<p>My son, U.S. citizen, spent entire life overseas and is now at Lawrence University and loving it. Large active international population for a small school, great academics. Anyway, take a look. He had never heard of it and someone mentioned it online, I sure hadn't. I sent him to visit and that was his first choice from then on out though he visited, applied and was accepted at schools on both coasts. He is active in the international house now. I have visited the small city of Appleton, it is one of my favorite places in the states now. Different.</p>
<p>brown is a bit more liberal artsy than even yale etc. it may be worth looking into, and admissions should be a <em>little</em> easier</p>
<p>For the super reaches, you are just another perfect applicant that has a 11% chance of being accepted. As for the rest, I'd say very good chances.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think the Claremont schools sound great for what you're looking for. Pomona would be ideal, but it is obviously the most difficult to gain admission to. Claremont McKenna is pretty difficult too, so I would suggest Scripps or Pitzer-- take a look at the types of kids at each and check out which seems more similar to you.</p>
<p>You are welcome.
I'm also gonna apply for Northwestern.</p>
<p>Take a look at Smith College. Smith has an open curriculum, and is known for academic excellence and small classes. Students are provided with terrific advising and mentoring, and available, committed professors. Also, students win many national and international awards -- 17 Fulbright Fellowships in 2008 and 14 in 2007! </p>
<p>Smith is part of a 5-college consortium (with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Univ Mass). You can take classes at any. There is a free shuttle bus to get to classes at the other campuses.</p>
<p>Yup, I like Smith and will probably apply there.</p>