Looking for school ideas for my daughter: I think we’re looking for the impossible combination. From urban MN, 3.99 UW gpa, 35 ACT (36 on all but math 33), undecided major because she likes many things but thinking physics or chemistry, but wants ability to double or minor in studio art (painting) and/or creative writing or take classes that interest her – likes to learn for learning sake. Likes discussion vs lecture learning and the professor connection, but open on school size. Collaboration not competitive. Location-anywhere but South. City or near nature (ski racer, outdoor enthusiast) but not in the middle of nowhere with nothing around but campus – especially if small school. e.g., liked Grinnell but can’t see herself there with <2000 students and nothing to do but campus activities. Loves Brown vibe and open curriculum. Problem is NPC says we get no $$ but we can’t afford if she can even get in. Where can she go where she’ll be challenged, with bright, engaged students where she’d qualify for merit scholarship? Thanks for your thoughts.
Forgot to add: many AP classes across all subjects; no interest in Greek life; more artsy, geeky and athletic.
My D was a lot like yours (even from MN, Physics & studio art areas of high interest), although mine had slightly higher test scores in math. She went to Harvey Mudd — but I could afford her EFC there. Schools where she got in with merit were Lawrence (strong in physics, quite a lot of merit), Mount Holyoke (also hefty merit), Kenyon (but it got on her list before she really decided on Physics, and isn’t the best fit for that), and Macalaster. She also got into Carleton, Swarthmore, and UChicago — but they don’t give merit to speak of - okay, she got $5K of merit at Chicago, but that isn’t much considering the COA. Maybe consider Case Western? Or UWisconsin-Madison - you have reciprocity there, so would pay in-state tuition.
If she’s open to women’s colleges, yes, Mt. Holyoke seems like it might be a good fit, as well as Wellesley. If she’s open to Catholic schools, maybe Holy Cross. Dickinson, URochester (open curriculum), RIT (great mix of science and art) are other possibilities
I’d look into U Rochester, Vassar, Bryn Mawr gives great merit aid but their studio art classes are down the road at Haverford. Smith gives some merit and they have an open curriculum where she could even double major easily. IDK how much merit they give but Tufts might be a good fit.
You really need to provide more information in order to receive appropriate suggestions. How much of a gap between your expected contribution and what you can afford? What is your max budget? Suggestions where she can receive $30k max merit with a total COA of $70k+ and a max budget of $25k are equally not going to be viable options.
There are several schools that offer that $25-30k level of merit if that bridges the gap into affordability for your family. The above posters’ suggestions are examples. However, if you need to bring your costs down significantly, your Dd might have to accept that she can’t check off all of her want boxes.
If you are looking for somewhere that would keep the COA to a minimum (less than $20K with merit, potentially well below $10K with their top scholarship) then the University of Utah would tick many of these boxes (especially the skiing/outdoor activities and great campus adjacent to SLC).
There are many interesting small classes in the Honors College and plenty of flexibility to double major or even construct your own major. My D18 with similar stats is loving it there.
Mt. Holyoke, Smith and URochester all seem like suggestions your daughter would want to look into.
Thanks for input so far…re. cost. Would love to keep it at our state school cost which is about $25K total but could stretch up to $35-40K.
@klb6606 That is a $60k spread. If you are fine with that upper range, most of the schools being recommended would be good options.
In terms of being challenged, engaged, and around bright students (and assuming ultimately prepared for grad school since physics and chemistry are not typically UG-only pursuits), she could definitely get all of those at schools with much larger merit awards, but she would lose out on some of the other wants you listed.
As others have said, it could be worth trying U Rochester. They have some very good merit awards, but they’re competitive. Her stats are in the range. They love students that love to learn, “just because.” They even offer a Take 5 Program offering free tuition for a 5th year for those wanting to study something completely unrelated to their major “just because.” It’s competitive, but my son loved his extra year and being able to study about Western Influences on Success in Africa (or something like that) in addition to his double majors (Brain & Cognitive, Bio) and minors (Psych, American Sign Language). Their more open curriculum allowed him to totally pick classes he liked and easily double major. One of his African studies profs just invited him to a Nigerian Independence Day celebration at his house. The lad is now in his 2nd year of med school, but the connections he made are definitely lasting. He loved his time there.
Did you try NPCs at other schools beside Brown? Brown has really low need-based aid and especially harsh if you have a lot of Home Equity.
As mentioned a number of schools have merit in the 25-30K range (Smith, Rochester, etc) but harder to find higher than that. Mt Holyoke does have higher merit but have to assume it’s pretty competitive. Case Western has merit a nd in a city.
How about Carnegie Mellon as far as Sciences with Studio Art and in a city and kind of the opposite of all the LACs people are suggesting. The FA could be weird as they do preferred packaging so if they like you you’d get more FA.
@Mom2aphysicsgeek - I wasn’t clear. Up to 35 or 40K total – not on top of the $25.
All-women schools are out and trying to avoid Catholic schools (she’s coming from that and is done with that–looking for more open-mindedness and liberal viewpoints).
I appreciate the suggestions people have made. Some have been on the radar and didn’t bubble to the top but might have to revisit a few…
Your daughter would probably see good merit from St. Olaf
@KLB6606 No, I understood you correctly. It is a $60k differential between $100k ($25k for 4 yrs) and $160k ($40k for 4 yrs). I think in terms of total cost, not 1 yr, bc it requires long-term sustainability.
If you are full pay then a $40K-$45K (per year) budget starts to bring in a lot more options because quite a few LACs offer half tuition scholarships. The problem is that when you take into account travel, insurance, and inflation, its easy to end up with a four year cost closer to $200K than $160K.
A $25K p.a. budget may require a focus on full tuition scholarships (or choosing an in-state public), which means looking at less selective colleges or highly competitive scholarships.
You really ought to visit Mt Holyoke before she rejects it. Both my daughters were wary of it because it is a women’s college, but were quite smitten after visiting. There are quite a few posters out here with similar stories. It punches above its ranking academically, lovely campus, very down to earth atmosphere.
S19 sounds so similar to your D, both in stats and type of college. We are in NE state. He wants to study CS and cog sci. His list includes Carleton, Lehigh, Case Western, RIT, and Tufts. He also liked the idea of Utah but not the distance. U Rochester may go back on the list based on comments here.
Good luck with her search!