<p>Could you suggest college options for my D to consider? Here’s her wish list: a smallish LAC, preferably with access to to a thriving city or an LAC with lots to do on weekends (she’s not a partier) and a vibrant feel (anywhere in the country but not the West coast – too difficult to travel from FL – she’s fine with cold weather!); small, discussion-focused classes, superb teaching, and a faculty/student culture of support and collaboration; strong humanities / social sciences / study abroad programs; peers who are motivated and work hard but not a high stress environment; not a religious school or a women’s college; a politically liberal, down-to-earth, physically active, racially/ethnically diverse student body (she is not comfortable with a primarily “hippie” school – felt out-of-place at New College). D is an accomplished martial artist with a 3.7 unweighted GPA (Honors/AP), top 10%, & 1250 SAT CR/M (not a multiple-choice test taker – loves writing though & isn’t afraid to do a thesis). Thank you!! </p>
<p>Colorado College, Macalester, Rhodes, U Richmond (reaches)
Beloit, Clark University, Goucher (match)</p>
<p>Eugene Lang/New College (match), if not too “hippie” for her; Fordham-Lincoln Center (high-match), although Jesuit, it’s in the middle of Manhattan, with a traditional liberal arts curriculum and strong theater/dance programs (ie. multicultural, tolerant, etc) - although each of those might diverge from some of your criteria, the Manhattan locations compensate. Guilford and Eckerd are pretty safe for her. Davidson might be a high match. It’s in a sleepy, picturesque, college town, but close to Charlotte. Guilford is in Greensboro,NC,which has a thriving arts community. Drew University would be a low-match or safe school for her. It is in Madison, NJ, within walking distance of train to NYC. Haverford is a reach. </p>
<p>Knox is a match and a direct flight from Florida.</p>
<p>Denison University would be a match (and is generous with merit aid to much of the student body). It’s also in a “sleepy, picturesque, college town” but very close (about 20 minutes) to Columbus, OH.</p>
<p>Loyola Maryland is another school that, while Jesuit, would be a good choice. Jesuit schools are very open and accepting,and the Jesuits have a centuries long tradition in classical education. Loyola is just outside of Baltimore, and has easy access to Inner Harbor and Fells Point. They’ve got a strong study abroad program, and an emphasis on service learning and volunteering in the local community.</p>
<p>You sure about the West Coast? I’m from California (LA Metro area), and have family in Ft. Lauderdale area. It’s a direct flight, and possibly easier to get to than some of the more remote LACs which require at least one connection. For instance, Occidental and University of Puget Sound sound like they’re great fits, but they’re in the LA and Seattle area, although probably easier to get to than a school like Beloit or Knox if you live in one of the major FL cities.</p>
<p>I’m biased but I’m going to suggest Oxford College of Emory, Emory’s two year LAC about 40 miles from the “Main” campus. It’s one of the most racially and geographically diverse schools in the country, offers both a small LAC environment for two years followed by two years at Emory University, has a liberal, largely non religious student body hugely focused on volunteering, and plenty of opportunities for outdoors activities. Academics are considered by most continuees (term for students who’ve moved onto Emory’s Atlanta campus) to be on par, if not slightly better than Emory Main. </p>
<p>Other suggestions:
-Macalester
-New College of Florida (should be a financial safety)
-Hendrix
-Illinois Wesleyan (near Illinois State)</p>
<p>Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin sounds like it could be a good fit for her. Appleton is a larger town than a lot of midwest LAC’s are in. Population 70,000 with a metro area of 200,000. Has a music conservatory so there are always lots of performances going on. Also there is a performing arts center in Appleton that brings in touring groups, musical theater, etc. There are direct flights to Appleton from either Chicago or Detroit. Good luck!</p>
<p>I’m sorry to see women’s colleges excluded, since they really fit this description: “small, discussion-focused classes, superb teaching, and a faculty/student culture of support and collaboration; strong humanities / social sciences / study abroad programs; peers who are motivated and work hard but not a high stress environment”</p>
<p>My D had pretty much the same requirement list as yours, minus close access to a big city. Having very intelligent and motivated peers who are passionate and hard-working, but not super stressy, was probably the main criteria - and was a deal-breaker at some schools she looked at (e.g. Connecticut College.) In the end her top 3 schools were all women’s colleges, since they exemplified all this (and all had easy access to schools with boys!) However, other coed LACs on final list that might be worth looking into:</p>
<p>Wesleyan U.
Bard College
Skidmore</p>
<p>others she considered that might work for your D:
Sarah Lawrence
Bennington
Bates College
Bowdoin College</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke, Smith, Vassar, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, Franklin and Marshall</p>
<p>Skidmore (is Sarasota Springs enough of a city?), Fordham -Lincoln Center could be a very good fit although it is Jesuit, Sarah Lawrence (near NYC), Goucher (Baltimore), Eugene Lang (NYC), </p>
<p>I second Lawrence.</p>
<p>I recommend Lewis and Clark College in Portland OR despite the no west coast point. It has everything else.</p>
<p>Love the responses so far - thank you! We will have to take a closer look at travel to the West coast. We had just assumed it would be complicated. We’ll have fun researching the suggested schools. Please, keep 'em coming! 
Also, anyone have thoughts about how well her wish list & stats are matched with Carleton, Colby, Earlham, Kalamazoo, Kenyon, Wheaton (MA), Ursinus? </p>
<p>Allegheny, Susquehanna, Dickinson</p>
<p>Carleton is very geeky and a huge reach (DD2 was waitlisted with a 4.0/2250). Kenyon is more selective than Denison and in the middle of corn fields but otherwise a great school. Earlham is not in a thriving city but the students love it.</p>
<p>Might look at Holy Cross-part of the liberal Jesuit order. HC is a top25 LAC 1 hour from Boston. Holy Cross is also need-blind for admissions.</p>
<p>Take a look at St Olaf - more of a match than Carleton, in the same town, much less religious than you would think, liberal, active, lots of club sports, great rec center, Great Conversations programs, bus available from campus to airport and MSP. Worth a look if you are considering Carleton.</p>
<p>College of Wooster sounds perfect except that it’s not close to a city (55mi from Cleveland)</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence may be a good fit, it’s strong in humanities, and is in a close suburb of NYC and is definitely liberal, although the vibe may be a bit “hippie-ish” for your D’s liking. </p>