Some of the public LACs are not that selective, and may not be that expensive even for out-of-state students (e.g. Truman State, University of Minnesota - Morris).
http://www.coplac.org/members/
If you are near Bard, there are several public LACs in the region, including in-state ones if you live in MA, CT, NY, NJ.
As a journalist, I have a few observations.
Small LACS are great for studying English, but if you are seriously interested in journalism it helps to have experience on a daily student newspaper. None of the LACS I know of have daily papers. Tufts has the Tufts Daily, a great paper, but I don’t know if you consider Tufts an LAC. It’s more of a small university, and it is not a safety for anyone. If Tufts moves up on the priority list for you, I would strongly recommend applying ED. It’s next to impossible to get into that school RD without a hook. At least 40% of the class is filled ED.
Wesleyan – not a safety, but one of the best student newspapers among LACs, the Wesleyan Argus. It is not daily – it is semi-weekly – but it is an independent paper.
With your stats, I think Lafayette and Bucknell are safeties. Other safeties for you could be Muhlenberg, SUNY Geneseo, and Brandeis. I don’t know anything about their student newspapers.
One more recommendation (not a safety): Would you consider Cornell (College of Arts & Sciences)? I know you said a small LAC, but I think you have a chance for Cornell as an English major. And being in CAS is like being in an LAC, but with the larger Cornell community around you. But the main reason I recommend Cornell is because of the Cornell Daily Sun. The Sun has consistently been ranked as the best or one of the best college newspapers in the country.
It isn’t too early at all – the OP is wise to be thinking hard about safeties now and planning some visits.
Re #21: Yes, but only the OP’s first-choice school can claim as alumni Grover’s Corners Sentinel editor Charles Webb (Our Town) and, if real life must be introduced, multiple Pulitzer Prize winners and Algonquin Round Table member Alexander Woollcott.
I think several of your matches are more safeties. Maybe if you add just one more “absolute safety”, you’ll feel more comfortable but I think you have a great list already.
@merc81 and @intparent- no, I missed something! I thought the OP was a sophomore. Big oops.
Neither Lafayette or F&M are safeties. Those schools want to see demonstrated interested, not just the so-called “Stats” that seem to get so much attention on CC. I’ve seen plenty of students with better standardized test scores than the OP – and comparable GPA – get rejected by those two schools. Full disclosure: I have daughters who attended each – one a “high stats” kid and one below the 25th percentile of her soon-to-be alma mater.
@hudsonvalley51 My dad is an alum at Lafayette and I really like the school. I have an interview at the end of April. I’m definitely planning on visiting F&M, as it has been recommended to fit my personality well.
Liberal arts colleges are quirky, and because they are small, it’s hard for them to be a safety because they have to really believe that they have a shot at you for you to get in. It’s really hard to control that. Therefore, IMHO, I think you really should have an early action school as a safety. This way you get into your safety before your RD applications are due. Some schools that meet this criteria are
Bard
Boston College (not a safety unless you get in)
Clark
Dickinson
Goucher
Hampshire
Ithaca
Juniata
Marist
Marlboro
Wheaton - (Massachusetts)
Sienna
SUNY - New Paltz
Ursinus
University of Vermont (Not a LAC, but smallish (12K) and beautiful for a flagship public)
Wells
If you want more of a safety it would be worthwhile to visit Muhlenberg during your PA trip – it is only a half hour or so from Lafayette and it will give you some of that “demonstrated interest” in the school.
As a NYS resident (I’m assuming, not far from Bard) looking for a LAC I’d definitely add Geneseo to your list and pay a visit. It’s a relatively rare public LAC. The education and experience you get for $20k there will cost you a boat load more other places, even if money isn’t an issue. The Lamron is the student newspaper, in publication since 1922. Yes, a little Geneseo bias, as the wife and I are alums. Personally, living close to New Paltz (where my wife got her Master in Education), I think Geneseo is a better choice, although New Paltz is a great school/town, too. Our D was accepted to both Geneseo and New Paltz, but I don’t think she will be attending either. She received her acceptance into Emerson yesterday. Starting the college search she was interested in Journalism and Marketing, and she loves Performing Arts. Emerson has a new program that combines all three (Business of Creative Enterprise). To brantly’s point above, sometimes if there is something you know you want to do (like Journalism) you focus on schools that specialize and are known for that. Emerson fits that bill for you, and should be a safety with your stats. Our D had a higher GPA but a lower ACT, with great EC, recommendations and essays.
I think you’re way overstating the “safety” aspect of some of these schools. I could easily see the OP getting rejected by one or more of these (most likely Brandeis or Bucknell).
“is American right in DC or does it have a campus?”
AU is in a nice, upscale neighborhood of NW DC. It has a self-contained campus and is easily accessible to downtown by Metro and Georgetown by bus. CUA is in NE DC is a gentrified neighborhood with a nice campus. It is also easy to get downtown by Metro.
For safeties, I second or third Dickinson and Mulhenberg.
@wisteria100 I wanted to like Colgate when I toured, but it seems so snobby preppy and centered around frat life (That’s what I feel about Bucknell too). Should I still apply to Colgate?
@elenaclaire828 Why would you apply to a school that you don’t feel is a good fit? There are tons of LACs out there so eliminate ones that don’t work for you. That is why you visit schools. Both of my kids eliminated a number of schools during our visits for various reasons (too preppy, too artsy, uncomfortable with area around campus etc. ).
If you did like Colgate, you may not like Bucknell either. Bucknell struck me as more frat centric than Colgate. Was impressed with academics and research opportunities at both, with Colgate having a more intellectual vibe.
Ditto on not bothering with schools that don’t feel right and ditto on checking out Muhlenberg, Clark and Dickinson. Those would be safeties relative to your original list, and all have a different vibe from Bucknell or Colgate.
f you did like Colgate, you may not like Bucknell either. Bucknell struck me as more frat centric than Colgate. Was impressed with academics and research opportunities at both, with Colgate having a more intellectual vibe.
meant if you did not like Colgate
@elenaclaire828 , while we didn’t visit Colgate my D and I both found Bucknell very preppy, very Greek oriented and thus cancelled seeing Colgate because from all accounts, they are very similar. We did like Dickinson, although even at a 32ACT I’m not sure it is a safety and it also has a somewhat preppy vibe as well. Clark U will definitely be a safety but be sure to check out the surrounding town. I think for communications, Ithaca would be a great safety choice. D goes to Skidmore which would be considered a low match/safety (much like Dickinson) and they have a good music program as well as a great vibe, just a bit artsy, not preppy at all, not sure about the English/Journalism choices though. Good luck!