I am looking for recommendations for colleges with a similar look and feel of WUSTL and the surrounding area, as well as similar academic programs that is easier to get accepted to.
University of Rochester, Case Western come to mind.
Wake Forest might check some of the same boxes.
Which academic programs, specifically?
Tulane might fit what you’re looking for. Gorgeous suburban campus.
There are LOTS of schools that are similar if we get to choose the criteria we are comparing them by.
What criteria are important to you?
Wake Forest, Santa Clara University, Tulane, University of Denver. I agree with Case Western if you are thinking science, pre-med, engineering.
@TTG got a smile/laugh when you compared Santa Clara to WashU. As a Santa Clara alum whose kid is a WashU freshman, I can claim that my alma mater is #2 in the US News and World Reports rankings while his school is only #18. Of course we are talking apples to oranges since the schools are completely different.
OP, here is a list of comparable schools to WashU that are easier to get in. It looks like Case Western, Richmond, Rochester, and Tulane are already mentioned.
Emory
University of Tulsa
Brandeis
Boston University
Northeastern
William and Mary might be a possibility as well…
@Monkeypanda
How much easier are we talking? What are your stats? Emory and WashU are very similar, but Emory is a little easier to get into.
Based on architectural style, urban setting, and admission selectivity, the following schools might be worth a look (although they are much smaller than WUSTL):
Rhodes College (Memphis)
https://www.rhodes.edu/sites/default/files/CampusReplacement-min.jpg
Trinity College (Hartford)
https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AP596_Donors_G_20090422200536.jpg
If you want a larger school, then Fordham might work.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Fordham_University_08.JPG
These 3 (and many others) all offer a wide variety of liberal arts majors (but not necessarily every one that WUSTL does). Would you like to share more details about the intended major, budget, qualifications, etc.?
My sons intended major is Classics or Classical Literature and civilizations with a minor or double major in Psychology . He has a 30 on his ACT, is an IB student with not so stellar grades during his 10th grade year. He prefers a mid sized college that is not affiliated strongly with a religious institution and is close to a lively college town.
As far as school criteria - mid sized, good Classics or Classical civilizations program, updated dorms, campus laid out similar to WUSTL with classes centrally located, close to a lively college town, within 30 min of an airport, not strongly affiliated with a religious institution
lots of overlap with those mentioned and will throw in smu
You have some good recommendations here. Tulsa, Brandeis, Northeastern, and BU, though, are obviously completely different.
Emory, Wake Forest, URochester, and CMU.
Tufts and USC may also be considered as like WashU but they are similarly hard to get into as WashU.