<p>I'm looking for small or mid-sized universities with a lot of academic rigor but not necessarily elite admissions numbers. I'm interested in places like Emory, Rice, and WUStL, but I'm skeptical of my chances getting in to those institutions, so I'm looking for other alternatives. Public or private, cost no issue, at any location. Where can I find characteristics of those schools - size, academic rigor, good integration of liberal arts and professional preparation, etc.?</p>
<p>Look at UNC-Asheville. Also, Davidson, but it is also quite selective. Rhodes in Memphis. Sewanee in TN.</p>
<p>I would recommend Northwestern to your list even if its admissions rate has become more competitive over the years (down to 27%, I believe). It is a medium-sized university that has a strong undergraduate focus with its five preprofessional undergraduate schools (Communications, Education & Social Policy, Engineering, Journalism, Music) and its College of Arts and Sciences.</p>
<p>Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee
Davidson College
Elon University
University of Richmond
Vanderbilt University</p>
<p>Tulane comes to mind, although it’s also fairly selective. </p>
<p>U Miami might be a great choice, although it’s possibly a little large (10K undergrads).</p>
<p>The schools you mentioned are all high research universities that are very strong. Based off of that I suggest:
University of Rochester (up there with Emory, WUSTL in research activity)
Case Western Reserve University (so is this one ^^^)
RPI</p>
<p>we’re wondering the same thing, but our emphasis is not the research, but the proximity to a city. D is very interested in the cultural life of a city, and we’d also like to get some schools on the list that are a notch below Emory and WUSTL in selectivity. Not a rah rah frat dominated school, though.</p>
<p>University of Rochester is a possible choice for fans of WUSTL, Emory, and Rice. Carnegie Mellon may be good as well.</p>