<p>My parents have agreed to take me out (mid)west to visit Oberlin, which has long been one of my top choices. We will also be stopping to see the University of Pittsburgh. There's room for one more school, possibly Case Western if my father decides that Cleveland is safe enough. </p>
<p>Any suggestions from the parents here? I can't go further west past Oberlin, and I'm coming from northern Delaware. LACs preferred but significant merit aid possibilities (close to full tuition) is equally preferred. Stats-wise, Oberlin is a strong match for me.</p>
<p>While you're in Pittsburgh, you can do quick visits of Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, or drop South to see , Washington & Jefferson (45-min to 1 hr South of Pittsburgh). If you want to take the 2-3 hr drive north from Pittsburgh (Case will be 2-1/2 hrs north), there are numerous other LACs that would only need a slight detour off the highway. You could stop to see Allegheny College, Grove City or Gannon in Erie, all of which may be generous with aid. You can also take a detour to swing past Penn State on your way West.</p>
<p>How about Kenyon College - it's about 1 hour, 45 minutes south of Oberlin. Easier to get into than Oberlin, and some merit money available. Could be worth checking out if it's not too out of the way. There's also Allegheny in western PA. Also easier to get into than Oberlin and merit money is available. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions! None of the schools named are fits for me, but I invite more name-tossing and will consider everything that comes up. (I have such a soft spot for Kenyon, but alas, the CS program is almost nonexistent although the English program is very good.)</p>
<p>EDIT: Wooster, hmm, a possibility. I didn't know it was in that area of Ohio.</p>
<p>Miami U. of Ohio, if it's possible to stretch your border? It's located in Oxford, OH, in the southwestern corner of Ohio, in between Cincinnati and Dayton. It's a smaller, public school, more selective than OSU.</p>
<p>^ Miami of Ohio is too far geographically, alas. Parents have just vetoed Case for safety reasons, which I agree with; so now I'll work on convincing them of Wooster's academic quality.</p>
<p>Denison and Wooster are both good schools, located in beautiful surroundings. My older son attends Denison. The professors seem to take a great interest in the students and it is VERY safe.</p>
<p>However, why do you think Case is so unsafe? We have lived within five minutes of Case for twenty years and have had no problems. We frequently attend events after dark there. Like any big city school, some care must be taken of how and when you go places. I'm not sure Case's statistics would be worse than Pittsburgh's or Oberlin's.</p>
<p>About Case: my dad says that Cleveland is one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S., and one of his coworkers from the Ohio area also expressed safety concerns regarding Case. I am a little iffy about Pittsburgh, as well, as I have no street smarts whatsoever. The big city is not my first-choice environment. Oberlin, on the other hand, is a very safe small town with an isolated campus; it's not really comparable in this regard.</p>
<p>"Miami U. of Ohio, if it's possible to stretch your border? It's located in Oxford, OH, in the southwestern corner of Ohio, in between Cincinnati and Dayton. It's a smaller, public school, more selective than OSU."</p>
<p>I know it's a moot point since the OP says it is too far geographically, but the statement about Miami being more selective than OSU is no longer true.</p>
<p>It makes me sad that anyone would rule out Case because of a perception that Cleveland is one of the most dangerous cities. My goodness. On Thursday I gladly let my 15 year old son and 19 year old daughter take the RTA train downtown to the Cleveland Cavaliers game... Didn't even cross my mind that their trip might be dangerous because they were heading into Cleveland.</p>
<p>The Cleveland Orchestra plays at Severance Hall which is virtually on the Case campus. Case is such a great college. I can see someone ruling out urban schools, but ruling out Case because it is in Cleveland? :(</p>
<p>A student, especially female, shouldn't walk alone at night across any campus, Oberlin included. And Case, like many campuses, has escorts available 24 hours a day.
[quote] Security Escort Services
Through the deployment of a student security patrol, supplemented by University Protective Services Officers, a walking escort service is provided on a 24 hour-a-day basis. Escorts will accompany you to any location on or immediately adjacent to campus. Call x3333.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Several young women from my daughter's high school graduating class go to Case and love it there. Great for many majors and good merit aid.</p>
<p>I second visiting Wooster. It's an easy stop from Pittsburgh on the way to Oberlin.</p>
<p>If Oberlin were a "target" school, then Wooster would make a nice "safety" only because statistically it should be easier to gain admittance. Academically Wooster's plus is the senior thesis & the supportive faculty. The owner of the B&B where we stayed said that her husband, who's a professor there, gives his students a lot of support, which is what he likes about working there.</p>