<p>My d is doing the search (she's a junior) and has discovered she loves big cities (NYC her favorite so far) but small schools (Mt. Holyoke her favorite so far). She said, "I need to find a pretty, small school in or near a great city!" She's a math/science kid but wants a LAC rather than an engineering school. Boards in the 2000 range, GPA 4.1 weighted (very rigorous/lots of accelerated/AP), pretty good extracurriculars (performing arts, singing a capella, ice dancing). She likes cold better than hot, would rather stay north of DC. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Possibilities:
Cooper Union, in New York
Carleton, not that far from Minneapolis and Saint Paul
Swarthmore, not that far from Philadephia</p>
<p>Tufts University, in Medford, Mass, just outside Boston</p>
<p>How about Barnard? It’s in NYC.
It’s not quite Ivy (and yet it is Ivy, with the resources of Columbia University at your disposal). It looks like a low reach for her stats.</p>
<p>Other possibilities: Wesleyan (more of a reach) or Bryn Mawr. Trinity College is not in the greatest location (Hartford) but has a pretty campus and an engineering program. If you’re willing to go west, check out Macalester, Colorado College, or Reed.</p>
<p>Cooper Union is in NYC and is tuition-free to all students, but is very selective. It’s an engineering (and fine arts) school, not a LAC. Swarthmore is an excellent LAC with a beautiful campus and an engineering program, but may be out-of-reach unless her scores go up. Bryn Mawr students can cross-register at Haverford and Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Barnard looks like a reach for her but she will try it. She’ll apply to NYU Gallatin as well (a good fit except the school is so large). Wesleyan isn’t close enough to a city for her. She might try Wellesley or Brandeis, too…</p>
<p>On the slightly less selective spectrum, Wheaten College in Ma. is easily accessible to Boston.</p>
<p>Haverford College
Tufts definitely!</p>
<p>holy cross</p>
<p>Fordham University in their Lincoln Center campus. Great school, has the best location in Manhattan out of all schools there, and since it’s not their main campus (though it is NOT a satellite campus), the undegrad is small. I have visited and I am attending next fall and it’s awesome.</p>
<p>EDIT: Fordham also has an extensive core curriculum with a lot of emphasis on Liberal Arts courses.</p>
<p>Not sure about their engineering but Sarah Lawrence is in a lovely area and is very accessible to midtown.</p>
<p>Perhaps Villanova, or Drexel.</p>
<p>Or Bryn Mar.</p>
<p>Boston College</p>
<p>Thanks, please keep 'em coming!</p>
<p>alittle south of DC- but how 'bout University of Richmond? Great LAC with excellent science offereings including a freshman course called Integrated Quantitative Science. Lots of kids from mid atlantic/northeast region.</p>
<p>EDIT #2: Fordham also has a 3-2 engineer program with Columbia. 3 years at Fordham, 2 at Columbia. Admission is guaranteed as long as you take the required courses.</p>
<p>Try Macalester College. It’s smack dab in-between St. Paul and Minneapolis. Great school, great location, it’s winning combination.</p>
<p>Smith is in Northampton, with lots to do, and only 2 hours from Boston when she wants to be there. With so many colleges nearby there is always something to do, plenty of classes to choose from, and Smith is a LAC with Engineering.</p>
<p>What about Rice in Houston? Not a LAC, but still relatively small and in an urban location.</p>
<p>Have to second a few people on here-- Tufts was the first school that came to mind when I saw the title of this thread. It’s like ~5k undergrads (I believe), right near Davis Sq (which is awesome) and Boston and very competitive but not quite an Ivy.</p>
<p>It seems your daughter’s looking at the same exact kinds of schools as I am! I’ve found the city thing to be a bit of a challenge-- I really want to be near one, but options seem to be limited. Barnard is a great suggestion. Perhaps BC (although it might be too big). UChicago could be an option. Maybe American? Definitely below the level of other suggested schools, but a nice option if you need merit aid.</p>
<p>Good luck with everything! :)</p>
<p>There are a lot of good suggestions on this thread. JHU might also work. About 5000 students, in Baltimore, but with a traditional campus of grassy quads. When you’re on campus it’s easy to forget you are in a city. The student mix is about 40% engineering and 60% liberal arts, so I’m not sure if that’s too engineering-heavy. It would be a reach for her unless her scores went up.</p>