<p>We have friends whose kids liked Butler and Indianapolis is more urban than some of the others on your list so might be a good contrast. Butler is also bigger. Regarding K and Hope: Academic profiles are similar. K might be slightly more quirky/artsy etc. than Hope whose students tend to be more on the wholesome side. Neither college is known for being a party school or having a big drinking culture. Hope has a few fraternities and sororities but not really in the traditional sense or national type affiliations. K has a few living/learning houses. </p>
<p>Here are the cross over applications for K:
Albion College
Beloit College
College of Wooster
Grinnell College
Hope College
Kenyon College
Macalaster College
Michigan State University
University of Michigan</p>
<p>The second group*:</p>
<pre><code>Alma College
Carleton College
Denison University
Earlham College
Miami University of Ohio
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
University of Chicago
University of Notre Dame
University of Wisconsin-Madison
</code></pre>
<p>I know that cross over list looks odd, but it makes alot of sense to me…With on eo f the first foreign study programs and one of the strongest stil to this day K has had long traditions as a school for kids interested in global studies, international relations etc. who also apply to Macalester. K has always had a strong writing program, so the cross-over with Kenyon. Back in the day, the kids at K were arguable statistically “smarter” than at UofM hence the cross over with Chicago, Northwestrn, etc. and Beloit and K have always attracted similar kids. Earlham is part of the cosortium that K belongs to. The consortium is interesting, here’s the link.
[Great</a> Lakes Colleges Association](<a href=“http://glca.org/]Great”>http://glca.org/)</p>
<p>Given where your son is looking and where you have toured, you might look at Iowa Private College week [Iowa</a> Private Colleges and Universities - Iowa Private College Week](<a href=“http://www.thinkindependently.com/]Iowa”>http://www.thinkindependently.com/). There are some real gems her that might be good for your son - Coe, Drake, Cornell, Luther, in addition to Grinell.</p>
<p>A little further east than you may want him to go, but check out Dickinson College in Central PA. Great school and a good match for your son’s stats. (Also made the honorable mention list on Greene & Greene’s 2nd edition of “The Hidden Ivies.”) </p>
<p>Well, now you’re breaking the rules…is Texas part of the midwest?</p>
<p>However, I agree. Southwestern is a great school. It was too small for my S but I was very impressed. Also, Georgetown has the Monument Cafe. The best chicken fried steak I have ever had the pleasure to consume.</p>
<p>If you are in that neck of the woods Trinity University sounds like a match for your son. Another great school in a great location (San Antonio).</p>
<p>The Greek life at Rose Hulman is similar to the Greek life at Wabash, and the amount of partying is very similar. The number of Greek students are similar on both campuses. They are both pressure-cooker environments during the week, then plenty of drinking as a stress release on the weekends. </p>
<p>I have known several graduates over the years at both, and so if Wabash is too Greek just based on the numbers, then he would want to visit Rose Hulman on an overnight to be sure. </p>
<p>Lawrence does have a Greek scene as well, though it is very small in comparison. DS stayed in a fraternity house last year during the Physics weekend and said they were mellow. </p>
<p>Butler Greek is smaller in numbers but Greek parties are a huge part of the social scene.</p>
<p>rhumbob–That’s good to know about Southwestern. They are hitting DD up hard both athletically and from admissions and we just don’t know much about the school other than what we read online. I admit, I do like a good chicken fried steak!!</p>
<p>SteveMA – Rhumbob and I “visited” last year on the Southwestern forum. My son will be a sophomore there this year; he loves it. He faltered some academically in the first year and will have some “consequences” this year, but has a plan to deal with that. And yeah, maybe Texas isn’t in the midwest, but both Austin and San Antonio (Trinity) are easy to get to. Lots of flights on Southwest, etc.</p>
<p>Like I told Rhumbob last year, we live just 15 minutes from Georgetown, so if you have any questions, you can message me.</p>
<p>You may have already considered Macalester, but I think it meets many of your requirements: No Greek life, serious students, new art center, kids with lots of different interests, and cool neighborhood in St. Paul. But I think GPA and ACT score may be a little low - still may be worth a shot.</p>
<p>Would your student consider a school like American University in DC? It’s medium sized (about 5000 undergrads), and while there is a party scene like on virtually any campus, the students tend to be very engaged in all sorts of other things. The campus is filled with bright, articulate, ambitious kids doing all kinds of interesting things—all kinds of internships, all kinds of events–The students tend to be very future-focused, very informed, and very busy.</p>
<p>Appreciate everyone’s input, and note that we’ve not missed any LACs in our search based on our criteria. Midwest location (approx 6 hours drive-time max from Chicago area) is mandatory, so schools beyond that zone aren’t up for consideration.</p>
<p>Merit aid is an important consideration too. Noted that Carleton has relatively little merit aid, while several other noted schools offer considerable merit aid.</p>
<p>I’ve also looked at the financial ratings of these particular schools, and note Moody ratings ranging from Aaa (Grinnell) to Baa2 (Beloit), and one at Baa3 (IIT in Chicago). Financial rating seems to be reflected in campus condition and general appearance, but not in merit aid availability - seems to be an inverse relationship: lower the rating, the better probability of merit aid (w/exception of Grinnell, which is unicorn’s unicorn of LACs).</p>
<p>higgins2013–just something to consider, since you live near Chicago and have 2 airports, often flying one college student back and forth between college and home can be less expensive than driving round trip, especially as you get to the 5-6 hour drive time, which, often will include an overnight stay at a hotel. We’ve determined that 4 hours is max for us to drive one way (8 hours round trip). Once you figure in time to load the car, get a bite to eat, etc. it’s 12 hours there and back. When you look into other major cities, Minneapolis/St. Paul for example, you open your choices AND you also have the option of the MegaBus with a trip to Chicago for $10 or usually flights for under $100 round trip. We looked at flying out of Chigago for our next cycle of tours and checked prices to Pitt and Baltimore and they were under $150 round trip. I can’t drive out there for that.</p>
<p>As for the Moody’s ratings. I just looked up a few of the campuses we have toured already and didn’t find that the Moody’s ratings were at all indicative of campus condition. The cleanest campus with the overall nicest buildings (especially the dorms) that we have toured has a Baa3 rating, yet the college that our oldest attended, that, while in a lovely setting was actually a dumpy looking campus with many buildings in disrepair has a Aa3 rating. I wouldn’t get too caught up in those particular ratings.</p>
<p>Another safety school to consider is Valparaiso. Lots of happy students, close to Chicago (but not too close), good engineering, amazing meteorology. Technically a small university like Butler but less Greek. Merit aid is quite good.</p>
<p>Don’t let the acceptance rate fool you. The top students at our local schools attend, but the middle-level students don’t even apply.</p>
<p>We really liked Earlham, but did not have a chance to visit and so cannot speak to the state of the town - if there is one. It is low-key and intellectual in focus. They offered my D very generous merit aid. She chose Sewanee because of its equestrian program, but I was kind of rooting fo Earlham, and not just because of the money. It seems like a less well known Haverford moved to Indiana, but they do not have the same level of achievement in their student body as Haverford and a better than 60% admit rate.</p>
<p>Another vote for Earlham. Great faculty, no greek, engaged students, strong sciences (renovated/expanded science building will be finished within a year) and they are improving the arts program (about to break ground on a new building so it may not be done by fall 2013, but within a year of that…)</p>