<p>Glad to hear your daughter’s having a good experience. I think Dickinson is on our list!</p>
<p>How about the College of Wooster in Ohio?</p>
<p>My D is also a Dickinson grad. She loved it! Her first year they gave her an option to live with other students in her same Freshman Seminar class (don’t recall, it might not be called Freshman Seminar, but same general idea). She met some other academic-minded kids there that she stayed friends with all the way through. Several of those original friends graduated Phi Beta Kappa with her at the end of their four years. Her professors were really engaging, and she also had some great experiences off campus (studied in a country that does not usually have much study abroad traffic, spent a semester in DC interning at the State Department for credit, got a summer internship in DC with a Senator, and a couple of other good internship opportunities as well). She also did a senior honors thesis that was honestly grueling, but she was very proud of herself at the end, and it was nominated for a national thesis award when she was done. She got good merit aid, too. 
It ended up being a perfect fit (and she had considered it her “safety” school when she was applying, but liked it so much she decided to attend).</p>
<p>university of Richmond unc Asheville are good (Asheville is a very artsy school in what is arguably the most liberal city in the state). I don’t even think UNCA has greek life. Have you checked out Allegheny College?</p>
<p>Great to hear another good personal report on Dickinson. I’ll also check out Richmond, UNCA and Allegheny. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi, I’m mostly a lurker, but have a question about Dickinson, which sounds great. I’ve heard it’s fairly preppy–is that true?</p>
<p>Also, College of Wooster is on my daughter’s list for sure. We visited/she interviewed, liked it, and we know several recent graduates who speak highly of the school. Merit money possibility and very reachable with her gpa and scores.</p>
<p>You might want to look at Bucknell. A tad bigger than some listed thus far, but still a great LAC close to Maryland.</p>
<p>I looked at Bucknell, but I think there’s a big focus on Greek life.</p>
<p>Dear posters,</p>
<p>How in the world are Hamilton, Skidmore, Barnard, Lafayette, Smith, Tufts, Bates, Colby and Colgate colleges that the O/P’s daughter “can be be assured of getting in?”</p>
<p>:confused:</p>
<p>^^ I second Muhlenberg for a match school. :)</p>
<p>
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<p>They’re not, but for a kid aiming for schools like Bowdoin and Swarthmore they could be good matches. I suggested the OP look down the line from there to match schools for kids who consider these schools (Hamilton…Colgate) stretch schools. In other words…</p>
<p>Bowdoin is a common stretch school for kids applying to Bates. Bates is a common stretch school for kids applying to Dickinson. Dickinson is a stretch for kids applying to Muhlenberg. Ergo, Bates might be a good high match/low stretch, Dickinson might be a good match, Muhlenberg might be a good low match/high likely (continue as necessary). You’ve gone from a 14 percent acceptance rate with a low 700’s average SAT to a 46 percent acceptance rate with low 600’s average SATs. Still a nice school, just more accessible.</p>
<p>Frankly, I’m not sure any college a student can be assured of getting in is going to be a good match for a student like this unless you’re talking about strong state schools that have an auto-admit policy. The OP’s daughter is not guaranteed admission at any private school, even those which would be a good likely for, say, Muhlenberg kids. The odds make schools down the ladder good bets.</p>
<p>OP, I have a friend whose daughter attended Muhlenberg and loved it. I’ve heard it described as an excellent safety (in spirit) for Haverford and that they offer excellent merit money to top students. Further away, but Earlham in Indiana (a Quaker school) might fit that bill too. </p>
<p>If your daughter has stats to make her genuinely competitive for Bowdoin and Swarthmore, however, I’d be sure to demonstrate some serious interest in her safeties so she doesn’t get waitlisted out of fear that she’s not likely to accept admission at those less selective schools. </p>
<p>I’d agree with others that in terms of selectivity there’s a pretty big gap between an Earlham or Muhlenberg and her reach schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for the personal recommendation about Muhlenberg. I haven’t known anyone who’s attended there, but the reviews I’ve read are very positive. As for my daughter’s competitiveness, she’s applying ED to Bowdoin, which will give her a slight bump, but she probably has very little chance of getting into Swarthmore regular decision. But I agree that we should try to visit/interview at Dickinson/Muhlenberg if she applies there to demonstrate real interest. And again, I’m avoiding the word “safeties,” because I truly think that every school she applies to should be a great option.</p>
<p>I guess I am the third to sing Muhlenberg’s praises. My son is a junior there and loves it. It is strong in preprofessional degrees med, law, etc. and also has a top rated theater program. The students all seem to get along just fine. Very small Greek life, great facilities and staff. It is worth a visit and tour and if your daughter is so inclined she should consider doing the interview. Muhlenberg, more than most schools we looked at, strongly believes in getting to know the students who apply. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Glad to hear your son loves Muhlenberg. Thanks for the response!</p>
<p>Ginsamhorn, your daughter sounds very much like my daughter in so many ways (MD public high school, IB, no Greek, etc). Even her possible list of schools to apply to is similar. My D has visited and will apply to Swarthmore, Haverford, Oberlin, Dickinson, Denison, Muhlenberg, UMD-CP, and St. Mary’s. She also visited Davidson and Kenyon, but she felt no love for either one. Hope this helps, and best of luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>sschickens, very helpful, thanks! Good luck to your daughter.</p>
<p>Bucknell and Colgate probably have too much Greek life focus. Might look at state funded William & Mary.</p>
<p>ginsamhorn, We visited and were very impressed with Muhlenberg…beautiful place, not right for my son but I highly recommend going to visit note: the Admissions Office was a little intimidating). I suggest reaching out to “beenthereanddone”…she provided great insight.</p>