A "is this a good college" thread for all college searchers...

[PrincessKsMom]

Wow, I had no idea being a first generation college student could actually work in her favor. I will definitely keep that in mind.

And SydSim, I could have written your post myself. My DD was excellent in alegebra/science in grammar school. She in all honors and has really struggled with bio this year and struggled in algebra, but has managed to bring that up during this third marking period. She seems to be doing exceptionally well in history, which was never a strong point for her. English has been okay. I guess a lot of things change in high school.

DD's high school requires 20 learning/community service credits for graduation. I find that pitiful and mentioned it to her guidance counsellor who informed me there is a special scholarship she can apply for if she has 100+ hours. DD already has 24 this year with another 15-18 planned. As far as extra-curricular points, she's a class rep for student council, is a member of the Ambassador's Program and is also in Photography Club. I think this is her area that is lacking most. She's done everything and anything, but hasn't stuck with anything in particular. She really doesn't have the one sport/hobby that she can point to as her strong point. Hopefully she'll find something in the next year. I was always under the assumption that a well-rounded student was best, but I've read that's not the case.

I'm finding all the discussion of SATs very informative and appreciate having somewhere to come to hear of others experiences and opinions on all things "college".

 

[disneylovin24]

The SUNY schools do offer great educations, but my problem is I am not a fan of any of their locations! SUNY Purchase is actually the only one I will look at because the rest are just too far from home for me or too in the middle of nowhere. I want to be close to a larger city and Purchase is really the only one to offer me that. Stony Brook is close to home for me, but that is not what scares me about it. Stony Brook has been voted the most depressed college in the country!!! Students there tend to be more sad the anywhere, yeah, there is NO WAY I am going there!


No Cabrini, Caldwell, or Bryant yet? I know that they are smaller schools so I guess I am not expecting anyone to have gone there or something like that.

 

[golfgal]

Wow, I had no idea being a first generation college student could actually work in her favor. I will definitely keep that in mind.

And SydSim, I could have written your post myself. My DD was excellent in alegebra/science in grammar school. She in all honors and has really struggled with bio this year and struggled in algebra, but has managed to bring that up during this third marking period. She seems to be doing exceptionally well in history, which was never a strong point for her. English has been okay. I guess a lot of things change in high school.

DD's high school requires 20 learning/community service credits for graduation. I find that pitiful and mentioned it to her guidance counsellor who informed me there is a special scholarship she can apply for if she has 100+ hours. DD already has 24 this year with another 15-18 planned. As far as extra-curricular points, she's a class rep for student council, is a member of the Ambassador's Program and is also in Photography Club. I think this is her area that is lacking most. She's done everything and anything, but hasn't stuck with anything in particular. She really doesn't have the one sport/hobby that she can point to as her strong point. Hopefully she'll find something in the next year. I was always under the assumption that a well-rounded student was best, but I've read that's not the case.

I'm finding all the discussion of SATs very informative and appreciate having somewhere to come to hear of others experiences and opinions on all things "college".

Have her take up golf. She can probably play for most high school teams even having never golfed before. There are also a lot of unused women's golf scholarships out there as well if she ends up liking it . It would be helpful on her applications to have a sport or music (well both really) to show schools she is a 'well rounded" student.

 

[disneylovin24]

Have her take up golf. She can probably play for most high school teams even having never golfed before. There are also a lot of unused women's golf scholarships out there as well if she ends up liking it . It would be helpful on her applications to have a sport or music (well both really) to show schools she is a 'well rounded" student.

This is true. If she really wants to be competative she will need a sport or something along those lines. She doesn't have to do a million sports but just do something like it. But if she chooses just one thing it is important to show dedication to that one thing!

 

[agnes!]

... If you could "build a student" perfect for scholarships, it'd be a first-generation college student with a parent in the military (or law enforcement) who planned to go into teaching or nursing. Obviously, top grades, community service, and extra-curriculars. And throw in financial need. That person would CLEAN UP.

Well, I know of someone who applied to colleges within the past ten years or so. Anyway, this person on paper was not maybe your perfect but I would consider them THE perfect college-applicant. *Perfect* test-scores (*seriously* they were perfect), nationally-ranked in a sport, almost-perfect GPA, competitive/highly-ranked high school, other (really-good) extra-curriculars... and they were accepted to *one* school.

*One* school. I still shake my head over that.

agnes!

 

[pixie dust 112]

The SUNY schools do offer great educations, but my problem is I am not a fan of any of their locations! SUNY Purchase is actually the only one I will look at because the rest are just too far from home for me or too in the middle of nowhere. I want to be close to a larger city and Purchase is really the only one to offer me that. Stony Brook is close to home for me, but that is not what scares me about it. Stony Brook has been voted the most depressed college in the country!!! Students there tend to be more sad the anywhere, yeah, there is NO WAY I am going there!


No Cabrini, Caldwell, or Bryant yet? I know that they are smaller schools so I guess I am not expecting anyone to have gone there or something like that.

SUNY Albany?

 

[MUFFYCAT]

The SUNY schools do offer great educations, but my problem is I am not a fan of any of their locations! SUNY Purchase is actually the only one I will look at because the rest are just too far from home for me or too in the middle of nowhere. I want to be close to a larger city and Purchase is really the only one to offer me that. Stony Brook is close to home for me, but that is not what scares me about it. Stony Brook has been voted the most depressed college in the country!!! Students there tend to be more sad the anywhere, yeah, there is NO WAY I am going there!


No Cabrini, Caldwell, or Bryant yet? I know that they are smaller schools so I guess I am not expecting anyone to have gone there or something like that.

SUNY Albany?

I was thinking of that one too. Some of the schools may seem like they're in the middle of nowhere but they do have larger cities nearby.
I first thought Cortland was like that but my DD goes to Syracuse all the time for movies, shopping, cuse games, etc.

 

[bballmom56]

No Cabrini, Caldwell, or Bryant yet? I know that they are smaller schools so I guess I am not expecting anyone to have gone there or something like that.

Cabrini and Caldwell are much less selective than many of the colleges that have been suggested. Bryant is on a par with Drew which you said was not competitive enough.

 

[pixie dust 112]

I was thinking of that one too. Some of the schools may seem like they're in the middle of nowhere but they do have larger cities nearby.
I first thought Cortland was like that but my DD goes to Syracuse all the time for movies, shopping, cuse games, etc.

My daughter is at Oswego, she also goes to Syracuse often. The school provides the free bus ride!

 

[punkin]

Well, I know of someone who applied to colleges within the past ten years or so. Anyway, this person on paper was not maybe your perfect but I would consider them THE perfect college-applicant. *Perfect* test-scores (*seriously* they were perfect), nationally-ranked in a sport, almost-perfect GPA, competitive/highly-ranked high school, other (really-good) extra-curriculars... and they were accepted to *one* school.

*One* school. I still shake my head over that.

agnes!

I wonder what schools she/he applied to. If the applications were to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Haverford for a safety, the kid might have a problem.

Besides, IMO, one school is good enough, as long as it's a school the child liked (otherwise it shouldn't have been on the list anyway) and could afford.

 

[golfgal]

I wonder what schools she/he applied to. If the applications were to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Haverford for a safety, the kid might have a problem.

Besides, IMO, one school is good enough, as long as it's a school the child liked (otherwise it shouldn't have been on the list anyway) and could afford.

I was thinking the same thing--now, this year we have a boy from our school that sounds like this kid that DID apply to all of those schools and "narrowed down" his choices to Harvard and Cornell (he got accepted to all of the schools he applied) and eventually chose Cornell. He only had a 3.8 GPA though so maybe that made the difference .

 

[disneylovin24]

Well, I know of someone who applied to colleges within the past ten years or so. Anyway, this person on paper was not maybe your perfect but I would consider them THE perfect college-applicant. *Perfect* test-scores (*seriously* they were perfect), nationally-ranked in a sport, almost-perfect GPA, competitive/highly-ranked high school, other (really-good) extra-curriculars... and they were accepted to *one* school.

*One* school. I still shake my head over that.

agnes!

I think the problem there is that there are actually a lot of kids that apply to top schools with stats like that and that is why colleges look for "hooks" like being a first generation or playing a unique instrament (like Boston College likes to accept bagpipers). Most colleges do not consider just flawless grades and sports the "perfect applicant" anymore.

SUNY Albany?

I was thinking of that one too. Some of the schools may seem like they're in the middle of nowhere but they do have larger cities nearby.
I first thought Cortland was like that but my DD goes to Syracuse all the time for movies, shopping, cuse games, etc.

Cotland is a bit too far from home and I just do not like upstate. Mountains make me feel so isolated and to me a city is Philly or NY or Boston, not really Albany. I actually did check out Albany but students from around me that I talked to about it told me that it gets to be a really depressing place.

Cabrini and Caldwell are much less selective than many of the colleges that have been suggested. Bryant is on a par with Drew which you said was not competitive enough.

I know that. I am looking at less selective schools now because I am not finding all that I want in some of the mor selective schools, scholarship oppertunities there too. I still would prefer a more competative school but am looking beyond because the small student body, community feel is really important to me. O, and being close to Philly, NY, Boston, or maybe even Providence because I have heard good things about Providence as a "city" from people I know that went to school around there.

 

[Green Tea]

What about Providence then?

 

[disneylovin24]

What about Providence then?

Im looking there. I now people who have went there and have heard pretty good things. I think I am done touring untill I apply now though. I pretty much have my top school picked out and now I am just really looking for backups so if everything goes right I will never actually ever have to go to any of these places.

 

[bballmom56]

I know that. I am looking at less selective schools now because I am not finding all that I want in some of the mor selective schools, scholarship oppertunities there too. I still would prefer a more competative school but am looking beyond because the small student body, community feel is really important to me. O, and being close to Philly, NY, Boston, or maybe even Providence because I have heard good things about Providence as a "city" from people I know that went to school around there.

There are a lot of quality private schools in PA (some near enough to Philly) that are fairly generous with merit money. Yes, the most merit scholarship money goes to the top applicants, so you need to be in the top of the pool to receive those awards. You also may want to wait to see what your SAT scores will be. That will give you a better idea of which schools to consider if merit money is important.

You may also want to look at Rider Univ. (Lawrenceville, NJ) or Monmouth Univ. (West Long Branch, NJ). Rider is very good with merit money and is about 45 min. from Philly. I don't know about merit at Monmouth and it is about 1 hr. to NYC.

 

[bombygriz]

I haven't taken the time to look through the whole thread, but I have a feeling it probably hasn't been discussed...Anyone looked into Rollins College in Winter Park, FL? I've been looking at it for theater but have seen no indication that an audition is required...I REALLY want to go here! Their program seems the most well-balanced and seems like it has NO core classes (math, science, etc.) which is what I want. Anyone?

 

[ctinct]

Well, I know of someone who applied to colleges within the past ten years or so. Anyway, this person on paper was not maybe your perfect but I would consider them THE perfect college-applicant. *Perfect* test-scores (*seriously* they were perfect), nationally-ranked in a sport, almost-perfect GPA, competitive/highly-ranked high school, other (really-good) extra-curriculars... and they were accepted to *one* school.

*One* school. I still shake my head over that.

agnes!

Obviously I don't know if this student applied to top schools or not. I do know that perfect kids get turned down every year--there are just too many kids applying, and because of this I think it's getting worse at top schools. A few years ago, maybe kids would have applied to 5-6 schools, whereas now, I have seen kids applying to 10+ top schools in the hopes that at least ONE will accept them.

However, and this is just conjecture-I have nothing to back this up except a strange merit scholarship story- I wonder if this student was too well qualified for these schools, and they rejected him in favor of other candidates because they figured he would not attend anyhow. Does anyone know if this happens?

My daughter applied to one school that I discouraged her from because I did not think it was challenging enough for her. It was the first school she had visited, so I think it was a sentimental favorite of hers, and a lot of kids from around here attend. I paid the application fee, and then she realized it wasn't the right fit for her, but since i had already spent the money, I told her she had to follow through. Most of her admission decisions are in, and she was awarded the top merit scholarship available at all of them except for the one school where her stats do not put her in that category---she got a lower one there. The exception was this one school where on paper she is way above their average applicant. I realize that other things weigh in their decision-maybe they didn't like her essay or whatever-but we kind of thought it was weird that she was awarded a lower level scholarship here rather than one of the other schools. Does anyone else have anectodal stories like this, either less merit aid than expected ot outright rejection?

 

[bballmom56]

However, and this is just conjecture-I have nothing to back this up except a strange merit scholarship story- I wonder if this student was too well qualified for these schools, and they rejected him in favor of other candidates because they figured he would not attend anyhow. Does anyone know if this happens?

I have heard anecdotal stories from people on college discussion forums where this appears to be true in some cases. It generally seemed to happen with the schools just below the Ivies.

 

[christineann]

My daughter was invited to scholarship weekends at only 1 of the 2 schools she applied though she exceeded the qualifications. I called the one that did not send an invitation and after a little digging was told that her application was not even pulled for scholarships because her school does not rank its students. After a few phone calls, some applications and essays, she was given a full ride though she missed the scholarship weekend. I called her college counselor and asked her to make sure students and their parents are aware of that when applying for financial aid, especially merit awards.

Be persistent!

 

[disneylovin24]

There are a lot of quality private schools in PA (some near enough to Philly) that are fairly generous with merit money. Yes, the most merit scholarship money goes to the top applicants, so you need to be in the top of the pool to receive those awards. You also may want to wait to see what your SAT scores will be. That will give you a better idea of which schools to consider if merit money is important.

You may also want to look at Rider Univ. (Lawrenceville, NJ) or Monmouth Univ. (West Long Branch, NJ). Rider is very good with merit money and is about 45 min. from Philly. I don't know about merit at Monmouth and it is about 1 hr. to NYC.

Thank you! I looked up both and both are now on my list of schools to look farther into and I requested info from both. Monmouth actually was able to send me an email estimating my potential scholarship with my current GPA and what I am aiming for on SATs. And I did all of this in the last 15 minutes!

I also put Drew on my list of schools to look farther into now.



I have read stories about people who got my finacial aid or money offered from a school that was not their top choice and they then told this to the top choice that offered less and ended up getting alittle more money from the top choice. I have actually heard this happens quite often, the top school will not match the money from the other school but will usually raise their offer. So, it does not hurt to contact schools about other scholarships or financial aid offers.