Hi - DD is a junior, and we are trying to come up with a list of colleges to visit. Preferences: large uni 15K+, non-religious, with liberal, bohemian/granola feel. Bonus: quarter system, test optional, warm climate, WUE. Instate is WA. DD: vegetarian. Likely psych major. 3.9uw. 100% Dual Enrollment for 11th and 12th grades. Light ECs because she doesn’t like school clubs. 2 yrs varsity sports, some volunteering. Not interested in the super competitive rat race for college admissions…
So far:
U of Oregon ($$, cold and rainy, but good vibe)
Hawaii Manoa (semester, commuter, WUE)
UWa (cold and rainy, commuter feel)
Western Wa U
UCs (which ones?) ($$$, too competitive to get in)
Cal Poly (psych impacted major)
UArizona (warm, good merit for OOS)
ASU (too big party scene?)
I’m curious where you are from that you consider Portland OR and Seattle to be “cold”. I lived in CHicagoland for some 16 years before moving to a slightly warmer place in the Midwest, and I wouldn’t consider either to be “cold”…
In any case, while UVM is pretty cold, it’s also beautiful and pretty crunchy, UNC Greensboro is in a purple state, but it’s in a fairly progressive area. It’s not that large, though.
While they are mostly cold in the winter, most of the SUNYs are pretty progressive, as are most of the CUNYs.
Your list is pretty good as it is, especially as you say your child isn’t interested in the admissions rat race.
You have great instate choices. U of O and OSU in Oregon are good choices too, but neither is part of WUE. I live in the Northeast so I don’t view Oregon as cold, though I admit it’s rainy. UVM fits all you are asking for, except it’s genuinely cold in the winter and perhaps not as big as you want, but it’s over 10,000.
Is cold non-negotiable? If it isn’t, consider U of Montana in Missoula, which has a good contingent of crunchy granola outdoorsy types, and is also part of the WUE. It’s a very up and coming place. What about U of Utah? My friend’s two kids love it. Also part of WUE.
Given your description, no UC is worth the money, except UC Merced. UCMerced might be worth a look, as it is part of the WUE. My niece attended and had a good experience. Cal Poly doesn’t spring to mind as being bohemian and granola.
Oregon St is part of WUE but the WUE scholarship is competitive. They also have a little bit less selective Provost scholarship which can bring down the out of state cost.
Ok, good to know. They aren’t on the list for WUE, so it’s competitive, or, they will offer scholarships to the out of state students they most want. If the student doesn’t get a scholarship, they will pay full OOS tuition. In other words, there is no guarantee of WUE rates.
I will just add a plug for UNM’s very nice merit scholarships which make it one of the most affordable options for my S (we are OOS in CA) http://scholarship.unm.edu
They also have rolling admissions and a simple application process. An admission with merit is a great way for your D to start off her admissions season.
First of all, there are 3 Cal Poly’s: San Luis Obispo (SLO) and Pomona (CPP) are the best known. Cal Poly Pomona is part of the WUE while SLO is not.
Cal Poly Humboldt is the newest Cal Poly and it would be a great option as mentioned and could fit the vibe.
Psychology is impacted at both campuses (SLO and CPP) but CPP is a slightly easier admit and neither campus would be considered bohemian/granola type places.
I agree with @tsbna44 that for the UC’s, UCSC has the bohemian/granola vibe and could be an option if $67K/year is affordable.
Cal Poly Humboldt would fit the description of Bohemian/Granola vibe.
Sonoma state is more suburban and probably would not fit the description but worth a look. There are many campuses where this student can find like minded students although the overall “vibe” might be different.
Yes, I have another niece from So Cal who went to Humboldt and she is very bohemian and granola. In fact, she likes it there so much that she stayed in the area.
The most granola UC is UC Santa Cruz, and it is pretty darn granola! But maybe not worth OOS cost. The most granola CSU is Humboldt, and it also very granola, but the weather is similar to Oregon. But all that rain and fog is what makes those redwoods and ferns so gorgeous. Humboldt is part of WUE and I know many people who loved their time there, including my husband.
When people describe Oregon and Washington as “cold,” I think what they mean is that it’s rarely warm, even in summer.
Edited to add that UCSC is on the quarter system, while Cal Poly Humboldt is not.
I’m a junior. I have Sonoma State on my list over Cal Poly Humboldt because of housing, but they are building new dorms, so I might reevaluate next year depending on how that’s going. I also have Western Washington on my list. Take a look at Southern Oregon University. It’s a little smaller than what she is looking for but guaranteed WUE, quarter system, gorgeous dorms, and Ashland is relatively sunny.
I think “crunchy” at 10,000 students+ is a little harder to find - UCSC, Oregon, and UVM are the first to come to mind. There are a million crunchy LACs so she may want to expand her search to smaller schools. On the other hand at a large school she will find her people even if the overall vibe is not exactly what she wants.
Take a look at Southern Oregon University. It’s a little smaller than what she is looking for but guaranteed WUE, quarter system, gorgeous dorms, and Ashland is relatively sunny.