<p>WUSTL, Rice, Williams, Middlebury. Perhaps Wesleyan and Swarthmore? Though both would probably fall into the “blatantly liberal” category.</p>
<p>
can’t agree. Having studied there as an undergrad, I can say that my experience is that Stanford bends over backward for its students. When I was there, and this may have changed, a student could drop a class up until 5pm the day before the final exam. This policy encouraged students to take risks enrolling in classes outside their comfort zone.</p>
<p>Colby
Emory
Tulane
Washington St. Louis</p>
<p>I think all are tight knit and academic. Colby is in Maine, if weather is an issue.</p>
<p>Dunnin, Stanford definitely has a very supportive environment for undergraduates, and strongly encourages broad academic exploration. However, the current policy allows students to drop a course (without notation on the transcript) until the end of the third week of the quarter, and to withdraw from a course (with a notation of W on the transcript, but no impact on gpa) until the end of the seventh week of the ten-week quarter. I think this policy is similar to those in effect at many of Stanford’s peer colleges.</p>
<p>OP, having noticed your preference for a campus that is “not blatantly liberal”, I will offer that, IMHO, Yale has a blatantly liberal student body and culture. Stanford’s student body is overwhelmingly liberal as well, though I can attest that it is also very open-minded and welcoming of a wide range of viewpoints.</p>
<p>Seconding Rice, Davidson, Swarthmore, and Haverford. Assuming that you don’t get into Pomona EDI, don’t be afraid to apply to peer LACs (including through EDII if one stands out and offers this option). My friend, a conservative Christian at Swarthmore, was rejected EDII from Pomona and accepted with a full-ride Johnson scholarship to W&L. Spreading a wide net matters.</p>
<p>Dunnin:</p>
<p>my post was more relative than anything else. Like many/most? private colleges, one gets a lot of personal face time at Stanford; which is unlike the sink-or-swim publics. But I would suggest that Stanford’s (and Columbia’s) “supportive” social system is a whole lot less than what would be found at a LAC like Pomona.</p>
<p>In any event, I firmly believe that the discussion is moot: if the OP is not accepted into Pomona with the ED boost, S&Y become real long shots.</p>
<p>Wow, thank you for all the responses! It’s the most I’ve ever gotten on CC…ever :)</p>
<p>I realize that my SAT I math section score is very low. I took the SAT two times and got the same exact math score both times, even though I studied a bit for the second time. Honestly, I did not have time to study much for math since I wanted to focus on my grades during the school year and I was doing research during the summer. Hopefully it will not keep me out of Pomona. I admit that I did not get a good math background in algebra and geometry, but I’m really working hard to gain a good foundation in precalculus and calculus this year.</p>
<p>I realize that it’s hard to make generalizations…but how would you describe U Penn students?</p>
<p>Yeah, if I don’t get into Pomona I don’t really think I would be able to get into Stanford and Yale, which is why I need more options besides those.</p>
<p>@SlitheyTove: The UCSB College of Creative Studies sounds amazing! I will keep it in mind for underclassmen at my school.</p>
<p>I would like Amherst and Williams, but I think they’re a bit too rural/small. Swarthmore may be a little too liberal for me, although I think I could manage at most liberal-minded schools as long as it’s not too extreme.</p>
<p>I love LACs…but I’m just not sure which ones (other than Pomona) are right for me. When I looked on CCs top LACs menu, I couldn’t distinguish one from another. I will keep the ones everyone recommended in mind.</p>
<p>Thank you again for all of the suggestions.</p>
<p>To the OP,</p>
<p>It’s way more important to get a high math sat score (above 700) for Pomona rather than focus on senior year grades. I am a sophomore at Pomona, and have friends/ know people who work admissions. Pomona is basically looking for 700+ in each subject when it comes to the SAT. Hopefully you will be admitted ED, but if not, work on your math score for other colleges.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>I don’t totally agree with Anonymous91, my daughter was admitted with less then stellar math scores. She did however have a great GPA (IB) as well as some areas of strengths that made her a good fit for Pomona.
Pomona is highly selective and I am amazed when hearing of some students rejected with near perfect test scores. It has always been my understanding they want diversity. Diversity doesn’t always mean the typical criteria, there are other factors when determining a balanced student body. Hopefully your transcript and essays reflect passion for learning.
She is very pleased with Pomona, she works hard and is challenged. The college provides many fun “downtime” activites when you need a break. It was the right choice for her.</p>
<p>@Anonymous91 and artrell: Thanks for your opinions. I realize that the sub-par math score may hurt me. However, maintaining my good grades was not done for the sake of college admissions. I wanted to focus on my grades because I have a goal for myself personally throughout my four years in HS. I really hope that Pomona can see through my math score and see the other areas in which I am much more skilled. artrell, I am glad to hear that your daughter is having a good time. Pomona sounds like an amazing place.</p>
<p>Pomona is a great school, but I’ve always heard that it is a more difficult admit for Californians. Do people think this is true?</p>
<p>The first school that sprang to mind for me was Rice, also. I would also suggest Davidson, as an excellent school with warmer weather that is at least slightly more conservative than most LACs. (I would also have suggested some of the LACs that you are leery of, such as Amherst, and others where you would probably not like the weather, such as Bowdoin.) I would also suggest that you take a look at William and Mary. </p>
<p>A LAC that no one has suggested yet that you might want to look into is St Olaf. It is an easier admit than its neighbor, Carleton, and probably somewhat less liberal. I think it would add to your selectivity range, but it is cold and pretty rural. </p>
<p>The combination of not rural, not very liberal, and not in a cold climate–assuming that that is what you mean by “good” weather, not all of us would agree 
– is hard to find among elite LACs. Davidson is unusual in that regard. If you are interested in trading some academic excellence for weather and comparative covservatism, there are other southern LACs such as Furman and Washington & Lee.</p>
<p>Just a five minute walk from Pomona is Claremont McKenna College. Is is more conservative than Pomona, fitting one of your criiteria, but less “quirky” than Pomona, not fitting that criterion as well. The science component would be delivered through the Keck Science Center, alongside students from Scripps and Pitzer. <a href=“http://www.jsd.claremont.edu/[/url]”>http://www.jsd.claremont.edu/</a> Don’t know much about English at CMC.</p>
<p>Consider Pepperdine?
Your #1 ranking will get you some Merit money and may knock down the cost to the amount to attend a UC.
Just throwing it out there…</p>
<p>@Batllo: Are you referring to merit money specifically at Pepperdine?</p>
<p>This thread has been VERY helpful for me. I will definitely check out Rice and Davidson.</p>
<p>@Consolation: I’m really not sure about if it’s harder or not for Californians to get in. If I recall correctly, about 1/3 of the incoming class is from CA.</p>
<p>@DunninLA: Yeah, Claremont McKenna sounds nice. But I’m not into the whole history/econ/gov’t/practical emphasis. I don’t think it’s a great fit for me, although I love the Claremont colleges!</p>
<p>Amherst College is in Massachusetts. Unless you like freezing in winter I suggest striking it from your list.</p>
<p>If you’re checking out Rice, this thread can get you started: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/1035920-sell-me-rice-why-rice-better-than-other-competitive-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/1035920-sell-me-rice-why-rice-better-than-other-competitive-schools.html</a></p>
<p>And here’s their virtual tour: <a href=“http://www.rice.edu/virtualtours/[/url]”>http://www.rice.edu/virtualtours/</a></p>
<p>Haverford would be my suggestion.</p>
<p>I can’t think of any schools at all that are simultaneously known for being politically conservative and culturally “quirky.”</p>
<p>^^sounds like an oxymoron to me. :)</p>
<p>Update everyone:</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I got deferred from Pomona. 
After I take a day to cool off and think, I will start working on my other college apps - my task for winter break. Thanks for all your advice, I plan to take it into consideration when rethinking my college list.</p>