HI-- I have looked at all the numbers but want some input. Looking for an LGBT-friendly midsize (7500-20k undergrads approx.) school in the Northeast/Midwest (not West) for an A minus student. Would love to hear about anyone and their experiences or folks who have looked at similar schools.
thanks
should have added-- also looking for somewhere not so focused on greek life.
On our radar but we haven’t visited yet - University of Rochester.
University of Rochester would definitely fit the criteria—mid-sized, LGBT-friendly, western NY (so sort of midwestern and sort of northeastern), limited greek life, and not too big a reach for an A-minus student. It’s a school respected for its rigor and with an interesting flexible approach to curriculum, a commitment to undergrad research, and a collaborative and inclusive student culture.
U of Vermont fits the bill. 11K undergrads, majority out-of-state. Definitely LGBT-friendly. Only 10% Greek participation. An A- student would be eligible for honors and merit money. Gorgeous location, great college town.
At the top end of your size range, Pitt could also be a good choice, with 19K undergrads and <15% Greek participation. Honors College admission is primarily by test scores (1450+ SAT).
Boston University (18K undergrads, <15% Greek) and Northeastern (20K undergrads, <5% Greek) are reachier but possible for an A- student with good test scores, EC’s and essays.
Fordham could also be worth a look. http://www.gobeyondthebrochure.com/an-optimistic-outlook-for-lgbt-students-at-fordham-university/
I agree especially with Vermont. Burlington is a great college town, and Church Street pedestrian mall with lots of restaurants, etc is a 10-15-minute walk from campus. Great sunsets over Lake Champlain, toward Adirondacks. We loved the school.
I agree with Rochester, really terrific school, though it sounds like it would likely be a reach. Pittsburgh and Syracuse are terrific candidates, if not too large.
What about the University of Cincinnati? Terrific city, excellent school.
Maybe George Washington or American in DC. American is more of campus in a near-in old suburban area; GWU is a downtown urban campus, fully integrated into the city. DC is really a fun city for college students today (but expensive).
I’m just going to throw out College of Charleston. I know it’s not in one of the designated geographic regions. It has Greek life, though I don’t think it’s all that prevalent (don’t trust me on that). Otherwise, it seems like it could be a good fit. It is right in Charleston, which is a cool city. School is right there. Almost 10k undergrads. I’ve known a couple of CoC students in recent years. All would have been in line with the type of student with whom I think yours would like to attend school. Great weather!
Good luck!
I agree with @TTG regarding CofC . Other than geographical location CofC is a great match. They have an excellent Honors College and are LGBTQ friendly.
If you like U of Rochester, you might also consider Case Western – more of an urban setting (Cleveland) but similar strengths and quality.