So, my child liked Brandeis and Skidmore. These schools were small but not too small, liberal and social-minded and ‘not in the middle of nowhere.’ But they both have around 25% admit rates and probably much lower for RD–so looking for similar schools with higher admit rates so we have some ‘safety’ schools on the list…Anyone have recommendations?
What state are you in? What are your kid’s stats?
Muhlenberg in PA is much smaller but often really liked by kids who also like Brandeis and Skidmore
Quinnipiac for a safety. Its beautiful and about 1.5 hours outside NYC.
Clark.
@gallentjill thanks-- has the stats to possibly get into these schools but with such low admission rates, especially for RD, we want some similar schools on list that accept a higher percentage of students. Muhlenberg is too ‘in the middle of nowhere’ according to my child…
@merc81 thanks-- we have not looked into Clark-- any info on the school you can share? Is it LGBT friendly? Is the Greek system big? thanks
Dickinson. Really, really liked it.
Clark doesn’t support a Greek system at all. Overall, I’d say its own description regarding its social values might be a good place to start:
Similar colleges at a Safety level for a kid who is a match for Brandeis and Skidmore:
Clark University (MA), Muhlenberg (PA), Wheaton (MA)
Not quite safety level because they are quite selective, but they still have higher admissions percentages than S or B: Connecticut College (CT), Dickinson (PA)
A little quirkier than Brandeis or Skidmore but meeting your criteria: Sarah Lawrence (NY)
Possible “super safety” which is similarly artsy, smallish, and has a town somewhat similar to Skidmore’s in feel: SUNY New Paltz (although if your child is not from NY state, this one may not be of interest)
Not recommending either school, but OP may find New College of Florida & Goucher interesting.
Oberlin College admits about 33%.
thanks @TheGreyKing --this is really helpful. Will look and see where these are.
If you will leave the east coast – Lawrence University in Appleton, WI would be an easier admit, with EA decisions released by mid-Dec.
Dickinson, University of Scranton, St. Michaels, Providence College, Salve Regina, Endicott, Wheaton, Emmanuel
@parent1973, I noticed that someone mentioned Goucher, so I thought I would chime in. My daughter, now 25, attended Goucher for her undergraduate degree and then went to Brandeis for her Masters. Loved both and very similar vibe and campus. We looked at Goucher because it was in the book “Colleges that Change Kids Lives” and another poster mentioned Clark, which is also one of the schools in that book. Those are schools identified as providing a trans-formative experience for students without regard to other rankings. My daughter is currently a middle school teacher in an urban district.
Clark seems the obvious choice. It’s sort of a LAC but also sort of not. I believe that Clark students who graduate with a certain GPA (3.5 maybe) get to stay at Clark for a fifth year to earn an MA.
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Denison? Or is that too small.
Clark, for certain. Dickinson has the right feel, but would be pushing the edge of nowhere in some kids’ eyes. How about Eckerd? Or Ohio Wesleyan? Maybe Drew?
Thanks all-- we will check out Clark and Dickinson, Sarah lawrence. Others seem like they might be too non-urban given what my child is looking for 
Fordham might work if he doesn’t mind a lot of core requirements and a jesuit bent. It isn’t hostile to other religions at all. I know several Jewish kids who are happy there.
Schools on my kid’s big list that might be worth considering, sorted by acceptance rate (high to low):
School # Ugrad St
Ursinus College 1,629 PA
University of Puget Sound 2,476 WA
Willamette University 1,925 OR
Goucher College 1,466 MD
Kalamazoo College 1,415 MI
Lawrence University 1,527 WI
Ithaca College 6,279 NY
Wheaton College 1,565 MA
Queens University of Charlotte 1,551 NC
Stetson University 3,042 FL
University of the Pacific 3,720 CA
Clark University 2,331 MA
Austin College 1,233 TX
Lake Forest College 1,559 IL
Denison University 2,254 OH
Mount Holyoke College 2,099 MA
Trinity University 2,213 TX
I would add Southwestern University just outside of Austin. Students are in Austin all of the time from there. Gorgeous and old campus (1840-something founding), socially conscious students, very good merit. Very happy student body.