<p>I am having a hard time figuring out a winning combo of affordable and good fit for non-public schools in our region. Some kind parents threw some names to me that sounded great until I saw the price tags--major sticker shock! I am concerned about the effects of the market downturn on consistent financial aid which we would have to turn to since the long time invested education funds have taken a major header in the last 2 weeks.
We are trying to stay between 20-30K for the total package of tuition and board. </p>
<p>My son is a quiet type that takes a while to come out of his shell, so I am a little concerned about alienation at the large universities although we will apply to a few. He's not a partier or a jock or into cut-throat competition with peers. He tends to cling to home as a safety net, but I would like to see if there is an collegiate environment out there that can bring a kid like this out of his shell. (my major goal at this point). Any schools with a "home away from home" living environment? Scholastically, he's in the top 10% of his class, but he is just awful with SAT reading/writing tests--he hates them and it shows.</p>
<p>Any recommendations for schools in this category in the Mid-Atlantic--especially those with kids who <em>really want</em> to return every year?? (He claims he will maybe look at Ohio, NC and SC).</p>
<p>Since I don't know his scores, it's hard to recommend so these schools may be considered financial "safeties" since they're not in the same league academically as those others suggested.</p>
<p>PA- A reasonably priced private school in PA is York College. About 4500 students and under $25,000 I believe (R&B included). York offers merit $ also.</p>
<p>Although Penn State is expensive for OOS, I think the other PA state schools are reasonably priced for out of state students. A few that come to mind are West Chester University (hear the teaching program is good), Kutztown (hear the art program is good), Millersville University, Shippensburg. </p>
<p>SUNY schools would probably fall into your price category, so would NJ state schools but NJ probably a bit more costly.</p>
<p>MD- Towson, Salisbury college.</p>
<p>Richard Stockton College, the public liberal arts college of New Jersey. Near Atlantic City.
Hood College; very small LAC in Maryland.</p>
<p>It is pretty difficult to gauge the types of schools we should be suggesting without any test scores. Also, any idea what he plans to study? That may help as well.</p>
<p>LAC in maryland- Goucher</p>
<p>Consider Wilkes University in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Merit aid for good students very moderate SAT scores. St. Mary's College in Maryland is an absolute gem in a gorgeous waterfront location. It is the state of Maryland's Honors College and is a LAC. The book Colleges That Change Lives by recently deceased Loren Pope may be of significant help to you. Mary Washington in Virginia.
As other posters have noted, the info. shared in your original post is not enough to make suitable recommendations. SAT I scores & interests might help. But looking at St. Mary's College of Maryland & Wilkes University in Pa. will give you two very different options.
Franklin & Marshall College in Penna. & Dickinson also in Penna. are both SAT optional and close together. F&M is fraternity/preppy. Dickinson much less so with many artistic options.Neither is low cost, but a top 10% student may attract some merit money-although I am not sure.</p>
<p>Thanks. Sorry to be so sparse with information but he just took his first SAT last weekend and I don't know what the scores will be. I can guesstimate that he will do very well on the math component (700's) and poorly (someplace in the 500's max) on the other side -- verbal and writing. He has never had the same capacity for words or foriegn languages, I guess. He takes AP courses and is in the top 10% out of 450 seniors at his HS. No definite preferences but leans toward the Math/Sci (Bio or Physical) side and sci tech-- perhaps something multidisciplinary. Also he thought Design/Applied Arts sounded a little bit interesting--he has artistic talent but can't see making a regular career of it.</p>
<p>Another vote for St. Mary's College in Maryland-a public LAC. It's not Catholic-that's just the name of the town its located in.</p>
<p>Maybe take a look at Catawba. I haven't personally visited but an associate is an alum and speaks very highly of his time there. I think is in Salisbury NC - not too far from Charlotte.</p>