<p>I’m from the northeast, and I’m not all that comfortable in the south. Richmond is a southern school in some sense, but I felt fairly comfortable there. My D did not. I found the campus nice but a bit homogeneous and claustrophobic. Students tend to dress similarly: a mix of prep, jock, southern belle, but very little else. No grunge did I see. No alternative lifestyle did I get a hint of. Not much artsy. The U was trying very hard to attract northeastern students, it was obvious, and so not surprisingly I saw a lot of the same. They say they’re about 60%, white as I recall, but it didn’t appear that way. There’s a large contingent of int’l students (10%), but I had the impression that white boys and girls ruled the social scene and that applied to dress and thinking and take-out. I had set up a meeting with a researcher at U before we arrived, and that man could not have been more generous with his time or concerned about undergraduate education. I walked away wanting to major in his dept. My D got all of this and more and would have nothing to do with my suggestion that she apply. In U’s defense, D ended up applying to nothing but mid-size unis, and that preference for size, heterogeneity, etc. no doubt played a role in her dismissal of U. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>@jkeil911: So Richmond is diverse only on number data but solid in academics. Obviously it is not a perfect school and there is no perfect school. The near-perfect schools may be just too hard to get in. My advice for the internationals who need FA is that you have to make compromises with the academic, financial , and social fit. If you need significant FA, your choices are not that many (true to domestic students too).</p>
<p>Absolutely, @Bamboolong, I’m just putting anecdotal info out there for a student who asked for a review of a college I had spent some time investigating. I trust the OP understands I’m not discouraging him from applying.</p>
<p>And I also agree with @Bamboolong on the point that there really isn’t a PERFECT school for me… I’ve seen a several of my personal acquaintances of different academic ranges and social backgrounds go to Calvin College, but I definitely want to put Calvin as safety (that is, if I can find more colleges to fill in my match schools)… Also, Bamboolong, can you help me find a UR page/forum in collegeconfidential? I’ve been trying to find the name on the list on the college forum, but can’t :(</p>
<p>@International95 @par72 My parents are thinking about women=college… and I have no idea how it feels like… I did read some articles and reviews, still not sure… And VASSAR college is a woman’s school?? Or did you mean that the school started out as a women’s college?</p>
<p>Okay the link doesn’t seem to work so Here’s one comment</p>
<p>In order to truly profit from all of</p>
<p>May 16 2014Business - Management and Administration
In order to truly profit from all of the opportunities the University of Richmond has to offer-- extracurricular, academic, and social–one has to be a very particular personality type. The school is very enclosed, small, and homogenous. This atmosphere is not conducive to intellectual or emotional growth. As a result, students become very closed off from the outside world, and days as well as nightlife experiences become repetitive and tedious. Also, this small, enclosed campus facilitates catty behavior and overall gossip. When I was there I referred to it as “my high school on steroids.” Underlying this impression is that greek life is HUGE. Do not let anyone tell you that it does not dominate the social life at UR. The student body is essentially split up into greeks and non greeks. After that, your identity and social life is determined by what sorority/ fraternity that you are in. In high school, your clique/ social status was implicit and unspoken. At UR, an identity-- in the form of three greek letters-- is imposed onto you whether you like it or not. The ranking among sororities and fraternities is evident and students take their superficial and meaningless rankings very seriously. For the most part, students are upper/middle class, conservative and from the tri-state area. There is little to no diversity. If you are a liberal, free-spirit, and/or creative thinker, this is NOT the school for you. The University’s only good program is business and in general, has a very pre-professional feel. I will say, however, that it is a nurturing environment and the professors and administration genuinely care about your well-being and want you to succeed. However, the administration treats their students like babies. The school is a glorified boarding school for rich kids NOT college. If you are thinking about coming here it is probably not what you think it is. Ensure that you are making the right choice.</p>
<p>Vassar started as a women’s college, isn’t any more. Mount Holyoke is one you might look at, has a very diverse community. Also a lovely campus, a strong academic focus, and is part of a 5 college consortium where you have a chance to take a few classes at the other colleges (Smith, Hampshire, Amherst, U Mass Amherst).</p>
<p>I have actually been twice – both of my daughters applied and were accepted. For various reasons both went other places, though. D1 went to Dickinson (which I have also recommended on this thread) because they gave her more merit money. D2 decided on a STEM focused college. But both really liked it when they visited.</p>
<p>There is a shuttle that runs between the campuses, they aren’t all right next to each other. Maybe a 15-20 minute ride? I think it is easy to cross- register, too. Students don’t usually take a ton of classes on the other campuses because of logistics timing, but a think a few over the course of four years is quite common. </p>
<p>The campus is one of those lovely wooded campuses with beautiful buildings. Dorm rooms are also pretty large, we thought. You mentioned an interest in Chemistry, and I think the science building is really nice (pretty new and interesting architecture). And my niece-in-law who went there (and loved it) is a teacher, which you also mentioned as a possibility.</p>
<p>And the phrase “They want to see some love” means that student interest is taken into account by a given school. Visit if possible (and sign in at admissions, you want them to know you visited). Get on the email list for the college (can do that at the admissions website, usually). If they have any presentations in your area, attend them. If you go to a college fair, stop by their table to chat and sign in. That kind of stuff.</p>
<p>I am assuming location is not a factor here, because if it does, then that changes the list.
Here are a few schools that matches your criteria, and most importantly are generous with their financial award letters, even to international students;</p>
<p>These 2 are above Harverford but worth giving it a try, you might get lucky: (Carlton and Claremont Mckenna).</p>
<p>Others to consider below Harvaerford and higher ranked than Gettysburgh are:
Hamilton
Vasser
Oberlin
Grinnell
Colgate
Macalester
Pitzer
Trinity (CT),
Trinity (TX), (more of a Top rank regional University, but small enough with excellent awards)
Lafayette
Colorado College (I course @a time, so be ware)
Franklin & Marshal
Kenyon
University of Richmond
Occidental
Whitman
Centre (Conservative but progressing)
Sewanee (Conservative but progressing)</p>
<p>Obviously there are other higher ranked ones that I excluded, but most are due to them not offering good financial awards to students in general.</p>
<p>In addition, the following is just about the same ranking as Gettysburg, but worth applying;
Berea (Best financial award in the WORLD if you are admitted).
Reed
Wofford
Rhodes
St. Olaf</p>
<p>You may not have considered the women’s colleges before but I think it is worth your research. At least look at Mount Holyoke. I know an international student got almost all expenses covered there but she also got into Harvard. Mount Holyoke was her second choice. Elaine Chao, a former Secretary of Labor graduated from Mount Holyoke.</p>
<p>@coco2018, schools like Pitzer and Centre are far from generous when it comes to international students. </p>
<p>And OP, are you seriously limiting yourself to colleges that are ranked between 10 and 50? You would miss out on many schools that could prove to be potential options, such as Sarah Lawrence, Hampshire, Bennington etc.</p>
<p>OP, Colgate needing some love: Colgate will want to see you demonstrate some interest: interview, visit, phone contact, etc. I doubt Colgate expects int’ls to visit, but you might suggest a Skype interview, and you’ll want to reach out to the admissions officers.</p>
<p>@intparent Seriously… Thanks for sharing! A question about your niece-in-law… Did she seem to also enjoy the social aspect of Richmond? I’m hearing and researching lots of college reviews, specifically about greek life. I know many of you guys have mentioned that only 27% are part of sorority, but my parents are extremely conservative, very Christiany and are concerned about sending their daughter who’s been brought up in 2 very third-world countries and South Korea, and has gone to Christian schools half of her life… Do you think there’s a way for me to convince them? Or is life at Richmond really like what some of the reviews say… I mentioned in this thread previously too, but I’m a VERY international student who will more likely succeed in a more diversity-accepting culture than a majority of the student body who are very “narrow-minded” as the reviews strongly suggest. (“You WILL become an alcoholic if you come here. Most people drive out to the football stadium, drink in the parking lot and go home to take a nap before they start drinking for the night.”) (" The school is a glorified boarding school for rich kids NOT college. If you are thinking about coming here it is probably not what you think it is. Ensure that you are making the right choice.") I know I shouldn’t be relying solely on these negative student-reviews and I also firmly believe that there are a truck load of awesome qualities that Richmond possess (that’s why I’m applying!) But these issues (greek life, lack of diversity…), especially to my parents, are sensitive ones. OR! Maybe I’m just too paranoid about another transition… A big one! Thanks a lot… Especially because I really don’t have anyone around me to help me with collegapps… :)</p>
<p>@ccco2018 Thanks a bunch! A question about Berea, if you know the answer to it! I vaguely remember Berea from the “colleges that offer most aid to international students”… Do you know why it’s relatively cheaper than others? Perhaps the quality of education? Also I’ve done some research on Berea previously, and do you guys perhaps know the difference between Education Major/Minor and Educational Studies?? Thanks!!</p>
<p>@Bamboolong Hii! Your continuous suggestion for Mount Holyoke really got me! Could you tell me what that international student majors/majored? (So that I can make a general assumption that Mount Holyoke is famous for the major that the student was trying to major in…? ) Thank you!!!</p>
<p>@International95 Nope, not at all… Just wanted to give myself a range. Sarah Lawrence you suggested? What… is it famous for? Thanks for closely looking over and eliminating the colleges that aren’t generous to intl students when it comes to scholarships/aid!!! :)</p>
<p>@jkeil911 Thanks for the clarification… never knew I could have a Skype Interview with the admission officers??? Is that interview in compensation for the interviews conducted in person? Or is it just about inquiries?? </p>
You mentioned an interest in Chemistry, and I think the science building is really nice (pretty new and interesting architecture). And my niece-in-law who went there (and loved it) is a teacher, which you also mentioned as a possibility.</p>