Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 16:08     Subject: Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Don't discount community colleges. I did theatre at a local community college (before transfering to a state flagship). It was perfectly fine, and the students were heavily involved in the local community theatre in town.

I had good grades and a high SAT in high school but came from a background where getting into a prestigious college out of high school sn't the end-all-be-all.

There's a great, big a world outside of the Northeastern academic arms race.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 15:44     Subject: Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Evergreen State College
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 15:25     Subject: Re:Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
OP, do you think your daughter will do well going to school far away from home? There are lots of wonderful schools that will fit her needs, but not necessarily on the east coast or in the DC area.

Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 15:03     Subject: Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 13:40     Subject: Re:Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look at Goucher and Sarah Lawrence.

Take a look at the Colleges That Change Lives schools too.

http://www.ctcl.org/


You mean "Sloucher College"?


Are you a jerk IRL too?
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 13:34     Subject: Re:Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Check out Miami University in Ohio.


Thanks. This is more what I was thinking. I will look into the other schools, but they seem small (perhaps I'm wrong?). But this is more the size of school I had in mind.


Miami of Ohio is an 18,000 student university, not a mid size LAC. Maybe it would be helpful to define your (or her) view of midsize?


This made me laugh. I went to huge state school, so I view 15,000 to 20,000 as mid-size! Anything under 5,000 students is very small to me.


OP here. I guess I was thinking a mid-size school would be anywhere from 5,000 - 15,000 or so. I definitely don't see her at a big university such as Penn State or University of Maryland as I think she would get lost. I think a school that is smaller than 5,000 wouldn't have the activities she was looking for (like theater), but that may be incorrect. Even though Pitt and Miami of Ohio are bigger, I am intrigued by those. But, ideally, I think a smaller school (smaller than those) might work better for her. Admittedly, the criteria is a little broad right now, but I don't want to overlook something as we evaluate our options at this point. Schools like Vassar or Brandeis sound intriguing, but it sounds like those may be more competitive to get into -- at least according to PPs. Schools like Elon seemed a little too small with only 1,500 or so students.


I wouldn't write off small colleges as not having strong theater programs. You really need to evaluate each one individually. Where have some of the theater kids from her school gone to college? They might be able to provide some good information.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 12:26     Subject: Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Anonymous wrote:I don't recommend liberal arts

Why not?
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 12:15     Subject: Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Anonymous wrote:heard a lot of good things about St. Olaf in MN.


If you are looking to the Midwest, St. Olaf is a good choice as is Gustavus Adolphus. Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois is a wonderful school. Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois is wonderful. St. Louis Univeristy is a Jesuit university and is terrific. Colorado College is an interesting school that has a block schedule, instead of a semester schedule.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 12:14     Subject: Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
I don't recommend liberal arts
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 12:12     Subject: Re:Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Anonymous wrote:I would consider Elon midsize at 6,500 students.


You're right, PP. I must have looked at some wrong information. 6,500 is a nice size.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 12:04     Subject: Re:Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
I would consider Elon midsize at 6,500 students.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 11:39     Subject: Re:Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Check out Miami University in Ohio.


Thanks. This is more what I was thinking. I will look into the other schools, but they seem small (perhaps I'm wrong?). But this is more the size of school I had in mind.


Miami of Ohio is an 18,000 student university, not a mid size LAC. Maybe it would be helpful to define your (or her) view of midsize?


This made me laugh. I went to huge state school, so I view 15,000 to 20,000 as mid-size! Anything under 5,000 students is very small to me.


OP here. I guess I was thinking a mid-size school would be anywhere from 5,000 - 15,000 or so. I definitely don't see her at a big university such as Penn State or University of Maryland as I think she would get lost. I think a school that is smaller than 5,000 wouldn't have the activities she was looking for (like theater), but that may be incorrect. Even though Pitt and Miami of Ohio are bigger, I am intrigued by those. But, ideally, I think a smaller school (smaller than those) might work better for her. Admittedly, the criteria is a little broad right now, but I don't want to overlook something as we evaluate our options at this point. Schools like Vassar or Brandeis sound intriguing, but it sounds like those may be more competitive to get into -- at least according to PPs. Schools like Elon seemed a little too small with only 1,500 or so students.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 11:01     Subject: Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
^ agree
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 10:59     Subject: Re:Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Check out Miami University in Ohio.


Thanks. This is more what I was thinking. I will look into the other schools, but they seem small (perhaps I'm wrong?). But this is more the size of school I had in mind.


Miami of Ohio is an 18,000 student university, not a mid size LAC. Maybe it would be helpful to define your (or her) view of midsize?


This made me laugh. I went to huge state school, so I view 15,000 to 20,000 as mid-size! Anything under 5,000 students is very small to me.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2015 08:25     Subject: Re:Where do smart kids go who aren't overachievers?
Anonymous wrote:Look at Goucher and Sarah Lawrence.

Take a look at the Colleges That Change Lives schools too.

http://www.ctcl.org/


You mean "Sloucher College"?