Brainstorming college options for my DD
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Anonymous
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In the early stages of pondering possible good college fits for my (current sophomore) DD. I know - early days! But curious to hear what the DCUM hive mind thinks. I am from California, so back in my day pretty much everyone just applied to CA schools, so this universe of East Coast and a bajillion other schools in between is very foreign to me. Also, my DD is VERY different from me - so schools I would have wanted (big city!) are not going to appeal to her. Anyway - she is very smart - will probably be a 4.0 (UW) plus multiple APs (currently taking AP Calculus BC). Scored in the high 1400s on recent PSAT without any preparation so will likely do well on SAT if she cracks a book or two. Public school; Starting varsity (soccer) athlete; demonstrated musical ability/interests; is an incredible (won several contests as a child; can draw a perfect likeness/portrait on demand) artist. On the other hand, she likes STEM classes a lot - though I still don't know if that will be her ultimate bent.
She doesn't particularly like cities/urban bustle; probably wouldn't like super cold climate; not in to partying (e.g. Greek life) at all. Very down to earth, studious kid (and would not like either rich blue blood east coast or Southern belle/debutante drama). Doesn't like crowds/I can't imagine she would like/thrive in big flagship university freshman classes of several hundred. Thoughts that have come to mind for me (with very little research so far . . .just vague grapevine stuff): Rice, Cornell (except brrrr!), Pomona, Stanford (super reach, I know), William and Mary, Oberlin, maybe somewhere in Oregon/Washington (Gonzaga? Lewis and Clark?). Would love to hear any ideas/thoughts/experiences/recommendations of colleges to think about . . . . that way we can start researching/planning college visits 
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Anonymous
| Do you live in CA? |
Anonymous
| As a sophomore, just visit schools wherever you go. Let her get a feel for what vibes she likes. There’s no reason to come up with a list now better to just let her decide what she likes and doesn’t like in a school. A lot could change too between now and fall of her senior year in terms of what she wants. |
Anonymous
| William and Mary. Mary Washington. |
Anonymous
| You are much too overly invested. Let her drive this train. |
Anonymous
| There are plenty of schools that would probably suit her. FWIW, I never dreamed my quiet, introverted daughter would be happy at a large school, but that's what she chose and I have never seen her so engaged. She was like a butterfly emerging from her cocoon after she got there. It's been fantastic. |
Anonymous
| Swarthmore , Carleton if she could take the cold there |
Anonymous
This. Your post comes off as manic. |
Anonymous
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Agree that a lot could change.
But fyi in the PNW I might recommend Reed and Whitman over the two you mentioned — maybe especially Whitman for a kid who doesn’t like urban bustle. Whitman is hard to get to, but that isolation gives it a vibe that’s really unique. A reasonably sized town with great restaurants etc., but also the wide streets and rural charm feel of a midwestern town. Wonderfully friendly, down-to-earth kids, arty and outdoorsy, smart and unpretentious. Great STEM, and also art everywhere on campus. Don’t have a kid there and not an alum, though DC is applying. |
Anonymous
This. Especially when the kid is not even halfway through her sophomore year. This isn’t who you want to be, OP. |
Anonymous
| OP, are you comfortable spending $86K a year? |
Anonymous
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I would think again about the weather because most of the good small schools are in cold places. I went someplace cold but it didn’t bother me all that much because people bundle up and nothing was more than a 5 minute walk really.
Clemson is one southern smaller school but I don’t know how great it is for stem. For stem one big question is if she wants more applied like engineering or comp sci or if she wants more like biology, chem, physics. Amherst is great for the old school sciences if you want med school or a science PhD. For engineering you need someplace like union or bucknell — not as many small school options for engineering. You might want to take her by Hopkins at some point to see if that feels too big. |
Anonymous
| Where do you live now? Start close by and not particularly selective so it doesn't feel high pressure. She sounds like a great kid. |
Anonymous
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It’s just not that deep OP
She has great stats and will likely have her choice. Its too early to worry about this and this isn’t your bus to drive. |
Anonymous
This is good advice. |