My first thought was Rochester. Its not quite a safety for your son, but definately a solid match and it meets full need.
My Ds was in a similar situation and was admitted to Vassar, Davidson, and Haverford. They are all a quite a bit smaller than your son’s target size - but all meet your financial aid criteria and have favorable admissions rates for boys. Demonstrated interest is important at all - but particularly at Davidson! Also, I know he does not need another reach - but DD is a University of Chicago alumnus and it does seem like a good fit for you DS.
My younger son got into Vassar. He thought it was too small, but he liked it enough to keep on his list. I was going to suggest Brandeis, but just pulled up their stats. When did they get so selective? It was a low match for my younger son who was not in the top of his class! Anyway, I think it meets all of his criteria.
Do you mean the opposite? Vassar is now coed, after having been an all women colleges.
You’re right, @ucbalumnus, I wrote that before caffeine this morning and it’s too late to edit. My stupid.
Wow, thank you so much, everyone! Let me try to answer all of the questions:
We are in Kentucky. Our EFC is effectively zero. Based on our experience with our older son, we think most “meets full needs” schools will provide enough need-based aid, but the amounts will vary, so that’s one reason he’ll probably need a good number of schools.
@ucbalumnus His math level won’t be that high. His school only offers math through BC Calculus, so that’s as far as he’ll be at graduation. Also, thank you for the information on Pomona! That does sound like a better fit than Claremont-McKenna.
@blossom Thanks for thinking of travel costs. It seems like some schools factor those in when calculating need, and others don’t.
@thumper1 My son would say anywhere, but as noted above, it will depend on whether the school includes estimated travel expenses in their aid. We’ll have another look at what Rhodes may have for merit. Our older son was accepted there with both merit aid and need-based aid, but it was still too pricey for us. (I remember that they started offering more and more need-based aid the closer we got to May 1st, but he accepted someplace else before we had a chance to find out what their final offer would be.)
@AlmostThere2018 Davidson is on his list and the GC is nominating him for the Belk. Thanks for the other suggestions, as well!
@Highbury I’ve been trying to get him to consider Haverford, because our older son was accepted there and they offered a really great package! Plus, I just liked it a lot. I’m not sure why he’s resistant, but maybe it’s the size.
Thanks to all those who have suggested Vassar. My husband has been looking into it today, and he thinks it’s a great one to add to the list. They will be in Kentucky soon, too, so that’s a bonus!
We’ll check out the others people have mentioned, as well (ND, Hamilton, etc.). U Chicago sounds like another great high-reach consideration. Their essay questions scare me, but my son isn’t put off by them, haha. (He is more creative than I am!)
I am really grateful to all of you for your help!
Great re: Davidson. My D is a first-year there and is super happy. PM me if you have any questions!
If you’re in Kentucky – what about Centre as a private safety? I can’t recall if they’re full need or not but he’d certainly get a lot of merit. Of course they don’t stack merit and need so if they’re not full need then I would find another private safety that is.
Did anyone suggest Dickinson as another safety to look into? Not sure if they are need blind and 100% but I think they might be…
Thanks, @AlmostThere2018! He has toured Centre and has spent some time on campus with various programs, but he’s not that interested in applying. No one else has suggested Dickinson, so I’ll check into that, as well.
I agree with the comments about Vassar. When DS was applying to colleges 3 years ago, the acceptance rate for males was double the rate for females. I loved the school - beautiful campus, easy access to NYC, a “kinder/gentler” feel (did not appear to have a rowdy party scene), and at least one Steinway piano in every building. Great academics and opportunities for research.
You might also look at Wesleyan. It’s the largest “small” LAC, I believe, and they receive a lot of external research funding. Almost no grad students, so undergrads have opportunities, and a substantial fraction of students have publications by the time they graduate.
Have you considered asking your son to apply ED (or SCEA) at his top choice? ED can be risky for families that need substantial financial aid. However, if you’ve run the net price calculators and the result is workable and if the top choice is a school that’s generous with need-based aid, then I think the positives outweigh the risk. It really depends on whether your financial situation is relatively straightforward or complicated.
Further, many schools (especially LACs) will give you a more or less firm aid projection before you apply ED. Locking in a high achieving applicant like your son would be a plus for them and I think you’ll find the financial aid departments forthcoming with information.
I don’t know too much about individual departments at Grinnell, but its overall academics are excellent and its environment fits what your son is looking for. They have a large endowment and are generous with aid. Acceptance rate is in the mid-to-high 20’s.
Has anyone mentioned Amherst? They have great financial aid. Part of a consortium with UMass, Smith, Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire which are all in the same area. Similar to Willliams in many ways but with those other colleges nearby.
The financial aid at the top schools you mentioned, like Harvard, are stellar of course. Without knowing anything about him or his ECs, hard to add to the list or predict outcome at all. If he loves learning and is curious, that will come through in letters of recommendation and will be a big plus in terms of “character.”
For a safety, I second the idea of state flagship honors college and looking into other ways that large universities are broken down into smaller units (even Harvard, which has its house system). And also the aid possible at out of state, state universities with merit added to financial aid.
Clark U. in Worcester is an interesting school, also in a consortium that includes WPI.
All of the US military academies offer need blind admissions & meet full need. Plus, the USNA, USMA & USAFA all have “street cred”.
Agree with those suggesting Grinnell – it’s a classic LAC (except not located on the East Coast). Grinnell is VERY generous with merit aid for high stats students. I didn’t even know this was a thing when my son applied there (we are fortunate enough not to need any aid), but he was incredibly surprised to get admitted well ahead of the usual timeframe and be offered a half ride in merit aid. He didn’t take it, but was awfully flattered!