Schools like Brown, but easier to get into?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Brown is my first choice and I think I'll apply early decision there. I love the open curriculum, urban location, and the laid back and liberal attitude of the students. But I know I will probably be rejected so could anyone help me find a few matches and safeties that are similar to Brown? I'm basically looking for a medium sized, preferably urban school that has liberal students and sends a good amount of grads to law school.</p>

<p>I'm a white male from a competitive Illinois public school.</p>

<p>My (not so stellar) stats: 3.6uw GPA, 30 ACT (8 essay), top ~22% class rank, will have taken 5 APs by graduation.</p>

<p>My extracurriculars aren't amazing... I played 2 years of varsity soccer, started a gardening club at my old boarding school, went on Outward Bound sailing trips, and volunteered for 50 hours as a tutor at an elementary school.</p>

<p>My application essays will be unique and very personal. My recommendations will be amazing. One rec might be from a Brown alum who taught and counseled me in high school. (Will this help my chances at Brown?)</p>

<p>So...... do I have a chance at Brown ED? And what are some schools like Brown that are easier to get into? Thanks for your help.</p>

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<p>You would do better to concentrate on schools a step below Brown. Have you looked at Oberlin, a reach but not an unrealistic one, or Beloit, a safety/match for you? While neither has an urban location, they do have flexible curricula and free spirited student bodies.</p>

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<p>when you say, gardening club, do you mean, flowers or veggies?</p>

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<p>Wesleyan and Vassar are much like Brown, and slightly less selective–however, they would both also be large reaches for you, just marginally less so, so if you want more reaches, they might be good. They are also LACs, so slightly smaller.</p>

<p>I agree with Oberlin as a more likely reach, though it is not as urban. Macalester would work as something more like a low reach or high match, if you are OK with Minnesota weather and a slightly smaller school.</p>

<p>Skidmore might make a good match though, again, it’s smaller.</p>

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<p>Midwesterner, I have looked at Oberlin… the only thing I didn’t like was the location. I don’t know if I would enjoy living in rural Ohio. Do you know anything about the social life there? I haven’t looked into Beloit but I will now.</p>

<p>johnwesley- mostly veggies, everything from pumpkins and watermelon to tomatoes.</p>

<p>Weskid, Wesleyan sounds like an amazing school. Would applying ED at Wesleyan or Vassar help my chances more than at Brown? I’ll look into Macalester and Skidmore. Thanks</p>

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<p>[The</a> Wesleyan Connection: Campus News](<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/newsletter/campus/2006/0406longlane.html]The”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/newsletter/campus/2006/0406longlane.html)</p>

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<p>se</p>

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<p>If the gardening club was veggies it will only count against you…</p>

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<p>@titan124- why is that?</p>

<p>@johnwesley- That is eerily similar to what our club did…</p>

<p>Thanks Weskid for your input. I’ll start looking into the schools you listed</p>

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<p>Bard is another to consider.</p>

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<p>^^ Not if OP is looking for urban!! ^^</p>

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<p>I second Wesleyan and Vassar.</p>

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<p>I think New College of Florida might fit your description pretty well – open curriculum, laid back, liberal. It’s by the ocean too. Only thing is that it’s not what I would call urban. But Sarosota is a nice place and it’s not far from Tampa.</p>

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<p>Wesleyan is NOT urban. Mildly suburban, maybe.</p>

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<p>The fact that you’re male will help you at LACs, especially Vassar.</p>

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<p>I don’t think suburban quite captures Wesleyan either. Middletown’s pretty busy during the day. And, you don’t need a car in order to shop for a pair of jeans or other necessities. But, it tends to shut down at night sort of like the suburbs.</p>