My son's list of colleges (LACs) is too long!

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hey everyone, my son is a junior looking at colleges, and he is interested in majoring in environmental studies (as of now!). We're planning our college visits and want to know which ones are must see (or skip). I think he has pretty good changes at most schools (3.65 GPA, Many APs and Honors, Excellent ECs, 32 ACT). As a career, my son is interested in environmental planning. Pretend that money is not an issue (although if any of these schools offer much merit aid, as our EFC is around 20k, that'd be appreciated). We're trying to cut schools off the list so please give us reasons to keep (or delete) any of these colleges.</p>

<p>Whitman: He loves Washington, and their "Semester in the West" program is extremely appealing. How is Walla Walla? We've read that Whitman's Env. Studies program is very well-regarded.</p>

<p>Kenyon: Beautiful campus, but it's not very diverse, which is important coming from my son who goes to an urban high school. They offer public policy and environmental studies, plus the idea of a really close community is important to him.</p>

<p>Lawrence: More of a safety, but we did get to visit the school. Appleton is a very lovely town, and the campus is nice. Seems like a cheaper option as well. </p>

<p>Pitzer: He loves the consortium, as well as course offerings, location, etc. One of the more expensive options.</p>

<p>Occidental: One of his top choices. He loves LA, and is interested in the United Nations program.</p>

<p>Lewis & Clark: Loves Portland, but thinks this school doesn't have much of a community? Is there any truth to that?</p>

<p>Middlebury: I believe this to be one of his reaches. He originally liked Bowdoin but doesn't want a preppy environment. I worry that this might be the case at Midd?</p>

<p>Rhodes: Likes Memphis quite a bit, but worries that this college might be too conservative/not fun? I doubt this is true, but would like some more information on student life.</p>

<p>Grinnell: A bit rural, but he loves the prairie environment/center (VP of a club that restores local woods/prairie). Good merit aid, I hear?</p>

<p>Macalester: St. Paul seems more suburban than its twin, but it's good to have options. Minnesota's a beautiful place, plus this school places a lot of emphasis on internationality. If that's even a word...</p>

<p>So our list is clearly a bit long, thanks in advance. :)</p>

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<p>It’s really not that long (I’m applying to 10 and many people on here are applying to more) but he can do what I do. Make three separate lists of the colleges - 1. One by likelihood of his acceptance (check admission stats on princeton review’s website) 2. One by which one he would like to attend most to least 3. One for affordability.</p>

<p>If, say, a college that is harder to get into is lower on his “want to attend most” list than a college that is easier to get into he can eliminate it. It helped me.</p>

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<p>I don’t think the list is too long - especially for a student who is a junior. </p>

<p>If there are schools on the list that you haven’t visited, you should. That might help you eliminate a school or two.</p>

<p><a href=“although%20if%20any%20of%20these%20schools%20offer%20much%20merit%20aid,%20as%20our%20EFC%20is%20around%2020k,%20that’d%20be%20appreciated”>I</a>.*</p>

<p>Are you aware that merit scholarships get applied to need? Merit aid doesn’t reduce EFC unless that scholarship is soooo big that it covers all of need and then cuts into EFC.</p>

<p>So, if a school has a COA of $50k, then to reduce your $20k EFC, the merit scholarship would have to be greater than $30k per year.</p>

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<p>it’s a great list, and you don’t need to see all of them before applying. My son actually didn’t get to Grinnell until after he was accepted, but lo and behold, that’s what he picked! That’s the only problem with your list: it doesn’t make doing visits very easy, since it is quite literally "all over the map.'</p>

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<p>We appreciate these thoughtful posts. :)</p>

<p>Would really appreciate some thoughts about LACs for my son, currently a senior and applying like mad.<br>
He is applying to a couple of Ivies and to mid-sized universities such as Wash U and Rice, and also Northwestern, and a couple of big tens. He has the credentials to get into very good schools.</p>

<p>But it is occurring to us that he might be more likely to thrive in a LAC, and we need suggestions! …will major in science, probably biology or chemistry or biochemistry, with a view to grad school in engineering or medicine. But he also is a debater and would love to debate in college.
Probably not someplace too rural, as he has grown up in a relatively rural place and would enjoy access to a city.</p>

<p>If anyone could share personal LAC experiences or impressions that would be very helpful; the guide books only go too far and we cannot fly all over the country to visit… thank you!</p>

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<p>Colleen,</p>

<p>Some comments on some of the schools, but all are good, and 10 is not too many, unless it’s too hard to apply to all financially. I am only commenting on the schools I have seen.</p>

<p>Occidental- Very pretty campus, but if things are the same, the UN program is not an auto go. </p>

<p>Lawrence- Pretty campus. It is on the trimester system, something your S will need to explore.</p>

<p>Grinnell- Pretty campus, but more than a bit rural-real rural.</p>

<p>Mac- in a really great part of St. Paul. Campus OK, not what I would call pretty.</p>

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<p>Your son might also consider Carleton and Colorado College. Carleton’s campus includes an 800 acre arboretum (forests, trails, prairies, two small lakes). Colorado’s location can’t be beat for environmental studies, and the “block plan” (one course at a time) allows for great opportunities for field work.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Paragon, I think your issues deserve a separate thread.:slight_smile:
(There are not too many top-notch urban LACs … some science and especially engineering majors might be better off at a university … so you ought to choose carefully, though it’s a little late in the process for that. Good science LACs that are in/near urban areas include Swarthmore, Haverford, Wesleyan, and Reed. Trinity College in Hartford has an engineering program, as Swarthmore does. My top recommendation for you would be Swarthmore but it is very selective and demanding; the atmosphere would not be to everyone’s liking.)</p>

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<p>

Yes, it’s a reach, and yes, if he thinks Bowdoin is too preppy, he might not like Midd either. I suggest you keep it anyway (because the environmental science program is so good), then visit overnight if he gets in. It’s a beautiful school.</p>

<p>My kid had stats roughly similar to yours, similar concerns, and liked several of the same schools. He’s at Colorado College, which he loves. Colorado College would address some of the issues suggested for L&C, Midd, Rhodes, Grinnell … but you need to be enthusiastic about the school’s one-course-at-a-time “block plan” (which does open up more field work opportunities for a major like environmental science, and the location is fantastic for that, but covering a semester’s worth of course material in 3.5 weeks can be intense.)</p>

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<p>Paragpon, there are many terrific things about Whitman College but your son might be interested in this: [Whitman</a> has only debate team in nation to advance to elimination in all four national championships » The Pioneer | Whitman news, delivered.](<a href=“http://whitmanpioneer.com/news/2010/04/08/whitman-has-only-team-in-nation-to-advance-to-elimination-in-all-four-national-championships/]Whitman”>http://whitmanpioneer.com/news/2010/04/08/whitman-has-only-team-in-nation-to-advance-to-elimination-in-all-four-national-championships/). They have a championship debate team.</p>

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<p>At this stage the ist is just right or maybe a bit short. This time should still be about investigation and finding the right fits.</p>

<p>The following are also worth a look…</p>

<p>Reach: Haverford College (has enrivornmental studies with Bryn Mawr now and is starting its own program in Fall 2011)
Match: Colorado College
Safe: College of the Atlantic</p>

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<p>“But it is occurring to us that he might be more likely to thrive in a LAC, and we need suggestions! …will major in science, probably biology or chemistry or biochemistry, with a view to grad school in engineering or medicine. But he also is a debater and would love to debate in college.”</p>

<p>Paragon…you probably need to start your own thread.</p>

<p>If your son has a possible interest in eng’g for grad school, he probably needs to go to an undergrad with engineering, which few LACs have.</p>

<p>Many universities have debating teams, so you don’t have to go to an LAC for that.</p>

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<p>Lewis & Clark - my son graduated from L & C and was very connected to the school and his friends there. Portland is a wonderful city. However, it is my sense that their environmental studies program is not very strong. Strange given it’s location, but my son, a bio major, was not at all impressed with the ES program.</p>

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<p>

DD2 attends L&C and she loves the community - is involved in multiple clubs, attends sporting and musical events… There is a great deal to do even if you don’t get downtown. I don’t know about the ES program.</p>

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<p>ColleenPersuade, I got distracted with paragpon’s question about LAC’s and debating. Sorry.</p>

<p>You wanted opinions about the colleges on your list, my son goes to Whitman and I’ve become a huge supporter because it so many great attributes. I’ve been following the progress of this Fall’s Semester in the West class and they have had an experience that is totally unique. They left campus with their instructors for three months (!!!) of travel throughout the west and have been introduced to environmental issues from the viewpoints of the people who live on the land, (migrant workers, ranchers, conservationists, etc,) as well as policy makers and business owners. Reading their writings on the college website has been really interesting.</p>

<p>My son started out being interested in the Environmental Studies program and I wanted him to go on the Semester in the West at some point. We talked about it when he came home at Thanksgiving, but he said that he realizes he’s too wimpy to spend three months camping. I can understand his point, he’s a kid that would take 45 minute showers at home if we didn’t yell at him. But, for the student with a love of the outdoors, and a little more fortitude, what an opportunity!</p>

<p>We love Walla Walla, the campus literally spills out into the downtown. Within 4 or 5 blocks there are fun coffee shops, student hang-outs, art galleries, good restaurants, clothing stores, food markets etc. Walla Walla is big enough to have all the kinds of stores anyone will need. There are good places to stay for visiting families and an airport. It’s quite easy to fly into Walla Walla and take a taxi to campus for $12.</p>

<p>I visited at Parent’s Weekend and I’m so impressed with the college. The faculty and staff are truly dedicated to giving our children a meaningful education. The students they admit are gregarious, active nice people who are also high achievers. </p>

<p>You’ve got a bunch of great schools on your list, only visiting them while they are in session AND spending an overnight, if possible, will give your son the larger picture of each campus. This might not be possible until after the acceptances arrive, but it’s really the only way to get an idea of the “fit” everybody keeps talking about. He’ll know it when he sees it.</p>

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<p>bopambo… Is the Semester in the West program only for ES majors? Whitman is very high on my DS’s list, as is Colorado College, but he will probably be a Philosophy major. He is VERY outdoorsy and is actually applying to volunteer with Student Conservation this summer and they spend 2 months in the back country of the U.S. with NO showers or bathrooms. He would 100% embrace this program… it is right up his alley.</p>

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<p>hi 5boys… no you don’t have to be an ES major, just totally excited about it. Lots of interesting info here: [Semester</a> in the West](<a href=“http://semesterinthewest.org/]Semester”>http://semesterinthewest.org/)</p>

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<p>It’s a shame to drop Middlebury without exploring further. The environmental studies program is great and the campus is beautiful. And it depends how the kids defines preppy. Maybe urban preppy and rural preppy are different because the students certainly aren’t dressed up at Middlebury as they might be in an urban preppy school. Many people do have a sport, though, if that’s the criteria for preppy.</p>