Interesting to learn of “Tufts Syndrome”. We’ll (quickly!) check into Wake Forest. William & Mary too! Thanks for the advice.
We’ve been to Brandeis, Cornell, and Washington & Lee. All were no-gos whether due to size (W&L too small and Cornell too big) or just didn’t feel like a “fit” (Brandeis). Georgetown and Northwestern are on the radar. He has applied to UChicago EA. Kinda wishing it had been ED now though…
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Yes, exactly what I meant. Thanks!
Because the acceptance rates at his top schools are very low. I get that a full ride is fantastic (believe me, I SO get it), but the kid has some serious political aspirations and those folks just don’t typically attend in-state Kentucky schools. The budget will cover it.
In terms of Mid-Sized reaches, WashU does come to mind. That is a mid-west school, although it does have a Northeast feel to it. But it is mid-sized…
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If you want an LAC in that narrow size range - your choices are very limited.
W&M
College of Charleston - a safety but check out the Fellows Program - it’s not - my daughter is in it and chose it over schools like W&L. It’s a public LAC - so it actually meets the requirement except it’s not in the NE but has a lot of NEasterners - it’s not a rigorous school per se although they have lots of opportunity for rigor - with my daughter currently in the DC semester, working at a well known think tank - right now. And it has the Mroz Institute - and brings in great speakers like Dennis Ross, amabassadors to the US or from the US and more. She’s had a wonderful experience in regards to access to mentors and more.
Quinnipiac
Ithaca
Elon
Rochester
Good luck
Charleston Fellows Program - College of Charleston (cofc.edu)
I think they mean a mid-sized research university offering a LAC curriculum – not necessarily a full-on “Liberal Arts College.”
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He really, really, really wants to go out of state and has had the east coast in his sights since he learned that there was such thing as “college”.
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I would suggest clarifying the LAC thing in future posts as it can get a bit confusing.
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Have you answered the budget question?
The size range is very narrow.
Would he go South?
U Miami would be a match for example.
You asked for matches and you are still talking high level names, etc.
Rochester attracts a lot of U Chicago type kids.
Rutgers doesn’t get a lot of love on CC but it has an exceptional poli sci department, and because NJ is so small and compact, the opportunities for cool jobs, internships and just plain vanilla volunteer work in the political arena are really abundant.
What didn’t he like about Brandeis? That will help sharpen our thinking.
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I think Brandeis specifically can be a pretty quick turnoff simply because they don’t have a very eye-pleasing campus or general facilities (dorms, food, etc) or a booming social scene. The academics are great but it’s definitely not a fit for a lot of kids, especially those who really prioritize general student life.
Not to jump to any conclusions, just inferring.
Also, I disagree with the Rutgers suggestion, simply based on the size of the school. OP said Cornell was too big for them – Rutgers has nearly twice the undergrad population.
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You might be able to switch his EA app to ED. Some schools allow and even encourage this. Call the admissions office and check if it is a possibility if you’re really wanting to ED there.
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You can, and if UChicago is high on the list, I would highly recommend it.
From the UChicago website –
"If you would like to switch from our non-binding EA or RD decision plans to a binding Early Decision option, please email collegeadmissions@uchicago.edu to let us know of your change in plans and download, complete, and submit an Early Decision agreement form by uploading it to the “Forms” section of your UChicago Account.
Please note that our deadline for decision plan change from Early Action to Early Decision I is December 1. Our deadline for deferred Early Action candidates or students who previously selected Regular Decision as their decision to change to Early Decision II is January 15."
I wouldn’t wait until December 1 as the earlier you change it, the better.
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Great options on here! My D24 has still-good but lower grades and ACT than your son and similar interests academically and geographically. Some of her reach schools would definitely be a match for your S24. My D got admitted with Presidential Scholarship to Loyola - your son would get at least that and would be a contender for the full ride Ignatian Scholarship. Also GWU for sure - solid match, high safety for you. AU is pretty much a safety for you but tbh we didn’t like it. Wake Forest is also a great idea and a match for you but they don’t give much merit per their website. Good luck!
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Extremely useful! I’ll talk to him about it when he gets home from school today. Thank you so much!
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Understood - but a 6,500-9K kids or even around the edges of that - really limits choices.
And of course some schools like Rochester have big grad programs - so they fit the undergradate range.
Just trying to come up with ideas to fit in that box - mostly safety although Rochester likely a match and the Charleston Fellows is a reasonable reach with a fantastic program and opportunities. I’m sure others do as well - but I know about that one.
Lehigh is another like Rochester.
The others - a Quinnipiac, Hofstra, Maine, Ithaca, etc. are safeties and the Syracuse/Pitts of the world too big.
W&M and WFU might be two others and U Miami.
LACs do plenty of research as do research universities.
Anyway, that’s a list of some in the sweet spot size wise.
Fairfield is a bit small - and is religious.
Millersville fits the size.
Salisbury as well.
But the student is eschewing a school like U Chicago and isn’t going to want these types of schools - short of Rochester and W&M and maybe WFU.
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OP - you still haven’t answered (that I’ve seen) - any budget constraints?
The OP has mentioned this vaguely. Assuming that while merit or scholarships would be nice, they are willing to pay the tuition.
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Also, although it is not in the northeast, I again suggest looking into WashU. It has a beautiful campus with a mid-sized population. The only problem is it is in the midwest.
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