<p>I don’t really think of Amherst as quirky… and a high reach for the OP, too. But there are some good suggestions on that list. Pitzer is one of the Claremont Colleges, and might make a good match for the OP if SAT scores stay the same.</p>
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In many cases, that expensive college may give the best financial aid.</p>
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Just a heads up, Pitzer accepted 15.7% of applicants last year. That’s not what I’d consider a match (although it sounds like a good fit for the OP).</p>
<p>What is your UW gpa? I think your scores are a bit low for many of the schools mentioned here, although there are some good suggestions. Just that many of them have very low admit rates, so are very competitive. I’d look at the group under the tippy top LAC’s and see where your UW gpa and scores fit with their avg 50%.</p>
<p>UCSC is a good suggestion. It is quirkier than most and has many students with a strong intellectual bent. My daughter applied there. Pitzer is a good suggestion, known for quirky independent student body. Reed is intellectual but very very tough, I’ve heard. I
know a creative girl who went to Puget Sound.</p>
<p>I guess you aren’t getting many suggestions for city life.</p>
<p>If you are doing any UC app’s, and you should, throw in Davis for quirk, and UCLA for great location in a city. Same application, you just pay an extra fee for each college you add.</p>
<p>You should check out Reed. My daughter quickly realized it was not for her, but it is very intellectual and clearly full of quirky folks. No one batted an eye at a student walking by in a full purple cape, and the dorm that catered to students interested in science fiction and LARPing was proudly pointed out on our tour. The campus is just outside downtown Portland, which of course, has its own quirkiness.</p>
<p>Have you considered Rice? That might fit the bill.</p>
<p>Maybe you should try and apply to MIT?</p>