<p>Hi! I'm looking for some help with searching for LACs-my D is a quiet kid who would benefit from a small school with small classes and lots of interaction with professors. She's a smart girl, but not in the running for the elite LACs- nor does she want to go someplace too competitive, or snobby, plus she'd like to go somewhere the weather is not cold!</p>
<p>She is a good student with 3.5 GPA at a competitive private school in Philly. She does best in math and science, and is currently taking advanced calculus, advanced bio, lit, history, latin and spanish. Nov SATs CR 570, M 630, W 580.</p>
<p>There are so many that fit the bill. Colorado College, Kenyon (OH), New College (Florida) and Reed (OR) are four such schools. Those would be reaches, but worth a look. </p>
<p>Among matches and safeties, I would recommend Eckerd (Florida), Goucher (MD) and Juniata ¶.</p>
<p>The list is in good shape so far, but I would add Rhodes and probably drop Reed. Although it is not competitive is the classic sense, it has quite an intense academic environment. I am also not sure that sub-1800 SATs are going to get someone admitted there.</p>
<p>Dickenson–unless that is too close to home. You might consider SAT optional schools too–especially Mt. Holyoke. Also Skidmore (if not too far North).</p>
<p>UNC Asheville – small, liberal-arts oriented, total COA of about $13K If that’s a factor). Up and coming, good rep but not over the top, located in the Southerrn Appalachians (but in a sort of bowl, so not too snowy). And Asheville’s an amazing city!</p>
<p>we’ve looked at Dickinson - seemed a bit too “snobby” for my D’s taste, sorry if that offends anyone. We are from Philly area so I am familiar with the PA LACs. Looking to head a bit further south, I think.</p>
<p>I was going to recommend Allegheny but it might be too cold and snowy for what she is looking for. Check out St. Marys College of Maryland. In spite of its name, it is not religious.</p>
<p>LadyDianeski, I thought UNC Asheville was great, too–but just wanted to note that for out-of-state, the COA is more like $26,000 per year. Still a good deal, but a little more than you noted (maybe that is for in-state?).</p>
<p>Maybe Centre College in Kentucky? Hanover in S. Indiana doesn’t get super-cold in winter (but does have winter weather). I have heard good things about both of those. </p>
<p>Do you need merit or financial aid or is cost not a big factor?</p>
<p>Wofford College, Spartanburg SC
Emery&Henry College, Emery VA
Randolph-Macon College, Ashland VA
Roanoke College, Roanoke VA
Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte NC</p>
<p>Scripps College - One of the five Claremont colleges in SoCal, CA. An all-girls school. Fairly small but part of the consortium. Not too competitive environment, realistic to get into, and shares resources with the other colleges. Nice weather too :)</p>
<p>Edit: I think Scripps might be a reach, due to the SAT 25-75 medians. However, I would second Pitzer, another Claremont college. It is an SAT/ACT-optional school.</p>
<p>for those who asked: it started with the presentation by the head of admissions, a very buttoned up proper Southern lady who spoke in many syllables; followed by a rambling address from the college president, who talked about how Princeton was their “sister” school and how many students he had personally gotten in to Yale Law School… all of which probably is aimed at parents but made my D feel like the place was more focused on its reputation & ranking in US News than on the student experience; surely these are initial impressions but schools make a choice in presenting themselves and you can take something from those choices</p>
<p>second, was the impression she got from our tour guide who was a rather stuck-up sorority girl in designer sunglasses and fashionable down vest who seemed pretty bored with our tour group as she led us around campus and gave us the prepared script, never offering any personal insights into the school; it felt like she would have rather been somewhere else.</p>
<p>Third was just the sense she got that Dickinson was not a place where people seemed to be having “fun”…the feel of Dickinson for her was a lot different from F&M where were visited next- took a tour with a friendly tour guide, and as we went around campus there were lots of students who said hello to our tour guide and us- you got the impression of a friendly student body…our tour guide made it seem like a place where you could succeed and be happy; he even gave us tips about admissions- F&M is SAT optional- he was one of the ones who didn’t submit his SATs because he said his reading score made him look like the village idiot!</p>
<p>of course its just one visit but I have heard that kids can really tell from a visit whether the place feels right to them or they fit in- F&M was a better fit for her personality wise than Dickinson…but I think she’d like to go somewhere further south!</p>