School suggestions for "good" students

<p>Anyone care to toss out some names of schools that might work for decent students who might not be in the top range (especially here on CC), perhaps B+ range averages, honors classes rather than AP's, SAT's in the low 600 range, etc? </p>

<p>Key would be schools that, while perhaps not the most competitive (admissions-wise), still have an academic-oriented atmosphere. Involved professors, good student-teacher ratio, curious students who seem to love learning... Eastern US preferred, but not required. Decent liberal arts or business programs--
Thanks</p>

<p>I just visited Trinity University in San Antonio with son#2 and I was very impressed with the academic nature and the close interaction with the faculty. According to the stats of the incoming class, 76% were in the top 20%. It's a very nice campus with some of the nicest dorm rooms I've ever seen and nice facilities. (And I've seen a lot of campuses lately with son#1 - from Cornell to JHU to Stanford to Wash U, etc.) It's not very well known outside of Texas, but the word is getting out. I believe it's about 60% Texans.</p>

<p>I think Smith, Barnard and Holyoke fit the bill if she's a girl.</p>

<p>Quinnipiac is worth a look.</p>

<p>Elon University in North Carolina?</p>

<p>Thanks, all-
I'm actually browsing for a few children of friends & relatives-- both boys and girls. Might include own S2 except that he is just a rising sophomore, and we have absolutely NO idea what kind of record he'll have by the time he starts looking... </p>

<p>Was also wondering about Hobart/William Smith (niece would be a legacy there).</p>

<p>I could name a bunch, but the first school that comes to mind from your description is Emerson.</p>

<p>Correction to post #3- Barnard is the most highly selective women's college in the country- the kid needs to be a top-range student or have other outstanding characteristics to get in there. It is not as tough as Ivy admissions, but 70% of their enrolling students have a high school GPA of 3.75 or above - 83% are in the top 10th of their graduating class -- so it doesn't belong on any "A+ colleges for B+ students" list. US News does in fact have a list with that name, here:
<a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/aplusrankindex_brief.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/aplusrankindex_brief.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Smith and Mount Holyoke would also be a bit of a reach for this type of student, unless there were some outstanding EC or special interest factors.</p>

<p>Look at Wheaton in Norton, MA, Skidmore, Goucher, and Clark University.</p>

<p>my son just graduated from james madison university in virginia and his stats were similar to the ones you have indicated.</p>

<p>you mimght also take a look at St. Lawrence U in upstate NY</p>

<p>Providence College and Roger Williams in Rhode Island; Muhlenberg in Pennsylvania; American and Catholic in DC; Skidmore in NY; Pace in NYC. These are schools that the B-B+ students around here have gotten into.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ncf.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.ncf.edu&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>That's my son #2.
He applied to and was accepted at University of Denver, University of Colorado/Boulder, University of Arizona, Arizona State , University of Pittsburgh, Syracuse, George Mason, and the Indiana University.</p>

<p>Small schools that he liked, and where he was competitive , but decided they were a little too small for him: Union, Muhlenberg and Lafayette.</p>

<p>He will be University of Denver this fall because he felt that the small size of the school (compared to the Big U's) and being in a great city balanced each other, and he really liked the academic offerings and both the professors and students that he met</p>

<p>Franklin & Marshall in PA?
American in DC?
In the South Rhodes and Furman?</p>

<p>Maryland's Biggest High School aka The Stanford of the Alleghenies aka Frostburg State.</p>

<p>Many of the "Colleges that Change Lives" fit the bill:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ctcl.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ctcl.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>And U. S. News has set of lists "A options for B students. Many, but not all of these are a notch less selective most of the good suggestions above.</p>

<p><a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/apluslibartco_brief.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/apluslibartco_brief.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I second University of Denver, Roger Williams, and Franklin and Marshall.</p>

<p>Gettysburg and Dickinson (both in PA) might good choices as well. </p>

<p>Edited to add: Look at Drew (NJ).</p>

<p>St. Michaels in Colchester Vermont
Siena in Loudonville, NY
Dickinson and Juniata in Pa
Stonehill in Easton Mass</p>

<p>Miami University in Ohio! Gorgeous campus. Great academics.Very cute town.</p>