<p>Deep Springs is free if you get in. Yes, it’s two years, but then you transfer to a top university/LAC/ivy. It’s’ extremely respected and does not result in only a 2 year associates in the end. The entire design of their program is with a transfer after two years in mind. It’s FREE and only the most competative students get in. Deep Springs students go on to UC Berkely, Stanford, U. of Chicago, Yale, Brown, etc, so please do research it. </p>
<p>Whitman also came to mind for me. Look at U. of Puget Sound as well, they may offer you merit aid. You are also slightly above Warren Wilson’s acceptance stats, so you may get merit aid offered there as well. </p>
<p>In the northeast, (but run your EFC first to see where you need to target), I would look at Williams, Amherst, Colby, and Bard (Bard will probably offer you merit aid). Good luck!</p>
<p>Closer to home, take a look at Sewanee. They have everything you’re looking for - merit aid, geology, 13000 beautiful acres to explore and plenty of weekend parties.</p>
<p>Yes, you should apply to the tip top schools and see what happens, you never know. Just be prepared for the possibility that their determination of your financial need may not be close to your reality. Some people are disappointed, others happily surprised, for most it’s sort of a crap shoot. </p>
<p>However, don’t overlook Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA. It has a lot of what you’re looking for. The outdoor program is amazing and many students take advantage of it. The student body are pretty relaxed and fun loving, while also being serious about academics. The geology department is very good and they have a 3/2 program in engineering. They give several awards to incoming freshman each year for accomplishments in leadership, called the Garrett scholarship, which meets full need up to full tuition for 4 years. Seems like you’d have a very good shot at that.</p>
<p>My S is a geology/physics major there and is planning to go to graduate school in environmental engineering. When I asked him why he wasn’t going to pursue the 3/2 program, he said he was having such a great undergraduate experience he didn’t want to miss his senior year there.</p>
<p>I second the Keck Geology Consortium as a way to find great schools in geology. Lots of folks have mentioned Whitman, so I won’t repeat that, but other places known for their outdoorsy attitudes in that group include Colorado College (on the block plan, so your geology fieldwork seems to mostly consist of several-week trips to cool places) and Carleton College. Yes, I know, Minnesota is flat, but Carleton is attached to a huge a beautiful Arboretum with lots of opportunities for cross-country skiing, running, hiking, biking, and camping, plus canoe excursions on the Cannon River that runs through town. The geology department is also among the best in the country (randomly), is about evenly split every year between men and women, and is famous for its historic partying abilities. (Not to mention it takes up about half of the outdoors club house, CANOE.)</p>
<p>General thoughts though: If you go the geology route, do liberal arts. I’m a grad student at a big research university, after having gone to Carleton (obviously) for undergrad. My students at said research university are given stacks of rocks and minerals to memorize, with no application of real science until field camp senior year (or later). On the other hand, I was in the field getting dirty by week 3 in intro geology at Carleton, and never looked back. Most importantly: If you do geology, you will probably need grad school. If you do grad school, you will probably need research experience. Bear these both in mind as you dive in.</p>
<p>Carleton and Colorado College would be a nice reach-match combo if the OP is o.k. with small liberal arts colleges. If engineering is not a requirement, CC is probably the best undergraduate school in Colorado (with the possible exception of the Air Force Academy). Geology is one of its strongest departments. The one-course-at-a-time Block Plan, as well as the location, open up tremendous opportunities for field work. </p>
<p>If you want a larger school in Colorado, consider UC Boulder or Colorado School of Mines.</p>
<p>Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH is a school you probably haven’t heard much about (although they just had 3 more baseball players drafted). They offer really great financial aid for someone with your stats, the school is located at the base of Mt. Monadnock and tons of outdoor activity is part of the experience, and they do offer Environmental Science, if that interests you. Just look at the pictures on the website…gorgeous!</p>