<p>My son is a junior in high school. He has no idea what he wants to major in. He wants to run cross country and track at a D3 college in the Midwest. He has a 4.0+ gpa. He is taking several AP classes this year and next. He got a 31 on the ACT and will be taking it at least 2 more times. He has several activities but the only impressive one would be class president. As far as the running he has ran a 1600 in 4:45 and a 5k in 16:55. He wants a competitive/fun running program and some excitement around football and/or basketball. I want a college with respected academics and generous aid. We live in Ohio and would probably like to keep our range to adjoining states. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>How about Denison or Wittenberg or Kenyon in your home state?
Kalamazoo (MI)</p>
<p>You ask for schools with generous aid. Do you know what your EFC will be? SLUmom has some good choices. I would add Wooster and Earlham. What about a small D1 school like Wright State?</p>
<p>LACs with generous merit aid for students with 30-33 ACT scores…</p>
<p>Centre College (KY)
Rhodes College (TN)
Wooster (OH)</p>
<p>When I did the net price calculators, Centre and Rhodes ended up being the best value for us. Over schools such as Wooster, Denison, Gettysburg, Alleghany, K-Zoo, etc.</p>
<p>Pick up a Fiske Guide to Colleges. They review the better LACs. Pick your schools after reading the reviews. Very rarely is a school suggested on CC that is not in the Fiske Guide.</p>
<p>I did the EFC quickly and it would be a little over $10,000.</p>
<p>Would he look at a D2 school? Grand Valley State U has an excellent cross country/track program, excitement around football, and gives generous merit.</p>
<p>With regard to D2. That is a huge leap athletically. Yes, he could be on the team but very unlikely as a contributing team member. It is important to him and there are plenty of D3’s out there to choose from.</p>
<p>For a Division III school in an adjoining state, check out Alfred University (NY), established in 1836 in the small charming village of Alfred, NY, over 40 majors (some are through NYS public programs) merit aid (as high as $15,0000/year) need-based aid, small classes-know your professors. About 2,000 plus undergrads, housing available for all 4 years, bus service to NYC at peak break times, shuttles to Rochester airport at peak break times, no Greek Life. Many clubs, organizations, AU publishes a monthly guide for students as to what is happening on & around the campus. </p>
<p>Princeton Review’s Best 377
USNWR’s Great Schools Great Prices
Fiske Guide 2012
Fiske Guide Best Value
Fiske Small Schools Strong in Engineering
Fiske Small Schools Strong in Art & Design
Princeton Review’s Best 294 Business Schools
Washington Monthly - #8 For Master Degree Institutions
US News Ultimate College Guide-Best Value </p>
<p>Honors Program (must interview) Co-op for Engineering, rolling admissions (be nice to have an acceptance in hand before December holidays) </p>
<p>Still under $40,000/year, so it is really a great value for a private university.
A Regional University in the USNWR’s categories. </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Academics : Degrees/Majors](<a href=“http://alfred.edu/academics/degrees_majors.cfm]Alfred”>http://alfred.edu/academics/degrees_majors.cfm) Majors & Minors </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Honors Program](<a href=“http://alfred.edu/honors/]Alfred”>http://alfred.edu/honors/) Honors Program </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Financial Aid : Undergraduate Freshmen Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/scholarships/]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/scholarships/) Merit Aid Incoming Freshmen </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University Saxons - Cross Country](<a href=“http://saxons.alfred.edu/mens-cross-country/]Alfred”>http://saxons.alfred.edu/mens-cross-country/) Men’s Cross Country </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University Saxons - Track and Field](<a href=“http://saxons.alfred.edu/mens-track/]Alfred”>http://saxons.alfred.edu/mens-track/) Men’s Track & Field </p>
<p>It is really a hidden gem, check it out!</p>
<p>I will check out Alfred U. By adjoining I meant Oh, Ind, Ky, Mich, Penn, and WV but my wife may make an exception for NY. Thanks for the suggestion.</p>
<p>Among the top midwestern LACs (Div III sports), Grinnell is one of the few that provides merit aid. Looks like your son would qualify. Iowa is not an adjoining state - but it might be worth it for the quality academics and merit aid.</p>
<p>My wife wouldn’t be as excited to make the trip to Iowa as NY but I will check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.</p>
<p>If you look at where Alfred is in NY your wife might feel the same about both locations.</p>
<p>A student from our HS was recruited to run for Concordia in Ann Arbor, MI. Small school but can share in the sports excitement of U of M. I think they offer good merit aid.</p>