She did look at CT College, but the campus, while beautiful, is a bit isolated, and the tour guide said kids generally do not go off campus, so it may be ruled out. Will check out Skidmore. She’s not interested in UMass unfortunately. Thanks!
W&M is not conservative at all. It is a very welcoming place that happens to be quite academic and full of kids that are super smart intellectual types. Although a state school, very much the LAC type environment with major focus put on UG and the professor / scholar model. Essentially all courses taught by profs, close relationships, lots of UG research opportunities. After visiting a few times including for an Admitted Student’s Day, I would describe it as somewhat “earthy crunchy” with very welcoming, friendly kids.
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Thank you! Definitely sounds like a potential match.
W&M is awesome but not cheap, tiny chance of merit and I would not classify it as either urban or suburban.
It’s similar, but smaller in many ways, to Miami of Ohio…although Miami of Ohio leans right per Niche. W&M is a stronger school but both seem similar other than size when you visit.
It’s a safety for your student and with assured merit. But again neither is urban nor suburban.
Btw both get a 4 from campus pride index.
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I don’t think that W&M is a safety. Strong match, but not a safety. Even the max merit is very small.
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I was referencing Miami.
W&M is a target. Best case. My point was it’s gonna be full pay and it’s neither suburban or urban and it’s a desire so I would not consider it. I put Miami Ohio out as an alternative safety with near assured large merit but again neither suburban or urban.
Earlier I suggested Arizona (safety/huge merit), Rochester (Target) and College Charleston (safety, merit…likely would qualify for Fellow program)…daughter is there and says very welcoming of lgbtq although it gets a 3.5 from campus pride. U Denver another with 3.5 that’s in city but again won’t lean left but campus pride gives a good score. Safety with merit.
We’ve since got a 2-20k so Arizona is too big but Honors is awesome.
Schools that might work that Campus Pride rate highly:
Lehigh
Penn no merit
Macalester…someone mentioned.
Tufts. No merit
UVM
Many others but too large
Edit. Pitt gets a 5 too. Mid-large. Easy in off apply early merit hard but not impossible. It’s urban
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Rats. U.Mass Amherst is a very good university.
UVM is another option which is a bit smaller than U.Mass and is also a very good university. A merit scholarship seems likely given what you have said about your daughter’s academics. The UVM NPC did correctly predict merit aid when I ran it several years ago. Burlington is a very attractive moderately small city.
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Brandeis is an obvious suggestion. Northeastern and Wesleyan are worth a look too.
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If you can get her to look at women’s colleges consider Agnes Scott. It rates super high on diversity and LGBTQ+. Ticks the city box, too. I don’t know about her major in particular. She would definitely get merit. Everybody gets some.
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Admissions is a strange thing. After several years where it seemed that no one from our public high school was accepted to Brown, this year we have 3 students committed, including the valedictorian. But I do know percentagewise the likelihood is not to expect an Ivy acceptance and apply to a range of colleges accordingly.
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@LlocLloc, is she all biochem all the time, or does she want the full rounded liberal arts experience? If she is all about biochem, Canada, Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands offer more focused courses. Her AP scores will be what matters for admission.
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She wants very strong biochem, but she wants a humanities minor. Had Trinity Dublin on her radar, but attended an info session and learned she could not minor in humanities, so crossed it off her list. Any idea if Canada would be similar (we may check out McGill if it allows STEM majors to have humanity minors)?
She sounds like she would like the way URochester’s curriculum is structured.
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@LlocLloc Yes, I do know what you mean about CC being a bit isolated. If you have any Skidmore questions let me know. Nearby there is a really nice downtown area with lots of really nice restaurants and shops. It’s a very touristy area in the summer months. Overall my daughter has been really happy at Skidmore!
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I still really like my recommendations from post #7, but some of them are too big and Tulane does have an active Greek scene. But if you’re looking for more schools, here are some others, most of which would be likely to grant your daughter generous merit aid.
Vassar (NY), but has 3.5* from Campus Pride Index (CPI)
Marist (NY)-both Vassar and Marist are in Poughkeepsie which is a definite town, but also a quick ride to NYC
Occidental (CA), 4.5* on CPI
Colorado College
Binghamton (NY) is a much smaller flagship with about 14-15k students, and it’s been interested in attracting top out of state talent. 3.5* CPI
George Washington (D.C.)
Union (NY) which has a 4.5* CPI
Clark (MA), 3.5* CPI
Lewis & Clark (OR)
U. of Puget Sound (WA) 4* CPI
Loyola Chicago (Jesuits are normally very LGBTQ friendly)
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Thanks - some of these have been on our radar, but some have not, so I appreciate the suggestions and will check them out!
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Emory. Atlanta is very LGBTQ friendly. CDC is basically on campus along with a hospital.
Pitt would be a very nice safety if she applies early.
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UVM would likely be a safety with really good merit. Plus, you can’t come up with a better college town than Burlington. LGBT friendly as well.
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