<p>Another school to consider would be Colby-Sawyer in New London, NH - nice school.</p>
<p>I went to Stonehill for a cert program - and was thrilled with the profs that I had there - was a great program and excellent learning environment - and yes - very up and coming.</p>
<p>Since I don't live in the area and can only go by what I read, I hesitate to even join this discussion. But what about Fairfield and St. Joe's? What's the word on them? Here in the Midwest, the Jesuit schools are pretty generous with merit aid.</p>
<p>Following up on the OP's original request (under-rated school in NE for Bio), I took the liberty of editing MM88's list a bit. Bentley & Babson are primarily business schools. Smith, Mt Holyoke, Trinity, Conn College and Middlebury are hardly under-rated (lol!). And Emmanuel should join the pack. I suspect a quick look at their respective web pages will eliminate some others as well.</p>
<p>Bennington
Emerson
Emmanuel
Endicott
Lesley
Marlboro
Merrimack
New England College
Nichols
Quninnipiac
Roger Williams
St. Anselm
St. Michael's
Salve Regina
Simmons
Southern New Hampshire
Stonehill
University of Connecticut
University of Maine-Farmington
University of Maine-Orono
University of Southern Maine
University of Vermont
Wheaton</p>
<p>Thanks cadbury. -OP I know D would probably be happy in a 2000 or less college but she does not believe it. Same regarding Mount Holyoke.. just does not want single sex school despite the fact she could take classes at a half dozen surrounding coed schools. What can you do. It has to fit her.</p>
<p>ok hartford is not a bad place. there arent many security concerns- its just like ANY other city in the US...now is it beautiful- no, not so much. </p>
<p>id check out western connecticut or western new england. both surprised me very much.</p>
<p>Well here are the places D applied to. Many of the places on the list cadbury was kind enough to compile, my D has applied to. I'll put a star next to those mentioned as sleepers on this thread. Seven out of the fifteen she applied to are mentioned on this thread. Not bad on our part. I know this is a wide ranging list but like Cur advocates.. "Cast a wide net"...</p>
<p>Assumption (this is my sleeper)
Colby (a reach with 1330 math/verbal and no merit money given)
Fairfield
Hobart (expensive, but merit is available)
Providence (my favorite)
*Quinnipiac (want's into the PA program there)
RIT (Also has a PA program)
*Salve Regina (nice but top merit award is 10k.. still too pricey)
*St. Michaels
*Stonehill (Hear good things!)
*UConn (We would be OOS, but get a regional break)
UNH (has merit already)
*UVM (Pricey for OOS types..but very nice area)
Wheaton (another reach financially)
WPI (Good science program, plus possible merit as a female)</p>
<p>Forgot the star for Wheaton.</p>
<p>That sounds like a well thought out list! Is Colby her favorite?</p>
<p>We have a good friend who is completing the PA program at Springfield College.</p>
<p>Colby is the "dream" school and every kid is entitled to one so I coughed up the application fee. Our EFC is high and we can't afford 48K per year so it is the catch 22 many of us CC parents know well. Yes dear, you've been accepted... but it's too expensive. I guess just being accepted is somewhat satisfying. Affordability is an issue with many of these schools. D's GC recommended we apply because "need" and "merit" can very from year to year and from college to college. ... there is something called "Preferential Packaging" a term I've heard used here but never quite understood.. maybe that is what the HS GC is talking about. Who knows.. I wrote the 15 checks.</p>
<p>Preferential packaging refers to the ratio of loans to grants, primarily at need based institutions. The more "preferential" packages include more grants; the less preferential, more loans.</p>
<p>Some of this has to do with the size of the school's endowment, too.</p>
<p>And Perkins loans are better than Stafford loans (lower interest), but both are very good.</p>