Reviews of colleges in or near big cities for great (but not outstanding student)?

[Anonymous]

Other possibilities- Rhodes, Haverford, Drexel, Davidson, Trinity U (TX), Miami.

[Anonymous]

My DS with similar stats at a tough private HS in New England is at Santa Clara with merit, aid, and Honors Program. He loves it! His only overlap with your list is USC; he applied EA, deferred, rejected.
Make sure you visit BU; its campus layout is unusual...all buildings aligned on a very busy street and ppl either love that or hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a good student (A- unweighted at a decent but not "top tier" private school outside DMV), strong standard ECs (varsity sport/club leadership, community service), strong SAT (1510).
Major: Undecided social sciences

Has anyone had a DC attend or have experiences at these colleges that you'd be willing to share?
University of Denver
UW Seattle
McGill
UC Davis or UC Santa Cruz
Santa Clara
U Wisconsin Madison

Finally, would these reaches (USC, BU, tufts, NYU, UCSB, Michigan) be too high of a reach for this profile student? He's interested in applying but I'm afraid they're too reachy.

With the way admissions is today, it’s good to apply to a lot of different schools and realize that what a sophomore wants can really change when they become a senior. If your kid wants access to a big city then I’d reconsider UCSB unless he loves the SB area. It’s in Isla Vista which is pretty small. Santa Barbara itself isn’t very large and caters more to the older crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a good student (A- unweighted at a decent but not "top tier" private school outside DMV), strong standard ECs (varsity sport/club leadership, community service), strong SAT (1510).
Major: Undecided social sciences

Has anyone had a DC attend or have experiences at these colleges that you'd be willing to share?
University of Denver
UW Seattle
McGill
UC Davis or UC Santa Cruz
Santa Clara
U Wisconsin Madison

Finally, would these reaches (USC, BU, tufts, NYU, UCSB, Michigan) be too high of a reach for this profile student? He's interested in applying but I'm afraid they're too reachy.

If you like USC, with those stats and an undecided major, I would try going EA.

I thought there wasn't any real benefit to applying EA at USC versus RD - is that wrong?

[Anonymous]

Villanova!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a good student (A- unweighted at a decent but not "top tier" private school outside DMV), strong standard ECs (varsity sport/club leadership, community service), strong SAT (1510).
Major: Undecided social sciences

Has anyone had a DC attend or have experiences at these colleges that you'd be willing to share?
University of Denver
UW Seattle
McGill
UC Davis or UC Santa Cruz
Santa Clara
U Wisconsin Madison

Finally, would these reaches (USC, BU, tufts, NYU, UCSB, Michigan) be too high of a reach for this profile student? He's interested in applying but I'm afraid they're too reachy.

If you like USC, with those stats and an undecided major, I would try going EA.

I thought there wasn't any real benefit to applying EA at USC versus RD - is that wrong?

I think it's slightly better to apply ea but not by much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a good student (A- unweighted at a decent but not "top tier" private school outside DMV), strong standard ECs (varsity sport/club leadership, community service), strong SAT (1510).
Major: Undecided social sciences

Has anyone had a DC attend or have experiences at these colleges that you'd be willing to share?
University of Denver
UW Seattle
McGill
UC Davis or UC Santa Cruz
Santa Clara
U Wisconsin Madison

Finally, would these reaches (USC, BU, tufts, NYU, UCSB, Michigan) be too high of a reach for this profile student? He's interested in applying but I'm afraid they're too reachy.

Good list. I think NYU, BU would be low reaches and worth applying to. Maybe Tufts/Michigan too.

Would your DS consider adding GW (Elliott School for IR is amazing) or AU in DC, or Boston College?

[Anonymous]

“As for Michigan, why? Even if you could get in, it is private school tuition for a factory school.”

You know nothing about UMich. I’m embarrassed for you.

[Anonymous]

Minnesota

[Anonymous]

anyone with experiences at unis on this list per OP's questions?

following

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a good student (A- unweighted at a decent but not "top tier" private school outside DMV), strong standard ECs (varsity sport/club leadership, community service), strong SAT (1510).
Major: Undecided social sciences

Has anyone had a DC attend or have experiences at these colleges that you'd be willing to share?
University of Denver
UW Seattle
McGill
UC Davis or UC Santa Cruz
Santa Clara
U Wisconsin Madison

Finally, would these reaches (USC, BU, tufts, NYU, UCSB, Michigan) be too high of a reach for this profile student? He's interested in applying but I'm afraid they're too reachy.

Good list. I think NYU, BU would be low reaches and worth applying to. Maybe Tufts/Michigan too.

Would your DS consider adding GW (Elliott School for IR is amazing) or AU in DC, or Boston College?

BU and NYU are much easier ED, much more difficult RD, your DS should have one of them as a clear first choice if ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:anyone with experiences at unis on this list per OP's questions?

following

Yes! I’ve posted on previous threads about being surprised at how much DS likes UC Davis. The kids are really nice, very friendly and outgoing. Campus is beautiful and downtown Davis is right outside the gates. Lots of college friendly stores and restaurants that stay open late, live music at restaurants and bars, and campus is spread out so it doesn’t feel crazy crowded. You have to bring a bike or buy one when you are there. I think all the daily bike riding and outdoor activities helps the kids moods. Academically, it’s good and DS has really liked the TA/Professor model. Proximity to Sacramento (15 minute train) is great for internships for social sciences. It’s ranked 31 or 33, so there are a good number of productive researchers and research opportunities for students. Clubs are active and welcoming. Housing is easier and more available than at other UCs.

As a mom, I love it. It’s one of the only UCs that is not in the path of a potential natural disaster. It’s close enough that we can see him for a day every once in a while without him missing out on social activities during the weekend. The train station is next to downtown and campus and really well situated for routes. Great campus bus system. Very environmentally friendly in every feasible way. Extremely safe.

[Anonymous]

Santa Clara - we have lots of relatives who went there on one side of the family, DC has several friends there. It’s sort of the opposite of UCs in every way.

1. SC is 40% white, 20% asian, 20% other. Top UCs are the reverse with 40-45% Asians and 30 Hispanics, under 20% whites. SC has slightly more males than females. UCs have 60/40 female to male.

2. OOS students tend to think SC is full of very rich students. This is true and untrue. It’s popular with UMC Bay Area privates and publics in expensive areas. Bay Area money is just on a different planet compared to the rest of the US other than NYC etc . USC is the school with real money. UCs have insanely rich international students but the majority of other students are low end UMC or poor.

3. SC has smaller classes. UC has some crazy large ones.

4. SC has a lot of student support, hand holding. UC is survival of the fittest.

5. SC focuses on teaching. UC focuses on research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP if you are white and your son is not a recruited athlete then apply to private universities. The UCs really do not want white males.

Because of CA state law for public universities, UCs have been race-blind since before the Supreme Ct ruled against affirmative action for URM in the rest of the US. By law, UCs and Cal States can not consider race in admissions decisions. They are race-blind and the info is hidden from your profile, it's only collected later for mandatory demographic surveying.

That said, I do agree they can make assumptions about race based on last name or affinity group activities listed on EC list.

No one believes UC is race blind. Their admit data and the state testing scores are wildly out of proportion. They magically achieve the demographic balance they desire despite performance being extremely different by using proxy markers.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Santa Clara - we have lots of relatives who went there on one side of the family, DC has several friends there. It’s sort of the opposite of UCs in every way.

1. SC is 40% white, 20% asian, 20% other. Top UCs are the reverse with 40-45% Asians and 30 Hispanics, under 20% whites. SC has slightly more males than females. UCs have 60/40 female to male.

2. OOS students tend to think SC is full of very rich students. This is true and untrue. It’s popular with UMC Bay Area privates and publics in expensive areas. Bay Area money is just on a different planet compared to the rest of the US other than NYC etc . USC is the school with real money. UCs have insanely rich international students but the majority of other students are low end UMC or poor.

3. SC has smaller classes. UC has some crazy large ones.

4. SC has a lot of student support, hand holding. UC is survival of the fittest.

5. SC focuses on teaching. UC focuses on research.

Let me summarize, the post here states that if you want a smaller, more supportive educational environment with wealthier UMC white kids and fewer POC and trashy white students, pick Santa Clara over a UC.

Not the best argument for a fine university which one might attend for good reasons.

The person posting about the experience of their student at UC Davis is accurate. It is a common one. OP can decide how meaningful it is to them.