<p>Ooops ... just reread and saw that you already applied to BU! Sorry.</p>
<p>I'm applying for their Martin Luther King scholarship. Do you have any idea how hard that is to get?</p>
<p>In another thread, Motheroftwo just said that Kenyon is affirmatively seeking Asian-American applicants, and that they are eligible for URM-type scholarships.</p>
<p>That's a lot closer to Wesleyan in spirit than Rochester or BU. I don't know about full rides, though.</p>
<p>According to the Kenyon website, the scholarships are up to one half of total expenses.</p>
<p>"Kenyon Honor, Science, and Trustee Opportunity Scholarships:
These are the most competitive and valued merit scholarships offered at Kenyon. They range in size, with the largest award covering approximately half the comprehensive cost of a year at Kenyon. While there are no specific grade point averages or scores that recipients must obtain to be considered for these scholarships, recipients are often at or near the top of their class and have received other selective scholarships or talentrecognition programs, such as National Merit Scholarships, National Achievement Scholarships Program, National Hispanic Scholarship, or National Council of Teachers of English awards. Honors Scholarships are awarded to students who represent excellence in the liberal arts. Science Scholars are those students who show promise to excel in the natural sciences. Trustee Opportunity Scholars are top students who come from underrepresented backgrounds, including first-generation students. To be considered for these top merit scholarships, students must complete their applications by December 15."</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip! Kenyon is definitely an attractive option. Their highest award is half-tuition/room/board, not too shabby.</p>
<p>But Lingbo, although both have fine academics, I don't think Kenyon and Wesleyan are culturally similar. Kenyon attracts a more preppy, less quirky/intellectual crowd than Wesleyan. You also have to be comfortable with the rural location.</p>
<p>I agree with wjb's comments above. However, it can't hurt for Lingbo to look into Kenyon and see if it might be a good fit for her.</p>
<p>Kenyon is quirkier than a number of schools listed. Quite the arty/literary/intellectual crowd. Compared to Colgate (a school on my D's final list) , it's a SexPistols tour. ;)</p>
<p>Another Ohio suggestion that might appeal is Ohio Wesleyan. Better merit than most any school mentioned. I'd also take a look at Knox and Beloit if the Midwest is in play at all. Hey, if you considering Ohio, why not?</p>
<p>I see very few, if any, full tuition possibilities in any of the schools listed here. Kenyon, Skidmore, Bard, Grinnell, Fordham, U Roch, Beloit, Connecticut, Vassar, Colgate? No way. They don't even offer full tuition near as I can see! </p>
<p>I do see full tuition at Ohio Weleyan and Denison as at least offered by the schools. But they will still be very competitive. You so add a good diversity factor to those schools, that works in your favor.</p>
<p>But, I think it's getting late to be hopeful for a full tuition.</p>
<p>This is interesting, in that Denison is reviewed by Princeton Review as a very preppy school but that the admin is trying to diversify. It seems that in order to push for a lot of merit aid, I need to choose precisely the schools I ordinarily don't feel like I'd fit immediately in at.</p>
<p>First of all I wouldn't necessarily believe a word Princeton Review says. Fortunately, you will find all kinds of kids at all kinds of schools. (Of course the common theme throughout all the private school is first and foremost wealthy.) My son goes to Denison. Many of his best friends are international kids. Preppy? Not to my eyes. But to my eyes most of the kids just look, well, normal. But they might look different to you.</p>
<p>I think for you the real problem is that there just aren't that many LACs that are in that "quirky" mode. The few that are are mentioned over and over on here. (Oberlin, Vassar, Bard, etc.) It so happens that I can't think of one of them that offers great merit aid.</p>
<p>That said, I guess if I was looking for diversity I'd look at a bigger university - preferably a larger public.</p>
<p>Good luck. You'll probably do fine with the list you already have!</p>
<p>Bard does offer some full merit scholarships and many more not full, and though it takes the same kind of quirky kids, it's overall stats run lower than the others, making it quite likely that someone aiming for Wes would get good merit at Bard.</p>
<p>I'll add my somewhat biased vote for Beloit. Excellent choice for humanities, especially English and creative writing. The academics are challenging and writing intensive, with lots of flexibility in the curriculum. Although smaller, the student body is definitely Wesleyan-style quirky and free spirited. In fact, a poster here, SBMom's daughter who is now at Wesleyan used Beloit as a back up and felt they were comparable in feel.</p>
<p>The top merit award is generous but not a full ride. However, keep in mind that the overall cost is about $15,000 less than Wesleyan and many other NE schools to begin with. However, to be eligible for the top merit award you do need to apply by December 15. As Weenie says, if you're hoping for large merit awards, time is of the essence. Another possibility not yet mentioned would be Lawrence University, also in Wisconsin.</p>
<p>Earlhan, Beloit, Antioch, Wells College in NY, Sarah Lawrence, Goucher, Wheaton, Ohio Wesleyan, any number of all female schools, Emerson, Muhlenburg, Hampshire, Lake Forest, BenningtonS, St Olaf, Gustavus Adolphus, Ithaca, College of Charleston (not LAC by long shot, but the sort of school you might like. I don't know any who has gone there that has not), some of the small SUNYs-Fredonia, Geneseo, many of the CA LACs like Occidental , Redlands, Scripps, Pitzer, and other West coast schools that I do not know well like Reed, Evansville. Some of these may not full awards, but have low sticker prices.</p>