<p>Urban/Suburban Campus that is not in the South -- I currently reside in Nowhereville, TX and I'm looking to get out. Public transportation, proximity to stores, and the ability to walk to places are all pluses. I don't want to feel like I need a car in college.</p>
<p>Intellectual Feel of Campus -- I want a school were kids are eager and curious to learn, not merely for the sake of grades either, but to enrich themselves.</p>
<p>International Relations/Middle Eastern Studies Program but also a school strong in the sciences</p>
<p>Good Financial Aid -- FAFSA says my EFC is 684. I need all the help I can get (single parent income, 8 family members) so I'm primarily looking at schools that meet close to 100% need.</p>
<p>I'm really attracted to the idea of a liberal arts school, but somehow, I still feel like I've brainwashed into thinking that a liberal arts education won't be competitive in the real world. Ideally, I'd want to go to a school with a homely, nurturing environment where learning is individualized and I won't feel like just another number. I want to be able to get to know my professors (and even collaborate on certain ideas.)</p>
<p>So far, I'm applying to Barnard and Wellesley. To those who are so keen on knowing stats, my GPA is 3.8 and my SAT score is 2100 (1340 M + CR). But of course, I'm looking at schools that will look past just numbers.</p>
<p>Thanks! I trust your superior wisdom, parents!</p>
<p>If you are thinking of applying to private colleges, you might not be able to depend on that EFC figure provided by FAFSA. Most private schools use the CSS/Profile form, and there are differences in how the EFC is calculated. In particular, you mentioned that you are in a single-parent family. If there is a non-custodial parent somewhere, that person will need to report income and assets also.</p>
<p>As for colleges, some of your preferences seem compatible with University of Chicago. However, I don't think there is as much of the "homely...individualized" atmosphere as LACs. And, they are notoriously demanding about non-custodial parents' paying up.</p>
<p>University of Chicago sounds like a potential match for you. You will receive one of the best Liberal Arts educations of any college in the US, and have access to a top research University as well. Chicago is reknown for its Language studies, the student/ teacher ratio is one of the lowest in the US:6/1, the campus is gorgeous, with many gothic style buildings- [think Hogwarts or Yale], and there is lots of cheap public transportation into the city of Chicago. They do have "The Core"- required classes in 6 areas comprising a liberal arts education, and Chicago would not be a good match for someone looking for the "typical" college experience of football games, parties and Frat life, plus an education on the side. You need to love to learn, but for those who do, Chicago is like a slice of intellectual heaven.</p>
<p>I will definitely consider the University of Chicago. Midmo, I think you misunderstood. My family is one that is single-income, not single parent. My mom's a housewife (therefore no income generating on her side) and my dad's the sole breadwinner. Although, I am a bit concerned about filling the CSS Profile, I think I might as well take a chance at applying to some of my dream schools. Correct me if I'm wrong though, University of Chicago does not meet 100% of aid? Does anyone know how they are with financial aid? I cannot stress how important financial aid is to me and while I'm OK with taking loans, I think I'd put both my parents and I at ease if I was granted good financial aid.</p>
<p>Sorry, I did misunderstand about the single parent issue. </p>
<p>In the past, many have complained that UChicago was a little stingier with financial aid than some peer schools, but they were given a large donation last year which I think is supposed to be used to improve their financial aid.</p>
<p>I am a big fan of the Univ. of Chicago, and I suggest you look into it. However, I have visited several times over the last year, and despite their commitment to a top-notch undergraduate education, I do not believe the campus has a "cozy" feel. Not much felt personalized to me, especially the accepted student days my son attended, in contrast to some other schools. Just my opinion.</p>
<p>Maybe you should post some questions about financial aid on the Univ. of Chicago forum. There are some very knowledgeable regulars who can help you, I think.</p>
<p>There are many "second tier" schools at which you would probably qualify for some merit aid in addition to need. Try Ohio Wesleyan, Earlham, Wooster, Denison.</p>
<p>suburban/urban location outside of South
intellectual student body/campus feel
individualized attn/nurturing
strong financial aid/ideally meets 100% financial need </p>
<p>Old faces: I think Barnard and Wellesley are great choices. They are certainly within reach, but I believe you realistically have to expect less than a 50/50 acceptance probability with your current stats. Chicago will likely be an even slightly tougher app. Bryn Mawr seems an excellent suggestion with similar high quality academics but a less competitive pool of applicants. </p>
<p>New faces: Macalester should be considered as well - a very international student body and strong international programs with solid science offerings. U Rochester, if you can bear the climate change from Texas, would offer strong academics in a larger school setting, especially in the sciences. If youre willing to venture west, Pitzer, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna could be considered as well. Each offers a very different program and clear focus (maybe too focused for you, at this point). LA is close by but poorly accessible by public transportation and Claremont is a pretty sleepy (though pretty) suburban place. You do have the advantage of the larger consortium campus to keep things active.</p>
<p>And to take this location argument one step further without knowing how much youve personally traveled/visited schools: Understand that suburban locations are often less "stimulating" than you may realize. In your day to day life as an undergrad, you would probably find the towns of Bryn Mawr and Wellesley, for example, much less interesting than Northampton (e.g. Smith). A school in a (very) small town like Oberlin may compensate with more activity on campus by virtue, in part, of its extensive music programs and relatively large size for a LAC. Of course, youd be sacrificing access to a city for weekend play. If you can visit, look around and see what feels right. If cost is limiting travel now, apply a bit more broadly and focus your visitation after acceptances roll in. Good luck.</p>
<p>I'm going into my second year at the University of Chicago, and I think you should definitely look into it. The campus doesn't feel warm and cozy, but they have excellent academic advisers to help you navigate classes and college life in general; there is a strong house system complete with resident advisers, resident heads, resident masters, house tables, house meetings, house competition, etc.; and you will absolutely get to know your professors. Most core courses in the liberal arts have around 18 students, so you'll get to know your professors very well right from the start. The school doesn't feel cozy, but it is supportive. It's great if you're looking for a liberal arts education with strong sciences, and it's a school that is very clearly committed to intellectual growth above almost all else. Financial aid has been known as stingy in the past--particularly with middle class students--but there was a $100 million donation that will help to form a huge new scholarship program starting next year. With very low EFCs, though, the U of C has always been pretty good, I believe. One of my best friends paid about $2,000 last year, and this fall paid $58 for tuition. The rest is mostly grants with pretty small loans thrown in.</p>
<p>Just to clarify -- Chicago is a college that meets 100% need, but as with all 100% colleges, "need" is what they say it is. Historically Chicago's aid packages have tended to be skimpier than its peer institutions -- but as others have noted, that might change with the new funding. My d. was accepted at both Barnard & Chicago and received aid offers from both -- one difference is that the self-help portion (loans + work) of the award at Chicago was much higher. (Needless to say, d. ended up at Barnard)</p>
<p>On the other hand, you can't know what your financial aid package is going to be unless you apply.</p>
<p>Macalester is right in the Twin Cities with ample public transportation. Financial aid is excellent. It's strong on international programs, but I don't know about middle eastern studies in particular. However, I believe you can take courses at other local universities and colleges. This year they are hosting a public dialogue on the middle east peace process with participants in the process Hannan Ashrawi and Yossi Beilin <a href="http://www.macalester.edu/difficultdialogues/peacesummit%5B/url%5D">http://www.macalester.edu/difficultdialogues/peacesummit</a></p>
<p>I don't know how generous these schools are with financial aid, but some names that come to mind (given your preferences regarding atmosphere and course of study) are Kenyon, Oberlin, Skidmore, Middlebury and Vassar.</p>
<p>I would not put Middlebury in the urban/suburban group! It is located in a picture-perfect NE small town. Dartmouth would be better, or Northampton. The towns are still small but they are not as small as Middlebury.</p>
<p>I love the idea of Chicago. Barnard, too, is an excellent choice. Another good school would be Georgetown. I would not rule out HYP. All three have great IR and Middle Eastern Studies programs and all three would welcome an applicant from Nowhereville, TX.</p>
<p>I like the Barnard idea, too. I will say that Dartmouth, though I love the school, definitely falls into the small town category. </p>
<p>How about Johns Hopkins? I'm not sure on the atmosphere: you may find people more concerned with grades than knowledge, particularly in pre-med courses. They're excellent with IR though. Would Emory be too southern for you? It's in a city, so it doesn't have quite the southern feel that small towns get. Maybe look at the Residential College at the University of Michigan? It's a small four year program within the school that's a little like a small LAC within a large university, so you have lots of students but a smaller program. Since students choose to be in it, I believe the Residential College tends to have more of a "learning" focus than the school overall.</p>
<p>Barnard sounds like a match for the OP in many ways. I also like someone's suggestion of Macalester for its IR focus. Wow, didn't know Hanan Ashwari was visiting. </p>
<p>I wouldn't count on Vassar for much f.a. They are also up-front about <em>not</em> being need-blind for <em>admissions.</em> And being rural, they are certainly not in the convenience category.</p>
<p>Glad there's been an update on the U of Chicago fin. aid. This is long overdue, making them in the past less competitive as a school of choice for serious students seriously lacking funds.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I would not put Middlebury in the urban/suburban group!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My error-- I missed that comment from the OP. And that would probably rule out Kenyon and Oberlin, as well. Although, Skidmore, in Saratoga Springs, might work.</p>
<p>I second Claremont-McKenna, for IR and taking science courses in the other Claremont Colleges. Claremont is not an exciting town but there is a shopping center next to the campus and bus service to LA and the coast.</p>
<p>Also look at Brandeis; fine MES and science programs, especially in biosciences. Outside Boston with regular service into the city and stores and restaurants about a 20-minute walk. </p>
<p>Possibility of merit aid in addition to need-based aid in both schools</p>