Looking for small liberal arts college recommendations

College Search & Selection
1

I am a junior looking into colleges for next year.

Stats:
3.7UW/4.6W GPA
IB program junior year (dropped out this semester), currently mostly AP classes, had pre-ib/honors classes freshman and sophomore year
Intended major: Computer Science
34 ACT Superscored (all the schools I’m looking at superscore the ACT)

I have determined the following characteristics are important to me:
Small size
Friendly atmosphere/community feeling
Involved teachers
Some free time
Dining options to meet my very specific dietary needs (paleo)
Limited greek life
Not overtly liberal, or social and political activism (Wesleyan)
Rural, limited city life (due to not being able to afford going out)
Location: New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Not South, Not west. Only as far west as Ohio.
But I am willing to keep an open mind

Here is a list of schools I am currently interested in:
Colby
Bates
Bowdoin
Hamilton
Middlebury
Franklin and Marshall
Connecticut College
Babson
Dickinson
Gettysburg
Lafayette
Union
Bucknell
St. Lawrence
University of Rochester
Johns Hopkins
St. Lawrence
Kenyon
University of Vermont
My favorites out of this list are Colby, Hamilton, Bates and Bowdoin

Schools that I have looked into and that I am not interested in:
Wesleyan
Muhlenberg
Washington and Lee
Rhodes
Tech schools like RPI, WPI, Carnegie Mellon
Alternative schools like Reed, Hampshire, etc

I am looking to play D3 athletics and use my athletic ability to leverage my academics to schools that I think I normally would not be admitted to.
I took a look at schools like Haverford, Swarthmore, Williams, Amherst, but am not interested. Nor am I in the Ivies or the top tier schools (and I don’t think I am academically good enough either). I don’t want to be at a college that is too intellectual or that is academically and socially cutthroat (like Cornell). I do not mind academic competitiveness though.
I am not looking at schools that are tech schools (WPI, RPI, others). Lafayette, Union, and Bucknell on my list are schools that offer “engineering” but I want to go to a school that is well balanced.
I will need A LOT of financial aid, my parents do not make much. Not sure how it effects the list as many of the schools are need-aware, but I am hoping being a recruited athlete would also help. Really don’t know on this part.

Here are some schools I had the chance to visit:
MIT: hated it
Tufts: disliked
Skidmore: disliked
Union: really liked it
Babson: liked
Dartmouth: liked
Brandeis: liked (but no longer interested)

I think I have given some pretty good info. I am not sure if this is an exhaustive list, but I have put a lot of effort into it, and I’m not sure how many other schools are out there. I’d be happy to answer anything else that would be helpful into getting the best recommendations. And I am willing to be open, I realize that this list has some very specific criteria.

2

Might be worth noting what you did and did not like about certain schools so folks could get more info on what you consider a good fit.

3

“I am hoping being a recruited athlete”

This is where you need to start. Talk to your coach about your chances of being recruited. Make it clear, that money IS an issue and that you’re looking for schools that will let you play AND will offer financial aid.

“I will need A LOT of financial aid, my parents do not make much. Not sure how it effects the list as many of the schools are need-aware”

A lot of the schools you list tend to be liberal (and these days what campus ISN’T activist) and not known for great aid. You may have to expand your search to include larger schools farther away from the North East.

4

Older thread on upper level CS offerings at smaller schools. Check college web sites for updated information, and to compare offerings at non-listed schools.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19190340/#Comment_19190340

5

@frankzane I don’t know about the CS programs for these, but College of Wooster and Denison (both in Ohio) might be worth checking out. Denison has a sporty student vibe, beautiful campus, charming small town nearby and offers merit scholarships up to full tuition. About 30-40 minutes from Columbus.

College of Wooster offers merit up to 30K (half COA). Its athletic center is impressive. The campus is attractive. It is located in a medium-sized midwestern town, a mile or two from the downtown/Main St. area. Closest cities are Akron and Cleveland.

Students at both are said to be friendly, down to earth, not pretentious.

6

https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=professors-get-high-marks

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching

7

@doschicos
MIT: The students I encountered were very intellectual, intense and somewhat smug. I didn’t like the city location.
Tufts: The students I met here were very eccentric and quirky and I felt I couldn’t relate that well. Also, it was like -7 degrees when I toured in '15, not sure if that has anything to do with my opinion
Skidmore: I just thought the campus was really ugly.
Union: beautiful campus, I have family members that attended and really liked it. I feel like it’s a good balance between engineering and liberal arts. I liked the students I met. Not too excited about the big drinking culture.
Babson: I really liked the type of students I met. They were impressive individuals and I hope to be as well rounded and polished as them. The entire business thing they have going on was interesting, but I’m not sure I want to be that business-focused.
Dartmouth: Amazing food. Nice campus. Obviously very good academically with down to earth students
Brandeis: Also felt the students were down to earth here. Had family that have gone. But no longer interested, can’t really pinpoint as to exactly why, just a general feeling.
Yale: Didn’t see much of the actual campus but New Haven was a craphole.
University of Miami: Have family that went here. Too much partying and life revolving around city life.
Those are just my general thoughts about those schools. I didn’t really know what I should be answering about each one, if there were more specific questions I could answer in order to be helpful I’d be able to do that.

@katliamom
I attended an ID camp at Yale for soccer. They said I am talented enough to play for any of the NESCAC schools or lower level D1. A former Wesleyan player and a current coach told me I would be a 4 year starter at Wesleyan and some of the NESCAC schools.

My sister goes to Smith College and received nearly $50K in financial aid. I thought it was possible to get a package similar but I won’t know considering there are several factors in play.

I am willing to consider larger schools and schools farther away from the North East, any suggestions? But I am willing to take out loans.

8

If you need a lot of financial aid, run the net price calculator on each school’s web site to get an estimate, rather than applying blindly.

9

Have you looked at the University of Richmond? They are very generous with merit and financial aid. They are need-blind for freshmen. It’s bigger than Washington and Lee, but I have a friend majoring in CS here and he loves it. No D3 athletics though.

10

Have you considered Richmond. I know that it’s a bit south, but I think it fits with the ones you suggested, and it should give very good financial aid (I was very financially needy, and will be attending for around a $5.5K contribution that will rise to 6.5 in sophomore year and 7.5 in junior year). Plus, it’s small, is supposed to have a really good comp sci program, has limited greek life, and is in a suburban setting. Wake Forest might be viable as well, but I haven’t looked into it as much. Still, I hear that its comparable.

Some on your list that I would go against: Connecticut College, St. Lawrence, University of Vermont (unless it’s your safety, in which case go for it), Gettysurg College. Run the NPC’s on them, but I don’t think they give as much aid as the other ones and I think your other choices are better.

Best of luck, and hope for the best on all of your college application adventures.

EDIT: LOL. @rvalover7 got to it before I did. Oh well, now you got two people recommending it.

11

“I took a look at schools like Haverford, Swarthmore, Williams, Amherst, but am not interested”
Why did you rule these out? Is the perception they are too intellectual?

12

Agreed with @MON824. While it is in the South, Richmond is a nice city and the campus itself is in a nice suburban area. You are about 15 minutes from downtown and about 2 hours from Washington, DC. Greek life is bigger for women than it is men, but it’s still only about 40% I think? Look at Wake Forest too and Elon.

13

@MON824 The more the merrier! Spiders stick together! :smiley:

14

@ucbalumnus
Thank you for the link. A lot of information to sort through, it’ll be good to learn about what I need in order to be prepared for the job market. I have never written any code, but know I want to be involved in a technology career. I will take a look at the Net Price Calculator, this is the first time I’ve heard about this stuff, definitely will look into it and report back.

@mamaedefamilia
Read their Fiske profiles. Added to the list. I will go into further detail.

@rvalover7 @MON824
First time hearing about Richmond. Read the Fiske profile and liked it. Added to the list.
Not really interested in Wake Forest and Elon looks decent. Will do more research on all three.

And @MON824
The other choices are better in terms of fit? And yeah, UVM is a safety.

@doschicos
Yes, that was why I ruled them out. Actually, it was mainly my grandmother’s opinion who had visited various schools with her kids. But their Fiske profiles seemed to confirm that. Is that not the case?

15

@frankzane Since you are interested, feel free to PM me with any questions. I’m transferring there in the Fall, but I’ve practically grown up on that campus. Dad, brothers, etc. attended there. You are guaranteed $4000 to do summer research or study abroad, which is a pretty amazing opportunity. No TAs and professors are very accessible.

16

Well, kids are smart and take their studies seriously. Swarthmore has a rep for being a little intense but the other 3 wouldn’t be more that way than Dartmouth, IMO. I don’t want to discount your grandmother’s opinion but if she hasn’t visited in lately, her opinions might be dated.

17

@rvalover7
That does sound really awesome. I will definitely PM you if I have any questions.

@doschicos
Now that I think about it, my uncle graduated in 2007 so he must’ve toured 2002ish. Has it changed since then? Also, a lot of my opinions on schools stem from my grandmother’s opinions. I would definitely be open to other schools as well as changing schools already on my list if her views are distorted.

18

I would say look at schools which have solid CS and go from there to find the best fit. CS is a popular/strong major at Haverford, for example, so might be worth a closer look. If you find yourself in PA visiting F&M, Lafayette, Bucknell, it might be worthwhile setting aside time to stop by Haverford and even Swarthmore to get a first hand impression. If your visits take you to a few hours of Williams and Amherst, ditto. I did feel that Fiske did a pretty good job at capturing the spirit of the LACs from my experience/viewpoint.

19

With needing a lot of financial aid, it’s very important to run the NPC’s as mentioned earlier. I would sit down with your parents and run through several schools. The aid and net costs can vary greatly. Some schools will give merit aid, others won’t. This could help give you a list of affordable schools and steer you in a direction for tours as well.

20

@frankzane

“I attended an ID camp at Yale for soccer. They said I am talented enough to play for any of the NESCAC schools or lower level D1. A former Wesleyan player and a current coach told me I would be a 4 year starter at Wesleyan and some of the NESCAC schools.”

Do you understand how recruiting works? If not, you NEED TO SPEAK TO YOUR COACH. Looking for colleges as someone who wants to be a recruited athlete is more complicated, and should be done with advice from someone familiar with the process. Us suggesting schools here may be totally useless if these schools don’t have the sport you want, or the coach has no idea you exist, or the school won’t give you enough FA to attend.