I enjoyed your thread about Rhodes, which, again, I think is a great choice. I also think Macalester sounds like an option. And also Reed, which is a place I’m guessing you’d either love completely or not be interested at all. Reed really used to be ranked right up there with the top schools but has long blown off ranking services, and been penalized as a result. It’s still a terrific school and very intellectual.
What about Trinity University in San Antonio? Honestly don’t know much about it but people who go there and people who visit seem to really come away very impressed.
What about Rice? Tip-top school academically. More of a mid-size national university, not an LAC, but only about 4000 students, small classes, beautiful urban campus.
Honestly, I think you might love the University of Vermont. It’s a small state flagship. It feels small. It’s in Burlington, which is one of the best college towns. It’s a 10-15 minute walk to Church Street, which is a pedestrian street in the old downtown with lots of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, etc. Lake Champlain is right there, with beautiful sunsets over the Adirondacks. There are hiking trails and skiing and mountains all around.
If you are female, what about Smith College? Northampton is also a great college town. The campus is immediately adjacent to the town. Top-notch academics. Schools is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and U Mass Amherst.
Also, Wellesley, which is in a nice suburban town outside Boston. Stunning campus. Small classes, outstanding academics.
Also Barnard, which is affiliated with Columbia University. You can take the subway into Manhattan; it really isn’t far to Times Square/Broadway.
All of these will be pretty diverse. And I just made this comment on another thread about all female schools. They are experiencing a surge in popularity. Students are sometimes going in spite of the fact they are all female and having wonderful experiences. I know people who’ve done that.
Good luck!