<p>Alright, revival time. </p>
<p>With my first official SATs back (still have one more official round to go!) here’s a little more information:</p>
<p>SAT total- 2100
M+CR- 1370
CR- 670
M- 700
W- 730</p>
<p>For the record though, en guarde, I took a look through Geneseo’s website and it seems really nice! Definitely staying on my options list if anything.</p>
<p>I know I’ve literally got a year, but I’m just hoping to get a tentative list to start bugging my parents about visiting. =P</p>
<p>Greetings:</p>
<p>I believe Bryn Mawr is actually more selective than Vassar. Bryn Mawr is a good suggestion, and I think the OP should look at all of the Seven Sister schools, it seems likely they fit her requirements of a beautiful New England campus with lots of opportunity and good possibilities for financial aid.</p>
<p>OP, you may be surprised at how much aid you qualify for, especially since you have a brother in college. Go to finaid.org and put your stats in the EFC and financial aid calculators - you might find that your EFC is lower than what your dad says he can afford. Believing you have no chance at financial aid because you are not impoverished is a common misconception.</p>
<p>“I believe Bryn Mawr is actually more selective than Vassar.”</p>
<p>There was a time when this was the case. But it was a long time ago, before many of the all-male schools became coed. In the current era it is the other way around. For exampls, in 2009 Vassar admitted 25% of applicants, vs. 49% at Bryn Mawr. However, it must be recognized that no males apply to Bryn Mawr, so that necessarily restricts its applicant pool vs. Vassar’s.</p>
<p>You might want to consider Goucher. You would qualify for excellent merit money and it has the setting you want. It’s not quite as snowy as New England and New York, except for last year, when we had three blizzards.</p>
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<p>Nope. Haverford and Vassar have identical admit rates (25%) and virtually identical middle 50% SAT scores (Haverford = 1300-1480, Vassar = 1300-1470). They say it’s about a mile from Bryn Mawr but I think it’s more like a mile-and-a-half; free shuttle bus between the two and a fully integrated course registration system so Haverford students can take unlimited classes at Bryn Mawr and vice versa, as well as a lot of joint ECs. No merit aid at Haverford.</p>
<p>Here are some Northeast LACs that might give you merit aid. Some of them are also test optional: Drew, Muhlenberg, Clark, Dickinson, Goucher. I believe Clark is notably strong in psychology.</p>
<p>Remember, to have your best shot at merit aid you want to be one of the top students.</p>
<p>Also, in terms of SUNYs, take a look at SUNY New Paltz.</p>
<p>If you do decide to move beyond the Northeast take a look at Lawrence and Beloit in Wisconsin.</p>
<p>Good luck. Its great that you have clear ideas of what you want. It doesn’t sound spoiled at all!</p>
<p>As en guarde said, Geneseo is a great college and you can’t beat the SUNY pricetag. Another college to consider - Union College in Schenectady. Beautiful, beautiful campus. Great school academically. Not cheap, but I understand they are generous with financial aid.</p>
<p>I admit I didn’t read through all your follow up posts, but to answer the first question – Kenyon College. Likely to get some more aid than Vassar. If you are planning on being a Fine Arts major by chance, Kenyon offers a scholarship for art (portfolio submission required and it’s due a month before your application, so don’t miss the deadline). Not clear to me whether need-based is likely, but get an approximate EFC done and see if Vassar IS a possibility. There can be suprises in that regard. Sounds like you want a more liberal minded campus, but also a warmer climate? Generally speaking though, the more southeast you go, the more conservative the schools become (generally, no one throw out Warren Wilson, Eckerd, etc., there are of course exceptions I realize). S would also love to get into Vassar…we’ll see…</p>
<p>I second momjr’s suggestion: investigate Goucher. </p>
<p>The setting is totally suburban. You have to stretch your definition of NE somewhat to include Baltimore. It won’t snow until December or January. And there is an odd way in which Maryland is not quite the North or the South. But it’s a pretty pleasant train ride from Baltimore back to New York, or you can take Megabus for cheap from White Marsh.</p>
<p>I don’t remember ever seeing Goucher’s library (because I didn’t go to Goucher–not because I went there, but never darkened the door of the library!). I think you’ll find the architecture satisfactory.</p>
<p>And I think you’re a good candidate for merit aid. It’s a good college, but less selective than Vassar (which may work to your benefit financially).</p>
<p>Skidmore does not give merit aid - only need based.</p>
<p>You will get good merit aid at Clark and Goucher and should consider both. And if you’d consider Pennsylvania, there are several very fine schools with good merit-aid possibilities for your stats: Muhlenberg, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall. A few hours from your home, but still doable for a weekend if you are homesick.</p>
<p>All are lovely schools with traditional campuses, personal attention, good reputations, etc.</p>