My DS loves Vassar. Stats-wise he’s a viable applicant there, but we know he needs a safety or two – and so far we haven’t found one that meets the “would be happy to attend if you don’t get into your first choice” criterion.
He’s aiming for a small-to-medium (2500-5000, in his definition) LAC. Things he loves about Vassar:
diversity (various sorts including socio-economic, race, LGBTQ, even student academic interests);
vibrant arts scene (esp music), with classes accessible to non-majors and a big variety of student-driven activities at all levels of experience and commitment;
accessible professors;
collaborative, not competitive, learning environment;
open curriculum / intellectual exploration;
accessible to a city, with kids who value that (he’d love to be closer than Vassar is to a major city, but he was persuaded that kids do go into NYC periodically); and
(hard to describe) a student body that doesn’t segregate into “boxes” – athletes make music, scientists explore philosophy, etc. etc.
He’s flexible on geography, other than hoping to be near a city.
Macalester also not a safety, but not as tough an acceptance as Vassar. St Olaf wouldn’t check the diversity box as much as some others would, but does get you some other qualities. Lawrence in Appleton, WI checks is more of a safety, great music scene, fairly diverse, very collaborative, Appleton is not a big city.
Great list already! Thanks so much. Mwfan1921: you correctly intuited, even though I forgot to say it, that he does not want heavy Greek life or sports focus. (I suppose that was implicit in "he loves Vassar!)
Skidmore felt similar to Vassar but with the pressure and prestige toned down. There’s nothing easy access to a major city, though. There are lots of smaller schools in and around Boston to consider. Much of NJ and PA has good access to NYC. Maybe you can specify which cities appeal (or count as major), and then look for the right sized schools close to those cities.
Wheaton in Mass, SKidmore, already mentioned, Sarah Lawrence, Ithaca college, Goucher in Baltimore, Bennington in VT, Connecticut College, Radford University, Mary Washington College, the Marymount colleges (all over the country), Manhattan College,all come to mind.
Skidmore makes a nice suggestion, but note that its acceptance rate for male applicants (recently 25%) tends to fall about ten percentage points lower than that for Vassar (35%).
Case Western Reserve U, surprisingly strong in music and liberal arts, located near Cleveland Orchestra, and stats to get into Arts and Sciences are lower than engineering there. Western Reserve of Connecticut started the liberal arts college that is now CWRU. CIM is a conservatory on campus, teachers cross over to Case.
In addition to the all important safeties, also be sure to identify and apply widely to Vassar’s peer LACs.
You might want to encourage him to apply to schools that are excellent cultural and academic fits even if they don’t meet his big city desires to give him more choices and a better chance of getting what matters most to him.
I also agree with the Clark University suggestions. Our son attends Vassar and he would have been happy to have attended Clark had Vassar not worked out. PS - yes…they do go to NYC occasionally…next weekend for ours ;). Quick Uber to the train station, 1 1/2 hrs to Grand Central. Best of luck to your son!