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I've felt somewhat rejected and never fitting in all my life. Now is the chance to find a place.

I need a school with a small population that I'm able to receive A LOT of personal attention and guidance.

I want a good school that's good for a minority or atleast a welcoming community.

I want a school with solid values that aren't inhibited by the same BS as high school.

I want a good school with an excellent English/Creative Writing program, and will help me take these goals and run with it in the battlefield.

By Becks777 (Becks777) on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 07:49 pm: Edit

You want a good school in what part of the us girl?

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 08:41 pm: Edit

You did not give enough to go on, but based on the little you shared....check out these schools' websites and see what ya think:

Sarah Lawrence
Hampshire College
Wesleyan
Smith

Susan

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 08:53 pm: Edit

What kind of minority are you?
What kind of area do you live in now and what are the differences between you and your classmates?

I was one of the few black students in my Upstate NY small town, and I also was quiet and shy. I never fit in. Like you, I also liked English and creative writing.

I did not, though, want to go to a small school because I wanted the stimulation of a big city plus I wanted lots of different types of people to choose from in terms of peers.

For me, going to college in Boston was good. That might be, too, a place for you to look at since there are a variety of college choices there.

If part of what you want is to also be around enough other minorities that you don't stick out like a sore thumb, you might want to avoid going to a small mainstream college in the middle of nowhere.

You could, though, check out liberal arts colleges in cities like Boston, NY, DC, and Minneapolis -- all of which are cities that are attractive to all sorts of people, including creative and writer types.

Perhaps a place like NYU's Gallatin School would be a place you'd enjoy. Check it out, too.

Vassar is known as a good place for artistic people. It's not in a big city, but is, I think just a 45 minute ride from NYC. From what I hear, it's welcoming to minorities, too.

I notice that Susan suggested Wesleyan. I have heard good things, too, about it as a place for minorities. I also have a friend who teaches English there, and she tells me it offers personalized attention to students, and has a welcoming atmosphere. She seems to genuinely care about her students.

By Cherokeeapollox (Cherokeeapollox) on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 11:38 pm: Edit

I'm Filipino, and maybe my race is an inhibition to a lot of my social struggles.

But really, the main thing that keeps me away from getting to be real social with people is that they never understand all the BS that have happened in my life--- ya know, I'm kind of complicated with a bad past and I struggle a lot to be happy--- real suicidal and depressed.

I swear, if I go to a college, and it hurts the hell out of me....I'm gonna....

Wesleyan's minority population is only 8%. And the same as Sarah Lawrence and Hampshire. But maybe they are welcoming.

I've been thinking about Sarah Lawrence because the English/Creative Writing program is ranked in the top 5, and the student:teacher ratio is only 6:1.

Any other suggestions/comments?

Please help me out.

By Uncchlocalmayor (Uncchlocalmayor) on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 11:41 pm: Edit

be ready to work HARD then.

By Cherokeeapollox (Cherokeeapollox) on Friday, August 29, 2003 - 12:05 am: Edit

What do u mean by that?

By Mike (Mike) on Friday, August 29, 2003 - 12:18 am: Edit

Have you had therapy? Colleges will not fix personal issues. At best you can bury them in hard work for a while. At worst the hard work may make things worse. I hope you have talked to a counselor or clergy or your Dr and they have suggested ways to move beyond of your past. You have survived up to know and that is to your credit but you need to have the opportunity to be happy and move beyond depresion. Young people learn to do that every day but, most need some help so they don't feel alone. If it hasn't been offered look for a local crisis clinic or hot line or mental health office. If it is not available in your home town make sure you contact your college health clinic when you get there.

Mikr's Dad

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, August 29, 2003 - 12:56 pm: Edit

Take a look at Trinity College in Washington D.C. Web site:www.trinitydc.edu. It is a small and VERY supportive school for women. Trinity is known for helping minority women succeed and has a good track record of giving personal attention to students who need personal assistance and support. Trinity has a good English department. Financial aid is also good. Additionally, Trinity has a beautiful campus in an exciting city.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Friday, August 29, 2003 - 03:03 pm: Edit

If you are suicidal and depressed, I don't think you should assume that a geographical change will make your life better. First, since you have such a bleak outlook, you'd be unlikely to be able to make a thoughtful decision about where to go to college.

Second, colleges are not designed to fix people's problems such as students' being suicidal. Colleges are designed as places to get an education. It really is not a good idea to go to college in hopes that will heal mental illness.

I strongly suggest that before going to college, you go to therapy and use therapy and/or meds (the combo is usually the most effective in combating depression) to emotionally heal. After you are mentally healthy will be the time to go away to college.

College definitely will not cure depression. In fact, being away from home and in a new environment would probably make your depression worse. No one would know you, plus you wouldn't have the health resources around that you are currently used to.

By Reba616 (Reba616) on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 11:48 pm: Edit

Haverford. Look into it... I visited, it's a tiny place, and it's well known for its community feel.

I too have struggled with depression since I was in elementary school, and still do to this day, entering my senior year of high school. It's a hard, hard thing, but if you haven't sought help yet, I would suggest doing it. My psychologist and my medicine have made me much better, and I thank god that I admitted I needed help.

Best of luck to you, hope you find someplace that makes you happy.

-Jeff

By Afroman (Afroman) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 05:48 am: Edit

I am from south africa and i have heard of the good American colleges like Mit, Harv and the rest i scored 1380 on sat and plan to do sat2 what are my chances mike

By Mike (Mike) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 12:25 pm: Edit

Aframan: I am no expert in chances of admission. By the stats you are a reach with that SAT. I have no idea how MIT will react to your location.

By the way we have cousins in S. Africa. Their son just finished Med school there.


Mike's Dad

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 12:37 pm: Edit

Aframan,
Mike's Dad is right: schools like Harvard and MIT will be a reach for you with your SAT scores, even as a minority and especially as an international student.

That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't excellent schools in the U.S. you COULD attend.
Best bet to find information is to go to a site like www.review.com and read about various schools and their admissions requirements.
Good luck.

By Obh100 (Obh100) on Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 04:38 am: Edit

This is to CherokeeApolloX, High School/College are supposed to be times for fun, growth, and learning about the world. However, in your case you had a miserable time fitting in at High School and thus these leave yourself depressed and miserable. However, there are certain things that can be done to remedy such a situation. The first is to lose the attitude, "I swear, if I go to a college, and it hurts the hell out of me....I'm gonna...." Even if you go to a bad university, you can always transfer. You may want a small school, however if you go to a school of 1,000, yet those 1,000 people are very different and not to your liking, you may not find anyone to help and would hurt yourself, if you got a bigger school like NYU for example, its in a great enviornment to have a great time, a well-regarded university, and you won't know everyone every year because the school is big (around 20,000 undergrads), so you will be always able to find at least a few people that share your interests, etc... Just don't wallow in your misery, etc... Good luck