<p>If I could have justified the transportation costs, I would have wanted son #1 to look at U Montana. He is obsessed with fly fishing and has fished in Montana many times and he really loves it out there. Maybe he would have ended up in some sort of freshwater ecology field. I think for the long haul it would serve him better (than economics). But what do moms know?</p>
<p>Hmmnnn… strong science programs, small feel, Div 1 women’s soccer, IM soccer, club soccer, merit money, no Greek system – I’ve got to suggest Rice.</p>
<p>In the Pacific Northwest: Reed, Whitman are both excellent in the sciences. Lewis and Clark is known for its international relations program (and its most famous graduate, Monica Lewinsky). The University of Washington has a program in computer sciences that is grabbing more and more talented professors. Its neurosciences program is pretty good too. (The catch is that both programs are not open to everyone, just to those with the best grades once they get there.)</p>
<p>this is kind of a random list but are some that midwest students have considered…st. olaf, hendrix, southwestern and trinity (both in texas), grinnell, univ. of chicago, northwestern, washington univ. in st. louis, rice, macalester, william and jewell, univ. of nebraska-kearney, univ. of kansas, kansas state, univ. of nebraska-lincoln, univ. of oklahoma, oklahoma state, univ. of texas-austin, univ. of dallas, ut-dallas, baylor, ft. hays state, wichita state univ., texas tech, texas a&m.</p>
<p>Willamette has strong sciences, especially in the pre health fields (chem & bio) 1 hour from both the coast and the mountains, up/down varsity soccer, great intramurals, small school in large city (250,000) and GREAT merit money. DD is a sophomore there and loves it. Check out their outdoor program too.</p>
<p>Southeast Missouri State University (<a href=“http://www.semo.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.semo.edu</a>) gives all kinds of scholarships. I am currently here on what’s called the Regents’ Scholarship which pays full tuition and I have a former teammate who is on the Governor’s Scholarship which covers EVERYTHING. We live in Illinois so we fall under “out of state” residency. I had 3.6 hs GPA and 28 ACT. He had like 33 ACT and was a valedictorian.</p>
<p>No one’s mentioned the University of Portland yet: merit money available, national champions more than once in Division 1 women’s soccer, in the Pacific Northwest – the campus overlooks the Willamette River, but skiing and the beach are both an hour or two away. They told us that they are the smallest Division 1 college. We enjoyed our visit. It’s a nice campus, nice kids, helpful staff. Their women’s soccer program fills the social/school spirit role normally reserved for the men’s football program at most schools.</p>
<p>Also University of Portland for women’s soccer (and strong academics). </p>
<p>Don’t overlook College of Idaho (formerly known as Albertson College.) Small LAC with high rate of acceptances to post grad programs, price is right: great merit aid, no football team, so many other sports are supported, and the weather is DRY, sunny with mild winters. Ski areas, backpacking, river rafting, kayaking, 1-2 hours away. Lots of nearby hiking, biking, rock climbing. Town of Caldwell is not very nice, but the college community is wonderful.</p>
<p>The block schedule at Colorado College isn’t ideal for the sciences – most kids who decide on pre-med end up transferring to schools with a more traditional schedule.</p>
<p>Umm, Condor? Last I checked here in Chicago, we are EAST of the Mississippi (LOL!).
If the OP’s daughters are willing to consider the Midwest at all, then the dividing line is pretty arbitrary.</p>
<p>For good science and good weather you might add Occidental College to the list. Merit aid may be a problem.</p>
<p>My daughter is planning on applying to Oxy, Humboldt, WWU & possibly Lewis and Clark or UPS.
Interested in science & the outdoors ( she is pysched that both WWU and Oxy have rugby), however- I know someone who was admitted to Reed for this fall ( strong student from top prep school) who wasn’t admitted to Occidental.</p>
<p>Ive also heard from another student that while he was very attracted to Oxy, and chose it for the diversity, once he got there, he found that the diversity seemed to be primarily ethnic ( which is important admittedly) rather than economic. He transferred after a year to a public university.</p>
<p>Reed is strong in sciences- but while my daughter likes Portland- it isn’t the sort of school she is interested in- * too white* and that isn’t just because they live in the library ;)</p>
<p>I don’t believe many of those schools have merit aid however- we are counting on the western undergraduate exchange to lower prices at Humboldt</p>
<p>I would also recommend U of O- they do have merit aid
( she is also applying to Hilo)</p>
<p>dbwes…oops…my mistake. must have had a brain fog…was focused on “midwest” for some reason. when i see these kinds of questions, i always envision a rectangle overlay in the center of the country.</p>
<p>a couple more to mention…univ. of iowa, iowa state, univ. of tulsa</p>
<p>historymom -in the midwest it’s not uncommon for students to consider public universities. the big 10 and big 12 schools are popular choices.</p>
<p>historymom - you asked about Whitworth. It’s affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, and there is a definite religious tone that may rule it out for some kids, but it’s a fantastic place to attend college. Very small, huge emphasis on getting to know your professors, excellent science faculty, really nice kids. The setting is beautiful, and there are many opportunities for students to create their own experiences, whether academic or social. Gonzaga is a Jesuit university, bigger, in the city as opposed to on the edge of town in the woods (as Whitworth is). Great basketball teams to cheer for. </p>
<p>I’m a big fan of Whitman (for which Whitworth is always mistaken), based on the recent grads I’ve known. They get a terrific education, and seem very happy, well-adjusted and social. Academically, its stats are higher than the Spokane colleges, and it’s more selective.</p>
<p>Whitman is very highly regarded in the west and takes many of our top HS students. My brother in law attended back in the dark ages and is the best telemark skier I’ve ever met, after 4 years there. However, the best restaurant in town is the same little Italian hole-in-the-wall. The town is quaint and safe, but very far from any city. I had hoped my D would apply, but after a visit she said too rustic and rural for her. It is perfect for many, however.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone! No one mentioned University of Redlands which is on one of my girls’ list. Any thoughts on that specific campus?</p>
<p>curmudgeon: You are right. It is premature to estimate merit money at this point. They are taking the SAT in Jan for the first time and we don’t have grades for first semester of Jr year yet. The 3.7 and 3.9 are unweighted as there are no AP offerings for sophomores or frosh at their high school</p>
<p>rainmama thanks for the Gonzaga/Whitman comparison. I appreciate it.</p>
<p>My son applied to Redlands and came very close to attending. He is at Univ of the Pacific in Stockton Ca. We have been quite happy with the individual attention he has gotten. For your girls they might be a good source of merit aid. They have a strong pharmacy program. Also a dental program.
Other schools in the West he applied to- Willamette (our favorite), Puget Sound, Colorado College, Redlands and a few Cal States.
Schools that my kids friends have been happy at- Seattle Pacific, Santa Clara and USC.</p>
<p>Again Reed gives zero merit $$. Macalester’s top merit award is $5,000 for NMS. I would have mentioned Carleton, but their top merit award is $2,000, also for NMS.</p>
<p>I really like Whitworth and would have pushed it for my own D if her intended major had been available. I’ve had a lot of connections with Whitworth including my own grad degree, serving as a supervising teacher for several student teachers from Whitworth, and taught a summer continuing ed course there a few years back, and several of my former high-achieving students went there and found a good fit (and good merit money). The profs are very accessible, and the education is top-notch. And Spokane’s a great little city.</p>
<p>Although I’ve moved from the area, I still get all the mail, and I liked what Pres. Richardson had to say in this fall’s convocation address–this excerpt sums up my own impressions of faith-related attitudes at Whitworth:</p>
<p>"As a faculty and staff we do not have specific doctrinal rules for membership; we do not have specific behavioral rules for membership; we do not sign a faith statement; rather, in all of our diversity we make a faith statement, “Truly, Jesus Christ is the son of God.” We join in community, believing that the unifying power of the cross is greater than all the ideas that divide us and all the characteristics that differentiate us. That belief also gives enormous value to our students who do not call themselves Christians. These students provide understanding and leadership. When we walk with those who find true north in a different direction, we will explore and understand territory closed off to Christians who surround themselves with those of like minds.</p>
<p>So, here we are – a Christian community that gives freedom to its members to hold very different views on communion, war, politics, worship, homosexuality, baptism, abortion, alcohol, gifts, miracles, and just about everything else…"
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