<p>There was a great thread recently about how if you loved a certain school and are looking for a comparable one with a better price tag... I'm looking for similar recommendations but instead based on type of school, size, surroundings (urban vs rural) and vibe. </p>
<p>Two schools D visited, Villanova and Providence, felt too "religious and conservative" to her (duh, Mom, they're Roman Catholic schools!). She's planning to visit St. Olaf among others in the fall and though St. Olaf sounds wonderful in many ways, I wonder if it is similarly religious (I realize its Lutheran) and conservative?</p>
<p>Two schools she loved were Ursinus and Wheaton (MA). Any recommendations for schools of the same type?</p>
<p>Ursinus is usually considered with Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson, Gettysburg, and to a lesser extent Muhlenberg, Susquehanna, Wash and Jeff.</p>
<p>If she likes the little more crunchy granola schools what about Earlham, or Juniata? Wheaton seems pretty close to Skidmore to me , I've been to Skidmore but not Wheaton. Maybe St. Lawrence? Hobart and William Smith? </p>
<p>I've tried to stay close by geo wise but if St.Olaf is a possible, what about Ohio Wesleyan, Lake Forest, Knox, or Beloit? Maybe Denison or College of Wooster? Colorado College? Whitman? </p>
<p>See if any of those appeal. I'm betting that after she looks at all those websites she'll have a feel for what's right and what feels wrong.</p>
<p>If she wants a little more lib I'd say Earlham, Beloit, Ohio Wesleyan, Skidmore, Juniata, Knox.</p>
<p>If she's willing to head south I can load her up.;)</p>
<p>Try DePaul if you like a big city-although it is a Catholic school, it did not seem conservative, it is in a great neighborhood in Chicago, gives merit $ and has a strong emphasis on teaching.</p>
<p>The Fiske Guide has "comparable" schools listed next to each individual school, noting that people who apply to College A often apply to Colleges C, D, and E. That may help.</p>
<p>I've been to Ursinus and Wheaton. Both are small, intimate, suburban and close to a major city. The closest school I can think of that I've visited would be Muhlenberg.</p>
<p>If you are planning to visit Minnesota in the fall anyhow, she might find Carleton or Macalester more to her liking. They are more liberal than St. Olaf. Or how about Lawrence or Beloit in Wisconsin?</p>