Good Liberal Arts Colleges?

<p>I am looking for some good Liberal Arts Colleges in the New England area. Mount Holyoke is the only one that I am for sure applying to at this point (but I think that it's more of a high match/reach), and I am also looking at Boston University and American University (Yes, I know those arn't LAC's). I am a pretty average student 3.6 G.P.A. (unweighted) and an SAT score of 1800. I am only invovled in about 4 EC's, though I have taken rigorous courses (4 AP's, a college credit advanced math course and all other "core" classes were honors as well as four years of a foreign language my senior year), so nothing "spectacular" in the academic area. What LAC's would be matches for me? I am majoring in International Relations (or something similar). Though I would prefer a college in New England, New York would be good as well. Any suggestions?</p>

<p>Hobart and William Smith?
Skidmore?
Dickinson ¶?
Stonehill?
Quinnipiac?</p>

<p>PROFILE OF 2009-10 FINANCIAL AID Freshmen AMERICAN UNIVERSITY</p>

<p>Financial Aid Applicants 1,144 (74.6%) of freshmen
Found to Have Financial Need 849 (74.2%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid 849 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met 255 (30.0%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met 93%
Average Award $33,429
Need-Based Gift Received by 473 (55.7%) of aid recipients, average amount $17,325
Need-Based Self-Help Received by 707 (83.3%) of aid recipients, average amount $7,248
Merit-Based Gift Received by 379 (44.6%) of aid recipients
Merit-Based Gift Received by 276 (18.0%) of freshmen without need, average amount $20,235 </p>

<p>Average award is $33,429 (includes grant, loans & work study job) </p>

<p>Price Tag is over 50k, so AU is probably not going to meet your need, if you are a high need applicant. </p>

<p>30% of financial aid applicants had their need fully met, so preferential packaging is obviously in play here. (The applicants they truly want to enroll will get great FA)</p>

<p>Mount Holyoke may meet a high percentage of your need and has great reputation for your major. </p>

<p>Best of luck in your college search! :)</p>

<p>Is that 3.6 unweighted an upward trend? That would help, since freshman year grades get discounted a bit.</p>

<p>Consider Bates in Lewiston, Maine - SAT optional. How about Bryn Mawr in the mid-atlantic region if all-girls is an option? D can take classes at Swarthmore and Haverford as well, so it’s a LAC but with more course options than you’d expect for a school of that size.</p>