personally think that the trimester schedule (where, unless you are in the honors program or engineering, you take only three courses at a time) has a lot going for it. Their admissions people are second-to-none - for as long as I've been familiar with it, it has been a super friendly office that will help you with your own particular issues and answer questions on the phone, even if you aren't applying there. Also, there are some generic admissions resources on their web site that their office has developed which you should go and check out http://www.union.edu/Admissions/PerfectSchool/ You may find a couple of documents there that you could download for your mom to read also. (Beyond that, this is their page about financial aid http://www.union.edu/financialaid/ )
All of these private schools are expensive, without a doubt. You are right to be thinking in terms of making sure you have financial safeties as well as academic safeties, and to try to objectively assess where you may fall in the applicant pools such that you will be in line for some preferential financial aid/merit packages. You do want to apply to some where you expect by some measure to be in the top 25% (at least) of the applicant pool. It wouldn't hurt to add into the mix the fact that you are a boy, and a lot of LACs are looking for well qualified male applicants to encourage to attend. That may permit you to stretch a bit, since you seem to have a stellar high school record. As all admissions reps will tell you, the most important thing you bring to your application package is your high school transcript--add to it some good essays and excellent teacher recommendations, and you should have some great choices.
Last edited on Tue Sep 4th, 2007 08:39 pm by Peppermill
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Tue Sep 4th, 2007 11:42 pm |
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hey peppermill! once again, you have been so insightful and helpful. i really appreciate your opinions on some of the schools i am interested in. every time i go on to hws' website, i just want to go. it is so beautiful. the preppy background doesnt really bother me that much even if it was part of the campus. the price tag is a bit much for hws but i think i would be a viable candidate for admission but most likely not for the scholarships, except maybe the writing scholarship.
skidmore seems like such an amazing school, the vibe i get from everyone's reviews and recommendations makes it seem like such an awesome school for me. artsy preppy edge, beautiful saratoga springs, strong writing program, good social life.... i dont think with my stats i would have a real shot at the school. they are pretty selective but maybe if my scores go up who knows? my little 3.6 gpa is just the same as those thousands of other kids, i am sure those same kids have been similar writing programs and had leadership positions as well. lol. i am just a tad bit too negative but eh.
union college seems to have a nice campus but in a very industrial area. students from last year's class actually will be attending union, i think due to its strong engineering program.
btw, random, but i think i should talk about my high school...its pretty different from typical high schools, well at least i think so. here's a link: http://www1.hcstonline.org/hths/Default.aspx?tabid=1
basicially, in a nutshell, my school is a regional high school with a very selective admissions process. we are school known for its technology and science departments as well as muscial theatre. we have majors we take junior and senior year. my school is very diverse. the goal for my high school is to accept a large majority of students of color and socioeconomic conditions. they really do succeed in that department. it is very much based on community. it reminds me of a liberal arts school with a technological edge. all classes are honor classes and we do not have class rank, because it would be cutthroat.
speaking of my high school, every graduating class seems to bypass liberal arts colleges except for like 5 students. we had students go to williams, skidmore, union, and drew. a few select students, this year we had 12 students, go to ivy leagues out of 120. the rest go onto the local state schools... rutgers, montclair, ramapo, tcnj was popular this year, fairleigh dickinson, william patterson. also, NYU and BU are popular schools too. no one is acquainted with liberal arts schools... whatsoever so that i think is an advantage to me. i really do not have to worry about my classmates taking my spot at the schools i am looking at.
anyway, haha, sorry about my little rant about my high school! lol. have fun with the website. =)
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Peppermill
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Posted: Wed Sep 5th, 2007 06:40 pm |
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Once, you should make plans to visit Skidmore and include an interview while you are there, in addition to tour and info session. I *do* think you have a shot there. With all of the talk of GPAs, it sometimes gets lost that colleges (especially LACs that can take the time) look at your GPA in the context of the high school you are graduating from, and given the strength of yours, there's a good chance that your GPA (along with your other attributes, of course) would get you in there. I have no idea if they would meet your financial needs, but I wouldn't knock your potential for admission.
Others may have already mentioned this to you, but have you considered taking the ACT, in addition to retaking the SAT?
(Just for the record, Union is on 100 acres, on a hill, on the eastern side of Schenectady adjacent to a residential neighborhood, and includes some lovely historic old gardens and open spaces. If you follow the college's directions to campus from the east, you travel through nice areas and don't even see Schenectady's rougher parts (quite deliberate on their part, but all colleges want you to have the best possible first impression of their location ). )
Last edited on Wed Sep 5th, 2007 06:58 pm by Peppermill
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Thu Sep 6th, 2007 12:55 am |
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hey peppermill! thanks for the encouragement that i do have a shot. i guess i do. i still have to look more indepth into skidmore. the financial part is a little daunting but its my fault i have expensive yet very good taste!
i looked at pictures of union college and it looks very pretty. i live pretty close to an "industrial" area ish, not so bad. as long as the campus is nice, thats fine.
today, i was looking more at denison. i really feel it is a good fit. it has a really good creative writing program, beautiful campus, active social life. the pricetag is a little less daunting than northeastern lacs. good financial aid. it is different from kenyon in the respect that it is not in a 600 person village. i think its a good reach school for me. they are also sat optional and no one has ever went to denison before in my school so thats a plus. i am sure they are going to assume i am applying to kenyon when they see "kenyon review young writers workshop" so maybe they would want to "steal" me from them. lol.
i also was really looking at rowan and fairleigh dickinson in madison as possible safeties. rowan seems like a good instate option. my stats are in their range. fairleigh dickinson, i do have the stats, basicially at the top of their stats. their creative writing program seems decent but i am still unsure. i am really looking for solid safeties that i would be challenged at and want to go to. i was looking at juniata college but i heard its really in the middle of nowhere. moravian too, i like the school, i am just not 100 positive.
so far my keepers... drew (mom and i loved it, i would definately go there. it felt right. ), ramapo (nice campus, not sure about english department, i really liked it at first and now im just wavering a bit but still a good safety option), dickinson (via virtual campus tour, i could see myself at the school. fine english dept, nice student body. not too far from home), goucher (on paper, i love this school. good english department, they need boys and i am a boy so that works out, sat optional. i really feel good about my chances there, also its in baltimore which is pretty cool), allegheny (i feel i would be challenged so much and encouraged. i love that about this school. the campus seems really nice. the 13th plank is funny. writing program is really good), muhlenberg (so my chiropractor, english teacher, acquaintance, mom, hair cutter, and other variables, told me this school was awesome. i agree. their english department is really solid. the living writers course is soo cool. i definately have to interview. its a reach, but i think i could get there.) knox, (i love that this school is in the midwest, that no one has ever heard of it, and that it has one of the top creative writing programs in the country. i really love this school. the prairie fire mascot is also pretty unique. galesburg, ill is eh, i can deal as long as i am with some amazing friends. good financial aid. i can automatically get a 2,500 scholarship if accepted since i am from new jersey and i guess they are trying to recruit people from that area. fine by me. lol.) also got priority application status, find out decision in 14 days.
so the maybes.... most of these schools will be eliminated one way or the other soon
hws... i think it would be a really awesome match/safety for me since its sat optional and my gpa and ecs are good enough. going to see how good the financial aid dept is with this school. they have creative writing and their english dept is solid. beautiful campus. they are the only school i kept mail from sophomore year becaus the pictures were so nice.
college of wooster.. my friend and i have this weird fascination with COW. she is not applying but i am considering. i love the IS. i think it would challenge me. good financial aid. english department is solid but im not sure if they have creative writing. that is BIG for me.
skidmore.. i love this school on paper. when i read the newsweek description about it last year, i was really drawn to it. i love the emphasis on creativity. not sure how well i would fair or the financial. big possiblity
union, i think i have a better chance of getting into union than skidmore just based off that its sat optional. they do have a creative writing program. campus is nice. there is just something about it.. i cant put my finger on it.
suny purchase... out of state, very affordable still. close to home but far enough. from what i have heard, amazing creative writing program. campus i heard is ugly, all brick but i can deal with brick. really low acceptance rate and longgggggggg application for their creative writing major.
fairleigh dickinson... so its in madison, a mile away from drew. they have a creative writing major. i am sure the internships they offer are in manhattan with publishing companies and such. not sure of how academically challenging it is or if it is more of a commuter school. the campus is really pretty though.
wheaton (ma) i like that its close to two major cities but is basicially in a very quiet area. no frats, good. english department is solid. they need boys as well but not as bad as goucher. pricey but i think it might be worth it. i think its a good match/reach school. its sat optional so i think i would have a pretty good shot.
southwestern... lol. so you must be wondering how this got thrown into my list of lovely northeastern schools... well, they do not have any students from new jersey in their last class. they only represent 19 states. i would be a nice addition. they also are lacking in boys. since my stats are very borderline, they take 51 percent of the applicants with stats like mine, i also have those two pluses, i think i would have a better shot. i also got a free app in the mail. problems... how can i tell my mom im going to school in texas?! i even told her how its 10,000 cheaper in tuition than drew and still my mom is a little weary. we'll see how things pan out!
that is my thought process so far!
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 01:59 am |
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updates...
today was my first day of school. i could rant about how much i disliked today but i will can that. my schedule is pretty lopsided, not by course selection just by pure placement. i have no lunch periods. all of my free periods are meticulously placed between 9 am to 10 am. lovely. so the courses i am taking this year are... algebra 2 honors, ap literature, us history 2 honors, journalism honors, health, website development major, and literary magazine. the schedule is pretty manageable. some of my classmates are crazy.. in which they sacrifice their sanity and their stability in life by having all ap classes and no free periods... at all. it is sort of sad the only reason why they are taking their ap classes are to impress the adcoms. there are many ways to impress adcoms besides ap classes. if they see you challenged yourself, became a leader in some way, show maturity and character, and have developed as a person in high school, you will be fine.
as for my list, i cut some schools. wooster is out, sadly but it does not have classes i want to take. i still love the school though but it is not meant for me. denison is out. skidmore is out. fairleigh dickinson is out. hws is out. haha, i love how i am cutting all these wonderful schools. i am basing all of this on fit and affordability.
safety schools i am looking at... rowan vs richard stockton. both are solid new jersey state schools. both i am positive will accept me. both have some creative writing class in some way. rowan has a writing arts major. idk. right now, im leaning toward rowan. does anyone have info on either school? i need more safety. i am paranoid. some people in my school wound up not getting in anywhere or at a school they didnt like at all.
so i also decided i need to reach more. so i need to reach for the stars and cling onto reality... i have been looking at wheaton college in norton. i could get accepted, sat optional, male/female ratio in my favor admission wise, strong english dept, close to two major cities, suburban campus. price tag is not kind. at all. but hey, its a reach school. still debating.
also, looking at union still. what other schools would be realisitic reaches for me? i want to reach a little but not so much as though i have a 0.111111 percent chance.
i feel all the schools on my list so far are more matchy/safety or a tad bit of a reach...allegheny, drew, goucher, knox, dickinson, muhlenberg, ramapo...
my list seems weird. knox definately doesnt get any cross registration from any of the schools but i love it for its creative writing program and i could get good scholarships. i was thinking about adding st. lawrence in canton, ny. sjdnsajkdnsakjdnsakjdn.
registered for the october sat. hehe. i hate that test. i think it will go better this time since i met the monster twice, so i know what its capable of. i now know how to slay it with my mighty number two pencil. my goal score is a 1700... i am 60 points away. i think i could do it. all iwant is a 500 math. that would be ECSTATIC. i really would like a 650 verbal but i know realistically i will score around a high 500 low 600. i would be soo happy with a 600. writing i have a 600 right now with an 11 essay. damn multiple choice. i just need to pace myself with the M.C. i should do better. all in all, it should be a hectic month.
question, on the common application, what constitutes as an academic achievement? my high school doesnt have an honor roll or give out any academic achievement awards until graduation. i am on the national honor society and that counts. i would add my summer programs there but isnt there a section for that already? idk. i was thinking about putting my semifinalist in the new jersey scholars program in there. i think that counts. i earned that semifinalist spot by being first nominated by my school to apply then going through that long admission process with four essays and resume, then beating out hundreds of other high schoolers, to make it to the interview process in which i totally blanked because it was a group interview. group interviews are the worst. i do not recommend them to anyone. they bring out the competitive and chatty nature in each person in the party. ugh.
thats where i am at. lost. confused. exhausted. upset. hopeful. sleepy.
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PrimetimeMom
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 02:46 am |
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I do not have any answers to your questions onceinvincible but I want to say that as a parent, I'm impressed at your casting your net wide and looking at financial safeties as well as academic safeties. I'm sure with your great attitude and in depth research into colleges that interest you, you will succeed and do well wherever you go to college.
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Chedva
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 12:39 pm |
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| once, I notice that you have neither science nor foreign language in this year's schedule. Will you have the admissions requirements (or "recommendations") for the years of those subjects covered for the colleges you're considering?
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 06:59 pm |
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i actually do have the science and foreign language requirements... i have 3 years of honors science: earth and space, biology, and chemistry. i did all of these freshman and sophomore year. i did 2 years of honors spanish freshman/sop. i did not pursue another year of science because i would have had to take physics and since i am already weak in math, i did not want to jeopardize myself into struggling for an entire year. i had signed up for AP environmental this year but they dropped the course and did not give me a replacement. i decided not to take additional years of language because i wanted to pursue journalism in which i am now editor in chief. i would rather prefer another leadership position and a meaningful class than another year of a foreign language.
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Sat Sep 8th, 2007 07:09 pm |
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so at graduation i would have had...
4 years of honors english: grammar composition, american literature, british literature, and AP Literature. I guess additional years would have been my one year elective in creative writing. 2 years of journalism. 4 years of literary magazine
3 years of honors science- earth and space, biology, and chemistry.
3 years of honors math- algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2. algebra 2 was the highest i could go, i was placed in intergrated math which basicially combines all elements of the three subjects into one class.
3 years of honors history- global history, us history 1, us history 2. my high school is very ... i dont want to use the word "stupid" but i guess its approriate. you can only take ap us history if you take the summer course and i was at kenyon... impossible for me to be at two places at once. lol.
2 years of foreign language. spanish. i know 3 is "preferred" but i felt my time would be better if i was doing something i could also get a leadership position and give my writing resume more diversity with the different types of genre.
4 years of gym. plain and simple.
2 years of website design and development major.
and then other electives that lasted only a few weeks.... audio technology, tv production, research, c.a.d.d. , desktop publishing.
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Mon Sep 10th, 2007 12:18 am |
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okay, so i think i actually have a good, finalized college list. you guys tell me what you think. i have 2 financial and academic safeties, a couple of matchy schools, and a few reaches. i would be happy going to any of my safeties. i would be happy to go anywhere i am challenged and feel like part of something larger than myself.
so this is the list, in alphabetical order:
allegheny college- meadville, pa
dickinson college- carlisle, pa
drew university- madison, new jersey
goucher college- baltimore, maryland
knox college- galesburg, illinois
muhlenberg college- allentown, pa
ramapo college of new jersey- mahwah, nj
rowan university- glassboro, nj
union college - schednedl ( icant spell ) ny
wheaton college- norton, mass
........ so that's my list of ten schools. all very good at what they do, well at least in my eyes. its weird thinking i could go to any of these places if accepted. i could stay as close as madison or mahwah, nj or go as far as baltimore or galesburg. it is crazy. do you think this list is reasonable and i have a good chance ?
anyway, updates on my essay. so haha, i love to write. clearly, i think i have been telling you guys i love to write since my first post. the bad news is common app has a max of 500 words.. my essay's word count last night.............................758!!!! so after really thinking long and hard, i cut for an hour. i am now down to 623. ugh. i really do not want to cut anymore but i know i have to do. ill cut it down just a bit more.
the 150 word essay about my activities i think is covered. i wrote an essay about my activities for the nj scholars program. that went over well so ill recycle. ill just have to take out a few things.
still have no idea what an academic accomplishment is for the common app. i feel really underqualified.
anyway, thats all! hope everyone is doing well!
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Mon Sep 10th, 2007 04:19 am |
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| Nice list Once. Each of the schools on your list is a special place. Some are a little more reachy than others, but that's what a college list should be about. In addition to the priority apps, be sure to pay attention to which schools offer Early Action (Goucher is one) -- it's usually worth it to go the EA route, which doesn't offer the downsides of binding early decision, but can give you a bit of a boost in terms of admissions. I hope you will keep posting, and let us know how things are going. BEST of luck!
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Mon Sep 10th, 2007 10:28 pm |
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hey carolyn!
thanks so much for all of your support. i think some of my schools are a bit reachy but since i have safeties and matches i would really like to attend (cough cough drew and goucher for sure), i dont think i would be too devasted. i really havent given much thought to attending my big reachy schools. i think they are just schools that fit me extremely well and i would be honored if chosen. i may be what they are looking for, i may not be. it is not a life or death situation.
i dont know how you view it as but i think i have four reach schools... union, wheaton, muhlenberg, and dickinson. dickinson and muhlenberg toughest. wheaton i think i would have the best chance considering the population is 62 percent female and sat optional. union, i might take it off my list... maybe put a match school ? i dont feel i have enough match schools. i was thinking about it last night.
i have 3 matchy schools... allegheny (i would LOVE to go there, it would be so cool. i just love what they are about), drew (again, another love. its basicially my ideal school. it has all the qualities i am looking for and its close enough to my parents.), goucher would be my safest match. i am applying early action. i think i have a very nice chance. it would be cool to spend four years in baltimore, writing and getting really cool internships around the area. i really love my match schools. i dont care if i do not get into any of my reachy schools. as long as i have two of these schools that take me, i will be fine.
i have 3 safeties.. knox college, rowan, and ramapo. knox college i consider a safety just because i have many factors for me.. lol. i am a boy, they lack boys. i am from new jersey, they need to recruit in that area. i am a priority app. even more i got the priority app, i was going to apply EA which has a ridiculous high admit rate for such a top 100 liberal arts college.. 93 percent. ramapo college, i would be happy to get there, not as happy as my match schools thats for sure but i would be pretty happy. rowan is on my list because between rowan and richard stockton, i felt they had more opportunities for me in the english/writing departments. stockton's overview of their program really did not speak to me. rowan at least had some spark. both schools, ramapo and rowan, are on my list because i know i can get in and will be financially safeties. knox in a way would also be a financial safety. the cheapest private i have on my list.
so i decided for my reach school, just go for it. match schools i looked at intensely. those are the schools that will fit you the best and will be likely to end up in. safeties, i really stressed on finding good safeties. i want to know that i am going to a good school no matter what circumstances happened in the next few months
i am really debating on whether to apply EA to dickinson, one of my reach schools. i think i should go for it but would they accept me? would they be more apt to take me if i apply EA? there admit rate doesnt differ much between EA and regular. i am leaning on doing EA though. what do you think?
also, i am debating on whether to set up a lit mag with my writing in it and submit it to all my colleges. i have the pieces already. i just have to compile them into magazines. idk. i think i am a borderline applicant for my reach schools and maybe that would push me into the admit.
anyway, i am happy i havent fallen in love with my reaches. i know not to do that. instead, i fell for my matches. LOL. much more likely to get a good response from one of the 3.
ahh, i will continue to post daily. i feel i should document my entire college admissions... i would use the word "saga" but "journey" is more approriate.
last question, haha, i have been putting this in on my posts... what is an academic accomplishment?!!!!!
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HijinksAndSue
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Posted: Mon Sep 10th, 2007 10:55 pm |
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Once, no Bard?
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Tue Sep 11th, 2007 10:46 pm |
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hijinks.. i have been thinking about bard ever since you left that very small yet powerful question.
to me, bard is like the most popular girl in school and i am the dorky wallflower in the corner, drooling at her. bard is everything i want in a school. bard is too pricey for me to keep up with. will bard help me later on with job placement, with my life? will bard be everything i hoped it would be? the last time i fell in love with a school...it was my high school and lets say once i got there, i was extremely disappointed. is bard it? is bard my school?
i think with college admissions and my state of mind as of right now, i need to take risks. my weird record just makes it even more difficult to figure out what is a reach, a match, a safety, so you must apply basicially to a wide range of schools.
in other words, i am applying to bard early action. muhlenberg is off my list. i am taking the risk, and if i fail, i should fail in fashion. i am going to have the best application i can submit to bard, prove all the naysayers wrong, prove to myself i can make this happen, prove that i can be the talented and successful applicant bard wants. prove to myself i can break out from my high school and into a world of intellectual stimulation. prove that i can do this.
also, if any of you want to read my colege essay and give me critique/suggestions, just ask. i am willing to share but you must promise not to be harsh.
Last edited on Wed Sep 12th, 2007 12:01 am by onceinvincible315
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jocelynDAD
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 02:55 am |
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onceinvincible315 wrote: also, if any of you want to read my colege essay and give me critique/suggestions, just ask. i am willing to share but you must promise not to be harsh.
Slow down, breath, relax......
Now, although you have given us some information about yourself, no one on this panel is qualified to read your essay and advise you. IMO
The essay should be a piece that gives the reader the you that you are, no one else.
Getting random comments from strangers is no way IMO to give some scholl you!
BTW, selection of you by a school is not an affirmation of your value, just as a rejection is not the reverse.
I see that you are posting daily. Sort of a free association tactic. Obviously that is ok and you are interesting, at least to me, but I wonder if you are taking the time to reflect. Changing , adding, deleting schools on a daily basis is a bit hectic and possibly not the coolest approach.
So, suggest you pause, relax, reflect and assess yourself calmly.
Of course, we on Carolyn's site are interested and want to see you be successful in your quest, but when the quest is heading North, South, then east west and back again, all in one week, it tends to be confuising to an observer, makes me wonder how clear it is to you. 
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 03:11 am |
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JoceylnDad has given you excellent advice. It is actually excellent advice for ALL students getting ready to apply to college. This is (or should be) a reflective process, and you need to take time to think and figure things out on your own.
Adding to his advice: Be VERY careful about getting feedback on your essay from strangers. While everyone here has good intentions, we don't have all of the information about you necessary to put your essay into the context of your application. And, the more "opinions" you get about your essay, the less likely it is to sound like YOU instead of a committee. If you do decide to ask someone to read your essays, think about giving that person a copy of your completed application (sans essay obviously) as well as your grades, test scores, and details about your school. Additionally, don't be tempted to post your entire essay on any internet discussion board - that really is the worst thing you can do. Ideally, anyone commenting on your essay should be someone who knows you, or who at least has more information about you than the bare minimum.
Returning to Bard -- if you like Bard, and can swing it, I would suggest you attend one of their Immediate Decision days. These are days when they do interviews, a group session, and then review your application and give you a decision on the spot. Here's the thing about college admissions: it's kind of like the lottery, you have to be in it to win it. The details about Bard's ID days are on their admissions website.
Last edited on Wed Sep 12th, 2007 03:41 am by CarolynLawrence
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onceinvincible315
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Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 11:44 am |
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jocelyndad and carolyn!
i realize i have been "frantic" through this entire process. i am sorry but in this day and age it is hard no to lose your mind through all of this mess. due dates, SATs, club meeting, tests and quizzes, tutoring, practices, social life.. its hard to stay calm when you know all of this is going on. i am trying the best i can juggle all of this. jocelyndad, you point out how i am going north, south, east, west.... very true. i cant agree with you more but thats how it is right now with me. also, i am sorry for asking someone to read my essay. i just feel all of my editing and revising needs an outside perspective. i guess i was not thinking at all i would be posting to completely random strangers. writing that entire response, i guess i was not thinking.
i am going to give this all a break and take your advice. today, i am talking to my guidance counselor, going to straighten all of this out, and just leave it be. thanks for all of your advice.
btw, on a lighter note, my reading is officially on the kenyon review website, up until decemeber 1st !
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