<p>^^Have to disagree with your assessment of UPS. I've known a number of top students from our high school (in an adjacent state) who had wonderful experiences at UPS and have continued on to reputable graduate schools. I made a visit there recently and the campus is green, charming and in a very nice part of town. Tacoma is experiencing a positive image shift over that last few years. </p>
<p>I'd be very comfortable sending a kid there, especially one who is interested in Asian studies, an area this school is particularly engaged in. Many students spend time abroad in the increasingly-important pacific rim countries.</p>
<p>It's small and not for everyone, but I saw nothing discouraging except the rain.</p>
<p>Several of my daughter's friends are headed to Western Washington University. The campus has a very northwest feel to it. I wouldn't necessarily consider it a destination university for out-of-state students, though, nor would I put it in the "small LAC" category. Not to say it's not worth a look, but I'd investigate further to be sure it fits your daughter's criteria before adding it to your list.</p>
<p>WWU is a very nice smallish public school (this from a mom of UC student who is doing graduate work there)</p>
<p>If you are looking for smallish LAC types, look at Gonzaga & Whitworth in Spokane, I know for sure that Whitworth gives academic scholarships up to $12k for stated GPA/SAT, not apply for it, but every one who qualifies gets that award. Whitworth and Gonzaga are not ranked as highly nationwide as Whitman, but they are FAFSA only (if that helps you) and they are in Spokane, a nice little city, SWA flies from there, 4 hours east of Seattle. So, not as isolated feeling as Walla Walla (we have been there, kids have friends at Whitman and WSU)</p>
<p>Spokane would also not have the rain of the coast, you get more dramatic four seasons, hotter, sunnier, and more snow.</p>
<p>Just dropped DD off at Whitworth, she picked it two years ago, looked at tons of other schools, but never applied any where else- she watched sisters do apps & visits all over the country, so she was an old hand. She wanted small & they are so sweet and helpful, she is in a single room with ten girls on the floor, grouped with other houses, tons of funsy social stuff going on, very much a supportive environment. A nice salmon dinner on move in day for all the families, just a great environment thus far.</p>
<p>We've been verified for finaid and believe me it is way different at Berkeley than at Whitworth, just so nice to call or email and talk to some one and have them remember you. I am very pleased with our experience thus far.</p>
<p>well Portland is the whitest city in the US, so it would seem different than Tacoma, which feels weird to me but especially to my D#2 who has many non-caucasian friends.
merit aid seems also hard to come by at UPS and SPU.</p>
<p>No one has thus far mentioned George Fox University, an Oregon LAC with a Quaker heritage. My niece made an overnight visit a few years ago. Liked the campus. Administrators and students were very nice. Ultimately, she felt she wanted a more ethnically diverse college, but she had an overall good impression about the place.</p>
<p>Whitworth is Presbyterian based and Gonzaga is Catholic-based. Of course, Ivy's were religious when they began, I will be able to tell you in a few months just how religious it is in daily life. It may be overtly so, or just offer that as an option for people. I know many people who are not Catholic who go to Catholic schools, so I think the experience and the permeation of daily life by religion will be a bit different at each school.</p>
<p>Since the tour is now including Walla Walla and Spokane, I'm going to suggest that you make this a giant circle: Salem to Portland to Tacoma to Seattle to Spokane to Caldwell, Idaho to Walla Walla and then home.</p>
<p>"The College of Idaho was again named one of the “Best 368 Colleges” by The Princeton Review in July. Only about 15 percent of four-year colleges in the United States and Canada are chosen for the honor."</p>
<p>Small, good reputation, collects a lot of good local grads who want an LAC and want to stay in Idaho. Good merit aid, lots of opportunity to join athletic teams and get scholarships (they're NAIA). </p>
<p>Caldwell is not a particularly nice place to live (small town, not much to offer in terms of restaurants, clubs, etc.), but it is a very close-knit community, there is nearby skiing, rock climbing, hiking, and the city of Boise and its airport which has direct flights to many Calif. cities. Boise has lots to offer in terms of entertainment and shopping, and it's an easy trip over from Caldwell. </p>
<p>I think you should jump in the car right now if you're going to make it to the wine country in time.</p>
<p>Gonzaga and in general, all the Catholic schools you see mentioned on CC are extremely open to people of other faiths or no religious faith at all. Though there are religion requirements they can be fulfilled by religion courses ranging from Animism to Zen Buddhism. If you are going to the Spokane area, Whitworth and Gonzaga are both worth a look.</p>
<p>Based on experiences of recent kids in my Vancouver/Pdx area:
Whitman (only school in "the fifty", ivies, uva & top LACs with over 75% grad rates)
Whitworth
Western Washington (moving up)
Reed (if you're that sort kid great I personally like a bunch of kids there)
Lewis & Clark
Willamette</p>
<p>EK4: when I said Tacoma was obnoxious, I was thinking about the smell (the "aroma of Tacoma" from the papermill) and when I said "compared to Portland" I was thinking of how hip Portland is.</p>
<p>I think your list is terrific--I live just below Lewis & Clark, and it is literally a 10 minute drive from there to Reed College, so I would add it to the list. Depending on how many schools you want to see each day, I would recommend starting south (Willamette--my alma mater--and Linfield) then moving north to Lewis & Clark, Reed, and Univ. of Portland; then head north to UPS etc. We have had several top students go to UPS and they have loved it and been very successful. Oh, and I also highly recommend Whitman too! </p>
<p>I am happy to give any restaurant and/or shopping suggestions!</p>
<p>OP, if SCUalum means Santa Clara, you will recognize Gonzaga as another great Jesuit school but with worse weather. Whitworth is indeed Presbyterian. It has a more regional feel than the other schools on this list.
My D looked at all these schools, knocked UPS off the list when the tour didn't include the library, and Lewis and Clark off the list when we passed by several kids smoking dope along the winding path between dorm and classroom. In the rain. At 11 AM on a Monday. Your milage may vary, and it may have been too harsh but you have to make some decisions and narrow stuff down.</p>
<p>Yes I am a Santa Clara alum... and I do have high regard for the quality of the education that a Jesuit school can give you. </p>
<p>My DS is taking a long and hard look at Gonzaga - and DD will benefit from the older brother's research. I think we will leave Spokane for a separate trip given the quantity and quality of colleges that are available in Oregon and Washington. </p>
<p>All of this great input will be really helpful to us in planning our trip - which may end up being multiple trips. I know that DD and I will be spending quite a bit of time sorting through these schools on the internet and trying to come up with a reasonable plan.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone - I'll be sure to let everyone know how it goes!!!!</p>
<p>scualum, I think I'll start another thread about LAC in California. Since the grass is always greener, and we live in the PACNW, naturally my D2 is interested in California and is turning her nose up at the local options. Maybe you have some suggestions, as the schools you are short listing are the type we're looking for, just in a warmer climate....</p>
<p>riverrunner, start your search at Santa Clara. Excellent school and they see the blue sky more days than not (what a concept to Seattleites who just went through the, umm, through...summer...I think it was summer...was that summer?)</p>