I have really enjoyed the DKos community over the last few months. My daughter is a junior in high school and we will be planning the college visit road trip soon.
I promise she will be an excellent United States Citizen and an asset to any local community.
Both of us have read books, talked to people but she does not have the benefit of good college guidance at her high school.
I welcome any feedback but one reason I am here is because I'm wary of advising her based on a college search I did many moons ago. I hope for more current info. I will describe her and then I guess you will have to take it at face value. Yes I know I am biased in my description because she is my kid! And please keep in mind I am fully aware that there are probably sides of her or experiences she's had lately that I know nothing about!
She is a junior at an urban high school in St Paul. She has over a 4.0 due to weighted grading with ap courses. Not sure of her rank right now but its somewhere in the top 25. She got a 29 on her act and may take it again, may not.
She plays 2 varsity sports. She is a great athlete but values playing the sport in the season, playing locally, i.e. she is not crazed about any one sport. She is in NHS, a yearbook editor, school paper, stdt council and a specialzed leadership group. She has done a fair amt of volunteering in the community.
Some deal breakers for her: she does NOT want a school that is in a small town in the middle of nowhere (even though I know that rules lots of schools out, that is her desire) She hopes to be in or near an urban area. She really wants to go to another region of the country (sorry Macalester in St Paul!)
Another deal breaker (this one will be a little tricky and where I'd love help) she wants diversity.(literal diversity and also an avoidace of elitism) She said a big fat no to even considering private school when she entered high school (I thought she should consider them but whatever) She would not be happy in an elitist environment.
Many colleges are described in books as being preppy, filled with East coast kids in polo, Lily Pulitzer. Honestly, we have a good income, nice home in a nice urban neighborhood and she honestly goes to school with people of varying financial means. She went to a gifted and talented elementary school. She does not like materialism while at the same time liking to buy nice stuff once in a while.
She is down to earth, progressive, wise, very irreverent, kind and has a fairly small group of close friends. She has avoided large drinking parties, I honestly don't know what will happen in college. I think she has a sense that partying is something she will do "later". Not never but I think she thinks its stupid right now. (yes, I know its possible I have no clue!)
She is interested in journalism but I also think intl' relations or anything "social studies" related. At this point I would be surprised if she didn't go on to graduate school, I'm sure she intends to.
Coursewise she works hard in math and science to do well but doesn't like them, more english and social studies.
She has ruled out Yale as her dream school because the idiot rep (my words) came to their school and told them noone would get in (her words)
I think she will still apply and we will visit.
Our tentative plan is to drive East, stopping at UMich and Ohio schools (help!!! Kenyon, Wooster???) Pennsylvania (Help Kossacks!!!)
and see Yale, NYU, Bowdoin, Tufts...
So, to sum up College Junior seeking proper fit for college: great grades, intellect, hard work, good mix of activities. Not too small or remote but otherwise open to any region. Liberal arts/journalism.
She's interested in Yale, CU Boulder, NYU , Bowdoin (probably more schools that she hasn't talked to me about)
I haven't mentioned cost which I know is a factor because my husband will worry about that! Ha ha...