Hi everyone,
I’m starting to compile a college list, and I would like some more realistic suggestions (target and safety schools). I’m really interested in William & Mary, but it is somewhat of a reach for me. I was reading some of the W&M threads to find similar colleges and people suggested places like UVA, UNC, etc. However, I think some schools like that are too high of reaches for me, especially as an out-of-state student.
What are some other places I should look that have a similar feel to W&M?
Criteria:
Size- I like the feel of smaller schools, but could also see myself doing well at a larger institution.
Academics- Not sure what I want to do yet (maybe something in biology or psychology).
Location- Would prefer to stay in the midwest, mid-atlantic, or northeast. I’m really open to anything though.
Party Scene- I like when the majority of my peers are also focused on academics and I think that “party schools” may be too distracting. I don’t mind greek life as long as it doesn’t dominate social life.
Minnesota. Merit aid would be very helpful as we do not qualify for financial aid. My parents have set a loose budget at 45k, but have also discussed paying more for a school that is really “worth it” in their eyes (better programs/reach schools probably). Of course, this isn’t guaranteed, but I think it’s better to get some ideas now and it never hurts to apply for merit scholarships!
I do know that they won’t want to pay the annoyingly common 70-75K price tag that many LACs come with, so I would be more open to exploring less competitive schools where I could potentially get a merit scholarship. Otherwise, going to a larger school with in-state tuition may be my best bet.
What is it about W&M that you like? That would make it easier to make other suggestions. If it’s the size and southern location, perhaps Wake Forest? You mention merit aid. There are many LACs in the Midwest with merit aid if you are interested in smaller colleges. Kenyon, Denison, oberlin, Kalamazoo would be a few of them.
OP: If you want "more realistic suggestions, it would be helpful to share more information including standardized test scores, GPA, APs, EC interests, career objective, etc.
I also thought of Miami of Ohio. It’s larger but very good and more accessible in terms of admissions. And check out the merit aid it offers. Eligibility is determined by test scores and GPA, so you can see where you might stand in a matter of seconds.
Denison in Ohio is another one you might want to look at. It seems pretty “hot” right now. It’s smaller but also a very good school.
One choice that might be a good sleeper (for a MN student) is Elon University in NC. Over the last 3-4 decades it has transformed from a small regional LAC to a rising national university. Similar size to W&M, very beautiful campus, and, like W&M, it has shops, restaurants adjacent to campus. Students really seem to love it there. We know 3 current students, all very bright with strong high school records, all loving it.
Just curious. You have a very well-regarded state flagship school in The University of Minnesota. Why not save your money for grad school, study abroad, valuable but unpaid internships, etc? I ask this as a parent of kids who were accepted at Minnesota, W&M, UVA, Villanova, etc., but who went to UVA (in part for the in-state savings). Just too big or too close to home?
Interesting suggestions, @Hippo21. I like that W&M has some interesting stuff to do around, but not so much that it would become distracting. I also like that it is within road-trip distance of some really fun cities/outdoor activities. I don’t know much about Wake Forest, but I’ve heard it has a stronger greek life influence. Is this true? What is the appeal of the other schools that you mentioned?
@TTG Miami Ohio has already been ruled out. I’ll have to look into Denison more as it has been mentioned several times. A few kids from my school went to Elon, but I don’t really know much about the school. Do they have good opportunities in terms of biology or psychology? Is it more of a reach, target, or safety? And what do you mean by “good sleeper (for a MN student)”?
@2kidstocollege18 University of Minnesota is on my definitely apply list. Many students from my school apply there as a safety. I’m not opposed to going there, but I would like something smaller if possible. A school farther away from home would be nice simply to experience a new environment that I haven’t grown up around. I’m also not a huge fan of such an expansive campus (I think the biology buildings are mainly on the St. Paul campus which isn’t preferred).
Wake Forest is more like a small UVA vs. W&M. Very academic and social. Greek life is a bigger thing then at W&M but not overwhelming (S is not in it and he has tons of fun). Very active student body. Tons of school spirit. Get behind their sports teams big time (ACC). S’s final choice was between Wake and W&M and he chose Wake for those reasons. He viewed it as academic/ social vs academic/ intellectual. That’s not to say that W&M’s kids aren’t social or Wake’s aren’t intellectual. Just a basic vibe. I think URichmond is more similar to W&M. Perhaps Davidson.
How about Rhodes College in Memphis? Easier for merit than Richmond, easier for acceptance than Davidson. Great for biology and partnership for research with St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Memphis is a large city but probably not so much going on to be a huge distraction.
Rhodes is definitely smaller than W&M but also has a really beautiful campus.
I’ll second Denison too, and add College of Wooster. Brand new science building and interesting mentored research program.
Check out St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Like W&M, it is a small mid-Atlantic public honors college.
It is smaller and a bit less selective than W&M.
In recent years, they have awarded many merit scholarships to OOS students.
I thought that Elon might be less well known in Minnesota. It’s popular in the DC area, and I know it’s drawing a lot of students from the Northeast. I did not know if it had much of a profile up your way. Really, it was very small and attracted few students from outside the Carolinas and VA just a few decades ago. That’s changed. Sorry, I can’t speak to the bio/psych program specifically. I do know a student who visited friends at Elon, and they thought it was like W&M in terms of the places it offered students right around campus. I can’t comment if it would be a safety, match, or reach for you without knowing stats, etc.
Miami of Ohio did not appeal, that’s helpful. Yes, give Denison a look. How about Franklin & Marshall or Lafayette, both in PA? F&M is in Lancaster, a regional hub and sort of the capital of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Nice campus, near nice downtown area. Lafayette is a little on the larger side for an LAC. The campus is more isolated on a hilltop, and less to do downtown for students, less of a W&M walk over to restaurants, etc. setup, I think (don’t know Easton very well but have been there several times), but really a very nice campus. Both excellent schools, with strong, academic-minded students. Both definitely have competitive admissions, although probably less so than W&M. I’ll note that W&M is somewhat of a more challenging admit for female students, both in-state and out, just because of the higher number of well-qualified female applicants (same tends to be true at LACs and the opposite tends to be true at more traditionally STEM/engineering schools).
I mentioned Denison, Kenyon, Oberlin, Kalamazoo because they are in the Midwest, smaller and have merit money. I second the vote for looking at the colleges that change lives for ideas. I remember liking the description of Kalamazoo and Denison. As another poster mentioned, W&M definitely has a reputation for being academic & intellectual. Most, but not all, students I know who attend are introverts. I’ve also heard students say it is academically intense. I’m not sure what other colleges match that profile that are easier to get into.