<p>Hello, I am trying to help my son with college choices and I am seeking help from CC Parents. My son has good stats and will be applying next year as part of the High school class of 2011. </p>
<p>He has a 2270 SAT I (Math: 750 CR:760 W:760) and his SAT IIs are 700 in Chemistry and 730 in Biology. He has a 3.88 UW GPA and is in the top 10 % of his class. As of now, he is interested in Business but this may change. He wants to explore in his freshman year.</p>
<p>As you can tell, he has good stats BUT our major problem is location. Our son does NOT want to go too far from home to go to college. He is set on attending college within a couple of hours drive of our city. So I am looking for colleges that will be academically challenging for him. He says size and other factors are not game changers... location is key for him. </p>
<p>With that being said, can someone suggest strong colleges that would fit my son's academic profile in the following states: Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and maybe even Kentucky. Also, with your college suggestion, can you briefly talk about that college. How does that college compare to the best colleges in the nations (Ivies etc.) in terms of student body, facilities, research opportunities, prestige etc. </p>
<p>There are tons of wonderful schools in those states. How about Emory, Vanderbilt, U of South Carolina (where you kiddo might get some great merit aid), 'Bama (again…merit aid possibilities), Georgia Tech, U of Georgia, College of Charleston…those should keep you busy for a couple of days.</p>
<p>But depending on where you are located, they could be more than a “couple of hours from home”.</p>
<p>Your son is not alone. The VAST MAJORITY of students attend college closer to home.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt does not have an undergraduate program of study in business. However, many of its grads go on to successful business careers. And it has a great undergrad curriculum to explore. As to how it compares to “the best colleges in the nation” - it is one! The student body profile is outstanding, and in recent years the school has become more and more selective. Here’s a link to some basic Vandy facts: [ReVU:</a> Quick Facts about Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Tennessee](<a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/about/facts/]ReVU:”>http://www.vanderbilt.edu/about/facts/)</p>
<p>^^ I would have made the same suggestion (proud mom of Duke grad that I am), but Durham is not close to the NC border, so may not be close enough to the area described by the OP. If it is, I second mythmom’s suggestion.</p>
<p>I think you have to define “a couple of hours.” Are you talking 2, 4, 6 or 8? And a couple of hours one way, or round trip? Also, remember equal distances don’t equal equal travel time. The 210 mile drive from our home to UT-Knoxville was just under 3 hours, while the same distance drive to Centre in KY took almost 4. </p>
<p>I will second Vanderbilt (but be aware that their admit rate this year was 16%) and Emory; some good LACs to look at might be Rhodes (in Memphis,) Centre (in KY,) Birmingham Southern (in AL.) These are all on the Colleges That Change Lives list. </p>
<p>Also look at Honors programs/programs within the state flagships in those states. U of Alabama has 4 honors programs, two of which are stats driven and two which are incredibly selective. UT-Knoxville has the Chancellor’s programs; UGA has highly ranked & competitive honors programs.</p>
<p>Unless things have changed…this kiddo’s stats would also put him in contention for the McNair Scholarship at U of South Carolina…which is a free ride plus laptop. This McNair scholarship requires completion of the Honors College application to U of South Carolina…and if selected for McNair consideration, an on campus interview (which was all expenses paid for the student when my kid was applying to college in 2005/6. The school is a hidden gem, in my opinion…great campus, solid programs and many many different majors.</p>
<p>Most if not all the state flagships will have honors colleges where your son would be with academic peers and have research opportunities. I’m surprised no one mentioned Rhodes as that is often mentioned as a great place. I think you should determine what “best” means as it means many different things in many different places and can be dependent on the major. Also you mention “research.” Generally most college profs are engaged in some sort of research but if you are talking about large federally funded research programs then generally you are talking about larger advanced degree granting universities which are entirely different than selective, generally smaller colleges. </p>
<p>I think it will help you greatly to sort some of those differences out in your mind and then come back and ask questions. You might also ask your son the simple question big or small? Urban or rural? Then you will be able to get very specific information because your questions will be more specific. </p>
<p>Also if you are willing to travel alittle further places like Indiana University have a well known and respected business school. It’s not “north” but it’s also not “south”…it’s somewhere in the middle and there will be others that are just outside the reach of the geographic area you mention. Not exactlly sure where you are or the epicenter of where you are willing to radius. You mention Florida, well for perspective, it’s alittle over 10 hours drive from Atlanta to Miami and a tad over 11 hours from Atlanta to Chicago and over 18 hours to Boston. If driving distance were a consideration clearly you’d look closely at University of Chicago or Wash U (8 hour drive). A couple hours drive with all the states you mention and not knowing the epicenter is confusing information.</p>
<p>If an LAC is okay, try Furman, New College of Florida, Rhodes, Centre, and maybe Birmingham-Southern. They may not have business majors, though.</p>
<p>Is your family African American? Some of the country’s best historically black colleges and universities are in the region you specify, including, of course, the famous Morehouse College.</p>
<p>I suggest that you make a circle that is X miles from where you live. Then make a list of all of the schools that fit in that circle. Eliminate those that are truly not considerations. Also cross out those that are in such out of way places that they would take far more time to get to them even though they are within the distance parameters. I say this because I have a friend who was only allowed to pick colleges in her state and adjacent ones. She picked Allegheny College in PA which was in an allowed state, but her family really thought PA ended at Harrisburg or at Penn STate. It did not occur to them that their daughter would pick a school west of of the middle of the state. </p>
<p>My son’s stats were similar to your’s. Higher SATs but lower grades. He got some nice merit offers from schools where his test scores were in the upper ranges. One college he really liked was Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. College of Charleston is also a great school from what I hear from other parents. There are some nice choices in those states.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I am hearing Emory and Vanderbilt come up over and over again. Can someone offer some insight into these schools… For business, would Emory be the best option?</p>
<p>I will give a suggestion…your high school student needs to pick a school that has his desired areaS of interest (note…plural). While business may be the number one choice now, it’s important to remember that MOST college students switch career paths more than once in college and some don’t every pursue the “career” related to their undergrad major.</p>
<p>So…my suggestion is look at lots of options with lots of choices in the area that is desired. </p>
<p>Start with your instate flagship university too…see if there is an honors program.</p>
The student body profile is outstanding, and in recent years the school has become more and more selective. Here’s a link to some basic Vandy facts: [ReVU:</a> Quick Facts about Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Tennessee](<a href=“