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<p>Absolutely not. San Diego is known as University of Spoiled Daughters. I agree with everything in mom60’s post.</p>
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<p>To be realistic, being 40 miles away from SF is a little too far. Even with the convenience of Caltrain, he would go there maybe 1-2x a semester.</p>
<p>“If your kid goes to a second tier college – the type of place that may give him merit aid – he’ll still be getting those kind of assignments that he’ll find mind-numbing, but that other students may need. I’m saying this as a former prof at a second tier. I had to give assignments like having students write chapter summaries because otherwise, they wouldn’t read the chapters or I wouldn’t know that they didn’t understand things that I thought were easy.”</p>
<p>I need to modify my statement above. From my older S’s experience attending a second tier public, and my experience teaching at 2 second tier publics, the above is true. I don’t think the above is true for second tier LACs.</p>
<p>Younger S attends a second tier private LAC, Rollins College, which is in lovely Winter Park, a 10 min. drive outside of Orlando, and his assignments were as challenging and even more challenging than many that I had at Harvard. As is the case with most LACs, it is very writing and critical-thinking intensive. Classes are small, professors are thoughtful and enjoy teaching. S has not had the boring make work types of assignments that he had in high school (even in AP and IB courses) and that his brother had at a 2nd tier public.</p>
<p>This S is getting an excellent, challenging education. H had a similar experience at Calvin College in Michigan, another second tier LAC.</p>
<p>The OP might want to check out Rollins as a possibility for her son. He probably would be in line for major merit aid, too due to his scores (even though its SAT-optional), grades, rigorous curriculum, and strong community service, something that Rollins is known for and values highly. Their top merit aid covers almost everything. My son didn’t get their top merit aid due, I believe, to his grades, which were below those of the OP’s S. </p>
<p>While Rollins is in a small city, the campus is right next to a main street with restaurants and other entertainment. The campus also is on a lake with a boat dock. It’s just at most a 10-min. drive from Orlando, which has lots of big city things to do.</p>
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<p>With 3-4 Jetblue flights daily between Kennedy and Burlington, is this true? UVM is maybe 2-3 miles from the Burlington airport.</p>
<p>Did he look at Claremont Mckenna? Here is a link to their merit awards:
[Academic</a> Scholarships, Types of Aid, Financial Aid, Claremont McKenna College](<a href=“http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/finanaid/types/scholarships.php]Academic”>http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/finanaid/types/scholarships.php)</p>
<p>consider Boston University or the University of Delaware, University of Maryland. You need to remember that many schools have early deadlines for merit consideration and most schools offering merit, such as University of Rochester will want to see demonstrated interest.</p>
<p>Boston University and Brandeis both have, I believe, excellent merit aid that your S may qualify for.</p>
<p>I am not aware of excellent merit aid from Brandeis, especially for anyone with “low” GPA. Do you have any examples?</p>
<p>Denison is very good for merit aid but is not urban at all. It’s located 30 mins outside Columbus OH in the quaint little village of Granville. If your DS is really set on urban then he might not like it.</p>
<p>Rollins College sent him a priority app no fee & no essay. We kept it on the maybe list because it is under 2,000 students and I read that its full of rich, entitled kids. But maybe I shouldnt be so hasty, whats so bad about rich, smart kids? ;)</p>
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<p>Yes, but once youre there it is pretty isolated from a big city, 2-3 hours driving, which I think was how he looked at it. I have heard that Burlington is a charming town.</p>
<p>Claremont Mckenna merit possibility sounds attractive, but I thought it was very selective. Ill check.</p>
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<p>I dont think hed rule it out, based on the fact that he liked Franklin & Marshall just fine and Denison sounds somewhat similar to F&M. I think hed have to visit Denison to be sure. However, everything else being equal I think hed go for a big city location.</p>
<p>If you are looking at Denison, you might also want to check out Ohio Wesleyan University, about 30 minutes from Columbus in the small town of Delaware. My S graduated from there last year, and was very happy with the educational opportunities he was offered. He was somewhat of an underachiever in high school, but had high test scores. Ohio Wesleyan is pretty generous with their merit aid.</p>
<p>Heres my list of new colleges to review so far, and Im getting a little freaked out by the fact that some of these have early deadlines for merit consideration. Emory has a Nov. 1 deadline for theirs, and his GC has agreed to nominate him for their scholarship, which is definitely a big reach.</p>
<p> Boston University
Claremont Mckenna merit possibility, but I thought it was very selective
Dickinson College
Rollins College "excellent, challenging education
Syracuse University
University of Delaware
University of Maryland
University of Pittsburgh keeping in mind Northstarmoms words of warning
University of Rochester - will want to see demonstrated interest
University of San Diego University of Spoiled Daughters, more preppy than Santa Clara</p>
<p>Added Ohio Wesleyan </p>
<p> Boston University
Claremont Mckenna merit possibility, but I thought it was very selective
Dickinson College
Ohio Wesleyan University - pretty generous with their merit aid
Rollins College "excellent, challenging education
Syracuse University
University of Delaware
University of Maryland
University of Pittsburgh keeping in mind Northstarmoms words of warning
University of Rochester - will want to see demonstrated interest
University of San Diego University of Spoiled Daughters, more preppy than Santa Clara</p>
<p>Rose123. Amazing…we have twins! S1 with 3.4 and 2250 SAT and many AP (4 and 5) but also with mainly Bs. Also hispanic but of south american heritage. Why o why are you sitting on this thread when you should be at: </p>
<p>Colleges offering scholarships to National Hispanic Scholars</p>
<p>I am a newbie so I have no idea how to link the thread but it is in admissions/hispanic students.</p>
<p>Many free rides to medium level schools. Why would you want your son to take on debt if there are other options out there.</p>
<p>samclare – hello twin parent! I actually did look at that NHS list and screened out many schools for various reasons. But Ill take another fresh look now.</p>
<p>Here are some of the factors that I used in selecting schools, keeping in mind what I thought would be good for DS:
– Size between 2k & 10k students
– Demographics high percentage of OOS & international students DS wants to be around people from all over
– Gender balance anything approaching 60% of either gender was ruled out</p>
<p>There were some others, I cant think of them right now.</p>
<p>Tulane, Emory, Vanderbilt, Providence, Villanova – all in cities, and I think all offer Merit aid</p>
<p>Regarding the Claremont Colleges. He might also look into Pitzer. It is not as selective as Claremont McKenna or Pomona. It appeals to the more laided back student. Students can cross register at any of the 5 colleges.</p>
<p>Due to Bernie Madoff and the economy in general Brandeis is cutting way back on merit aid in favor of meeting need.</p>
<p>If your son is considering Santa Clara, he might take a look at another Jesuit college - Seattle University. It is, as far as I can tell, a pretty laid back school which offers merit aid and is located in the cradle of grunge rock with pretty active music scene.</p>
<p>DePaul is great for undecided kids. A great school in a fun Chicago neighborhood location with many excellent programs, many chances for merit aid. (I especially like it for a student who appreciated the liveliness of the GW campus.)</p>