Maybe I gave wrong info here, but I was basing the $60k number on the NPCs from a number of schools. They all thought that with 2 in school, I should be able to handle $60k each per year.
Will keep my fingers crossed that $ will work at multiple schools. Fortunately, worst case scenario is UVM. They both like it, both seem to have a pretty good shot at getting in, and in-state COA is somewhere around $36k.
FAFSA and school determination will be different.
If the school NPCs say $60K, then thatâs likely the figure - but as some say on here, sometimes the NPCs understate and right in this chain someone said Vassar overstated - i.e. came in lower.
But Iâd assume if you loaded everything properly, you should expect $60K per.
So if you want to pay that, great. But if you want to pay $60K total (i.e $30K per), that might be possible too - but you have to be flexible geographically - a little more than 4 hours or try aa U Maine as an example.
This is where not having a test score could hurt but some schools (Like Miami Ohio) base merit on GPA - but again, you have to be open. SUNYs can work too. Or as you note - UVM.
I wouldnât trust NPCs right now unless the schoolâs FA dept says itâs current and accurate. At the very least make sure you are starting with COA/projected COA for 2024-25.
I agree. Itâs a strange time right now, unfortunately.
At the risk of repeating myself from your other thread, I would not apply ED unless the NPC shows that the school is likely to be affordable.
My daughters are not twins, but I could say the same thing. 
Consider the College of Charleston in South Carolina as an Art History major. May offer museum course or courses in the art history dept.
Appreciate it. Sheâs really reluctant to go beyond a 4-5 hour drive from home, which puts some limits on places that would otherwise make good options, like the College of Charleston.
Is there a reason Williams is not on the list? Itâs a reach, of course, but tops among LACs for art history (and great for history), since theyâve got the Clark Museum and Mass MOCA at their disposal. And I think theyâre pretty generous with financial aid (need only, no merit). GPA is on the low side for Williams, but not when you consider the trajectory from 9th grade. Definitely a big reach, but a good fit so worth a shot.
These are some schools that your D may want to consider, sorted by my very fallible guesses as to what her chances for admission might be.
Extremely Likely (80-99+%)
Likely (60-79%)
Bennington (VT): About 800 undergrads. Art history majors are able to apply for the Museum Fellows Term where they spend five months in NYC at a major cultural institution, and it offers additional opportunities as well. It also offers a history major.
Hobart William Smith (NY): About 1600 undergrads. In addition to majors in Art History and History, there are minors in Aesthetics and in Critical Museum Studies.
Ithaca (NY): About 4600 undergrads. Its art history major also includes a concentration in museum studies and the major appears to require an internship as well.
Juniata (PA ): About 1200 undergrads. Although this might be a bit further than 4-hours (depending on your location in Vermont), this schoolâs Museum Studies program has tracks to combine with art history or history and seems like it could be a good fit. You can read its CTCL profile as well.
SUNY Purchase: About 3100 undergrads. Also part of the flagship match program, so tuition would max out at UVMâs for your family. Has a popular art history major and offers a history major and a minor in museum studies.
Toss-Up (40-59%)
Clark (MA): About 2400 undergrads. Itâs part of the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) association and you can read its CTCL profile.
Mount Holyoke (PA ): About 2200 undergrads at this womenâs college and has a very popular major in art history. In fact, Iâm surprised itâs not already on your list! It offers a minor (Nexus) in Museums, Archives and Public History. Like Smith, itâs part of the 5-college consortium so your D could also take classes at UMass, Amherst, etc.
SUNY New Paltz: About 6100 undergrads and has a popular Art History major. Part of the flagship match program, so tuition would cost no more than UVMâs for you. Its history department appears to take full advantage of its location, too
Lower Probability (20-39%)
Brandeis (MA): About 3700 undergrads and offers lots of museum opportunities for its art history majors.
Skidmore (NY): About 2800 undergrads and another school Iâm surprised isnât on your list already. Iâd check out its major in art history.
Low Probability (less than 20%)
For all schools, particularly smaller ones, make sure she looks at the number of faculty, their research interests, how often classes are offered, etc.
I had a draft sitting here, suggesting Ithaca as a safety, but made a bet with myself that if I waited, you would produce a list that would include Ithaca plus other good suggestions. (If only there were money in winning bets with myself! 
)
Great minds think alike!
Thank you so much! Really helpful suggestions. Weâve looked at a couple and for one reason or another, didnât resonate with her. Clark is a maybe, but she wasnât enthusiastic about Skidmore, Mt. Holyoke, or Bennington. Will definitely get her to look at the others you suggested - Drew, HWS, Ithaca, SUNY Purchase & New Paltz, & Brandeis. Appreciate it!
Smith may not be a target. It had a 19% acceptance rate this year, so could be put into reach territory for pretty much everyone.
What about Union College or Trinity College (CT) for targets? If youâre looking at Marist, what about Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart (CT), or Fairfield University for other likely schools?
Not sure, but suspect that Smithâs acceptance rate is lowered by a high percentage of ED admits.
Wouldnât that then mean that itâs even harder to get in RD? Like many schools these days, Smith admits roughly 50% of its class in ED. So the acceptance rate would then be lower than 19% for the RD applications. That doesnât put it into reach territory? Iâm not saying that OPâs daughter wonât get in, just that (as I understand) the general wisdom is anything below a 25-30% acceptance rate is typically considered a reach school.
Yes, you are correct.
If your daughter likes art history and lac environment, I think she will like Williams as well. The art history program is very reputable and there is an Art Museum in the campus, many history classes will take their students to have a seminar in the art museum. Also, since she took Latin and German, she might be interested in ancient archaeology and classical art history and in both fields Williams have great faculty in.
Have you looked at Wheaton, MA? Itâs got a lot in common with ConnColl but is easier to get into.
Where did she end up applying ED?
(Iâd have tried for Williams but itâs too late for that suggestion.)
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