college recommendations, please...

[Anonymous]

I have seen boys getting into both schools w/lower than expected stats, with intended majors (and ECs) like English, classics and anthropology. Get a museum job this summer for the latter or if he likes to write do a writing program for the former.

[Anonymous]

If you are middle class, OOS public universities usually won’t give you much financial aid.

It may be a slight reach, but I would also consider aiming for private schools like BU(Boston University) or Emory if your household income isn’t too high.

Starting this year, they offer tuition free programs for families with household incomes under $200,000 (although assets may affect the amount).

However, I believe that Emory is need-aware, while BU is need-blind for domestic students.

[Anonymous]

Check out the PA LACs, might be a great fit for Gettysburg or Dickinson, Lehigh, etc. Also Tulane is a good suggestion for ED

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out the PA LACs, might be a great fit for Gettysburg or Dickinson, Lehigh, etc. Also Tulane is a good suggestion for ED

Thanks. I am not from this area so I don't know the PA small colleges other than the high ranking Philadelphia ones. We'll look at these. Thank you to other PPs as well for suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Take a look at Jesuit colleges like Loyola Maryland or Marquette.

Visit Christopher Newport. Size is like W&M but my DD thought it felt like UVA's vibe (she liked W&M and UMW, did not like UVA or CNU).

Also, my DD applied to W&M with the same SAT and lower GPA (3.7uw/4.0w). She was waitlisted with the option to start in spring and do study abroad in the Fall (she chose a different school). With a better GPA and being a boy I'd think OP's son has a decent shot. He should interview; they are optional but can help show interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other state's flagships & assorted SLAC like Dennison, one of the many MANY that in PA (lower tier ones probably giving massive merit), etc.

More info needed for actual, relevant recommendation as your student's stats are higher than the vast majority of college-attending kids so that are many options

He is a sporty, super social nice kid, lots of friends, If it didn't cost 90K, I think a school like Villanova would probably be a great fit. He would love school spirit but is unlikely to be into the Greek scene. Re: academics, I didn't mention it because he keeps changing his mind. He doesn't have strong likes and dislikes. He is more of a well-rounded kid in an era where they're supposed to be spiky.

Ok, climate? Is this kid going to be OK with grey, freezing winters or does being in short sleeves year round a requirement?
Does he want to be around grinders or more laid back kids?
Size? 30K too big? 2k too small?
Demographics? Is diversity important?
City, suburban or rural? Will they have a car? Is it important to have a campus where a car is not needed?
Are co-ops or special programs important?

If the kid literal has no direction on climate, required activities, size of school, general area of the country, demographics, size, rural or not, etc. then people are just going to shout out names of schools their kids applied to. So, I guess just tally those up?

But I'd suggest you have your kid visit some schools & do some reflection on what makes him happy & what environment he needs to thrive. I've got well-rounded kids. They have opinions, even if it's they want a club ultimate team and good dining hall food.

Thanks for these questions. I know I have given very little info, partly because he's such an easy going flexible kid, but I appreciate your willingness to help.

He likes the well-defined college campuses, dislikes the super urban schools.

Academically, no question he leans toward STEM fields (Math, Chem, Bio) and thought he might want to do pre-med but then later maybe not. He's exploring. But he isn't a kid who needs to stay away from libreral arts school distribution requirements. He gets the same grades pretty much in history, English. FWIW, I love William and Mary for him.

He is used to being around grinders but is not really a grinder himself. He is hard-working but not a super go-getter. I guess I am comparing him to older sibling who was much more driven and focused and, if anything, thrives in a competitive environment.

He is fine with cold, loves skiing. We'd rather the school be a (however long) drive away so Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, or anywhere within 8-10 hours from DMV. New England SLACs would seem fantastic but most don't give merit and we are pretty solidly donut hole (and have three kids). No car (unless he figures out how to pay for one.)

I personally think the huge state schools are too big for him. I think he'd do better in a place with more involved advising and with easier to access to internships (a la W&M). But he may have to figure this out for himself.

He plays basketball, soccer, football etc and will have a blast with intramural/less competitive club sports. He also plays golf (again, not recruiting level) and having easy access to a golf course would be a huge plus and could change his mind about a school.

[Anonymous]

Take him to see Wake and UGA.

[Anonymous]

He'd likely need to get his SAT up, but UGA honors could be what you both want. It's very structured/supportive.

[Anonymous]

University of Vermont

[Anonymous]

Elon, St. Lawrence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:University of Vermont

+1

[Anonymous]

We looked at OOS flagships without a big Greek scene and said no to applications to the few most expensive OOS flagships. Throw-in a few apps to SLACs T20 - T100. Apply ED to UVA. Apply to JMU. DD chose UConn w/merit which made it instate tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other state's flagships & assorted SLAC like Dennison, one of the many MANY that in PA (lower tier ones probably giving massive merit), etc.

More info needed for actual, relevant recommendation as your student's stats are higher than the vast majority of college-attending kids so that are many options

He is a sporty, super social nice kid, lots of friends, If it didn't cost 90K, I think a school like Villanova would probably be a great fit. He would love school spirit but is unlikely to be into the Greek scene. Re: academics, I didn't mention it because he keeps changing his mind. He doesn't have strong likes and dislikes. He is more of a well-rounded kid in an era where they're supposed to be spiky.

Ok, climate? Is this kid going to be OK with grey, freezing winters or does being in short sleeves year round a requirement?
Does he want to be around grinders or more laid back kids?
Size? 30K too big? 2k too small?
Demographics? Is diversity important?
City, suburban or rural? Will they have a car? Is it important to have a campus where a car is not needed?
Are co-ops or special programs important?

If the kid literal has no direction on climate, required activities, size of school, general area of the country, demographics, size, rural or not, etc. then people are just going to shout out names of schools their kids applied to. So, I guess just tally those up?

But I'd suggest you have your kid visit some schools & do some reflection on what makes him happy & what environment he needs to thrive. I've got well-rounded kids. They have opinions, even if it's they want a club ultimate team and good dining hall food.

Thanks for these questions. I know I have given very little info, partly because he's such an easy going flexible kid, but I appreciate your willingness to help.

He likes the well-defined college campuses, dislikes the super urban schools.

Academically, no question he leans toward STEM fields (Math, Chem, Bio) and thought he might want to do pre-med but then later maybe not. He's exploring. But he isn't a kid who needs to stay away from libreral arts school distribution requirements. He gets the same grades pretty much in history, English. FWIW, I love William and Mary for him.

He is used to being around grinders but is not really a grinder himself. He is hard-working but not a super go-getter. I guess I am comparing him to older sibling who was much more driven and focused and, if anything, thrives in a competitive environment.

He is fine with cold, loves skiing. We'd rather the school be a (however long) drive away so Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, or anywhere within 8-10 hours from DMV. New England SLACs would seem fantastic but most don't give merit and we are pretty solidly donut hole (and have three kids). No car (unless he figures out how to pay for one.)

I personally think the huge state schools are too big for him. I think he'd do better in a place with more involved advising and with easier to access to internships (a la W&M). But he may have to figure this out for himself.

He plays basketball, soccer, football etc and will have a blast with intramural/less competitive club sports. He also plays golf (again, not recruiting level) and having easy access to a golf course would be a huge plus and could change his mind about a school.

You have an awesome kid who is going to do well wherever he goes.

I would strongly recommend taking a tour of U Pitt. I think that is a near perfect school for him (even though it is a huge public school) and he is nearly certain to get in.

[Anonymous]

Richmond?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:for a kid who is on the cusp but may not get into UVA and William and Mary. We are in-state.

He currently has a 4.2 as a junior, likely to be a little higher next year, 1480 (will take again), good rigor (as in five APs junior year) but definitely not the highest at his school. He has a varsity sport, volunteering, everything good but nothing at the level that it would help him get in anywhere.

He truly has no idea what he wants to study so I think he should go to a liberal arts college. I don't see Virginia Tech being the right place at all. But we'd really need some merit to get the costs down, not necessarily to in-state price but can't afford 90K.

Can anyone suggest schools that their similar kids liked? Thanks in advance!

Dickinson, Denison, Lafayette, Lehigh, Mary Wash