<p>Son is going to college in 10 weeks, now starting search for rising junior daughter. Need help! We are in a northern suburb of Chicago and she wants something warmer, but not hot; within driving distance (9 hours); 2,000-10,000 (she wants smaller classes), possibly Christian, but not necessarily; where she could study event planning (or similar). She is really not a 'city' girl, but could survive in the city if the campus had a 'homey' feel. She'll end up with a 3.2 GPA, probably a 22-24 ACT, no APs, average extra-curriculars.</p>
<p>Perhaps U Dayton? It’s a little bit of a reach for GPA and ACTs but should be workable.</p>
<p>UD would be absolutely perfect for your daughter. Read the threads in its forum here, you’ll find that it is possibly the most-loved school on the face of the earth by the few that know it. Again, I live a little too close to the school for it to be a possibility for me, but I have spent a lot of time on their campus with their students, and yes, it is the ideal college. A lot of its attributes I am looking for in other colleges in my search, and it’s a mixed bag. Also refer to the Princeton Review and Fiske Guide for more info.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>I have to agree with UDayton, a great recommendation. I know many kids that have attended and they all talk about it being “life changing”. It may have the nicest kids I have ever met, a perfect school for a student that is worried about making friends.</p>
<p>Don’t know how much warmer Dayton would be compared to Chicago. Not much if any. But I’ve always like Dayton.</p>
<p>South within 9 hours would put you in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, maybe W. Virginia.</p>
<p>Is this the kind of area your daughter is thinking?</p>
<p>Your daughter has a year and a half of grades (that matter) so there is a lot of time to move the G.P.A. up. Perhaps some ACT prep and work through the year with testing next spring would be a lot more valuable than spending time on college options now. Obviously a higher ACT and G.P.A. will give your daughter a lot more attractive/viable options. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>The University of Evansville REALLY impressed DS and I when we visited - might be worth a look. Warm(er) weather, good distance away (yet driveable), small campus, decent FA, loose Methodist affiliation. We took a look only because it was a financial safety for us, but were so impressed that it made it to his final choices (the ones he agonized over). It was easily the best visit we had - they really seemed to make an effort to help their students succeed.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your suggestions/advice. I had not considered Dayton, but will look into it. Daughter is not really into the process yet (as to be expected), but we must narrow it down a bit based upon reality so that we can start some visits. She has a band trip over junior year spring break, so we’ve got to take advantage of days off, long weekends, etc. </p>
<p>Yes, we are looking specifically at Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky. Son will be at UK in Lexington, but that does not limit us (although it would be nice to be close to him!). I just want a great fit for daughter. She is not a party girl at all, but makes friends easily. I would prefer a non-Catholic school (no offense), as we are Protestant non-denominational. </p>
<p>She is definitely doing ACT prep this year in a very small group and possibly private tutor. She is also a very hard worker and will get the best grades she can. However, while I don’t want to deflate her options, I want to be realistic. Even if she could get a mid-20s ACT, I don’t know if she would be comfortable in that setting. I want her to feel confident, if that makes sense. </p>
<p>My short list at the moment is as follows and I’d truly appreciate honest feedback:
Truman State (reach)
Belmont
Augustana
Bradley
Murray State (safety)</p>
<p>The only other thing we are trying to figure out is this. My daughter was diagnosed with “R.P.” this year (Retinitis Pigmentosa), which is a degenerative retinal disease with no treatment or cure at the moment. You would never know, as she looks normal and her central vision is great. She just has trouble at night (movies, dances, etc.), but that doesn’t stop her. However, her peripheal vision is very low and she will never be able to drive. While that is difficult for a 16-year-old to accept, she will eventually come to terms with it. Hubby and I are wondering if going to a smaller college (for the personal feel) in a larger community would be better, as she would then have an opportunity to learn how to use public transportation and see that she can still have a life! I.E. Belmont in Nashville. Thoughts??? At the moment, she says she hates big cities like Chicago. I think that’s just because we’ve gone down there for her special eye exams and there is always traffic and she gets bad news! Chicago really is a great city! If she went to a small college in a small town, that could work out but it would just delay her confidence-building opportunities. Does that make sense? Sorry I’ve written so much. I’m just trying to find a perfect fit!</p>
<p>UD has the small-school atmosphere with big-time basketball, just to give you an idea. UD is also only 2 hours from Lexington, and it’s a tad bit more temperate than Chicago (only 1 or 2 major snowstorms a year), so yeah, it soundss perfect.</p>
<p>I do a lot of work with Augie, Bradley, and Truman. But I can’t guarantee your daughter will see much difference in those 3 compared to Chicago winters (less the lake effect snow).</p>
<p>Truman will give the more small town feeling, and of course is known as the Missouri systems academic leader.</p>
<p>Augie sits across the river from me. It’s a fine school. I’ve had dozens of clients go there over the years. The Quad Cities will be the largest metro area of the three. We’re about 360,000 in population. If they get Amtrak over here within the next couple years (we’re now on the schedule to be built), the commute to Chicago will be easy.</p>
<p>Bradley is particularly known for its engineering programs, but has much more to offer than just slide rules. Peoria has always been one of my favorites for a midsize city.</p>
<p>Financially, I’ve found Truman to be the most generous state college I’ve ever worked with. Augie and Bradley have very similar financial histories. They are not the most generous schools out there, but they’re in the top 25% probably.</p>
<p>Wheaton College, in Wheaton, IL if she can get in. It might be a reach.</p>
<p>I couldn’t wait to open up this link today and see some new responses! Thank you for taking the time! While Wheaton would be a dream, I don’t think there is a chance. IF she got in, she would be overwhelmed and I don’t want that. “Scottaa”…I am printing out your information, as it is very helpful. With my daughter’s stats, I didn’t think she would qualify for any merit money at Truman. Do you think they would still give her some for something else?? Obviously, I’m new to this and not sure how it all works (son got a swimming scholarship to UK, so didn’t have to look into that portion much!). Academically, of those three, how would you rank them? Truman, Auggie, Bradley? Would they all be reaches for my daughter or might one be a match? Thanks!</p>
<p>Others are the longer list are: Union Univ. in Jackson, TN; Liscomb in Nashville; Indiana Wesleyan; and Anderson University in Indiana. However, I have almost ruled them out for various reasons - any input on any of these?</p>
<p>Most interested in hearing anything about Lipscomb and Union in Tennessee. Anyone?!</p>
<p>I would truly appreciate any honest feedback on Lipscomb and Union.</p>
<p>Unable to address the four colleges you most recently mentioned, but can take a stab at the five on your short list, plus a few more. For what it’s worth, scottaa seems to have a good sense of the schools he mentioned.</p>
<p>Truman State may be the second best school in MO, but it might be a bit of a reach (she’d likely do well if admitted, though, as you state that she’s a hard worker). I’d also be concerned that your daughter might feel a bit isolated there - she’d have to believe she’d be happy to spend four years of her life there.</p>
<p>Belmont, as you know, is quite religious. I feel that you’d have to be pretty committed to your faith to feel comfortable there, but for those who are, they seem to be quite happy with the school (moreso than normal). The weather is probably closest to what you described, and she’d definitely get experience with public transportation if she wanted to explore entertainment options (it’s urban, but certainly not at the level of Chicago). Vanderbilt is close by (but a VERY different vibe).</p>
<p>I probably don’t know any more about Augustana than you do.</p>
<p>Bradley is where DS will attend this fall. Don’t know that you’d get much of a break weatherwise here. It’s a compact campus with a good variety of majors (besides business, the education, engineering, nursing, and art departments are well represented). While perhaps not quite at the level of Evansville, we were impressed with the interaction between professors and students. For better or worse, most of the students are from IL, with many from the Chicago area (I think that’s true of Augustana, too).</p>
<p>Murray State (brother-in-law is an alum) would be a good safety, but like Truman, she’d have to be comfortable with the relative isolation. As I stated in an earlier post, if visiting here, I’d certainly take a peek at Evansville on the way.</p>
<p>Academically, I think you had them rated about right in your post - Truman at the top (a bit of a reach), then the grouping of Augustana, Belmont, and Bradley (with the exception of engineering, which is a notch higher), and finally Murray State.</p>
<p>I’ve heard good things about Dayton, but have no personal knowledge.</p>
<p>Wheaton is certainly a reach, but it’d be worth an application if there was a strong attraction. Again, though, you’re not getting a break with the weather.</p>
<p>As she hasn’t identified a favorite yet, I’d caution that selecting a safety first is probably more important. Find somewhere she’s likely to be admitted, which you can afford, and she’d be happy to attend. Then, if everything else falls through, she’ll still be satisfied with her school and not resent going there. If she’s accepted to a reach or match, she can always trade up, but trading down is emotionally hard for anyone, and especially a teen.</p>
<p>Sorry to throw so much at you - hope it helps!</p>