Specifically looking D3, but not the NESCAC schools. Thinking GPA will be ~3.7 and 1300-1400 SAT.
You have to give more information. What major, what sport, is the student at the top of the sport or just an average high school player? FA concerns? Area of the country?
Look through the list of D3 schools and see what is appealing to you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCAA_Division_III_institutions
Franklin and Marshall, Union, Denison all leap to mind…
Location doesn’t matter, major doesn’t matter, sport doesn’t matter. Again, looking for campus vibe.
Curious as to why not NESCAC?
Other schools to consider: Hamilton, St. Lawrence
Carleton.
@doschicos Hamilton is a NESCAC school. Also, that would be a reach with those stats.
OP, check out Lafayette and maybe Gettysburg. And I second Franklin & Marshall and St. Lawrence.
Lafayette is a liberal arts college, but unlike most LACs it is D1 (Patriot League), rather than D3. However, Patriot League athletics are generally not very competitive by D1 standards, and in practice they probably recruit many of the same students as good D3 schools.
If the OP is willing to consider D1 Patriot League LACs, then Lafayette, Bucknell, Colgate, and Holy Cross would be options. These schools are small and selective, like D3 LACs, but also have an athletic vibe that values D1 sports. The annual Lehigh-Lafayette football game, for example, probably draws far bigger crowds than any D3 game. A few years ago, for the 150th meeting, they moved the game to Yankee Stadium and it sold out.
@taverngirl Lafayette isn’t D3.
As far as selectivity, the student will need a range of reaches, matches, and safeties/likelies.
@corbett @doschicos yes, you’re right, forgot about OP wanting D3.
DePauw in Indiana.
Second the Patriot League schools, esp. Holy Cross, Colgate, Bucknell. D1 sports, small/mid size liberal arts colleges, admissions are competitive but not insane, kids are smart and driven but well-rounded not “brainy” a la Swarthmore or U Chicago style, tight alumni networks with successful grads, work hard/play hard ethos and vibe is moderate socially/politically.
Brandeis University?
St Lawrence, Depauw.
I’m a broken record, but you might want to consider the Wisconsin directionals. I like Whitewater and Eau Claire best for campus vibe and athletics, and the academics are good to very good. Oshkosh has the good vibe and good athletics, but is probably a little lower on the academic scale (but not bad by any means). Salisbury in Maryland has come a long way academically, is D3, and has a nice campus. Your stats would fit in nicely. Mount Union in Ohio comes to mind, if you don’t mind a private school (most D3 schools are private).