Schools With a Sense of Community?

I am looking for universities with a friendly atmosphere, and a strong sense of community, (such as in Villanova?). I have a 29 ACT, 31 superscored. 1340 SAT. a 3.87 uw, and 4.18 W GPA. I am hoping to get some scholarship money, but it is not mandatory. Also, I am from Illinois so within 500 miles is preferred so I can be home more often than just holidays?

Some schools I am looking at are:
Villanova*****
Miami of Ohio*****
Butler
NYU
Depaul
Loyola
Madison
Tulane
Wake Forest

****Indicate I love this schools atmosphere omg only have heard good things about the friendliness of students at Villanova which is something I am really looking for in the university I want to attend.

Thank you so much! I also am attempting to apply EA for all possible schools if that has any effect on the universities to offer up?

I applied ED to Villanova for this exact reason, sense of community. I am a very involved person at my school, and service is an important aspect for me as a person. I live 15 minutes away, and the town, campus, and community in all is AWESOME. Everyone on campus loves their school, you don’t see students wearing other college apparel, unless it’s Villanova apparel! The education is great, and its a decent sized campus for me, coming from a senior class of less than 120 people. My stats aren’t as great as yours, and that’s what I feel is going to hold me back from getting accepted. 21 ACT, 1040 SAT, 3.97 W GPA, so many EC and got selected to participate in a research program at UPENN. I am not a great test taker, but my academics are my strong suit. I also applied to the nursing school, which is so competitive. I will be sooooo upset if I’m not accepted, but I really hope you get accepted and have the chance to visit even! Villanova has so many service and volunteer opportunities and that is the huge reason I loved the school. Also it is relatively close to center city philly, and I am a city girl lol.

I think you have a great list. Maybe Denison too? Beautiful campus, seems like a nice place. I like to link this simple merit aid table from Miami of Ohio, and it seems to meet your criteria. Note the school super-scores for admissions AND merit aid, so you’d be in the middle row. This gives you a good idea of the range of merit aid you might expect there. Good luck!

http://miamioh.edu/admission/merit-grid/

If this is still relevant considering the deadlines are approaching. I suggest you consider University of Dayton.
I have one at Loyola, one and Miami (OHIO) , one at Dayton. Dayton is by far the friendliest and happiest campuses. My last one saw Villanova and remarked how similar the students are to UD. My UD daughter had a 1390 and 3.9 gpa UW
and got $ for books study abroad and approx. 70,000 for 4 years.
Good Luck!!

Why is NYU on your list?

I was going to suggest UDayton as well. Marquette and St, Louis University may have what you’re looking for as well.

Villanova is very pricey with very little merit $.

College of William & Mary - Williamsburg, Virginia.

Just to note, a student must apply to Miami of Ohio by Dec. 1 for consideration for merit aid. This is true at some other schools as well.

I always think of Haverford when this question is asked, but it has little else in common with the schools you have listed.

Sewanee - huge sense of community as everyone (students, professors, administrators) all live on top of the mountain together. Not uncommon to have dinner at your professors house or see them eating in the dining hall, etc. etc.

Less than 500 miles from Champaign, IL. Not sure where you live in IL, but it fits that condition.

Agree on William & Mary. Also Gonzaga (and many Jesuit schools I suspect).

Wake Forest - son attends and “community / campus life” was a major factor in his decision. It really is a special place. Big school spirit. Very proud of their sports teams. An example of community is my son tells me about several athletes who attend his classes. Football players, basketball players. They are in the same small discussion based classes as everyone else. Actually get to know them. Not like the larger schools where D1 athletes live amongst themselves. Very friendly student body.

Also liked William & Mary and Lehigh for sense of community and school spirit.

And BC

UPennnnn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVuMN2_p8ts&t=5s

Bucknell, Colgate, Lafayette, Holy Cross

James Madison University (EA deadline past), University of Richmond