<p>I'm looking for a college that is small (1000-5000) near Maryland. Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania are all fine, and even a few NY or NC schools too. I want strong academics, especially in the sciences, and a pretty campus. Preferably, I'd like a football team, too. I don't want the people to be preppy and snobby. Also, while I'd like a reasonable party scene, I don't want dominating Greek life, constant parties, and lots of drug/substance abuse. Do any schools come to mind that fit this description? I've looked into Lafayette, Haverford, Swarthmore, St. Mary's of MD, and Allegheny. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!</p>
<p>You might consider Dickinson. While there is a preppy and Greek element, they are not dominant (I have a kid who graduated from there who was neither and loved it). </p>
<p>William & Mary? I’d suggest Franklin & Marshall, too, but they appeal to a lot of partying frat-bro types. Same with Gettysburg. Bucknell is pretty strait-laced. Davidson might fit many of your criteria, but it’s pretty preppy. </p>
<p>Vassar may be worth at least a quick look - it doesn’t have a football team and it may not be as science-y as you’d want, but I’m applying ED and applying to schools similar to those you described (academically intense, not too preppy, no Greek life), so I figured I’d put it out there.</p>
<p>What was your read at Lafayette? Would Carnegie Mellon be a consideration?</p>
<p>Perhaps Goucher, Fordham (Rose Hll), Bard, or Skidmore. </p>
<p>How about Juniata? Very strong in the sciences and I think it would meet your other criteria. Dr. William Phillips, a high school classmate of mine (back in the dark ages) who was the best student in our class, is a Juniata graduate and later won a Nobel Prize in physics. My ex-husband’s brother also graduated from Juniata and went on to a PhD in Geology at Brown. </p>
<p>Vassar is strong in sciences, beautiful, and full of nice quirky students, but as LAMuniv points out, has no football team. Second the vote for W&M- there is a greek scene but it is not dominant, the student research options are excellent, and it has a lot of school spirit. Dickinson is a good all-round school, has a new science facility and study abroad is viable for many science students (not always the case). Your range is pretty big academically- Lafayette to Swarthmore!- so we might be able to be more help if you can narrow it a bit.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great replies! I’d love to look into Vassar, W&M, Skidmore, and Davidson. I’m planning to major in either biology or animal science (if it is offered as a major) and I plan to take part in the pre-veterinary program. Almost all colleges have those two things, so my options are varied. I would like a school with great student research opportunities and a focus on community service. I also need a college that gives out generous merit aid. Lafayette and Allegheny seem a bit party-centered, and Haverford and Swarthmore seem a little small. That being said, I haven’t ruled them out or anything. W&M certainly isn’t big, but it’s a bit larger than my preferred student body (1000-3000ish, but I’m willing to compromise if the school is worth it). </p>
<p>Check out University of Richmond. I think it meets most, if not all of your criteria. Great science facilities, right location and size, Greek life is small.</p>
<p>I also thought of Tufts-- can’t say anything about the Greek scene there though. It definitely seems strong in sciences but merit aid would be hard to come by.</p>
<p>University of Rochester.</p>
<p>What are your stats? - these schools range all over the place in selectivity, with Haverford and Swarthmore being really tough. Slightly less tough, but might work, though it’s a bit far out for you would be Hamilton, near Utica, NY. URochester was suggested, and as long as you think you qualify for Swarthmore, Cornell is right in the same area as the other two and meets many of your criteria, especially since they have a vet school.</p>
<p>FYI - Vassar does not have merit aid.</p>
<p>I applied and was accepted to Rochester last year with a great merit scholarship (Trustee), and it was my top choice for a while - it’s a small research university, not a liberal arts college, but it’s a great school.</p>
<p>I had a lot of contact with the physics department at Rochester and had a day-long visit hosted by the department and got to tour the labs as a part of that - let me know if you have any questions. </p>
<p>Eeps- didn’t notice the merit aid part. As LAMuniv points out, Vassar doesn’t do merit aid, and in practice, neither do W&M or Skidmore. Davidson and Dickinson both do.</p>
<p>Remember that the point of merit aid is to buy something the college wants: usually, students with higher scores than their current average (to move up the rankings) or students from other regions (many mid-west colleges, for example, would love to broaden their base). </p>
<p>Mid-east coast colleges that give significant merit aid are going to be schools like Dickinson, whose reputation has not caught up to the college that it has grown into being. It wants your attention.</p>
<p>So, you will have to balance out your need/desire for merit aid with your need/desire for location and status!</p>
<p>Muhlenberg and Ursinus are probably both worth a look. </p>
<p>Just to provide some stats - I’m a junior, my GPA is about 3.9 or possibly higher (on a 4.0 scale) and I take two APs and one Honors course. I volunteered at the Humane Society in Michigan over the summer for about 30 hours, and I also volunteered with a vet up there. I volunteer at the local SPCA every week, too. Over the summer before senior year, I plan on doing a Habitat for Humanity mission. I don’t qualify for enough financial aid, but going to a private liberal arts college is too expensive for me without some sort of merit aid. I have a merit scholarship at my high school.</p>
<p>Also, I forgot - I will be the co-editor of the yearbook my senior year. </p>
<p>Scores?</p>
<p>You will need very strong test scores to get merit at Davidson, and likely Dickinson too.</p>
<p>Lafayette seems a sound option to consider.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>