<p>I’m a little surprised about your daughter considering both Muhlenberg and Bucknell on the same level. One (Bucknell) is much stronger academically than the other. Of course I understand that when looking for merit aid, one needs to cast a very wide net and I would recommend applying to maybe 5 more colleges than the norm.<br>
Academically I would say your daughter should look at Hamilton, Colgate, Middlebury, Weslyan, Vassar, Haverford, Bates, Bowdoin, Bryn Marr. Lehigh, Lafayette, Muhlenberg, Trinity Connecticut College, Colby would most likely give better merit moneys. In some of theses schools Greek life is nonexistent and in some it’s active. In any college anyone should be able to find like minded people, so I wouldn’t get too stuck on that issue.</p>
<p>Some ideas re schools in her score range with good pre-med in nice college towns: Ohio–Ohio Wesleyan (good shot at merit money as her credentials higher than typical student; very solid curriculum in sciences; close to Columbus and in decent college town). PA–Muhlenbrug (this seems like her favorite based on the post even if she does not like the town). NY–Colgate (meets all criteria; a bit of a reach for her, but not out of the question). NE–Mt. Holyoke (meets all criteria if she would not mind all girls).</p>
<p>To the OP: People are giving you a lot of wide-ranging advice, which hopefully you’ll find useful. I would strongly encourage you to have your daughter do an overnight at a few of her top choices so she can really get a sense for the culture of each school. Fit seems extremely important to her, as it should be. She might be able to sit in on a class or two and go to a party or other evening activity with her host. Even hearing the kids talk in the dining hall can be enlightening. </p>
<p>I would also recommend keeping her list to a manageable number of schools (maybe 6-8 altogether, with the majority in the “match” group) just to keep yourselves from going crazy. Even if application fees are waived online, and the Common App makes some aspects of applying easy, each school will still likely have a supplement (some requiring their own essay) and you have to send all the scores, transcripts, and so on (and keep track of it all!). After having gone through this last year, and being persuaded to allow our son to apply to too many schools (his dad kept adding them up to the application deadlines), I can tell you that it’s possible to become overwhelmed if you don’t have a strategy and stick to it. Fortunately, we did as many as we could early action (non-binding) so we were actually able to enjoy the holiday break, unlike some of our friends’ families. But still–it was pretty stressful at times.</p>
<p>Another thing for her to consider, if she finds a school she loves that maybe doesn’t have a strong choir program, look at what is available in the community. She may find a good outlet there. We have a friend who’s son is in college and on a lark tried out for a local Opera and was given the second male lead. He has always been interested in Opera but figured he didn’t have a chance to make the cast in this production. He just tried out for his 3rd production with the same company having been given some pretty impressive parts in the first 2.</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr/Haverford - they’re very connected, so she could go to either and get the same courses.</p>
<p>Connecticut College might be a good fit too.</p>
<p>I would actually second the opinion expressed above about not getting too hung up on the Greek life issue. My D1 attended Dickinson, which has a Greek component. She did not rush (like your D, she considered the very existance of it to be a negative in the college search), and had a vibrant and fun social life without participating in the Greek system. Her boyfriend did join a service fraternity, but they did not have housing, and it really was what it claimed to be – a service organization, not an excuse for a party. There are some colleges where it is a dominant force on campus, but </p>
<p>Also… you mentioned that you may take her to see Smith. Mt. Holyoke has been mentioned several times. They are physically very close, so be sure to see both while you are in the neighborhood.</p>
<p>St Olaf’s town is pretty dismal although it is very close to the vibrancy of Minneapolis/St Paul. Has she considered Hamilton? Small LAC, but generous in aid in not as competitive as some other NESCAC schools.</p>
<p>And I will third the opinion about greek life. There are some organizational benefits to fraternities and sororities, even if you don’t belong to them. My D’s school is 25% greek and she knew from the get go she wasnt the greek type, but she loved the school and besides, groups of kids manifest itself at every school. S’s has no fraternities etc, but then the soccer team, or football team become a kind of fraternity regardless.</p>
<p>^ I wouldn’t characterize Northfield, MN as “dismal”. Depends on what you’re looking for, I guess. When I lived there years ago it was a real rural farm-country town (not as yuppified as, say, Northampton, MA.) Not exciting, but not dreary or depressed either. It has two good colleges and is within an hour or so by car of the Twin Cities.</p>
<p>tk21769–Northfield is pretty Yuppidied now :D. There is a very vibrant downtown area as well. It looks a lot like Carsyle, PA (Dickinson), just smaller.</p>
<p>Well… everyone can have an opinion, this is certain. One person’s tired is another person’s quaint. But the point seems relatively moot since OP is looking NE. And I do hope there is one thing we can agree on: Northfield MN is not the NE. :)</p>
<p>modadunn,</p>
<p>Quaint is the word I would use for both Carlisle and Northfield.</p>
<p>I encourage her to think about why she doesn’t like Greek Life. Does she think it will mean all partying? Be expensive? Too clique?</p>
<p>Suggestions:</p>
<p>Ursinus meets all your criteria, except it has a good bit of “local” Greek life. Without the National greek life, fees are minimal. Many events are “open” to the campus. The Net Price Calculators are only a year old. We are using them to narrow the college list, but IMPO, Ursinus NPC shows lower merit than what is actually given.</p>
<p>I 2nd Connecticut College had the most vibrant music life across the board of all the schools we researched.</p>
<p>Colleges That Change Lives book is worth a read for Ohio Wes, Juniata and Ursinus. The “new” book just came out, but you should be able to find the second edition at your local library. It gives a more in-depth view then the large college guide books.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned Moravian in Bethlehem PA - If money is an issue, I discourage Moravian. Even being in the top 10% there doesn’t come with a much merit as she could get elsewhere.</p>
<p>Has Kenyon been mentioned yet?<br>
It’s in the target region (Ohio). It seems to be in the OP’s sweet spot for selectivity. It is often cited as one of America’s most beautiful college campuses. It does have Greek activity. Academically, it’s most noted for its strong English department, so I don’t know how it compares in the sciences to other LACs. It has a jazz a capella goup called “Take Five”.</p>
<p>If you check out the OP, the daughter is on-board with having frats and sororities but
Sounds like she’s given that a little thought already.</p>
<p>howaboutthat, I may have missed it, but is your daughter a Junior or a Senior?</p>
<p>She is a senior. Apps, essays, supplements and tests are done, and she has a solid list of 8 schools – she’s visited all of them once. One is big state U as a safety, and she has one that is on the low end of reachy - I think she might have a shot. Lately, we’ve noticed that she’s losing interest in one compared to the rest. </p>
<p>We don’t want to open pandora’s box, as we think she’s been smart about the process and don’t want her to second guess her choices. I think it is reality that most colleges involve some level of compromise. But since she has so much time to spare, she liked the idea of investigating whether there might be a ‘reeses pb cup’ school that she just didn’t know about that could replace the one that’s farthest down her list of preference. :)</p>
<p>Right across the street from Vassar is a little section of Poughkeepsie, called Arlington with several restaurants and shops. No Greek life at Vassar and lots of music and an excellent choir - non- music majors are welcome. Easy to double major. Vassar is building a new science building. Take one more look at Vassar - gorgeous campus with a lake! Disclaimer : we were there for freshman parents weekend today - what a nice day!</p>
<p>At some point with each of my kids we decided to visit one or two colleges after acceptance and financial offers. It took some pressure off to find the time to visit in this fall window of time. I found the accepted students events very helpful in the Spring and my kids felt a lot more invested since they KNEW that they could really attend that school.</p>
<p>You’ve gotten lot’s of great suggestions howaboutthat. I hope there are a couple that will work for your daughter!</p>
<p>Thanks, kathiep! Yes, I agree - so many great suggestions! </p>
<p>Thanks, all!</p>
<p>Sounds like the OP has gotten what she wanted from this threat (great!). Just a comment on post #54, no one could say Kenyon is within walking distance of a nice town. Don’t get me wrong, my D2 is enchanted by Kenyon – but it is in the sticks. Nice sticks with its own little coffee house, etc. But still…</p>