Hi everyone! Basically, I’m a New Jersey student who’s applying to colleges in the fall. My dream school would be something along the lines of a preppy-WASP-New England school (sort of like a Princeton but with way less prestigious admissions requirements). My mom works at Rutgers and so I get a free tuition, and although I understand how lucky I am, I really want to try and leave my home state. I already have my state schools down that I want to apply to, but I’m trying to find private schools that will give me enough financial aid in order to convince my parents to let me go (they’re the ones paying and won’t want to take out any loans-which I understand). I’m trying to stay in the Northeast Region (nowhere below Maryland and West of PA). Since my mother is very concentrated on having me continue our “Jewish ancestry”, she would never let me apply to anything with “St.” in the title. I have a B+ weighted average, which isn’t great, but I haven’t taken the SATs yet and am studying rigorously for when I take it June. My leadership roles include being on Choir Council (Choir version of Student Gov.) and Tri-M (music honors society), as well as previously being in an internship with a Marketing company. I am freaking out because I am worried I won’t get into a school deemed “good enough” with my grades and might not even get into Rutgers. I am also looking to becoming a Business major. Any recommendations of Preppy-New England schools for B+ Students???
Quinnipiac, St. Lawrence (NOT religious), Hobart, Gettysburg (if PA would be okay)
Brandeis has Jewish roots and might make your Mom happy. Possibly Babson or Bentley. All might be just beyond B+.
Union College. It fits everything you’re looking for - including a strong Jewish life.
Since your stated model school, Princeton, does not offer a business major, it seems you would need to look for colleges that are unlike Princeton in this respect.
OK a different idea here, you could go for free to Rutgers and your folks do not want to spend extra cash so how about the university of Maine? They will charge you instate tuition at the same rate as Rutgers. It is not private and it is not as good as a school as Rutgers but it is out of NJ. in reality your parents are saying find me a school that will cost about 15 k a year all in , which is what Rutgers will cost to live there with free tuition and I doubt you will find that, your better bet maybe find a very jewish school and hope your mom is willing to pay for it but I suspect you will be sitting in New Bruswick next year.
Dickerson and Gettysburg meet your Princeton light but are pricey.
Giving your unweighted GPA would be more useful to others in making college suggestions. No one else knows the weighting system, so no one else can tell if your presumed ~3.3 weighted GPA comes from a 2.3 or 3.2 unweighted GPA.
Yes, the problem is, you may be admitted to some of the less-competitive preppy private schools but your stats wouldn’t get you merit scholarships for free tuition. These schools often have a 70k+ price tag per year. Scholarships will go to those students way up in the top percentiles (in terms of stats or other achievements).
I usually don’t give this kind of advice (because your feelings are your feelings, and disappointment is hard to take, especially when you’re young) but try to feel very, very grateful for the possibility of graduating debt-free from Rutgers. With the whole country and economy in disarray these days and many people losing their jobs and investments, many students will be forced to go to less expensive options than they had planned, and many more will now be hard-pressed to attend college at all.
Hope it works out for you. The college you attend does not have to define your life; it’s what you do while you’re there.
I don’t know if it meets your Princeton-light criteria, but you might want to look into Susquehanna in central PA. It is generous with merit aid (a strong SAT might help there), has a pretty campus and a well-regarded business school.
Also, maybe Washington College in Maryland (I think it may be Chesterton, on the Eastern Shore).
Muhlenberg College in PA could be possible for admittance, has many Jewish students (I think around 1/3)and a business degree, but I don’t know about financial aid.
Clark. Muhlenberg. How much you would pay depends on your family income, too.
I will second Union. It sounds exactly like what you want. Although they give merit, it will be much more expensive.
I will also second using the tuition exchange at U. Maine. It feels very different from Rutgers and is a good school.
You could look at Wheaton as well.
Babson is an excellent choice for business.
Many of the schools previously mentioned are not in New England. Union is excellent but it is in NY and the city of Schenectady does not even have a little bit of New England vibe. St. Lawrence is more preppy but way, way up in the northern border of NY (practically Canada) and could have a little more of a New England vibe when the leaves are in fall colors.
Back to New England…
Bentley
Babson
Quinnipiac
UNH (Paul school of business is highly regarded)
The problem is…none of these suggestions will get you to $15k a year, which is what Rutgers would be for room and board only. My guess is most will still be north of $30k.
You say “financial aid” but do you qualify? Living in NJ with at least one parent employed by Rutgers, lead me to believe you won’t have an especially EFC. You may be relying on merit and that will be tough to meet Rutgers with free tuition- not too mention being better academically.
Let’s not forget good 'ol UMASS. Great business school. Has been for a LONG time. Might be a tough OOS admit. Worth checking out. Beautiful / quaint town of Amherst, MA. Hard to beat in the fall (and spring). “Norman Rockwell like”.
A B+ weighted GPA will not get into the UMass business school.
Thanks so much for all the replies! I will definitely take these into mind.
As for my gpa, its a 94.6 on a 100 weighted scale for the mid-year of this school year (and I’m sure it will drop 
), which I think is in the 3.76-3.78 range. My school is extremely competitive so I was worried because most of the students in my school have a 3.90-4.0+.
I’m a little nervous about the SATs because I haven’t taken them yet and was planning to take them in June, but because of Coronavirus shutting down everything I’m worried because I was hoping if I got a great SAT score (I’ve been intensely studying) it would help my application.