College suggestions for a nerdy girl

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duke?!?!

Are you kidding?

[Anonymous]

+1 Pomona. Super smart—but nice—kids in chill SoCal environment. Great science with research opportunities for undergrads. Also has great music program (whether pursued as courses or extra-curriculars). Really can’t beat it for science/music combo. Next would be Rice—esp. if music interest is opera-related, which is very strong there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have an opinion on how UMD would be for such a kid?

IMO UMD or a similar school (big state flagship with lots of STEM kids) would be the best fit for such a kid. If they went to a SLAC like Carleton or Grinnell or Vassar, they would be forced to be extroverted due to the small class sizes and the cliquey, insular nature of such schools. Going to UMD or a similar big state flagship would be best for nice, shy, nerdy girls.

I was that girl and chose one of those SLACS you mentioned (and didn't want to go to my state flagship, which is much sought-after today). I was not forced to be extroverted, but I did learn to be a little more comfortable talking in seminars. (That was a helpful skill for grads school!) The school was not cliquey or insular. I graduated a nice, shy, happy nerdy girl with lots of friends whom I remain close to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have an opinion on how UMD would be for such a kid?

IMO UMD or a similar school (big state flagship with lots of STEM kids) would be the best fit for such a kid. If they went to a SLAC like Carleton or Grinnell or Vassar, they would be forced to be extroverted due to the small class sizes and the cliquey, insular nature of such schools. Going to UMD or a similar big state flagship would be best for nice, shy, nerdy girls.

I’m one of the Case posters. That’s what I liked about some of the smaller schools on her list like Grinnell. Would have forced her out of her shell a bit and to develop that part of her.

[Anonymous]

My ds is graduating this year from Vanderbilt. Chemistry major. And he played violin in small groups and with the community orchestra perhaps all 4 yrs. Also worked in labs. He’s somewhat nerdy probably never went to a football game or a frat party. Had a great experience nevertheless!

[Anonymous]

Smith
Mt Holyoke
Bryn Mawr
Swarthmore
JHU
Goucher

[Anonymous]

William & Mary

[Anonymous]

Virginia Tech. My kid is a total quiet nerd and she found her other nerds in the LLC at tech. She loves the community, the fact that they go hiking and are excited to talk math/physics all the time. She also has found out how much fun life can be when you all dress in orange and yell for your football team. It’s her people and she loves it and we totally thought she’d be a W&M kid or a SLAC kid, but we were wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a music plus science kid:


Wooster
Oberlin
St. Olaf
Carleton
Macalaster
Vassar
Wesleyan
Grinnell
William & Mary
Rochester
RPI if you are very sure she will never cross over to humanities
Case Western
Pitt (rolling decision gets you a yes in September)

We looked at smaller to midsize schools.

This is a good list. If you don't want woke, focus on the last four.

"woke" tells us you are a moron. OP ignore the troll.

Get the f over yourself, pretentious twit.

[Anonymous]

Another bump for Haverford and Bryn Mawr. Send lots of students to STEM grad schools. Cool to be nerdy and smart. Can also take classes at Swarthmore and UPenn. Has felt No social
Pressure to drink or party at all. Lots of students go to Philly for museums, concerts etc… day trips to surrounding towns. DC super happy with lots of kind, smart, and nerdy friends. Could not be more happy for them to be with their peeps and right academic setting.

[Anonymous]

Bryn Mawr for sure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a music plus science kid:


Wooster
Oberlin
St. Olaf
Carleton
Macalaster
Vassar
Wesleyan
Grinnell
William & Mary
Rochester
RPI if you are very sure she will never cross over to humanities
Case Western
Pitt (rolling decision gets you a yes in September)

We looked at smaller to midsize schools.

This is a good list. If you don't want woke, focus on the last four.

Enough with WOKE!!!! PANIC!!! It’s getting old. And what does Woke even mean? If everything and everyone is WOkE!!?,, then nothing and no one is WOKE.

NP and I’d offer that maybe the post isn’t meant for you.
So just scroll on….
Maybe don’t worry so much about the catch-phrase word used in an attempt to characterize the difficulty that conservative students will be likely to encounter in an environment hostile to differing viewpoints.

But I think “troll” was probably just trying to point out that if a student’s worldview aligns with the decidedly-left ideaologies that are prominently held by most faculty, students and staff at the school on that top of that list, they’ll be fine. But otherwise, they should consider the schools on the bottom of the list for a better “fit.”

Why be miserable for four years? Go where your diversity is welcome! ….and truthfully, many of these liberal schools no longer hold diversity of thought as a liberal value.

[Anonymous]

Pick an LAC at the 5 college consortium, that way she can take grad classes at UMass Amherst without prereqs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend Smith if she is willing to go to an all-women's college. She sounds like my DD, who is a Smithie and found it to be a perfect fit. Has done a lot of research and even published in STEM.

Another Smithie parent, I agree.
Also W&M, Mt Holyoke, RIT
SMCM for a safety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A large state school doesn’t magically make a quiet introverted kid an extroverted, exuberant party animal. That said, I think they can do well and find their people at a place like UMD. Once you start visiting different types of campuses your child will get a feel for what they like. I wouldn’t rule UMD out but it’s a very different environment compared to W&M.

I was going to suggest OP looks at state flagship too. My daughter sounds similar and is very happy at a state flagship. There are so many people that it's easier to find non-greek, non-partiers than at a smaller school. There's a club for everyone. My daughter met most of her close friends through a D and D club.