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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Dear DCUM College Admissions Fantasy League participants, please help us by suggesting school for us to consider/visit this coming year.  Many of you have now visited many places and know more than we do. Maybe you have a similar kid or know of similar kids and where they are happy. We are looking for a nice balance of reach, target, and safety schools. Also wondering how many schools people typically apply to these days. Back in my day I applied to 4.

DD is:
-Broadly interested in science, cs, and math and will likely major in one of these
-Will likely want to go to grad school to become a researcher, so would like research opportunities in labs as an undergrad
-Makes friends easily with other nerds, but is not very into the party scene. Not an outspoken leader type, but not shy either
-Has not taken the SAT or PSAT yet, but generally tests well (had all 9's on ISEE entering upper school, for those of you familiar with private school tests)
-Extracurriculars, besides some STEM clubs, are mostly music related and would like to continue with music in college, but not as a major course of study
-not an athlete, not URM
-Interested in local schools such as UMD but open to going far if the fit is right
[/quote]

Dear OP,

Unfortunately, the number of schools to which people typically apply these days (if they are interested in attending the most competitive schools, broadly speaking) is closer to 15-20. However, that number can be trimmed depending upon rolling admission and EA offers (more about strategy below).

In any case, given what you've said above, below is what I'd recommend:
[b]Oberlin[/b]: This school is known for high Ph.D. production amongst its graduates, including in many in STEM areas; it also has a top-notch music conservatory. 
[b]Wesleyan [/b]: This school also has high Ph.D. production amongst its graduates. It also has strong music offerings
[b]St. Olaf[/b]: This school is less selective than Oberlin, but it has a particularly good math program--many majors go on to earn Ph.D.s--and also a good music program. It also produces a lot of graduates who earn Ph.Ds. St. Olaf has non-binding EA and its EA acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 66.8%
[b]Carnegie Mellon[/b]: This school has one of the best Comp Sci programs in the country and is also known for its music programs. 
[b]Bard College[/b]: This school offers a solid liberal arts program and also has a music conservatory.

As you likely know, STEM is heavily male dominated; attending a women's college with strong STEM programs prepares women academically and socially to thrive in such environments. Below are schools that fit this criteria:
[b]Mount Holyoke[/b]: This school is known for its science programs.
[b]Bryn Mawr[/b]: See above.
[b]Wellesley[/b]: Wellesley has strong STEM programs; CS is one of the most popular majors; and it has exchange programs with MIT and Olin and also a dual degree program with MIT

[/quote]

Thanks for pointing out PhD production. Where did you ind this info? Also, I had no idea CMU had good music programs.

One issue is that "STEM" is broad. For example, DD does not seem interested in medicine at this point. Many posters have suggested SLAC. I think many SLAC would be ideal for solid courses in science to prepare one for med school, but I worry about SLAC having enough lab opportunities for undergrads who want solid basic research experience for grad school apps in basic sciences.

Thanks to everyone who suggested all women's colleges also. We are not sure how she feels about that, but we will explore. DD attends a private girls school now, but we always assumed she would attend a coed place for college.[/quote]

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