how to narrow down the small liberal arts

<p>I'm looking at small liberal arts schools for my daughter with nurturing environments and support for a slight reading processing issue - good student, solid A/B, location preferable in the Northeast, Upstate New York, NYC, Baltimore, DC.</p>

<p>LeMoyne College, Siena, Loyola Maryland, Goucher, Univ. of Scranton, Ursinus, LaSalle.</p>

<p>Goucher & Ursinus are both profiled in the Colleges That Change Lives book which you may want to check out.</p>

<p>I am a big supporter of Ursinus, but I don’t know if it would work for your daughter. The Freshman year all students go thru a “Common Intell. Experience” which is basically reading/critical thinking/discussion course. I would inquire specifically about support services before committing a student with reading issues to a required course like the CIE.</p>

<p>I like ghostbusters list and would like to add Moravian (Bethelhem PA) and Albright (Reading PA) to the list.</p>

<p>If you give more specifics (GPA, SAT, major) we could names which match up better.</p>

<p>maybe a seven sister? Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Bryn are all wonderful as is Vassar</p>

<p>Thanks for the ideas. She hasn’t taken the SAT yet, but my guess will be low to mid 500’s (due to reading) and gpa in the 3.3 - 3.5 range. She doesn’t want a women’s or religious-affiliated school. Her focus is on children, probably with a psychology or sociology or child development major, plus an interest in business - of course, this could change, as we know. I think the importance of a nurturing environment with academic challenge,but not high-stress, and some flexibility would be good. I like Goucher a lot, and we plan to visit. I just want to be sure we don’t overlook other good schools, that may not have the name recognition.</p>

<p>Adding some more possibilities: Susquehanna, Hartwick, Drew, Elizabethtown, Champlain (VT), Fairleigh Dickinson, McDaniel, Hood, Juniata</p>

<p>St. Mary’s College of Maryland comes to mind, although Longhaul’s caveat about Ursinus applies.</p>

<p>[St</a>. Mary’s College of Maryland](<a href=“http://www.smcm.edu/]St”>http://www.smcm.edu/)</p>

<p>Perhaps Washington & Jefferson as well.</p>

<p>[W&J:</a> Child Development and Education](<a href=“http://www.washjeff.edu/content.aspx?section=900&menu_id=237&crumb=229&id=1548]W&J:”>Human Verification)
[W&J:</a> Economics and Business](<a href=“Human Verification”>Human Verification)</p>

<p>Nearly forgot-try Wittenberg. It’s up her alley stats-wise and has alot of extra help for those who need it</p>

<p>SUNY New Paltz - great for the majors your D is considering.</p>

<p>Wittenberg is a great recommendation! Definitely check it out.</p>

<p>I second the suggestions of Drew and Wittenberg. D has friends who are very happy (and nurtured) at each of those two school.</p>

<p>[I was just reading something intriguing about Albright (don’t remember what! oldtimer’s disesase) and now Longhaul mentions it; I remember that it sounded like a nice school and I hadn’t heard of it before. Longhaul, do you know any Albright students?]</p>

<p>MM2K</p>

<p>I do not know any current Albright students. I do know a few alum, even some middle-age ones as old as me:) Albright is a solid LAC, but, IMO, is often overlooked due to the unfortunate fact it is in PA. PA has an overwhelming number of LACs and as such only a selective few make it to the rankings reports.</p>

<p>Albright doesn’t have strong student research experiences as compared to top PA LACs. It has a nice regional rep. I personally don’t love the city it is in, but the campus area is nice.</p>

<p>T h a n k s !</p>

<p>I also enthusiastically endorse Wittenberg !! And if you are going to be in Ohio, I have also heard very good things about Marietta. The son of a close friend is finishing up his undergrad and masters teaching degrees there and he has loved it.</p>

<p>Many fine recommendations above. I’ll second Susquehanna, Goucher and Drew and suggest Washington College, Muhlenberg, Alleghenny and Moravian are worth a look…</p>

<p>Since every small school claims to be nurturing, look closely at 4 year graduation rates; freshman orientation programs; and LD support.</p>

<p>Thanks to you all for the info. I have quite a long list and need to really read more carefully. I’m starting with a trip to Goucher and McDaniel next month, and then look at Drew, Hofstra and Adelphi. My daughter really has no idea, but I think she’d do best at the small schools that take the average student and proceed to inspire them - I find the Loren Pope book 40 Colleges that Change Lives to be helpful and along the lines we are looking for.</p>

<p>A school I highly recommend for people like your daughter is High Point University in North Carolina. A stunning campus. A very inspirational President. A warm and endearing environment to help average kids excel and succeed. They even have a wake up call service in the dorms. Just another thought.</p>

<p>Just so you know…Hofstra and Adelphi are big commuter schools. Don’t know if that makes a difference to you. Please take a look at SUNY New Paltz, you may find the individual attention your daughter needs there…we have found the staff amazing. My son was at a private southern university and he didn’t get near the support he has gotten at NP.</p>

<p>KLK</p>

<p>Please try to write a visit report for the schools after you visit.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Since it seems to get very little mention on CC, I will say that my daughter has now finished her first semester at Hood College in Frederick, MD. She has had a wonderful experience, and I am very impressed with the college, and I would recommend that it be considered. The faculty seems to be excellent and caring, the location is wonderful, the students supportive of each other, and Frederick itself is a charming town. It also is less expensive than many other private colleges and ofers substantial merit scholarship awards. Having agonized over my daughter’s decision and her choosing Hood from a long list of acceptances, I can say that it has proven to be a good choice for her, and may be worth your consideration.</p>