<p>My youngest daughter and I have just returned from a college tour through Ohio and Indiana. We visited Earlham, Kenyon and Oberlin. She loved Earlham. She liked the strong Biology program, the study abroad opportunities, the Quaker philosophy and the slightly disheveled look of the student body. At this point, she is thinking that Earlham is her college of choice. And, really, at this point it's the only school on her list. She thinks she needs some alternatives and I agree (she must have listened to me rant and rave at my oldest daughter who applied to only one college). She liked Oberlin as well, but not as much, and thinks that her mid 600's on the SAT's would place Oberlin out of reach. Kenyon was crossed off the list.</p>
<p>My YD is bright (3.97 uw GPA), enthusiastic, and perhaps a bit quirky. She's planning on retaking the SAT's to see if she can put herself into Oberlin range. But, I need to help her find some other alternatives. Any suggestions for a small LAC, strong in Biology, with a liberal orientation and an Earlham-like feel?</p>
<p>Beloit and Kalamazoo are the first two that crossed my mind. I visited both with my son, who will be going to Kalamazoo next year. If Richmond, Indiana had been a bit closer to where we live (Milwaukee) Earlham certainly would have been on our list. Beloit and K'zoo have the same kind of campus culture your daughter seems attracted to as well as strong biology programs (with excellent facilities) and great international study opportunities. Beloit, Wisconsin is probably about the same size as Richmond. Kalamazoo, Michigan is larger, if that makes a difference to your daughter. Although the two campuses are very different they are both very attractive, and both schools have reputations as strong as Earlham's.</p>
<p>Echo yes on Beloit and Kalamazoo. Do not think Oberlin is too far of a reach and hope she applies if she otherwise likes it. Might venture farther to the East. Bunch of schools in PA (Gettysburg, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, and others) that she should get in, and in upstate NY, perhaps Ithaca College and St. Lawrence. All at least as strong as Earlham.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions. Beloit and Kalamazoo are on the list for further consideration. I heard a lot about Ohio Wesleyan on our trip, and it's definitely worth investigating. Guilford and Hendrix are as well, altough I'm somewhat conflicted about Southern schools. We're from South Florida, and I am trying to encourage her to look further afield -- college is a great time to see what other areas of the country are like. This being said, I do realize that South Florida is pretty far removed from either North Carolina or Arkansas in many respects. Hampshire has been ruled out (by my daughter) as it is too close to MHC, where her sister is a freshman. She really wants to strike out on her own path and I support that. I suppose we just have a bit more homework to do before the fall.</p>
<p>I think you have gotten some good suggestions so far. Two more I would add are Knox College in Illinois (though it's probably not as liberal, more mainstream) and especially the College of Wooster in Ohio--solid academics and strong in biology.
Although I don't have any first hand experience, I have heard that Hendrix does not really have a "southern" feel.</p>
<p>This is an interesting group talking to proo. Son has until the end of the month to pick a biology LAC with good opportunities in Art also from Kzoo, Earlham, Knox, Lawrence, Cornell College, and Centre. Obviously, driven to distraction, I'm reading tea leaves at this point. Any thoughts? And, before you speak, GoBlueAlumMom, know that I'm probably on the same page or at least nearly so....</p>
<p>Haha...well, there's really not much more I could have offered about K at this point. You certainly know where my vote goes. I'll defer to the other posters who may have something to add about the other schools on your son's list. Hang in there dad! :)</p>
<p>Yes, your vote is Saffron, right?<br>
Actually, it's Knox, Cornell (IA), and Lawrence that I'm short inside info on. Pretty familiar with K and Earlham.
It's all about biology and art.
Thanks for the support, GBAM.</p>
<p>Saffron, absolutely! Love that place. ;) Well, your son couldn't go wrong with those two fields of interest at K. Not only the Dow Science Center, but the Light Fine Arts facility is also impressive. My son is an Economics and Business major and his department is based in Dewing Hall, another newer facility outfitted with state-of-the-art presentation equipment.</p>
<p>bigpic, I know you have visited Kalamazoo, so I presume you are familiar with its biology and art facilities. Have you visited Lawrence or Knox? Lawrence actually has a small art museum on campus. The same facility also has learning spaces/studios, of course. It's very attractive, as is the whole campus. And as at Kalamazoo, the science facilities are very new and very nice. </p>
<p>I visited Lawrence, Knox, Beloit and Kalamazoo with my son. All are very attractive campuses, each in their own way, but for what it's worth I have to say I thought Lawrence was the prettiest of them all. (My son also was admitted to Cornell, but we never got around to visiting.) Knox's biology facilities are in a large building referred to as the "SMAC" as I recall. A modern building, but maybe built in the sixties? Not as new as the facilities at Lawrence or Kalamazoo. I don't recall seeing the visual arts facilities at Knox, although its performing arts facility was very nice.</p>
<p>In my experience, Earlham is a pretty unique place. My son has been accepted there as a bio major and is still considering his options. I think you already have a good list of schools with a somewhat similar feel. You might add Whitman College & Colorado College. St. Lawrence is a more typical LAC but has an excellent Bio program, including a new major in Conservation Biology, which is what my son is interested in. Eckerd would be a possibility if you would consider colleges in Florida.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. Too many good choices for April 12! Son loved Earlham's biology, and has been leaning toward trimesters and Kalamazoo. K has been very attentive and solid--he likes a lot there, including the 2 departments.</p>
<p>We were on a whirlwind in Kalamazoo in Jan, but ran home when a blizzard hit the prairie and ice storms chased us home to OH. Then son was so booked up and went overseas at spring break...Jeesh! We know K and Earlham and Miami U well enough, after that, no visits. Still may! </p>
<p>I could tell how beautiful LU was, and I saw that they had a nice art facility. I've always like the Great Lakes area. We go to L. Superior.</p>
<p>Knox has been interesting and very responsive. LU is interesting, but not so involved. I would have liked to have seen them both by now. Cornell, too, and they've shown interest. Centre has just never happened either. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the info.<br>
Sons may yet meet in K.</p>
<p>Lawrence may actually be farther from a Great Lake than Kalamazoo, although it's near the north end of Lake Winnebago, which is a big but not quite great lake, and it does have a retreat center in Door County on Lake Michigan. I wouldn't expect students to spend much time there, however, as it's hours away from campus. </p>
<p>Anyway, Appleton wouldn't remind you too much of the Lake Superior area. ;)</p>
<p>We got a lot of communication from Knox, too, and relatively little from Lawrence. Just different styles by the admissions offices, I guess. Kalamazoo certainly had the most personal style in their communications.</p>
<p>As far as campus attractiveness, by the way, I should probably also mention that I saw Kalamazoo on a cloudy February weekend with plenty of snow on the ground, while I saw Lawrence, Knox and Beloit all on gorgeous, sunny, warm days in the Spring or Summer. It makes a difference, I'm sure, and I'm hoping it's a beautiful day in September when we drop our son off at K so I can see the place in full flower.</p>
<p>MilwDad--Since the Lake Express car ferry docks in your city, that would be a fun way to visit your son sometime. Muskegon (MI dock) to Kalamazoo is about a 1-1/2 hour drive with some very cute port/resort towns along the Lake Michigan coast, Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck/Douglas, as well as those gorgeous beaches.</p>
<p>We have actually taken the Lake Express once, on a vacation. (We crossed the lake, then headed north along the shore, spending a couple days in the Traverse City/Sleeping Bear Dunes area, then a few more days to get over the straits, through the UP to Marquette, and finally back into Wisconsin, where we have a cabin near Eagle River just a little south of the Michigan/Wisconsin state line. It was a great trip.)</p>
<p>Anyway, the Lake Express is neat but quite expensive; a car and four people was well north of $200, as I remember it, one way. But my goodness does that thing move on the water. Go up to the top in the breeze and it's like standing in a wind tunnel. The timing of the passages is a little tough, though, as it leaves Milwaukee at about 6:00 am, and then again in the afternoon. Anyway, by the time you factor in loading and unloading time on the ferry, the lake passage and the trip down from Muskegon, you can actually drive from Milwaukee to Kalamazoo through Chicago faster (as long as you time Chicago to avoid rush hour, of course).</p>
<p>And for relaxing trips to Kzoo, we can always just take Amtrak. Now that's a nice way to travel.</p>