<p>My D is very shy/introverted, super intellectual, and oriented toward social justice issues. Her passions are animal rights (she's a vegan), human rights, and environmental sustainability. Though her views are very liberal, her lifestyle is on the conservative side - she lives her values but is not comfortable with the more "in your face" approach. Loves her vegan Birkenstocks but is not a hipster at all - more crunchy granola type. She's not a partier at all and would prefer hanging out with a small group of friends on a friday night watching a meteor shower, discussing current events and school assignments, or watching Pride and Prejudice for the 100th time. Currently plans on majoring in Environmental studies and/or International Relations, but also loves History, English Lit, and Spanish. Big into hiking, cross country running, and nordic skiing. Loves to watch A Cappella and theatre. Would strongly prefer no frats or at least a school where frats don't play a huge role on campus, and a non party vibe in general. Tends to be more comfortable with the nerdy crowd. She knows she wants a small LAC and prefers to stay relatively close to home (we live in NH). Definitely prefers small town/rural. Has a very strong interest in study abroad - especially in Latin America and would prefer service oriented programs. Thinks she wants to join Peace Corps after undergrad. Stats are pretty good - 4.0 unweighted (school doesn't weight), currently valedictorian, president of National Honor Society and Environmental Club, captain of cross country team, national merit scholar, math club, lots of AP classes, Model UN. Her favorite schools so far are Swarthmore, Haverford, Bowdoin, and Middlebury. Visiting Wellesley next month (she's not sure about the women's college vibe but wants to check it out). Also researching Colby, Hamilton, Kenyon, and Dickinson. Any other suggestions of schools to consider? Or feedback on those she's already honed in on in terms of how well they match her interests/personality? </p>
<p>Forgot, her SAT scores are CR 750, Math 650, and Writing 760. Retaking in October to try to bring Math up. </p>
<p>What can you afford to spend each year, OP? what do you need from the schools in support?</p>
<p>Financial Aid will definitely be a big factor. Both parents annual income approx. 100K. No money put away in college fund. Need blind is appealing. Or merit aid if her stats put her at the high end of applicant pool.</p>
<p>I meant combined parent income - 100K total household income.</p>
<p>Amherst College might be good. If she isn’t opposed to all-girl’s schools, Mt. Holyoke and Smith may be worth looking into. I also agree that Hamilton is a good choice. Vassar may also be good.</p>
<p>Your original post basically described Middlebury. </p>
<p>I’d go with St. John’s college in Annapolis…this article in the New Yorker tells you everything you need to know:
<a href=“Where I Learned To Read | The New Yorker”>Where I Learned To Read | The New Yorker;
<p>If you need aid, look at some of the schools in the Midwest that are very similar to those you named, but not quite as competitive. Oberlin, Grinnell, Beloit would work with Wooster or Cornell College (Iowa) as a safety.</p>
<p>Before I can respond, I will need clarification: The BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, the Keira Knightley version, or the 1941 version with Olivier?</p>
<p>Sounds like you are looking at the right type of schools and you have some good suggestions above. You can also consider Vassar and the other women’s colleges (if she likes Wellesley) , Since finances are an issue, I’d also try to seek out some schools where she would likely qualify for merit aid – perhaps Bard (especially if math score comes up), Goucher, or Sarah Lawrence to name just a couple of ideas.</p>
<p>I would have thought to look at Wesleyan. A quite shy student I know had a great visit at Wesfest and found the admitted students and current students very friendly but found it might have a bit more activist bent than she was inclined. Although sounds like she might get into more selectives, she might like a fit like Hampshire, I knew a quite talented and smart kid from there, rather a Renaissance man too. Oberlin sounds right on target–perfect. A friend of daughter who attended has been working in Haiti advancing higher education.</p>
<p>It’s out west but Reed would be worth checking out.</p>
<p>In addition to the schools that have been named:</p>
<p>Tufts, Brown, WashU, Pomona, Cornell
Colgate, Oberlin, Brandeis, Colorado College
Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Scripps.</p>
<p>The first row is reaches.
The second row is matches.
The third is women’s colleges that are matches.
College of Wooster is an academic safety, assuming it has her major and she would go there.</p>
<p>There are colleges that will give full tuition to valedictorians. There are colleges where she could get automatic full tuition/rides and others where she’d be a good competitor for full tuition/ride. You can find some of these in the threads at the top of the Financial Aid forum. </p>
<p>I did not vette all these colleges for all the things she’s interested in.</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke would be a great match for her interests (social justice/super intellectual) and shyness (amazing, welcoming, supportive community) and she might very well get merit aid there. It’s part of the 5-college consortium with Amherst College, Smith, etc, and has a gorgeous campus.</p>
<p>If she’s open to traveling farther from home, New College of Florida sounds ideal for her: it’s “Bennington-at-the-Beach,” with excellent aid packages available. My son is attending for less than we would pay for our own flagship public university. </p>
<p>Have you run some net price calculators to see how much need-based aid you might be eligible for? Even need-blind colleges will use these formulas to determine your estimated family contribution. Most of the top colleges will meet demonstrated need, with minimal loans, but sometimes what the colleges determine you need is not in synch with reality.</p>
<p>If your estimated family contribution works for your family, fine, your daughter can continue with a wide list of schools, including those that only offer need based aid. At $100K a year, your household is borderline, so it’s hard to predict. The NPCs are fairly accurate, though some negotiation is possible. </p>
<p>If the EFC is too steep for you then your daughter really must concentrate on schools that offer merit. Many on her list – Swarthmore, Haverford, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Wellesley, Hamilton – are need only. So run the NPCs before you go further.</p>
<p>I’d concur that some of the women’s colleges would be good options both because they offer both merit aid and a supportive, insular environment with like minded young women. I’d look at Smith and Mt. Holyoke.</p>
<p>I’d also suggest Grinnell, even though it’s a little further afield geographically. It’s seems like a very good fit for your daughter, and they are generous with merit aid.</p>
<p>After she does some more visiting, she’ll have a better idea of the type of culture that appeals to her. I generally put top rated LACs into two loosely related groups (though, of course, there’s a good deal of overlap). If she likes Swarthmore/Haverford, she’ll probably like Wesleyan, Vassar, Oberlin, Grinnell, Reed. If she likes Bowdoin/Middlebury, she’ll probably like Williams, Hamilton, Amherst, Colby, Kenyon, Carleton.</p>
<p>I’d also put in a word for Williams. Its reputation as a party destination is much overblown. Students are serious academicas and widely involved in environmental and social welfare issues. Involvement in sports and outdoorsy activities is also widespread. No fraternities and the entry housing system provides a ready-made close knit group. No shortage of vegan options and hanging out with like minded friends. A lot of over laps with Bowdoin, Middlebury. Very generous with financial aid, but unfortunately need-only.</p>
<p>Wow! This is my first time posting on College Confidential, and I’m totally overwhelmed (in a good way!) with the awesome responses so far. Some really great suggestions. We’ve visited Mount Holyoke, Weslyan, Brown, and Bryn Mawr - loved some aspects but she came away feeling like she just couldn’t see herself there. Trying to get her to consider branching out a little farther from home - especially the midwest area - as it seems the students at many of those schools have a very down to earth vibe about them that I think would resonate with D. Thank you so much for the great insight guys. Have a nice list to work with. It’s going to be a busy fall :-)</p>
<p>
Seconded. I’d add Kalamazoo, well-known for its huge emphasis on service-learning. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.kzoo.edu/servicelearning/”>http://www.kzoo.edu/servicelearning/</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.kzoo.edu/socialjustice/”>http://www.kzoo.edu/socialjustice/</a></p>
<p>For merit aid, there’s Denison and Knox, both high Peace Corps feeders in the past. Further afield, Lewis & Clark (if she’ll go urban) and Whitman. </p>
<p>arcadia, I know, I think Middlebury is a great match for her as well. And she absolutely loved the town and surrounding area (Green Mountains and Adirondacks). She’s a Harry Potter nerd too, so the whole Quidditch thing is right up her alley!</p>