<p>Washington and Lee’s merit aid is generous with an average of $35,249 awarded to 13% of students without need (and is definitely not a left wing college!)
Rice University gives an average of $12,068 in non-need-based aid to more than one-fourth of its students who don’t qualify for need-based aid and although it’s a university, Rice is small ~ 3800 UG I think - and has a residential college program like Yale’s which makes it feel even smaller. If your D is willing to look as far away as Houston TX, Rice might be a fantastic option for her and your family. The school is a well known ‘value’ in the elite college category with a sticker price 7-10K lower than comparable Uni’s and SLACs. It is also a very ‘middle of the road’ campus as far as politics and campus culture, and attracts very balanced students. And, of course, an exceptional education.</p>
<p>The issue of Greek life is a legitimate concern; for a student who doesn’t resonate with the culture, the impacts of even a 30% Greek affiliated student body can the monopolize the social life, attendance at athletic events, and the feeling of a campus. Especially for students who really want to leave certain things behind in HS, this is a good filter to have in place when choosing colleges. </p>
<p>But re: the concern about your D not ‘fitting in’ at Oberlin and other ‘crunchy’ schools: one of the goals of education and life at LACs and LA Unis is participation in dialogue and exchange of ideas, (sometimes passionate) and these schools benefit from, in fact depend on, a range of perspectives and world views. The current diversity initiatives at many top schools are much broader than race, socioeconomics, and geography. An orthodox religious student or a future investment banker is likely to receive an admissions boost at an LAC like Oberlin, assuming s/he is qualified and really wants to attend the school. These colleges seek to create the opposite of a homogenous student population. My observation is that the changes brought about by diversity efforts are palpable and visible at the NESCAC schools, and, again, are not limited to skin color and income. Your D should keep an open mind about any college she is attracted to, and judge for herself rather than on the reputed culture. She may find some of the labels are accurate but best to discern for herself. </p>