Can anyone suggest some quality small LACs in the Southeast?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a junior in high school, and I'm just starting to narrow my college selections. SAT: 2140 (750 W, 750 R, 640 M); rank: top 10%; UW GPA 3.75, weighted GPA 4.40; SAT II Lit: 770, E Biology 700. I'm a female and I am considering all-women's colleges.</p>

<p>These are the factors that are most important to me:
- a secluded and/or rural campus
- good quality of life; ie, good food and dorms
- a location in the Southeastern US
- a good academic reputation
- good placement of grads into jobs / quality graduate schools
- a small size
- quality financial aid (my EFC is 0, so this is actually a must...)
- a lack of religious dogma</p>

<p>Currently the schools I'm looking at are
- Davidson College
- Sweet Briar College (am doubtful about its financial aid capabilities and academics)
- Agnes Scott College
- Emory University (am tentatively waiving the 'rural' criteria because I'm a native of ATL)
- Washington and Lee University
- Warren Wilson College (have grave questions about its 'pot-smoking hippie' reputation, as well as its financial aid policies)
- Clemson University (only because it's near me; I hate its size and its jock scene, also its academics are blah)
- Bryn Mawr College (huuuge stretch as far as the weather is concerned)
- Mount Holyoke College (the director of the agency I intern for is an alum and would be ecstatic if I attended. Only problem is that it's COLD COLD COLD FREAKING COLD)
- Wellesley College (if I'm considering MA, I might as well...)</p>

<p>Can anyone suggest any other colleges which would suit me? I'm unwilling to travel far from home (which is SC), so colleges north of Virginia and west of GA are more of a stretch. However, home is near an Amtrak station, so taking a train up and down the Eastern seaboard is somewhat feasible. I just have a terrible tendency to get homesick.</p>

<p>I don't want to get my hopes up by considering uber-selective colleges, so I'm interested in realistic matches. Please tell me if the colleges on my list aren't such.</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>You might check out Furman, Sewanee, and Rhodes. I’m not sure how the financial aid for these schools is though.</p>

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<p>Since you need a lot of financial aid, the “uber-selective” colleges are really your best shot. They tend to have great financial aid. As it stands now, you are competitive for just about any school, and if you could raise the SAT a bit (maybe study really hard for the math section), you would have a great chance at even the most selective schools.</p>

3

<p>Consider St. Mary’s College of MD, William & Mary, Centre College, the University of Richmond, and Wake Forest. But the best match for your criteria and qualifications probably is Davidson.</p>

4

<p>Wofford College
Berry College (GA)<br>
Oglethorpe College (GA)</p>

<p>All female…
Mary Baldwin College (VA)</p>

5

<p>Agree with Rhodes.</p>

6

<p>Elon if you are willing to go as far North as NC(I think this may be your best match by your description). Furman if you want to stay in SC. Vanderbuilt for TN (Reach). SMU (Not Reach) and Rice (Reach) in Texas but both are Urban.</p>

7

<p>The academics at Sweet Briar College are excellent.</p>

8

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<p>Agreed - The OP’s first two paragraphs essentially defined Davidson. It’s only a four-hour drive from Atlanta. Before you come to any strong opinions about colleges on your list, you need to go up there and visit. I’ve spent most of my life visiting colleges across the U.S., and Davidson’s probably the most impressive place that I’ve been.</p>

9

<p>FURMAN!!! The Greenville airport is beautiful and they have several direct flights from all over.</p>

10

<p>Other Women’s schools not mentioned, but you might want to check out: </p>

<p>Simmons College (MA) in Boston
Converse College (SC)
Stephens (Missouri)
Hollins (VA)</p>

11

<p>Hendrix (Arkansas) is another possibility.</p>

12

<p>Eckerd college in St. Pete, Florida.</p>

13

<p>Here are my favorite: St. Mary’s College Of Maryland, College Of William & Mary, UNC-Asheville, New College Of Florida, College Of Charleston </p>

<p>Since I’m currently at Clemson, I’ll talk about how well your criteria fit Clemson</p>

<ul>
<li>a secluded and/or rural campus</li>
</ul>

<p>Clemson - Yep, it’s in the middle of nowhere, 1 hour from Greenville (the closest city) and 2 hours from Atlanta/Charlotte</p>

<ul>
<li>good quality of life; ie, good food and dorms</li>
</ul>

<p>Clemson - Clemson is consistently ranked in The Princeton Review as having the best quality of life among schools in the US. The dorm food gets old though and the freshman dorms aren’t going to be palaces. Students love it here though.</p>

<ul>
<li>a location in the Southeastern US</li>
</ul>

<p>Clemson - Yep, in South Carolina</p>

<ul>
<li>a good academic reputation</li>
</ul>

<p>Clemson - Has a great academic reputation in business, agriculture, engineering, nursing, education, architecture and the sciences. Not so great for liberal arts though.</p>

<ul>
<li>good placement of grads into jobs / quality graduate schools</li>
</ul>

<p>Clemson - I think a few years ago, Clemson was ranked as having one of the better career centers/job placement in the country. I personally can’t speak to this since I haven’t started looking for jobs yet but I think Clemson has a great reputation among companies in the southeast</p>

<ul>
<li>a small size</li>
</ul>

<p>Clemson - You’re right, Clemson isn’t a small school at all. It’s 17,000 undergraduates and freshman class sizes can be 100 people. </p>

<ul>
<li>quality financial aid (my EFC is 0, so this is actually a must…)</li>
</ul>

<p>Clemson - You’d definitely get some good financial aid. Your stats are great and you’re in-state so they’ll help you out with scholarships.</p>

<ul>
<li>a lack of religious dogma</li>
</ul>

<p>Clemson - People here tend to be “religious” but you should know how that works since you’re in South Carolina. Some people are religious because that’s how their parents brought them up but just say they are, others are actually serious about it. Clemson however is not affiliated with any religious institution and there are plenty of people here who are non-religious. It’s all about the people you hang out with.</p>

14

<p>You’re a great match for Furman. My daughter goes there and loves the school. Academics are very strong and the town of Greenville is a great place for college students–lots of clubs and cafes and shops. Definitely check it out.</p>

15

<p>You’d also probably do really well at Agnes Scott.</p>

16

<p>Rollins College is near an Amtrak station. While it is not a rural college it is located in a very nice area outside Orlando in Winter Park, Fl. It is ranked the top regional university in the South and with your stats you would qualify for some good scholarships. If you raise your CR+W to above 1420 then you can be in competition for the top scholarship offered.</p>

<p>It has in the past been identified as a party school… but they are really trying to raise the caliber of the students and everyone my S has been friends with are top notch. He is a science and math major so if you have any questions then PM me.</p>

<p>Depending what you might want to major in will help define your college search but spend time looking at all the college major offerings to see if they have something you would be interested in if you are undecided.</p>

17

<p>I’m not sure if you are interested in HBCU’s, but what about Spelman? It has good academics, is very well-respected, but you would be competitive with your stats.</p>

18

<p>I was going to suggest Rollins as well - Amtrak station in walking distance :slight_smile: Beautiful campus, small school, good academics, and generous with merit and need money.</p>