Looking for "hip, cool" colleges pop. of 6,000-2,000'ish, PA, DE, DC, MD, VA, OH

My daughter probably has stats to get into highly selective schools like Vassar and Tufts, but she needs more “good bet” and “low reach” choices. During Feb break we are visiting Swarthmore and Haverford, but not sure where else she should really visit. She is interested in smaller classes, maybe quirky, not too big, not too sporty schools. The less Greek life and religion, the better.
Her dream college would be Brown. What colleges should she visit that might come close to the description above, in the states listed?

In OH - Kenyon, Denison (maybe too sporty? but my non-sporty D really liked when we visited - ended up elsewhere but this was her safety that she almost attended due to really liking the school and fantastic merit aid), College of Wooster, Oberlin (probably most quirky and liberal of these OH colleges)

Will you consider NY and someplace like Skidmore (upstate in Saratoga Springs) or Sarah Lawrence or Bard (closer to NYC)? Hamilton (near Utica, NY) also has open curriculum like Brown but may seem too remote…

Are you going to visit Bryn Mawr when you see Swarthmore and/or Haverford or is she completely opposed to Women’s Colleges? Seems like a good alternative and slightly less selective than Swat or Haverford.

Also in PA - Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson but we haven’t visited these…

My Brown student didn’t target that kind of school in particular so her choices aren’t likely relevant to share. But I’d think Sarah Lawrence, Hampshire, Oberlin, Wesleyan, maybe Smith?, Hamilton, Bates, Some of these are still difficult and I’m sure there are a lot more and really searching for more sure bets could yield some hidden gems.

I neglected to mention that we live in NY and will do most of the colleges mentioned upstate on a different trip. We have already been to all the Boston area schools she is interested in. Schools off the list, for various reasons, are any all women’s, Wesleyan, Connecticut College, Boston college, and Brandeis. She definitly doesn’t like Boston University, and Northeastern, while quite cool, is probably just too big and urban. We have a college friend there in the Honors program, so that aspect was somewhat appealing. Sarah Lawrence is 30 minutes from home, and too female, so she crossed it off. Anywa, we will def visit Skidmore and Hamilton, though Bard is apparently just too “hippy” in her opinion.

@momofzag‌ , good suggestions, and on her radar.

Would she go farther west to Minnesota – either to Macalester or Carleton? Macalster especially sounds like it might fit the vibe and Minneapolis is supposed to be a fantastic city. I really wanted my D to apply (since there are so few LACs really in/accessible to major cities) but she got burned out with applications and didn’t finish the app.

FYI - you could probably do all 4 of those Ohio colleges in 2 days. Kenyon and Denison are less than 30 minutes apart and quite near Columbus. And Wooster is 1 hour south of Cleveland while Oberlin is about an hour west.

Both of,those are also on the radar, and she is probably going to apply to Carleton for sure. Interesting you mention those. She has axed anything further west, as no schools except Lewis and Clark appeal. The Claremont consortium is great of course, but she doesn’t need more reach schools, and she isn’t a fan of CA, having been there to visit family dozens of times.

Well if you visit Carleton, certainly don’t skip Macalester (and I have also heard good things about St. Olaf also in Northfield but there is a religious affiliation with that school).

We ended up choosing an east coast trip (saw Conn College, Williams, Middlebury and Wesleyan on that trip) vs. going to MN. Even though D ended up applying to all 4 of those, I wish we had gone to MN instead. Of those 4 colleges, she was only accepted to Conn College (which was a pretty safe school for her and it didn’t end up among her top choices after acceptances came in).

@momofzag, I really liked Wesleyan, but for whatever intangible reason, she didn’t. It isn’t me who is going, so I respect that. i think Mac sounds great, and I want her to investigate it further, be she is worried that is female-heavy. She is a shy quiet type, and really wants a balanced population, as she thinks she will not do well if there are too many women. Mac has a rwtio of 60-40, if I recall. But it shouldn’t be a big deal in a city.

@momofzag, if you don’t mind, where did your D end up? She sounds as though her college list might be similar to my daughter.

Another vote for making sure she checks out Mac & Carleton.

She ended up at Bucknell. I will PM you with more specific info.

@lindagaf, I know you mentioned your D doesn’t want to go west of MN but I do suggest you have her consider both Colorado College and Whitman College (Wall Walla, WA). They are too good to ignore in this process and could be an excellent fit for a student with high stats interested in small class size with amazing professors. Those two schools seem to fit the social scene she seeks as well.

@lr4550‌ , thank you, I will have her check out Whitman. I have run across the name before. Colorado college also. Has anyone got an opinion one Goucher, Hood, or McDaniel in MD?

My first thought was Skidmore which you already have on your list. Although it is Jesuit, she may want to look at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus which has smaller classes and an arty vibe. Goucher might be good as a true safety.

^^Not sure about Hood or McDaniel but Goucher is a solid consideration (true safety as mentioned above) especially if she is interested in a diverse student body. Also, have you heard of Washington College on the Eastern Shore of MD? Excellent LAC, strong writing program, another true safety.

Do you have any financia restrictions? What is her potential major?

@shawnspencer‌, fianacial situation is fine, and she is clueless as to a major, but definitely not STEM, sorry to say. Hence the leanings towards LACs and LAC type universities. I think we will have to see Goucher, despite it being heavily female. It comes up consistently. Will also check out Washington. What about GW, in DC? I know it is big, but seems like it might be worth checking out.

As far as I have heard GW is very urban with no defined campus. So for someone not wanting the city, she may not like…

What about Rhodes in Memphis? Sounds like that would be match/low match/safe for her.

Another recommendation here for Goucher and Washington college in Maryland. Goucher has higher female ratio, but hits all the other buttons for your D. Washington College is in a more rural area, but the town of Chestertown has plenty to offer with movies, a few restaurants and a decent grocery store.