<p>I agree with Hubbell on Trinity U. My only negative is that it is not as generous with merit awards as some of the others in its basic grouping.</p>
<p>I second Whitman. While it has a great reputation on the West Coast, it is not well known other places but is considered a "hidden gem". The academics are outstanding, the students are very talented and extremely motivated, the faculty and administration and students form a very tight knit community, and the grounds are idyllic. Not only is there a large percentage of students who participate in varsity athletics, but almost all the students join in intramurals. Most students rule it out due to the remote location. However, Walla Walla is an up and coming art and wine area, has a beautifully renovated downtown near the campus, and has great access to all types of outdoors sports and activities. Once students visit, they are almost always taken with the school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
DS is trying to find a perfect amalgamation of characteristics...
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</p>
<p>You've gotten some great advice here. I just wanted to chime in that "perfect" is a word I've excised from my college-hunting vocab, as in most areas of life, alas!</p>
<p>not an expert on sports, but for all the other characteristics, Tufts fits the bill. Ranked by USNWR as "happiest students.' Big emphasis on community and world view or Tikun Olam (repair the world).</p>
<p>Thanks all - just back to the computer.
The word "perfect" was to indicate that my wonderful S, who I love dearly, is making me crazy with all of the amazingly random mind changes going on at the last minute as he works on finishing his apps.
We've analyzed & researched and now the nerves are setting in. His list - at the moment - Emory, Davidson, Whitman,Trinity, Willamette, Pacific Lutheran, Whitworth. That's 2 reaches, 2 matches, and 3 safeties. He had always planned to apply to either Dartmouth or Williams as well, but has become very nervous about seeming 'elitist' and also facing very small chances of admission. As of today he is also getting cold feet about the math 2 SAT scheduled for this Saturday and wants to skip it, saying Davidson only "recommends" not requires the score. True. But merit $$ may end up being a decisive factor in the end. He is likely able to play a sport at any of the above except Emory and Davidson -- therefore his sudden desire to find a place "like Davidson, but D3".</p>
<p>orjr-- our sons' schools overlap quite a bit....we visited Dartmouth, Williams, Trinity (I assume you mean in Conn), Emory, & Davidson out of those you have mentioned. One word on Davidson.......in the junior day session we attended last Feb, the dean of admissions spoke of SATs.....namely that they put as much or more wait on SAT 2's than SAT 1, even though they only "recommend" the SAT 2s. This little tidbit is not spelled out anywhere that I could find in their written admission materials, but I definitely heard it loud & clear. So, if your S doesn't already have 2 "good" SAT 2's under his belt, I think it would behoove him to go for the Math 2 SAT.</p>
<p>I believe I included the SAT 2 issue in my Davidson trip report:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visits/davidson-college/7142451.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visits/davidson-college/7142451.html</a></p>
<p>while I'm at it, here are my Emory & Trinity reports as well:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visits/emory-university/2543876.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visits/emory-university/2543876.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visits/trinity-college-connecticut/4672994.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visits/trinity-college-connecticut/4672994.html</a></p>
<p>ps....Emory is D3, is your son's sport not offerred there?
pps....additional application effort for both Dartmouth & Williams is pretty darned low...no addition essays beyond the Common Ap, peer review required by Dartmouth & optional for Williams......so it would be fairly easy to "lob one over the transom" for these 2 reach schools...nothing ventured nothing gained, & who knows what any of our kids will be thinking come this spring relative to the deer in the headlights syndrome that seems commonplace about this time in the application process.</p>
<p>Side note to Papa Chicken re: Davidson SAT IIs. D was scheduled for 3 SAT IIs in Nov, and bailed on the Math. She worked some sample tests and discovered that math in Germany is taught with a completely different emphasis, and she wasn't prepared at all. She took the German and Lit tests only. (German was probably superfluous, but only subject she felt prepared in.) Was mainly taking them for Davidson and Emory, her big reaches, so probably shot herself in the foot. But it was a danged if you do, danged if you don't situation. A poor score probably would have hurt her more. She got high scores on the two she took, and hopefully her Calc BC mid-year grades will show she's not an idiot in math. Davidson in particular asks for "math and one more." Oh well. It could just be that's not where she belongs.</p>
<p>And yes, to echo Papa Chicken, Emory is D3, which is why I thought of it right away when the OP posted. To us, the "college within the university" had very much a Davidson feel about it - although perhaps a bit more laid back.</p>
<p>Agree, with Blucroo: Tufts has got what you're looking for!</p>
<p>My son's a frosh at McDaniel. Loves everything about it. Beautiful campus, excellent professors, great academic and disability support, great ECs, great DIII, near Baltimore and DC, great intership and travel opps, a Loren Pope College That Changes Lives, very nice kids, very nice faculty and staff. They truly want everyone to succeed and they bend over backwards to help. For those so inclined there's a fine honors program and housing. They also have great first year seminars and quirky/very cool January term offerings. If you want more info, pls PM me or post and I'll respond.</p>
<p>Recently they removed specific GPA requirments tied to academic scholarships in order to encourage students to be risk takers...taking courses and subjects outside of their immediate strengths. All the scholarship recipients need to do is complete 75% of hrs attempted, be fulltime, and have a 2.0 avg GPA...very cool and liberating.</p>
<p>I would echo the suggestion of W&L. Small school, speaking tradition, individual attention, community service involvement, school spirit, D3 athletics, and excellent academics!</p>
<p>Robert E. Lee brought a slightly modified West Point Honor Code to Washington and Lee which has been in place ever since.</p>
<p><a href="http://www2.wlu.edu%5B/url%5D">http://www2.wlu.edu</a></p>
<p>One of the first times I've seen McDaniel mentioned on CC. My sister and nephew visited and loved it. Also sounds pretty generous with FA, which is key for them.</p>
<p>I can speak to Dickinson as an option, since S is in his first year there. I am impressed with the quality of the academics. Not sure about an honor code. There are lots of opportunities for community service. Their sports teams are D-III. I have been on campus 3 times since son left in August (dropping stuff off, Family weekend and pickup for break). All the kids that he has introduced to me so far have seemed very nice, and (of course I'm biased), S is one of the 'nice guys."</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great suggestions! DS just returned from adcom interview with Rhodes - the fellow talked to him for nearly two hours! I was amazed. S came home with a more positive feel for that school and what it has to offer, even though the location is a complete mystery to him.
Has decided - against GC and parental advice - to take World History SAT II tomorrow instead of math - having the same thoughts as an earlier poster, that a poor score in math would be worse than a high score in a different subject. He is in IB equiv. of calculus, so again, maybe mid-year grades will count for something - we hope:)
The end of apps is near, and the stress relief is going to be awesome!</p>