<p>So here's another "what college thread should I go to?" thread. But a little different. Hopefully.</p>
<p>What I'm looking for is a university that is in a location that gives great access to the outdoors. Hiking, skiing, camping, kayaking, etc. Lots of (relatively) untouched land to satisfy me. That's my main requirement. I also need it to be not too expensive. Under 40,000 for sure, and preferably under 30,000 (greatly preferred). Including room and board and whatnot.</p>
<p>And third is what stumps me. I need an intellectually engaging place. People- and academics-wise. Most colleges I find that are affordable and give access to outdoor activities seem to have mediocre academics.</p>
<p>So in short, I'm looking for universities that are close to wilderness (can be urban, as long as wilderness is near), in the 20 or 30 thousand dollar range, and with great academics. </p>
<p>As far as I go, I have a 4.4 weighted GPA and a 30 on the ACT. I know, not terribly high stats, but this is with just about no study time put into school. I'll put in more effort in college. I feel confident I can handle high level college courses. </p>
<p>So, any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thanks for your time!</p>
<p>Try SUNY Binghamton or SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF).</p>
<p>As a NY resident, they are both known to be environmentally engaging. SUNY ESF is neighbors with Syracuse University but is a smaller knit community while it has connections to the bigger Syracuse campus.</p>
<p>For surrounding natural beauty, you cant beat the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Ancient forests, snow caped mountains, parks and beaches galore around the university and the city itself. Tons of hiking, kayaking and skiing (Whistler-Blackcomb being the most famous, but also some nice hills that are closer). Just look at Google images. UBC is also a solid university academically, so it should provide a stimulating learning environment.</p>
<p>What state are you in?
(Is there a public university there that meets your needs?)
What’s your approximate family income?
(Are you likely to quality for need-based aid from a selective private school?)
What do you want to study?
Do you have a size preference?</p>
<p>Many public universities are under $40K even for OOS students, at full sticker price.
Colorado School of Mines is right at about that mark, but may not be a good choice for a liberal arts major. St. Mary’s College of MD is a good, small school with a beautiful waterfront setting (no mountains, though). Wisconsin is a strong public flagship and under $40K. Evergreen State is more like $30K.</p>
<p>Private schools with solid academics and good opportunities for outdoor recreation include Bowdoin, Colorado College, Cornell, Middlebury, and Whitman. At full sticker, these schools cost over $50K. So you’d have to qualify for significant need-based aid. </p>
<p>Warren Wilson is absolutely beautiful! It’s in Ashville, NC, a total outdoorsy town. & Outward Bound is there so maybe you could work there in the summer.</p>
<p>St. Lawrence University, University of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Collage university, Hamilton college. </p>
<p>All o These would probably give you enough financial aid to make them affordable if you get accepted. Especially St. Lawrence university give large merit awards.</p>
<p>Montana State University. Get into the freshman honors program. In general, admissions are not highly selective, but some very bright students choose to go there, some of the faculty is top notch, and opportunities do exist for academic challenge. The outdoor opportunities are virtually unlimited.</p>
<p>One that’s not usually mentioned is Embry-Riddle Prescott. Great outdoor vibe and the campus is located in a beautiful area of northern Arizona. Some of the best hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, off-roading you’ll find anywhere. Plus, it has great weather year round unlike many east coast and midwest schools.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for West Coast or PNW, I agree with the poster above who mentioned University of British Columbia. great school, great location, great outdoors.
I would also suggest Western Washington University, as well as Washington State University – both considerably less $$ for OOS than University of Washington. </p>
<p>Whitman, Colorado College, Middlebury, University of Vermont, Bowdoin, Bates, plus University of Oregon could all potentially be in your price range. </p>
<p>Be sure to run the Net Price Calculator for each school individually.</p>
<p>Several of the State U. of NY colleges are in lovely areas of the Adirondacks and the price is right (in case your numbers aren’t good enough for Binghamton). Oneonta (actually in the western Catskills), Oswego, Brockport, Fredonia, Plattsburg, Potsdam, etc. Geneseo is much more selective, a fine liberal arts college at state u. price.</p>
<p>You have to like snow to go north of Oneonta though.</p>
<p>In the PNW: Reed offers good FA if your family can meet its estimated contribution (check the Net Price Calculator on its web site). Lewis and Clark offers merit aid. I’ve heard Portland State also offers some merit aid.</p>
<p>First things first: I sense that you know that a 4.4 GPA is a very good GPA. Your ACT score is pretty good, too. Do you plan to retake the test or try the SAT? Colleges don’t want to hear that you’ll put in more effort in college. They want to see that effort reflected now. </p>
<p>Also, several of the colleges mentioned already (Colgate, Sewanee, Colorado College) are way over your budget and unlikely to meet full need. I wouldn’t recommend them. </p>
<p>What state are you in? In-state vs. Out-of-state tuition is an enormously important factor in recommending schools in your price range. </p>
<p>Finally, on what information are you basing the idea that schools in your price range have “mediocre” academics? Average test scores? Rankings? Forget about those and look a little deeper. I think you’ll find many hidden gems. For example, someone above just mentioned Montana State. One of their labs was recently featured in Popular Science. There’s lots of good stuff going on there. </p>
<p>(Also, if we know what state you’re in and what you’re interested in studying, we can help you seek them out.) </p>
<p>Finally, have you talked to your parents to get a solid sense of what they can pay and what they’re willing to pay?</p>
<p>Colorado College costs around $50,000 a year and is need-aware in its admissions process (meaning, they take your ability to pay into consideration when making an admissions decision). Like Colgate, I do not think this school is a viable option. </p>
<p>If he gets his scores way up to the point where he might be considered for a scholarship, maybe. . . but he shouldn’t count on it.</p>
<p>If Colorado College (or Colgate) interests you, Google for the school’s “Common Data Set”. Section H provides details about financial aid. For 2012-13, 182 of 510 entering Colorado College students were determined to have financial need; all 182 were awarded financial aid (averaging $40,524). On average, the college covered 99.5% of determined need for those students. 100% of determined need was covered for 175 of the 182 (96% of them). Of course, it’s the college (not the applicant) that determines “need”.</p>
<p>As others have said…Colorado and the PNW…Uof Washington is big but Whitman isn’t. The forests of Oregon (Oregon people here are outrageously outdoorsy in their day to day life and lots bike to work in Portland) and for my money rainforests of Washington are hard to beat.</p>
<p>I live in Arizona. NAU has great outdoors, but I have not heard great things about academics, stats wise and from people I know personally. ASU and UofA would be good academically, but I don’t find the locations appealing.</p>
<p>I’m upper middle class, white, both parents went to college, etc. I won’t get much in scholarships from situation, it would be mostly from merit.</p>
<p>I am not sure what I want to study quite yet, though it will probably be something in the science/engineering field.</p>
<p>And when I said my GPA and ACT, I did not mean to sound cocky. I know it is good compared to most people. But as far as schools known for their academics, it isn’t impressively high.</p>
<p>I’ve talked with my parents about expenses, and I know that I can afford expensive schools, but those in the 50,000’s would put me ten years in debt. Which I know isn’t the end of the world, but I’d certainly like to keep that low, especially since I’m not sure what I want to do out of college.</p>
<p>And thanks for all the replies! I’ll be spending quite a few hours looking into these schools.</p>
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