<p>My junior D is very interested in St. Mary's College of Maryland, and we'll be visiting there soon. I would like to see at least one other college while we're in the area, to get my money's worth out of the airfare. I'm not sure what schools would be a good fit. She is interested in small schools, preferably less than 5,000 but no more than 10,000. She is considering an education major, but would also like to actively participate in music (flute) either as a double major, minor, or at a school that welcomes non-music majors into their music department. She's not committed enough to music to go the conservatory route. Urban/rural doesn't matter, but she wants a traditional college campus setting. Not interested in the Greek life at all and would probably not fit into a "preppy" environment, as she is a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. She has about a 3.4 unweighted GPA with honors/AP classes, and a 177 on the new PSAT without much prep work. I'm looking for schools within about 2 hours of the Baltimore/DC area.
We probably won't qualify for any financial aid, so schools with merit aid or reasonable tuition are a bonus.<br>
I was thinking of visiting Goucher, but would like some other suggestions. Any thoughts? Anyone have info about St. Mary's?</p>
<p>Susquehanna U in Pennsylvania meets all your criteria. Also, Catholic U in D.C. Beyond your location, consider Allegheny in PA and Wooster, Denison in Ohio.</p>
<p>There's Washington College over in Maryland, also a small LAC in a rural area. You may also want to look at U. of Mary Washington, in Fredericksburg, VA, just just an hour south of D.C. It meets the size you're looking at, plus they do not have frat/sororities. Don't know about music programs at any of them however.</p>
<p>PA is fertile ground....Dickinson, F&M, Gettysburg.</p>
<p>Hi Cal0302-We just got back from our trip from ODU. You responded to my thread a few months ago about VA schools so I'll try to give you some info that I found out. A lot of Va. kids like James Madison (JMU) in Harrisonburg. I'm not familiar with there programs, but its probably worth a look on the website. William & Mary may meet your needs too but it is very hard for out of state kids to get into. Based on what I've heard, Goucher does seem to be a good match for your d. We stopped in Towson Md. (for lunch) on our way down to Va. during the February break. We will be visiting the Towson campus in April as we scheduled a tour at that time. There is a website ---<a href="http://www.colltown.org">www.colltown.org</a> which will link you to the 20 colleges that are in the Baltimore area. I found it through the Goucher website. You may want to check out UMBC--University of Maryland-Baltimore county. They do have an education & music dept. The school looked interesting, but a bit more science and technology oriented than what we're looking for.
Regarding our trip to ODU, the campus was quite nice, but my d got the impression most kids leave on the week-end and there just would'nt be much to do. I am realizing she is just a city kid at heart. I guess being born in Brooklyn shaped her outlook. Anyway she seemed to like Richmond and preferred VCU. We will be looking at Towson, George Mason, Temple (we just added that to our list as she seems to like the city) and York during the April break. I don't think we'll be doing much more touring after this trip. Please check out the "college town" website I think it will give you a lot of info about all the schools in the Baltimore area. Good luck.</p>
<p>Maryland:
along with St. Mary's College - which is awonderful school but isolated in southern Maryland - other good, small liberal arts schools that I don'rt think are too heavy into the frat/prep stuff include Washington College (Chestertown is a pretty eastern shore historic town), Goucher (Baltimore outskirts), and Hood (near Frederick and ski country.) Towson is a larger state school but has a good theater dept. and probably music as well - if not, music classes can be taken at Peabody Conservatory as a private student probably - you'd have to check on that.</p>
<p>Pa./N.J. - College of New Jersey, Mulhenberg, Alleghany, Dickinson, Susquehana, Bucknell (may be too conservative/preppry?)</p>
<p>VA - Mary Washintgton and James Madison were too good suggestions though James Madison is not a small liberal arts college</p>
<p>Might also look at Drew U. in Madison NJ--a strong liberal arts orientation and not overly preppy or Greek with a pretty suburban campus.</p>
<p>My daughter has kept Goucher on her list since last summer. I think it's a great school and it is undergoing some changes that will make it slightly larger (1500 students) and more residential (all students will be required to live on campus all 4 years starting next year). My daughter was not thrilled with Washington because it is pretty isolated --- it's 45 minutes to the nearest Kmart, although the town that it is in is "cute." Admission standards are higher for females than their raw numbers indicate - your daughter can boost her chances by applying Early Action if she finds it to her liking. </p>
<p>Also in Maryland, take a look at McDaniel College (formerly Western Washington), Loyola College and St. Mary's College of Maryland. St. Mary's is the public LAC of the Maryland system and is wonderful. I found the campus to be actually much less isolated than Washington --- at least there's shopping nearby! </p>
<p>In Pennsylvania, in addition to the great colleges already mentioned, check out York, Albright, St. Joseph's and Ursinus. All great schools. </p>
<p>In New Jersey, look at Drew.</p>
<p>Dickinson, Bucknell and Muhlenberg are all probably going to be reaches for your daughter with a 3.4 GPA --- Dickinson is VERY preppy.</p>