<p>jrpar - We may have some competition in our household someday, both Colgate and Williams are on D2’s long list right now (she is only in 10th grade).</p>
<p>I tease my D that she chose Barnard so her brother couldn’t follow. He fell in love with the school based on her experience and regretted it a bit, I think. He didn’t apply to Columbia because he really wanted a LAC.</p>
<p>I agree with Marite on Williams. It has a great Math department.Sciences are fantastic at Williams too. There are summer research opportunities at Williams that is quite good.</p>
<p>Mythmom, my son has this disdain for smaller cities too. He called Providence, RI, a “nice little rural outpost” as well when he visited Brown. I don’t know how he’ll cope now that he’s applying to Brown for graduate studies 5 years later - somewhere where he could potentially live for 5-6 years. Or maybe when kids grow up a bit the urban/suburban preferences have less meaning than what is taught/researched somewhere. :)</p>
<p>Well, hopefully they get more tolerant. BTW: D spent a summer at Brown and chose Barnard over Brown for that reason. But she was 17.</p>
<p>Now she’s living in Atlanta (BF works at the CDC) and not a happy camper. She refuses to call it a city. According to her it’s “a collection of suburban neighborhoods.” She is applying to Emory for law school (as well as New York law schools) because there is one very important thing NY doesn’t have: BF!</p>
<p>Well, OP, to be more likely to get merit aid (particularly in the arts), consider Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.</p>
<p>If you want to save money and attend a great Public LAC check out SUNY Geneseo. Tops every list of Best Value Public LAC’s. Avg. Stats SAT 1340 GPA 94.</p>
<p>Well, this is certainly a passionate bunch. Thank you so much for all your help. I was only thinking New England because my son could be somewhat close to his youngest sister (age 6 when he goes) who will miss him terribly. We live in western mass. Considering that my husband (the williams grad) was just laid off, merit money is on my mind. Unfortunately, he wasn’t laid off NEXT January when fafsa would be completed. I am a new guidance counselor who clearly has a lot to learn fast about schools for my son and my students! I will look at all of your suggestions.</p>
<p>Your son should be eligible for need-based financial aid, I assume, and Williams has generous financial aid. He should also apply to somewhat larger schools with good math/physics departments that are close enough to go home once in a while. Based on the profile you posted, he might be admitted at Harvard, MIT Brown (it has a good applied math department and its physics department emphasizes experimental rather than theoretical physics); they all have generous finaid. I’d suggest he looks at Tufts as well. WPI and RPI might also be within acceptable distance. Brandeis is also good in math and physics. I just hesitated to recommend it because its financial crisis may cause it to retrench on finaid.</p>
<p>Also not in New England (but will feel like New England in winter 
) is U. of Rochester, which does have merit aid, as well as strong sciences, engineering, and a wide range of cross-registration options with neighboring Eastman School of Music.</p>
<p>We live in Western MA, too. 
Driving from here to Rochester (which is a kind of appealing small city, IMO) isn’t a bad trip, at least during the snow-free seasons … definitely better than fighting the traffic fray on I-95 and in the CT/NY/NJ/PA corridor.</p>
<p>Wheaton in MA probably should be on your list as well.</p>
<p>I would also take a look at the COPLAC colleges “Public LACs”. </p>
<p>SUNY Geneseo is a top school with s great science program including physics. </p>
<p>Freshmen Stats: Average SAT 1340, GPA 94. </p>
<p>I would check it out: [SUNY</a> Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu/]SUNY”>http://www.geneseo.edu/)</p>
<p>If the 3-2 thing becomes dominant, you can work backwards in your search from the 90 LACs that have a combined plan with Columbia. I think it could be great to get two different degrees and two very different college experiences. </p>
<p>[Affiliated</a> Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities | Columbia University Office of Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/engineering/combined/affils.php]Affiliated”>http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/engineering/combined/affils.php)</p>
<p>I have not read all the replies, so don’t know if anyone recommended this school. So sorry if it a repeat. Check out Marlboro College in VT.</p>
<p>My H gradutated from there and was accepted to Yale where he got a PhD in population biology.</p>
<p>This school has fabulous outside advisors from Ivies, and students get amazing faculty attention (there are less than 300 students)</p>
<p>It is a great place - I spent a lot of time there and wished I had chosen it (I was accepted) and is a really unique experience. Check it out.</p>
<p>Holy Cross opened a new 60 million dollar science complex in January 2009.</p>