@TTG, agree that Hamilton’s campus is beautiful with an interesting mix of historic and modern buildings.
Super fast responses!
@TTG Thanks, this comparison is super useful
@morningside95 Thank You! Really good points about rural schools, thanks. I have been trying to run NPCs on colleges, I have stuff saved on college board to do that. For safeties, my Mom works at UofL so I get free tuition and then all my scholarship money in cash if I go.
Unfortunately, I’ve had a really hard time finding match schools that I like. I’m not sure if this is a for a lack of good research or a bias toward “better” schools or what. I’d say the schools I like the most are UChicago and Williams with Bowdoin pretty close. I’m looking into St. Olaf, Rhodes, Wake Forest (though frats are not appealing) other recommendations would be great. You all have been so helpful.
Quick update, I saw that Colby was free to apply to and does not have an additional essay other than the common app one, so I may apply there as well as it is a little easier than Bowdoin. Also I’ll most likely apply to St. Olaf as the essay shouldn’t be super difficult and it is free. Same with Rhodes.
@Chembiodad Haven’t looked into Hamilton yet, I may tomorrow as its getting late.
Amherst and Williams are basically mirrors of each other in terms of quality, campus vibe, career prospects and everything else. Both are superb.
Calvin College in Michigan, if that strand of Christianity works for you – rigorous school, very smart kids.
Chicago would be considered a large school when compared to LACs, it has about 13K total with 6K undergrads, while Pomona has 1700 total students, and 1700 undergrads, so no grad programs, all the attention to the undergrads. Anyway if you’re ok with the size of Chicago because you like the intellectual culture, you can also consider Tufts, Georgetown as high matches.
You might want to look at Centre College (Danville, KY). There are full tuition and full ride scholarships available. Current COA is about 50K so less than many LACs which are 65K or more.
https://www.centre.edu/admission-aid/cost-aid/scholarships/
There seems to be a vibrant religious community on campus:
https://www.centre.edu/campus-life/get-involved/religious-life/
It would probably be easy for you to visit.