Hi everyone,
I am looking at schools where the students are a bit off beat but definitely intellectual, schools that would be on the CTCL list even. But- I’d also like to find a school where the undergrad enrollment is 3000+. University of Rochester comes to mind but might be too hard to get into for the student I’m helping. She is a B+/A student with SAT scores around 1100. Thanks for your suggestions!
She could check Skidmore College, their ACT requirement is around 26 and they give good aid too. You could also try at Macalester and Lake forest College. although these schools aren’t like Bard but they are really good. If she really wanna go to Bard, why don’t you try the option of ED. With an ED acceptance rate of 44% it surely gives you higher chances of getting in.
Thank you. Yes, she likes Skidmore a lot but is hoping for a slightly larger school.
Bennington College?
Bennington is tiny but there is a field work term in the winter and students leave campus to work, anywhere in the US or global. Sarah Lawrence is also small. Marlboro is the smallest?
I would suggest Clark University in Worcester MA, maybe Lewis and Clark or U. of Puget Sound on the West Coast.
Generally smaller liberal arts colleges meet these criteria. Oberlin, Kenyon, Grinnell, Vassar, Skidmore, Hobart William Smith come to mind.
There was a good book out entitled “Creative Colleges.” It might still be available.
Skidmore also went test-optional last year, so I’d expect the median SAT/ACT scores to go up.
Is she interested in the West Coast? UC Santa Cruz might have some of the vibe she’s looking for. Although it’s larger than most private colleges, it has a residential college system wherein students are assigned to smaller groups. She could also look at Pitzer: although it’s tiny, the entire 5-college Claremont Consortium has about 5k students. Pitzer is selective, but it’s also test-optional. Another possibility is UNC Asheville.
We saw several of the same kids at the Earlham and Bard Accepted student events. It is small, though, but may meet the other criteria. Excellent teaching, very inclusive place.
Clark, definitely. Her score and wanting a szie of about 3000 quirky students makes this a tough one.
Here is a list of test-optional schools (or schools that don’t emphasize scores) http://fairtest.org/university/optional
Look at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.
Also small, and the curriculum is unique.
Might take a look at Ithaca College.
Bennington isn’t a great school, believe me. They accept any and everyone. Please don’t apply to that school
Is money going to be an issue?
Have you spoken with the parents?
How much are her parents realistically willing to pay or borrow?
Have you had the parents run the net price calculator on your recommendations?
madiefarts123 not sure where you get your information on Bennington, but there are students who go there despite getting into an Ivy. I have no personal investment in the school but it is a wonderful place for those who want to work in an interdisciplinary way and carve their own path through college. The campus is gorgeous, and field work term is useful for the future. But very very small.
I agree with those who suggested Clark University (in Worchester, Massachusetts).
It is a liberal leaning school that emphasizes contributing to the world- see their LEEP structure that combines theory and practice, their motto (“challenge convention, change the world”), their student body, etc.
It is a small university, matching your requirement.
It is among the best colleges in the country for psychology and geography, and solid across the board academically.
Her scores and grades are not atypical there.
Re: post #13 @madiefarts123 - Bennington has a 63% acceptance rate. More than a third of its applicants would argue forcefully against your assessment, therefore.
Yes, Clark, L and C, and U of PS are definitely on the list. I love Clark…not so crazy about Worcester, although I know it’s improving. Thank you all for the input!
UNC Asheville-yes!!