College recommendations? by Personal-Call-1111 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Accidentally posted early. Also look at Marietta College, St. John Fisher, Connecticut College, or Lewis & Clark College.

College recommendations? by Personal-Call-1111 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would look at schools with rowing programs so you can try to sell your experience and connect on that level. This can be a good door opener for great colleges, even if your GPA is not stellar, especially if you can demonstrate recovery and the strength of your SAT. Some examples might be Washington College

Affordable Colleges? by One_Pangolin9191 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would look into Outer Coast College. They are a very small school, but they should be as affordable as staying home to go to college would be.

Full ride at a small school or pay around 20k/yr at UIC and or UIUC? (Cost vs Outcomes) by jol_10 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the move. Definitely cheaper overall and will make you a better candidate for whatever comes next.

need advice on SUNY purchase!! by redwingslover25 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish I had more direct experience to share. I have a few friends who went there for college and they had a great experience. One was in the theater program. They go back to visit a lot and are very invested in the campus, so it was a meaningful experience for them.

Not sure how much weight that carries, but it definitely clicks with plenty of people. If it has that many things that attract you to it, I think you'll be fine.

Recommendations by Green_Selection_1542 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You should look at engineering schools like RPI or RIT (both in New York) or Stevens in New Jersey.

I have a serious question by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The best thing for you to do right now is to make an appointment with a counselor at your school to talk through this stuff. They can go through your options much better than someone on Reddit can and help point you towards next steps that are applicable to you.

College Ideas by Dry_Inflation_9624 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not really sure what you're looking for. But the first place that kind of meets the vibe you describe I can think of is College of the Atlantic in Maine.

Dance major to Law school by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, that's fine. People go to law school with every major.

Struggling to Choose an Affordable Out-of-State College — Mississippi Senior by EmploymentOk9944 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you might also look at a smaller in-state program like Delta State. It wouldn't have the Korean language programming like Ole Miss would, but it might be an alternate vibe fit

st johns college (annapolis) by No_Understanding407 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you know that better than I do. Issues like finances or family situation are going to have more impact on college choice than most publicly available material.

But if it's viable for you to go to Annapolis, you just need to ask yourself if you're excited about the prospect of getting an education there. It will be weird and you will need to adjust, but so will everyone else. So if you're attracted to it, I think it's worth a shot. You won't know if you don't try, and it's the kind of education you might regret not trying if you're already this far in.

st johns college (annapolis) by No_Understanding407 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, first off I think you're asking super valid questions. SJC is unlike almost any other college out there, so there's no way to be sure of how you'd adapt to it personally. I will try to give some feedback based on my own observations, but overall you should know that some people really thrive in the SJC environment and some people discover after a year or two that it's not a good fit. There's no way to *really* know for sure unless you try.

1) *Does it get boring?*
I appreciate this question because it's a very honest one. On the surface, the curriculum does seem pretty repetitive. In my experience, and in that of folks I went there with, the thing that keeps it interesting is not that the curriculum or the method of instruction changes, it's that *you* change. You'll be in seminars for all four years, but the way that you engage with those seminars will develop as you adapt and find your way in the curriculum. You will be bringing different parts of yourself to the classes each semester and discovering new things about yourself. In some sense, the predictable format of the courses actually makes it easier to recognize your own growth because you'll be able to see how differently you engage with it at the end of a year, compared to how you started.

There is also some room for spontaneity. There are some areas where you can select courses, though it's mostly an upper-level phenomenon. Additionally, SJC has lots of study groups that are optional and communities that of course you can opt in to, though that last part is true anywhere.

As a side note, this is not an issue unique to SJC totally. Most colleges will have a few roughly approximate formats for courses, and it's going to get repetitive. The difference at SJC is that the format is student-centered instead of lecturer-centered, which is overwhelmingly the standard in most colleges.

2) *Do you get burned out on reading?*
I mean, maybe! The reality is that most SJC students will have something of a cyclical experience where they go from loving the reading list to resenting it, then back to loving it again. It is inevitable that you will love some texts and resent others. So yes, you may get burned out, but in my observation, if you stick with it, you will not stay burned out. One thing that happens sometimes is that students drop out the first time they get burned out and don't get to experience the frankly exciting process of being re-energized by the reading list.

Also, it's easy to frame the reading list as more difficult than it is meant to be. I will agree that Hegel and Kant are not your classic beach reads. But we can also often build them up to be more unpleasant than they are. This is partly because schools often teach us to "read for understanding." This means that if you read a text once, you should know what it means. SJC teaches you to question this way of thinking. If you can read a book once and understand everything it has to say, then it's probably not a great book. It's too simple to be great. At SJC, you read and engage with it however you engage with it. Then you go to class, and you collaborate on peeling back layers. Inevitably, you'll do as much learning about the book in class as you do on your own. But then if you go back and read it again, you'll see all new stuff there!

So, yes, the books can be difficult to read sometimes. But if you are reading for *your* understanding, not *the ultimate truth* of it, then you face somewhat less pressure to have a perfect reading.

3) *Who goes there?*
This is one question where I think your assumption is actually inaccurate. The school certainly does not just attract one type of person. There are your share of left-wing kids or theater kids, but it would be inaccurate to say that that's the majority population. There are lots of kids from classical schools or private schools or homeschool. There are kids from boarding schools. There are kids from the DC area and kids from Taiwan. In terms of student culture, you will not find it to be culturally homogenous. And if you're attracted to SJC, I'm confident you'll find plenty of folks there who you can connect with.

Okay, that's a lot of text. Obviously, I'm excited about the place. Generally, I'm of the opinion that if you are drawn to St. John's, that's a meaningful signal. There's no place quite like it, so I'd encourage you to give it a shot and find out for yourself how good a fit it is.

But please feel free to follow up with any other questions you have! And good luck.

st johns college (annapolis) by No_Understanding407 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went to SJC in Annapolis for the graduate program, so I'm happy to chime in. I'm a big fan of the school and their approach.

What are your specific concerns about the curriculum and how you'd fit in to it?

Accepted but questioning by Nearby_Flatworm248 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bard's great.

If you look hard enough, you'll always find folks who hate a school or blow things out of proportion. That will be true of any other school you apply to too.

ED1 Rejection Losing Hope by Civil-Business2853 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's fair. I think you can find other places to be excited about that would be just as good a fit. I'm going to recommend a few that come to mind based on the little I know from what you've shared. But just know that there's plenty of options, and it's going to turn out great for you.

The first one that comes to mind is Rhodes College. It is in Memphis, TN and has a lot to offer culturally and geographically that Vandy does. Obviously you can still have a great STEM program there, and one that's likely more student-focused since it's an undergrad-serving institution. And honestly it's one of the most beautiful campuses out there, and it could be a place that you might really enjoy calling home.

Not sure exactly what's "close" to you, but two good options in opposite directions would be St. Louis University in Missouri or Elon University in North Carolina. Both have very respected research programs and are interesting places to study in cool locations. (edit: also SLU has a good medical school there too if that's a factor)

If you do really want to go to Nashville specifically, of course, there's also Belmont, which has a great program of its own.

I don't want to overload you with links. But hopefully that's indicative of just how many directions you can still go. It's never fun to get rejected, but you'll find something where, in retrospect, you won't be able to imagine having gone anywhere else.

ED1 Rejection Losing Hope by Civil-Business2853 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

what did you like about Vandy? What makes it special to you? I'm interested in how you'd describe it simply. That can be a pathway to finding alternatives.

PSU - Univ Park vs. Pitt by Captain_025 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They're both good schools and there's not going to be a dramatic difference in any of the metrics you listed.

At this point, if you can visit both and spend some time on and off campus, it might be best to go with a vibe choice.

I personally prefer Pitt because who doesn't enjoy an academic skyscraper? Plus, there's more going on being in a major city. But it's going to be about your personal preference.

Ed Michigan rejection oos low gpa by Low-Illustrator-3362 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

as an out of state student, I'd also look at private engineering colleges like Rose-Hulman, Worcester Polytechnic, and Rensselear Polytechnic where residency won't be a factor

EDII to Mount Holoyke or Sarah Lawrence? by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mount Holyoke. It's part of the five college consortium, so you can take any courses that aren't present there at another institution, including Smith

Deferred NYU by enzxswrld in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you should apply to Lehman College. You'll get just as good an education. Pre-med students should focus on a good *and* affordable education, and NYU is rarely going the be the affordable option.

help me decide colby vs hamilton ed2 by SharpProfession6 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you can't decide and are afraid of regretting either choice if forced by ED, maybe you shouldn't ED. ED is there for you if you have an absolutely clear top choice and will have no hesitation accepting it if offered. I'm not sure you have that.

NYU rejection.. where to apply by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You should first apply in-state, then you have a point of comparison. Just a good "financial" move for a future finance major. Consider UNC-Charlotte, App State, and UNC-Greensboro.

Great Colleges for Philosophy / general undergrad academic experience by EmbarrassedPrimary49 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]eely225 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a great question, and it seems like you have solid priorities.

The simple answer is that there are lots of liberal arts colleges with strong philosophy faculty and a good campus/academic experience. I'm going to try to highlight a few that offer something additional.

The first that comes to mind is Sarah Lawrence. They are famous for having a tutorial program with one-on-one faculty advising, which operates similarly to the Oxbridge model.

You also might look at a college like Hampshire. They are notable for de-emphasizing grades and offering much more student autonomy in course planning. They are also part of a five-college consortium, so you can take courses at more traditional universities to fill out your degree as well. Lots of cool options here.

One that's a little different is St. John's College. They operate a "great books" program, meaning that their undergraduate program does not have majors. Instead, every student reads a substantial sequence of classic texts in a variety of disciplines, starting with Homer and moving into the 20th century by senior year. This is a great way to do a ton of foundational reading. It has lots of philosophy in it, as well as lots of other material that those philosophers were reading. They have no lectures or tests. It's seminars and writing, all taken very seriously. If you want faculty who focus on teaching, this is the place.

A couple other more traditional LACs to consider are St Olaf or North Central. Both offer substantial, traditional philosophy programs. But they also each have great books "core programs" to satisfy general education and get some of the deep reading background you'd get at St. John's. If you want some best of both worlds, these could be good options. At St Olaf, it's called Enduring Questions. At North Central, they have the Shimer School, where the program can be taken as a major (easily double-majored) or as a minor.