Is there a school that is a small LAC and falls between Vassar/Wesleyan and Skidmore in terms of selectivity? I love all three, but was just curious!
Perhaps Oberlin or Reed
Trinity, Lafayette, Colby, Bates, Bucknell?
Colby
Macalester, and I’ll second the Oberlin recommendation.
My nephew went to Wes, but his next choice was Oberlin so I’ll third that suggestion.
@not2disappear
Are you looking for schools that are similar to Wes/Skidmore/Vassar? Or are you just looking for schools where selectivity falls between? 2 different questions
@wisteria100 I assumed the OP wants a similar type of school where selectivity falls between the ones mentioned.
Given how holistic admission decisions are at each of those schools, the difference between 15% and 35% acceptance would not be substantial in my mind. Grinnell is now below 20%, Kenyon is in the low 20s, Bates is below 20% for regular decision. Bard is closer to Skidmore, low 30%, but very much a self-selecting applicant pool.
By U.S. News methodology, Vassar receives a selectivity rank of 14, Wesleyan 19 and Skidmore 50. With ties accounted for, there’d be 29 LACs between Wesleyan and Skidmore in terms of selectivity. For schools directly between your points, look to Smith and Bryn Mawr, tied at 33.
Schools ‘between’ Wesleyan/Vassar and Skidmore in terms of percentage admitted, and of a similar personality to these schools, include Macalester, Grinnell, and Oberlin in the Midwest. Slightly less liberal/artsy but still somewhat similar, and in the northeast: Bates. Slightly larger but otherwise similar in feel, and in the northeast: Brandeis.
From more to less selective*:
Barnard (women only, but part of the Columbia U system)
Davidson
Oberlin
Colby
Macalester
Colorado College
Bryn Mawr (women only)
Bates
Smith (women only)
Reed
Kenyon
Grinnell
Mt Holyoke (women only)
URichmond
Connecticut College
USAFA
Union
Whitman
Pitzer
Franklin & Marshall
Gettysburg
Holy Cross
Bucknell
(*measuring selectivity by a combination of average entering SAT scores, % of students in their HS T10%, and admission rate, weighted 65-25-10 respectively. This is a formula that US News has used; a different formula might result in a different order. The order of these colleges may change a bit from year to year. Your own qualifications may affect the relative selectivity of some schools, depending on what they’re looking for, for example underrepresented states/ECs, etc. Some of these schools may be need-aware, so high need could make them more selective than they otherwise would be.)
Based only on reputation, the last four seem like ringers in this crowd in terms of social atmosphere. Academically no issue, but it doesn’t seem like they’d appeal to the same kid. Ditto USAFA, though I assume that’s obvious.
Grinnell
Smith
Oberlin
Bates ?
Macalester
Bard
Connecticut College
Pitzer, if its selectivity falls into the desired range these days; I’m using an old book.
Clark?
Brandeis