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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Apologies that I am posting as a NYC parent but this group is so helpful! My 10th gr DS it a giant NYC selective public school. I feel like he's going to fall between the cracks in college admissions. Too strong for the "awesomely average" group, not strong enough for the 4.0/1500 group. Not super interested in rah-rah and I worry he'll get lost at a giant state school, but also worry he won't find his people at a tiny LAC. Very NOT quirky. Just a normal hard-working bright teenage boy who likes playing sports and "chilling" with his many friends, and likes the challenge of being surrounded by the smart kids at his school. Has a 3.7 and I'm guessing SAT will land somewhere around 1400?? At his school this is middle of the pack - about 20% of kids get into Ivy+. Best subjects are history and math, but will probably apply as a humanities major since there are so freaking many genius STEM kids. The school is so large that Naviance scattergrams look like a giant ink blot and literally everything appears to be a reach. Anyone here have a kid with a comparable profile? We will of course apply to many SUNYs, but want a solid list of privates as well. We are fortunate to be able to pay in full.[/quote]

MY advice is more general

- Academically dig in a little more to history and math potential major and how that ties into quality of program, alumni, and post graduation plans when building the list. My kid applied with  social science area as potential major and also enjoyed math but didn’t have the heavy STEM background to be sure about it as a major or for it to help versus hurt by putting that as intnded major. I think 100% that being at a SLAC made it easier to make the decision to major in math and be in environment where they weren’t starting behind by only taking AP Calc in high school.  That said, now looking for a job and not grad school, they wish they had done Math/Econ or something else with Math to help in the job hunt and even the internship experiences prior.

- Socially your kid can probably make it work at a larger school or a medium size SLAC. First they have to decide Greek Life or not.  Then how do people not in Greek life either by choice or didn’t get a bid where they wanted or with friends - how are they making friends, finding roommates, being social etc. and does that feel likely for your son if he went there?  I wasn’t in Greek Life at what felt like a Greek heavy school and there were times it felt tough.  I think the location of not having much to get to without a car off campus gave Greek parties even more social importance. My kids wanted to be more suburban/urban and went for schools where many different people could thrive and you didn’t have to be one way to fit in.

- As for suggested schools, I would have made similar suggestions about American/GW, Pitt, Syracuse, University of Rochester, Richmond, if willing to attend Catholic school look at some of the Catholic colleges on the east Coast, and consider if open to any mid-west colleges.[/quote]

TY. I don't think he'll major in math. Not math-y enough at the end of the day. Economics, maybe.

The Greek thing is a big open question. I hear schools like Lehigh and Colgate are VERY VERY Greek. I asked DS and his immediate response was "no" but I'm not sure he has a real grasp on what Greek life entails. He's probably seen TikToks of frat hazing and bro behavior and that doesn't appeal to him.[/quote]

Thank-you for engaging in a thoughtful conversation. It is refreshing to see people asking for advice and others providing generally good advice. Based on what I have read you've got a great kid and they will have excellent options. Here are some thoughts on schools that your child might fined interesting.

UVM - Burlington is a great college town and the school is full of happy kids
Bucknell and Lafayette are Patriot League schools like Colgate which produce great results. Holy Cross is another great option in this size group. I would also look at Union College just up the river but a fine old school with good resources and results. An easy admit but great results is St. Lawrence University. It is remote but the alumni are tight knit and successful. Hobart-William Smith also falls into this group.

Middlebury would be a good fit but it would be a big reach. Same for Hamilton. Similar but easier NESCACs would be Trinity and Colby. Wesleyan and Conn College could also be options. Swinging back to PA Franklin and Marshall and Dickinson might be options as well. If Catholics schools are options Villanova and Fairfield in PA and CT are nice places with solid academics.

Net net that are lots of options and your kid will find their place and their people. And, your kid can succeed from anywhere. I went to Oswego and have done extremely well. Good luck, and thank-you for being so thoughtful about your child and where they fit rather than what plays best in your social circles.[/quote]

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