College suggestions for a nerdy girl

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

To apply for, for instance, the Hypatia LLC requires ideological commitment. Read their application.
First, you are required to identify your gender (male/female/non-binary/other - where "other" means you have to specify what you identify as - it's a required question so you can't refuse to answer it).

Second, it asks Why do you want to be part of Hypatia? What unique perspective, background, or set of experiences will you bring to the Hypatia community? Hypatia has long recognized the importance of building a diverse community. How will your life experiences enable you to contribute to the Hypatia community? Essay must be at least 300 words in length but no more than 500 words.

So basically your kid will have to start their professional life with a DEI statement.

Any living group around a theme/common interest will want to know why you are interested, that you will be involved and contribute, and that you can get along with others and it will be a comfortable environment for all the members. I’ve seen this with other living learning communities , sustainable living theme house, co-op housing, and sorority housing. Are you equally offended that other OPTIONAL living situations would ask questions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain more specifically why W&M is a good fit for a "nerdy" student? Is it just because the population tends to be highly studious? Or are there other factors?

It is a combination of very bright students plus a love for learning and an intellectually vibrant culture: it is "cool" to like your classes and want to learn. It is cool to study, cool to be involved in research or on-campus intellectual clubs. It is called the quintessential public ivy for a reason: lots of small seminar classes where students participate, engaged approachable professors, intellectual vitality prominent in the culture, etc: just like the ivies. But with slightly less selective admissions. The general personality of the majority of WM students overlaps highly with the personalities at the Uchicago and most ivies: ie nerd-forward but fun too.

Exactly this. My nerdy introvert who has good social skills (but doesn’t want to be social 24/7) has loved it from Day 1. I love that she is at a place where she is having fun and working hard— and making friends just by being herself. The nerf club is one of the largest on campus and takes over academic buildings for lo scale war on Saturday nights, and is great for kids who want to be social, but don’t want the drink and party scene (although there are frats and that does exist— but Greek life is more low key than many other schools). “Who comes here belongs here” is 100% true.

It is also a self selecting school that strongly values demonstrated interest. They want kids who want to be there. Not kids who feel they are settling. Which is whybED kids get a bump. Kids who really like it there have often made a conscious choice that it’s a better fit for them than UVA or VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is bright (NMCS) but didn’t want to go to a college that was cut-throat or too competitive. She also didn’t want to be the smartest one there. Didn’t care about US News rankings or sports. Ended up at Oberlin with merit and it is an absolute perfect fit. And there is music everywhere you turn!

I have a similar Obie DS. Very bright kids and a we accept you as you are culture. And music. But, it’s a school you need to visit. One of my nerdlings found his perfect fit there. The other one did not like the vibe and eliminated it early. Most kids have a strong positive or negative reaction when they visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My science and music son applied to Carleton, Macalester, St Olaf, Lawrence along with UVA and W&M. He is at W&M and having a great experience with science and extracurricular music and has made close friends.

May I ask which of those he got into?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

NP. So glad to see Smith mentioned! DD will be heading to Smith this fall, although very unlikely to be science major.

[Anonymous]

My nerdy kid will be attending Bryn Mawr next year (and got some great merit too). She also liked Smith but wanted to be closer to a big city. Also on her list were Brandeis, Macalester (also offered good merit. Others too but those were the top. We visited lots of others, including higher ranked schools. But she liked those best.

[Anonymous]

RICE.

Fantastic research opportunities, beautiful campus, nice & nerdy kids, residential colleges that foster community, happy students.

[Anonymous]

+1

Anonymous wrote:RICE.

Fantastic research opportunities, beautiful campus, nice & nerdy kids, residential colleges that foster community, happy students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Case Western. This is exactly the profile of kids there. Good, smart sciency kids, not into partying.

+1
Case is a great school for the hard working but down to earth STEM kids out there.
The campus is wonderful as well. With its location among so many museums it is like attending a campus on the National Mall.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Bryn Mawr. D got great merit! Math Department very strong. Grad school placement very good. Trico a huge plus.

[Anonymous]

Northwestern
Rice
Johns Hopkins
University of Chicago
Case Western Reserve
Georgia Tech
Elon
Villanova
St Marys College of Maryland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain more specifically why W&M is a good fit for a "nerdy" student? Is it just because the population tends to be highly studious? Or are there other factors?

It is a combination of very bright students plus a love for learning and an intellectually vibrant culture: it is "cool" to like your classes and want to learn. It is cool to study, cool to be involved in research or on-campus intellectual clubs. It is called the quintessential public ivy for a reason: lots of small seminar classes where students participate, engaged approachable professors, intellectual vitality prominent in the culture, etc: just like the ivies. But with slightly less selective admissions. The general personality of the majority of WM students overlaps highly with the personalities at the Uchicago and most ivies: ie nerd-forward but fun too.

Love this description, so on point. My nerdy kid wasn’t so sure about W&M now is loving it. DC has been doing research for a year now, lined up an excellent internship for the summer. Loving new friends and especially professors. Love it when they say “I called my professor and we met for almost an hour to discus…”. Most classes are smallish (20-25 students). Couldn’t be happier about this choice, truly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain more specifically why W&M is a good fit for a "nerdy" student? Is it just because the population tends to be highly studious? Or are there other factors?

This was what I posted about W&M in a thread from last month (where someone asked if it was “bro-y”):

W&M has a variety of students just like any college but certainly has its own unique campus culture. Kids are pretty nice, smart and well-rounded on the whole. Some are sporty bro types, some are nerdy types, some are artsy theater types. I also found there was a deep overall commitment to volunteer work and public service among the student body, which always struck me as a somewhat unique characteristic.

One of the things that’s nice about W&M is one profile of student doesn’t really seem to dominate the school or campus culture. There’s a place for everyone but the college is also small enough that you really can get to know a variety of different students. It’s a pretty unique and special place.

[Anonymous]

Reed
Allegheny
Beloit
SMCM

To name a few that haven't been named before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carleton College in Minnesota might be a fit for your daughter.

As a parent of a Carleton kid, I would agree and recommend you look into it.