Hi! I am a senior applying to colleges but still am not super happy with my list. I was hoping for a little help finding colleges that might be a good fit.
I wanted to apply ED to Middlebury but sadly could not afford to.
-I am an avid skier and am looking for a school near a good ski area or with a student population that is into skiing
-similarly, I am am definitely looking for an “outdoorsy” school as I am also super into hiking
I want a school that definitely has a party scene as that is something I want as part of my college experience but am super hesitant about greek life
-School Spirit, especially with football or another sport would be great as that is something I have enjoyed in high school
-looking for: collaborative, rigorous environment, small class sizes, discussion based classes
-intending to take a humanities route but I want a mix between a love for learning and preprofessional programs (I really want to go corporate after college and go to a good grad school)
-I’ve looked at a lot of NESCACs which I love but they are all super selective and don’t give good fin aid, finances are definitely a consideration for me.
-I am pretty left leaning myself and into politics so I need a school that has a student body that aligns with that
-I am going test optional for most schools and have decent ecs/good class rank/gpa
Any help would be greatly appreciated because it is the first of nov and I am still feeling sooo lost. Thank you!
I was thinking UVM as well. Skiing, partying, great town. No football, but lots of love for the basketball and hockey teams. You can make a big school seem smaller and more rigorous with an honors program. They give good merit to high stat kids.
UVM would seem to be an obvious choice, they have the honors college and the liberal arts scholar program which might be appealing. UC Boulder is another that attracts students like you, although it is bigger than UVM. Colorado College might be worth looking into, but it will be as $$ as a NESCAC, but you should run some numbers and see what kind of aid you would get at the smaller schools. There are other liberal arts schools with a similar vibe (Kenyon, Denison come to mind) that might offer merit aid but I can’t think of one near skiing.
In addition to UVM, check out the honors college at U of Utah. The only box you listed that UofU doesn’t strongly check is liberal politics, and even in that area it would likely surprise you, especially within the Honors cohort where students are participating in year-long Praxis Labs about a variety of challenging societal issues. Salt Lake City has undertaken some surprisingly progressive initiatives - it’s actually not a bad place to participate in non-echo-chamber discourse where progressive views are well-represented. You could not do better vis-a-vis skiing and hiking, school spirit around sports, and a party scene that isn’t overwhelmingly Greek. And it’s extremely affordable, with generous merit for high-stat students and the option to switch to Utah residency after the first year. Check out the Honors website https://www.honors.utah.edu/
Thank you so much! I am definitely applying to UVM. I have toured twice and I have really liked it. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard the best things about the admin and availability of classes. I know quite a few people that go there that definitely have valid issues regarding academics. Either way, it is a great option for me to have. I have also heard it is extremely hard to get into the honors college there. I live nearby to Skidmore and have decided that although it is a great school it is just not quite what I am looking for. I am open to other coasts and have looked into schools in Colorado but not California. Again, I really appreciate your suggestions!
This is a great option, thank you! I have family that I am very close with that live just outside SLC and they really love the area. I will definitely be checking out their honors college website. It seems like it could really check alot of my boxes. My only concern would be the change from growing up in NY to UT!
I am already planning applying to UVM, Denison, and Kenyon although I can’t say I am super excited about Ohio just because I am definitely someone that utilizes mountains frequently. The two Ohio schools do check boxes for me in terms of academics and in terms of finances. I love UVM but have heard it is extremely difficult to get into the honors college, especially for out of state kids like me. I think UC Boulder fits my vibe as a person but I fear it may not be the best academic fit. I also really love Colorado College but I am unsure if block scheduling would be best for me. I think they have merit aid but it is very limited. Thank you so much for this considerate comment, I really appreciate your suggestions!
I am applying to Colby and Bowdoin (both which I visited and loved) but they are certainly reach schools/dreams. I am also looking into colorado college but I am not sure if block scheduling is something that I want! Thank you so much for your comment!
Not sure I get the Ohio schools for reasons you mentioned. Montana State for out of the box. Any upstate SUNY ? U Maine ? Not near as cold but W Carolina ? I know none are LACs but they are smaller.
1 hour north of Denison is a little ski mountain called Snow Trails. Very small, but still super fun. They do a great job with their snow making and grooming. And there is excellent hiking in OH.
Agree St. Lawrence sounds like a wonderful option – does give merit awards, amazing outdoor culture (including a semester in the Adirondacks), plenty of social life, has greek life but not dominant, is D3 for sports except is D1 hockey with big rivalries. Has a semester in NY as well, for Econ majors, as I recall.
If you’re going to look at UC Boulder definitely take a look at Colorado State as well if you are looking for a comprehensive honors program. The honors program is really pushing it the top of DS list.