<p>Muhlenburg is a very good suggestion. Also, take a look at Ithaca College.</p>
<p>Oldhag-you may also want to look at Dickinson and Franklin & Marshall if you decide to visit Gettysburg. S will be starting there in the fall-while we are not Jewish, I looked on the website for the campus Hillel organization and found a statistic indicating that the Jewish population at Dickinson is around 10% They also have a new building:</p>
<p>I am also quite familiar with Union, having spent 4 of the happiest years of my life there (S was accepted to both, but decided to attend Dickinson, which is closer to home for him). At the time I attended (back in the day), there was an active Hillel on campus.</p>
<p>Several of the schools mentioned are among the "colleges that change lives" liberal arts colleges. Along with Loren Pope's a bit outdated (but still interesting) book of the same name, be sure to check the ctcl.com website for more up-to-date information on the 40 or colleges. Most of them are still in the "holistic" mode. (My niece attends a CTCL school, Juniata College in Pennsylvania, and loves the personal attention given the students.)</p>
<p>I get the feeling Lafayette is a stellar place. Please post how your tour goes as my DD is interested. Northeastmom had some great suggestions. If name recognition is not important to you consider Assumption College in Worcester. Trinity in Hartford is not bad but keep in mind the urban setting. I forgot if anyone mentioned Clark always on the top or near so on the non-Ivy lists.</p>
<p>Thanks for everyones replies. </p>
<p>Bxian: We did visit Dickinson, D liked but didn't love. Couldn't get a real sense for life there. We may go back and give it another try. BEAUTIFUL campus, and loved the "Global Learning" concept. At this point Union still ranks very high on her list. Congrats to your S and happy to hear that you are a Union fan!!!
NGale: Read report below on Lafayette. It is worth a visit and many kids we know love it there, just didn't make it to the top on our visit. I have seen Trinity with D#1 and fell in love. I think Hartford is an asset, not a negative, but not sure D#2 will agree with me! If only it were in New Haven or Providence with Urban Outfitters and Starbucks just a stone throws away, and she would be sold!</p>
<p>Anyway, we got back a few days ago from visiting Lafayette, Muhlenberg, and Lehigh. Here are her/our thoughts:</p>
<p>LAFAYETTE: D expected to LOVE Lafayette, but only liked it. Couldn't put her finger on "why" but nothing stood out in her mind. The campus is nice, but not as pretty as Union. No kids on campus, but tour guide was lovely, and seemed like a great place if you "connect." We may go back in fall for an interview and to see how she feels with the student body on campus. </p>
<p>MUHLENBERG: We had heard that "you love it or you hate it." Well we actually loved it, but not necessarily for D. If you have a child that is in the least bit anxious about going off to college (mine's not), this may be a place to look at. The most nurturing environment ever. Very friendly campus. This is a school that looks at the "whole applicant," without a doubt. Very big on theater, and if you had a secret desire to try out for a play in HS but were too shy, you would feel comfortable auditioning here, without a doubt! That kind of a place...</p>
<p>LEHIGH: Super reach for my daughter.. Interesting academics, lots to do, cute kids on campus, felt more diverse than we expected. Nice cafes, lots of interesting activities brought on campus, very few kids study abroad, which we found shocking. Also didn't like that you "rush" spring of Freshman year. Will do more research here to see how they view applicants, but I think they are # hungry.</p>
<p>Anyway, thats it for now. Keep posting any new ideas you may have and again, thanks for all of your great suggestions</p>
<p>Ursinus, Alleghany, Juniata are three very fine schools. My step-sister-in-law, Dean of the College, is also advisor to a very active Hillel at Ursinus.</p>
<p>Mt. Holyoke (a top 25 LAC) is SAT-optional. Might still be a stretch, but... Wheaton (in Mass.) would also fit the bill.</p>
<p>Just a quick remark in passing, </p>
<p>I went through the very smooth application process for Bard College for fall '06 and found that their admissions office really looked at the ''whole'' candidate. Their application is pretty open and almost devoid of restrictive boxes to check etc. I was not a stellar academic, but well rounded in terms of leadership and enterprise, athletics and extracurriculars. My SATs were in the 87-97 percentile and my school didn't give ANY awards, honors, ranking or extra credit. It felt like Bard really looked. </p>
<p>And really accepted.
Unfortunately for them, I accepted Georgetown's School of Foreign Service Offer. With a twinge.</p>
<p>Hopefully this was ever so slightly helpful. Do really consider Bard.</p>
<p>I second the University of Chicago. I applied as a homeschooler with one outside grade (an 'A' from a notoriously difficult summer course at the U. of C.) and was accepted. I will be attending there in the fall and could not be happier. Despite my lone "official" grade, I think I am prepared to take on th U. of C.'s rigorous academic workload.</p>
<p>OH (I'm sure you're neither old nor a hag):</p>
<p>"Also didn't like that you "rush" spring of Freshman year. "</p>
<p>Originally, most schools had fall recruitment (old term: rush) in the beginning of freshman year and many still do. Pledge periods were longer and we would get first-semester grades of our pledges before they initiated in the Spring Term</p>
<p>The NPC (governing body of the historically white sororities) shortened the pledge periods to six weeks. This means that many schools have rush in the spring so that the sororities will only be intaking women who have the grades.</p>