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entomom
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 362 |
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Posted: Mon Jul 17th, 2006 09:34 pm |
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Student: D attends Oregon public school
Preferred geographic location for college: Not in Oregon; somewhere cold and snowy; east or west coast, maybe the Lake States.
Specific things looking for in a college: Medium to large sized school (3k+); urban or suburban preferred, rural if not too isolated; good balance of academics and other activities; coed. She would really like to go somewhere that has Portuguese.
Possible academic interests: Biology, neuroscience, cognitive science, languages (Romance), architecture and linguistics.
Schools visited: Oregon State University, UCB, Pomona, Scripps, UWashington, UBritish Columbia, Northeastern, BU, Brandeis, Dartmouth, Brown, Harvard, Grinnell. Will likely visit WUSTL and Amherst this fall.
Application plans: Current list - UWisconsin & UMichigan rolling in September, Yale SCEA, Rice IN, UCB, Emory, WUSTL, Amherst, Brown & Princeton. Also considering - Harvard, Dartmouth, Cornell, Northwestern, UCLA, CMU, UWashington, Haverford, Vassar, Macalester & Smith.
Senior year course load (tentative): AP English AP Physics, AP Chemistry, Honors US Government, Psychology, French 2, teacher aid for AP Biology; Spanish 7, multivariate & vector Calculus at OSU.
Standardized testing: All done until senior year AP's. Thanks to the Xiggi method, will be NMSF and National Hispanic Recognition Scholar. SAT II's in Math2, BiologyM, US History & Chemistry. AP's in Biology, US History & CalculusAB.
EC's, summer activities, employment, etc: Volunteer & translator at low income medical clinic, student representative on County health advisory committee, peer tutor for ESL students, marching band (percussion), NHS, school clubs (Spanish, art & humanitarian) & mountaineering. Summer internship in the Chemical Engineering department at OSU and Grinnell Summer Honor Scholars program. Part time summer job preping and serving for catering business and picking blueberries.
Last edited on Tue Jul 18th, 2006 03:50 am by entomom
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3309 |
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Posted: Mon Jul 17th, 2006 10:56 pm |
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Entomom,
Your post nudged me to something I've been thinking of for a while, which is to give each year their own section. I've thus started a separate forum and moved your thread to it. Feel free to compare notes, talk about specific phases, or just vent. Thanks!
Your daughter sounds like she is really on top of things at this point. Good for her (although I know that she has had some great help from her parents to get to this point!)
Carolyn
Last edited on Mon Jul 17th, 2006 11:01 pm by CarolynLawrence
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entomom
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 362 |
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Posted: Mon Jul 17th, 2006 11:09 pm |
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Carolyn, thanks for the great new forum!
I've started us off with some basics about my D, please add your information, questions, observations, etc. As one of my favorite poems goes, "The time has come the walrus said, to speak of many things........ "
Last edited on Mon Jul 17th, 2006 11:11 pm by entomom
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Lderochi
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 307 |
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Posted: Mon Jul 17th, 2006 11:57 pm |
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Here's my info:
Male from Delaware
Preferred geographic location for college: Generally Virginia and the Carolinas. Delaware for in-state tuition. Possibly (but not probably) Maryland.
Rural or suburban location is preferable. Maybe urban, so long as it's not a huge city. The "right" size seems to be around 4-5000 undergrads, but that's a surprisingly difficult size to find -- most schools on his list are somewhat smaller LACs (with a few much larger universities). Greek okay, but shouldn't be overwhelming (i.e. less than 60%). Football team is a plus.
Child's possible academic interests: Economics right now.
Schools currently on child's list of possibilities: Elon (first choice), Bridgewater, Winthrop, Lynchburg, McDaniel, App Sate, UDel. Maybe Lenoir-Rhyne and Emory & Henry.
Schools we've visited (whether or not child is still interested in going there): Mary Washington, James Madison, VMI, Muhlenberg, Randolph-Macon, Elon, Furman, Winthrop and Presbyterian. Visiting Elon (again) in two weeks, along with Bridgewater and Lynchburg.
Senior Year Courseload (tentative): British Lit, AP Chemistry, Calculus, AP European History, AP Human Geography, First Aid/CPR, Computer Programming with Business Applications.
SAT/ACT: Just wasn't his day on the SAT. Looks like he's one of those who do a good bit better on the ACT. Of course, I just got a copy of his Official HS transcript and the SAT scores are listed, but not the ACT score -- we're in SAT-dominant part of the country. I'm weighing whether to make an issue of it with the school or not. Son would probably be mortified if I were to take it up with the GC so I probably won't.
EC's of Note: Volunteer firefighter/rescue squad takes up a lot of time. Has a lot of regular training, as well as weekend training at the State Fire School. He hopes to continue in college. Some of the college locations don't have volunteer fire, but most have some form of volunteer rescue/ems service. Starting his EMT-B accelerated class in early August, and that will keep him very busy up through mid-October (120 hours of class time).
Summer: Continued volunteer work.
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DesperateDad
Member
| Joined: | Tue Mar 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 846 |
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Posted: Mon Jul 17th, 2006 11:58 pm |
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entomom:
Just my $0.02, but the UCs are mighty expensive for OOS kids, and they almost never waive the OOS portion, even for kids on full finaid. At $40k (and climbing every year), methinks better value can be found.
dd
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3309 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 12:02 am |
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| I have to say I agree with DDad. If financial aid is an issue, the UC's are not a good bet. Even if they do meet your full financial need, aid packages for out of state students tend to be very heavy on loans. (Actually, I personally think the UC aid packages are a little heavy on loans for in-state students as well).
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Northeastmom
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 514 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 12:45 am |
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| lderochi, If Pa. is not out of the question, what about U of Scranton, and Susquehanna? Just a thought.
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entomom
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 362 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 12:59 am |
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DD and Carolyn,
Thanks for the input and reminder. I actually went to Cal in the good old days, I remember paying $212.50 per quarter for tuition (in-state of course)  ! I totally agree that dollar for dollar the UC's are very expensive for OOS, and I don't expect to receive fin aid anywhere.
On her list of 10 schools she has 5 that offer substantial merit aid and which I believe that she is within reasonable range to receive, I love value. There is one reason why Cal is still on her list, fit. What is the value of fit? I don't know, that's a question for next spring I suppose.
So as not to protest too much, I welcome any recommendations of schools with greater value, however you want to define it.
p.s. Cal is the only west coast school she's interested in, give a mom a break 
Last edited on Tue Jul 18th, 2006 01:11 am by entomom
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DesperateDad
Member
| Joined: | Tue Mar 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 846 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 01:30 am |
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entomom:
don't get me wrong bcos I'm a big fan of our instate flagships...but, fit with regards to Berzerkely...hmmmmmm. The only thing I can come up with might be UMich.
With regards to 'value', ....I see more value in paying $45k for a private school (and all that comes with it), than $41k for a big public, unless that public had a unique program (eg, Film Studies at UCLA), or bio-engineering.
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Lderochi
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 307 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 01:44 am |
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Thanks NEMom, but Pennsylvania is, unfortunately, out of the question. Hard enough to convince him to look at Maryland. We've demanded that he apply to UDel for in-state purposes, otherwise he wouldn't give it a second look.
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WestrnMom
Super Moderator
| Joined: | Fri May 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | West Coast, USA |
| Posts: | 1213 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 02:01 am |
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S attends a private school in California. He's looking mainly in state. We have a road trip planned to visit schools out of our area. We've done a substantial amount of visiting in our area already. Loyola Marymount, Cal State Long Beach, Chapman, and others. I'd like him to visit some San Diego schools but he's still thinking about it. He considered University of Arizona but it was not of interest as it's too big. We are not planning to visit more than 10 schools at the most, and he will most likely narrow the application down only to schools he really would like to attend and can get into rather than too many reach schools. We are evaluating schools with strong support services first, major and other considerations second.
He's already taken Chemistry, Biology and Physics. Senior coursework: Honors Gov't/Econ, Calculus, English, language, and an electronics course that is primarily mechanical engineering.
Possible majors: Chemistry, Bio chemistry, Physical Chem (ie organic chem), or another science, maybe engineering.
ECs: Currently working in the food industry, has done extensive volunteering through church, strong music background (instrumental and singing), martial arts, and acting although he has given acting up as it was too time consuming. He also has training in one area of emergency services.
He is waiting on ACT scores. SAT was not a match as he took it with no accommodations and will not retake it. He plans to retake the ACT next fall. S has a solid GPA for most LACs with the exception of those that are considered highly competitive like Claremont McKenna.
Last edited on Thu Aug 10th, 2006 05:05 pm by WestrnMom
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lingsquared
Banned
| Joined: | Sat Jun 24th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 11 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 03:10 am |
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Student (me!): Overseas American.
Preferred geographic location for college: None, really. It's going to be a long trip no matter where I go.
Specific things looking for in a college: Small to medium sized, emphasis on the liberal arts, must have 4 years of Chinese offered on campus, "quirky" student body
Possible academic interests: English, comparative literature, languages, linguistics, philosophy, gender studies
Schools visited: U of Washington, George Washington, Georgetown, Tufts, Smith, Mt Holyoke, Columbia, Yale, Swarthmore, Carleton.
Application plans: U of Washington rolling, Beloit EA. Smith, Swarthmore, Wesleyan, Carleton, Mt Holyoke and Grinnell regular decision as of now. Vaguely thinking of Smith ED because I think that's where I really want to go, but I need the first semester senior year to get good grades, lol.
Senior year course load (tentative): AP English, AP Calc BC, AP Human Geo, Mandrin VII, Spanish IV or V (need to take placement test), band, orchestra, plus various and sundry courses required for graduation (PE, etc.).
Standardized testing: Pretty much finished, I think. Done with SAT Is, SAT IIs in Chem/US History/Lit, and APs in Chem/US. Most probably NMSF. Might take the SAT IIs for Chinese and Spanish in the fall, just for fun.
EC's, summer activities, employment, etc: Mucho band stuff (orchestra/wind ensemble/quintet/pit orchestra/jazz band/private lessons). Some debate. Big Siblings program. In the process of starting a Queer Straight Alliance. Plus, I have a writing group with friends, I study Russian, I read a lot, etc.
...of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings! 
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entomom
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 362 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 03:49 am |
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DD,
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate constructive suggestions. But, since when was fit soley about academic programs? What ever happened to ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, the feel of the student body and the community, access to facilities for outside interests, or anthing else that deeply matters to the student? And I thought fit was by definition up to the individual, not someone else's opinion of what it should be. Every school on the list is based on something about my D, her interests, personality and values. Sometimes personal value > $$.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.
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Daaaad
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jun 3rd, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 104 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 04:40 am |
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My D:
Wants architecture, but seeks college with other options in case she changes her mind. Psychology is second interest.
Senior year: Calc AB, Psych AP, Physics AP, Honors Rhetoric, fine arts. Also taking studio at School of Art Institute to work on portfolio.
3.9+ uwGPA, Top 10%, NHS & Spanish Honor Society, two-sport varsity athlete, good ECs, good/not great ACT will retake in fall.
Prefers mid-sized U with Div I athletics and school spirit. (She is a jock, afterall.) Architecture programs at big universities are okay because small arch school within big school still gives her the comfort and personal attention she desires.
Considering architecture schools at Notre Dame, Miami of Ohio, U of Illinois, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Iowa State. Dropped IIT, RISD & Cal Poly because too technical, too artsy or not enough A&L options if she drops arch. Loved Wash U but disappointed by athletic program. Other LAC options if she decides not to go directly to arch studies; Boston College, Holy Cross & Santa Clara. Plus any one or more unknown or unmentioned schools.
Visited nearly all of the above plus several other LACs and big state u's.
My best guess: Miami, but ND in a heartbeat if accepted. UofI and OSU in next tier.
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DesperateDad
Member
| Joined: | Tue Mar 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 846 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 05:21 am |
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entomom:
"fit" can be anything and everyting. In your first post, you mentioned fit to be snowy, medium to large college, portugese, and academic interests; Cal only has the latter three - it snows in the Bay Area once every 30 years. The other items are new to the discussion......
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Chedva
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 575 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 01:48 pm |
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Kid: Female
Home State: Massachusetts
Geographic location: Northeast (no farther south than VA). She loves her winters. (And she's decided not to apply to schools near Orlando or in CA - Disney will be a summer thing.)
Academic Interest: Undecided - humanities/social sciences area; wants nothing to do with math or hard sciences
Looking for in a college: Small, personalized. Not rural. Must have dance team or dance program. (Dance club run by students is not acceptable.) Doesn't need to be dance major.
Schools on her list: Vassar (probably ED), Muhlenberg (2d choice), University of Richmond, Bucknell (OK, it's rural), Wesleyan, Rhodes (OK, it's not Northeast - we have a friend who's on faculty there), Barnard, U Rochester, Union, Ithaca, UMass Amherst (only because she feels she has to).
Schools she has visited: Vassar, Skidmore, Haverford, Goucher, Bucknell, U Richmond, Muhlenberg, Rhodes, Brandeis. Informal visits to Barnard - dad's a Columbia alum. Will try to visit Wesleyan. Did Cornell's Summer College - loved the summer program but it's too big for her tastes.
Senior Load: AP English, AP Euro, AP Psych, Honors French V, Honors Anatomy & Physiology, standard Calculus (all honors or AP classes through high school except for math). She's already completed Bio, Chem, Physics sequence.
GPA: 3.6 uw, 5.6 w (out of 6) - these are approximates; they don't tell us for real until the fall. School doesn't rank.
Study for the ACT/SAT: Not any more! SAT I: 760 CR, 720 M, 770 V; ACT 33 composite - 35 English, 29 Math, 33 Reading, 31 Science, 10 Writing. SAT II: 710 Math I, 600 Lit, 560 Chem (she refuses to consider retakes or any other exams). AP USH 5.
EC's of Note: Dance (ballet, jazz, tap) molto hours per week. Assistant dance teacher in jazz, maybe tap this year - haven't gotten the schedule yet. Dance club at school. (Did I mention she's a dancer?) NHS member this year; at her school, NHS does lots of community service projects. Teaches skiing to 3-7 year olds at a local very small ski area, if it's cold enough and there's snow.
Summer Plans: Assistant dance counselor at a theater day camp, hanging with friends, week-long dance intensive at her studio. Also took a wonderful Advanced Driver's Training course, and taking a speed-reading course. And I'll nudge her to begin writing her essays.
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 02:42 pm |
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entomom wrote: On her list of 10 schools she has 5 that offer substantial merit aid and which I believe that she is within reasonable range to receive, I love value. There is one reason why Cal is still on her list, fit. What is the value of fit? I don't know, that's a question for next spring I suppose.
LOL! Mom, I give you a break! I don't think DD or I meant to say don't apply to Cal, just we have both seen oss end up shocked at the price tag. As you know, I am a huge believer that fit - socially and academically - is very important, and Cal is a wonderful school on many levels. So, please don't take my comments to mean that Cal shouldn't be on her list!!
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
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| Location: | USA |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 02:44 pm |
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lingsquared wrote: Beloit EA.
...of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings!
Well, Ling, you know how I feel about THAT one. 
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 02:45 pm |
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Chevda,
Your daughter has a very nice list --- well-defined, good mix of possibilities.
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Pye
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Germany |
| Posts: | 114 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 18th, 2006 03:05 pm |
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To the poster interested in Portuguese, I recommend Brown and schools in the Boston area because both Providence and Boston have sizeable Portuguese-speaking communities.
To those considering women's colleges as well as coed schools, you should be clear how you feel about these two different types of college experiences: there is much to be said on the positive side about single sex schools , but they don't suit all types of students.
I am happy to answer specific questions about Mount Holyoke --I have been an alum interviewer for them and have visited the campus twice recently.
My D will be a freshman at Brandeis this Fall-- after a month or two, I can also report with more authority on that experience.
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