NorthEast College Road Trip #2

Last Oct did CRT#1 to Ohio and PA. Loved College of Wooster, Denison and Allegheny. DD2 is thinking of “something psychology / sociology / maybe criminal but not criminal justice”. Easy enough. Looking at the possible visit list to be culled down based on running the NPC for some merit and looking for the right fit. Honestly, I wish she would just apply apply apply and then we could make a trip out in February to see the top contenders but she has 1 week off from school in late Oct so am making it a two week trip (sneaking in a well deserved visit with DD1 in college in the south). Here is the basic list - very open to adding similar suggestions that are on our route and very open to nixing any that have a bad rep for low merit. GPA 3.55, normal scores - waiting for the Oct SAT, interesting backstory and life, good EC’s, sharp essay with a quirky topic and URM of Hispanic (Guatemalan).

OPEN TO MORE GOOD FITS WITH NICE MERIT ON THIS ROUTE-ISH.

Starting in the North bc we are landing in Boston ($395 RT on Lufthansa from Europe!)

University of New Haven

Rider U

JUNIATA - our newest top five college

Dickinson - not in love with the NPC results which is odd since I heard they had good merit. Will look at the numbers again…

George Mason U - bigger than M&D would like but close to some friends home so easy to go visit

Virginia Wesleyan

Lynchburg ( we are in the area, I earned my Masters from Liberty down the way so might stop by or just drive by and wave, has a HS friend at Lynchburg so just checking it out)

MAYBE … Husson University in Bangor, Maine at the start depending on timing and what I hear from everyone here.

Ursinus? Susquehanna? Washington & Jefferson? All in PA.

When I hear Wooster, Denison and Allegheny I think really nice kids, good academics and welcoming if that is the vibe you are looking for take a look at Washington College in Maryland. Its a rural LAC, but only 90 minutes from Baltimore/DC, 50% of kids get merit and lots of water activities on Chester River.

Yes, I see Wooster, Denison and Allegheny all together often. We found the same with DD1 and her top three. One of the admin counselors told her plainly 'you can’t go wrong with any of them and they would all be lucky to have you… but we hope you will come here". She didn’t but still holds a sweet spot in her heart for the kind and reassuring words.

Seconding the recommendations for Susquehanna and Ursinus. With a 1220 SAT, your daughter would be eligible for a $30,000 a year merit scholarship from Ursinus. As you may know, there are a plethora of good small LACs in PA, many of which offer merit scholarships. Dickinson and Denison are the most selective of the schools you are considering, so merit scholarships may be harder to come by at those schools. Gettysburg is another possibility with similar selectivity. If Allegheny becomes a top contender, you can PM me if your daughter wants to speak with a psychology professor there (my adult daughter).

If you look at Rider then check out the College of New Jersey. Rated much higher than Rider.
They are about 15 min from each other. Yes, it is a state school but even with a scholarship from Rider, TCNJ will be similar price or cheaper.

I would skip Husson. Do,you know how far Bangor is from where you will be? It’s FAF FAR from even the northernmost school you have listed.

As long as you are in the neck of the woods…what about University of Mary Washington?

Also, what about Muhlenburg?

And since younare driving through NJ anyway…what about Drew?

I would consider swapping Rider out and looking at either Muhlenberg or Ursinus. Both give very good merit aid. Best of luck to you! And if you are looking at Dickinson, Gettysburg is worth a look and just down the road from them…

I am in awe of all the fabulously helpful, insightful and relevant info shared by everyone. My fingers are flying with google searches, common data set reviews, excel spreadsheet updates, and mapquest finagling. Keep the suggestions coming and watch for a revised CRT#2 list soon!

Consider swapping Mary Washington for Virginia Wesleyan. UMW is getting more respect all the time and proximity to both DC and Richmond open up internship opportunities in many fields. Wesleyan is not a school that you hear anything about outside of the Hampton Roads area. ETA: I hear (2nd hand info) UMW aid is getting better but see what NPC shows

I agree that Bangor is very far from Boston (466 miles roundtrip from Logan, and no other schools on list are on the way). Also that you might consider checking out Gettysburg College if you are visiting Dickinson. You would probably even go through Gettysburg going or coming. It’s a pretty area.

What about a Quinnipiac University drive-by if you are going to New Haven? Yes, it’s the home of the political polls. Anyway, have fun, enjoy the adventure with DD2!

Rider has had some financial difficulties lately. A couple of years ago I read that the school discontinued a number of majors and fired a number of professors. Be sure to google the current financial status if Rider is under serious consideration.

@DoDEAMom18

It looks more like you are looking at schools in the mid Atlantic states…not the northeast…well except a CT school her and there.

If you do decide to keep connecticut on your list, you might want to look at Fairfield University as well. I personally think it has more of a college campus feel than University of New Haven.

And i do think Drew in NJ is more worth a look for you than Rider.

Totally agree that Mary Washington is a great option!

Will you be near James Madison?

I just ran the NPC for UNewHaven and it seems that the most merit is 24k for the highest award bringing it to 37k which is not competitive or interesting - esp since DD2 is easy going about where she attends. Took off Rider too bc of issues going on there and since neither of us could remember why it was even on the list ! Added U of Mary Washington for a review and some others listed here. Sorry for saying the NE… we are from So Cal so everything on the east and north of VA is NE to us (!!!). So looking at Mid-Atlantic and NE-ish…

If you qualfy for need based aid…add Connecticut College. You can easily visit that one when you are in CT…and maybe visiting Fairfield.

Would your daughter be interested in smaller schools? If so…look at Stonehill and Wheaton in Massachusetts. They are sort of on your way when you are leaving Boston.

New Route… flying into DC and out of Newark… carry on. Took a few off the list including Rider… and Bangor, Maine Updated list coming later. Continue and Carry on with suggestions…

Ok…if you are flying into D.C…

What about American University?

UMD, University of Mary Washington, Rowan and TCNJ, University of Delaware.

And Drew…in NJ.

I agree you should look at Susquehanna…and Muhlenburg.

I gather Ursinas is still on your list.

If you are visiting PA, I would also add Lafayette and Franklin & Marshall to your list of colleges. Both have excellent psychology departments. Actually Lafayette, Franklin & Marshall, Bucknell and Bryn Mawr are similarly ranked colleges and are of similar size (2K to 3K students). They are all rated in the 30s by US News (if you care of such things). Good luck with your trip.

I’m glad to see you took Husson off your list. I don’t think that it is anywhere near in the same class as most of the other places you are considering.

But isn’t this family looking for merit aid? These schools either don’t have it…or it’s highly competitive.