<p>Is he interested in being in/near a city? His current list seems to indicate that, but I wasn’t sure.</p>
<p>Not sure Pitt and Brandeis would qualify as safety schools (but if you’re considering Pitt, how about URochester). Likewise, Dickinson is more of a low-match and Grinnell is a reach (ranked #18 by USN&WR); neither is close to a city.</p>
<p>I second Clark, Wooster and Earlham, though neither of the latter two is near a city.</p>
<p>How about Wheaton (about 30min to Provid), Ursinus (not far from Philly) or Goucher (Baltimore), Not only are they safeties in terms of his stats, but he’d be in the running for merit money (Goucher and and Wheaton want to balange that male:female ratio - - so a boy with strong scores would be a pretty hot commodity).</p>
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<p>“Some LACs lock up an awful lot of the “middle class white kids without a hook” slots in the early decision round(s).”</p>
<p>Only “some?” I thought most LACs did that.</p>
<p>Is it necessary that he attend a place that has instant name recognition here, or where you live? If not, there are scads of smaller LACs all around the country that would be delighted to have him. For example <a href=“https://www.thinkindependently.com/index.aspx[/url]”>https://www.thinkindependently.com/index.aspx</a> has links to all of the LACs in Iowa. He would have decent chances at Grinnell, and almost certainly would be admissible at Coe, Cornell, Drake, and Luther. If he likes the Cornell College one-course-at-a-time plan, he could investigate other schools with that kind of calendar.</p>
<p>I was going to say what seiclan said, so I’m just going to second that. I got 25k/year in merit aid and was accepted well before RD apps were even due (I applied EA). I also finished the application in about 30 minutes the night it was due.</p>
<p>I would not recommend Tulane to someone who thinks College of Charleston is too much of a party school and /or dislkes Greeks.</p>
<p>Hobart & William Smith?</p>
<p>I third the suggestion of Clark University.</p>
<p>Bates shouldn’t be too reachy for him.</p>
<p>I’ll second Luther College and U Rochester.</p>
<p>Bates – as a safety?</p>
<p>Naviance data at our well-respected suburban school in Massachusetts indicates that no one has been turned down in the last three years with an unweighted GPA greater than or equal to 3.68 and a combined math/reading SAT of 1350 or more.</p>
<p>I would second Allegheny. It is a little out of the way, but has an excellent political science department. They will also likely offer merit aid and do offer early decision.</p>
<p>OP, please do let us know what you and your son think when you check these out!</p>
<p>Beloit College, in Wisconsin.</p>
<p>Union College, NY- while there is a Greek system the Minerva Houses are now being used to create alternative upper class communities.</p>
<p>I would second the Union suggestion, but even with the Minerva system they are still showing up on lists for “heavy partying.” Perhaps that is an old reputation that is just dogging them though… S loved Union, and with similar stats to the OP’s was offered $10k in merit money there 3 years ago.</p>
<p>I’d second the recommendation for Providence (convenient to an airport, if he’ll be traveling from the Southeast). Love Muhlenberg, but Allentown airport is tiny and Philly & NYC are at least 90 minutes away, each. </p>
<p>UVM… lots of kids here use it for a safety. And I’ve yet to hear of a kid who ended up going there and didn’t fall in love with it.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great suggestions! I made a list of all the schools mentioned here;crossed out a few that I was pretty sure he wouldn’t like. He did a little surface research and most of them are now on his naviance list for further research. I knew that you CC parents would have some great ideas!</p>
<p>Please look at Beloit.</p>
<p>From another part of the country–Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. About 5,600 students, great liberal arts program and a great speech and debate program. Good merit aid.</p>
<p>The drawback is the location. Tiny town in the middle of nowhere. But the kids from our area who go there absolutely love it.</p>
<p>In the northwest, try Willamette University. They have an early action option and offered my son nice merit aid.</p>