<p>I'll bet this is a first for this site! OK -- those in the know, please rank or comment on:</p>
<p>Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, NH
Colby-Sawyer, New London, NH
New England College, Henniker NH
Green Mountain, VT
Anna Maria, Paxton, MA
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
Endicott College, Beverly, MA
Bridgewater State, MA</p>
<p>I have a friend who goes to Lesley. She absolutely loves it there.</p>
<p>Everyone knows my two gems: Hillsdale College (MI) and Grove City (PA).</p>
<p>My friend goes to anna maria, and she likes it a lot... but everyone there is majoring in criminal justice or "fire science"... which means they all want to be cops or firefighters.</p>
<p>It seems like a community college would be a good low teir college, because at least it's cheap.</p>
<p>Linzoy - Community colleges and 4 years really don't compare re: sense of community, residential life, athletics, leadership opportunities, international study programs etc. </p>
<p>Several of my colleagues started their academic careers with criminal justice studies and are now lawyers, sociologists/academics and one is a forensic psychiatrist.
I think you're generalizing a bit in your assumptions about those two majors.</p>
<p>And "tier" is spelled with the "i" before the "e."</p>
<p>LetItBe, Have you looked at the book "Colleges that Change Lives"? You get a lot of good broad input on some great colleges that are not famous and not hard to get into - but they are really great colleges. I don't remember if any of these are on the list - I think of St. Olaf's and Hiram.</p>
<p>MidwestMom - I didn't say that my dd wants to stay in New England! There's another list that isn't getting too much play yet, which is Colleges of Distinction.
Franklin Pierce is listed there.</p>
<p>Does Grove City College deserve a "low tier" designation? Reportedly it has a rigorous curriculum. Also, a know a Grove City alumna who graduated at the top of her class from an elite law school.</p>
<p>Grove City is only for a very specific type of student from what i understand.</p>
<p>With all due respect, would contributors to this thread please focus on New England area schools? I wish I had been more specific in my title...sorry.</p>
<p>I can't comment on those schools, but have you also considered Champlain in Burlington, VT, and Suffolk in Boston? Both are nice NE cities to be in. Also you might look into Sacred Heart, or Quinnipiac in CT. How about Roger Williams and Bryant in RI, just to list a few more possibilities.</p>
<p>"Several of my colleagues started their academic careers with criminal justice studies and are now lawyers, sociologists/academics and one is a forensic psychiatrist.
I think you're generalizing a bit in your assumptions about those two majors."</p>
<p>Sorry, I'm getting my information second hand from someone who's not a criminal justice major... not the best source.</p>
<p>Colby sawyer and endicott are the best of the ones you listed up there, followed by bridgewater. just about ANYONE can get into franklin pierce or green mountain.</p>
<p>I am from new england. In fact, Bridgewater is a few miles from my home.</p>
<p>My niece just visited Endicott and absolutely loved it. I know someone who goes there presently and loves it as well. It is small/quaint.</p>
<p>Bridgewater State has some great programs. Again, I know a few people who go there and love it as well. </p>
<p>The only thing I know about Lesley is that it offers a lot of weekend/night degree programs. I really don't know much else about it.</p>
<p>I have heard Franklin Pierce is nice as well. </p>
<p>I hope this helps somewhat.</p>
<p>Champlain is gorgeous.</p>
<p>" re: just about ANYONE can get into franklin pierce or green mountain."</p>
<p>I'm not judging these small school by their selectivity, but rather on the quality and accessibility of professors. I'm always surprised to meet students from so called low-tier colleges who are really thriving. I do think they are less pressured, but I don't think that's a bad thing...Now perhaps I won't be so surprised. For some kids a small environment where professors take on a mentor role is perfect.</p>
<p>Wells College.</p>
<p>Thanks for mentioning Wells. One of the smartest women I know is an alum!</p>