<p>Hi, I've lurked for some time and gotten a lot of great info here so I know there is a lot of knowledge available in this group. I'm wondering if there are any schools we've missed in our search. We are upper middle class and will probably have an EFC in the $30 -35,000 range, but we are older and have an older child who is autistic so we can really afford $25,000 a year max. That includes any student loans. We are looking for a school that will give Merit aid and that also is a good fit for DS, who is a humanities type kid (loves writing).</p>
<p>Here are my DS's stats:
Senior
Maryland public school majority go to CC, best students usu. to State Flagship, very few to top schools
3.98gpa (4.68 wgpa)
School doesn't rank
IB program
All academic classes honors or better
5 AP's (USH, WH, AMGOV, BC CALC -5 on each exam, currently taking STATS)
2190 super scored SAT (m 700, v 740, w 750)
35 ACT (36 on math)</p>
<p>He is looking for:
Small LAC
Minimal Greek
Minimal Jock
Intellectual vibe
Laid back vs competitive atmosphere
Not a large city
Big fun
Not the South, West or Southwest</p>
<p>List so far:
Bard
Beloit
Grinnell
Hampshire
Kalamazoo
Kenyon
Knox
New College of Florida
Oberlin
St Mary's of Maryland (in-state)
Vassar (Far reachy reach financially)
Wesleyan (Far reachy reach financially)
Wooster</p>
<p>Are there any recommendations for schools that we should add to this list? Or comments about schools we have on the list? Thanks!</p>
<p>My DS has fairly similar stats and wish list, and we both <em>really</em> liked Grinnell. He reluctantly took it off his list last week deciding that he wants either a small school in a big town, or a big school. But it’s a wonderful place with a definite intellectual vibe.</p>
<p>Wittenberg would be an admissions safety, meets his other requirements, gives good merit aid, and with his stats he would be a candidate for a nice award.</p>
<p>I would second Wittenberg, and maybe add Dickinson? They are generous with merit money for students they want, and they seem to actively be seeking males. The students we met there were very intellectually active and vibrant…and the area near campus seemed fun</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses! We will look at Witt. My DS feels both U of Richmond and Dickinson are too preppy for him. He is not exactly and artsy type, or a crunchy granola, but more of a free thinker I guess.</p>
<p>Honestly with an unweighted 3.9 IB gpa and a 35 ACT I really think you are aiming way too low.
For non-greek schools that actually fit his academic profile try Bates, Hamilton, BC, Bowdoin (although Im not sure about the Greek situation there) and perhaps Georgetown, which although somewhat stingy with financial aid, has been known to do a nice merit package.</p>
<p>The OP needs significant merit aid. The way you get significant merit aid is to aim lower than your stats would otherwise indicate. Every school on the list is a fine college where the OP could get a great education.</p>
<p>Has your son visited Dickinson? Just asking because my D is a senior there now, and is not at all preppy. She got very good merit aid, and has had a great academic experience.</p>
<p>What about Kenyon?</p>
<p>I know you said “no West”, but Whitman might fit the bill otherwise.</p>
<p>This is exactly Oberlin, to a tee. Except that with the conservatory, Oberlin is a tad bigger than some LACs. D is very much a humanities type, got a very nice merit scholarship (in the range of what youre looking for), and is loving it and having beaucoup fun. Oberlin is an intellectual and artistic feast!</p>
<p>You might want to check out Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin) and Macalester College (Minneapolis). Both are what you are looking for. They are very well regarded academically and the students are intellectual, especially at Macalester. However, I think Lawrence would give a better merit package.</p>